Anything that gets kids outside and away from video games is a good thing, said Scenic City Velo president Steve Strain.
Cyclocross, a form of bicycle racing, has more things going for it than cycling alone.
Not only is the fall-winter bicycle racing done on a short, contained course with intriguing obstacles, he said, but it also can be witnessed by parents and friends.
There’s also this: Mud.
“You don’t go out to make a course muddy,” said Mr. Strain, “but nature accommodates us.”
Scenic City Velo sponsored its annual Cross-A-Nooga Cyclocross series at Booker T. Washington State Park last weekend. Courses in previous years have been at Greenway Farm and Camp Jordan.
Cyclocross — think steeplechase on bicycles — is a sport for cyclers of all ages, but it gives youth a variety of fitness benefits, said Mark Fasczewski, race director for Cross-A-Nooga and an NSCA certified personal trainer.
“For juniors, it’s a great way to introduce them to cycling in general,” he said. “The risk factor is much less than the other (cycling) disciplines for juniors.”
Cyclocross was designed to force its competitors to have multiple skill sets, combining the fitness skills of road racing — where good legs and lungs are critical — and the bike-handling skills — with tight turns and high-speed turns on a variety of terrains such as pea gravel or sand — of mountain biking, Mr. Fasczewski said.
“If you go to either side of those too heavily,” he said, “then your course design isn’t … as it should be. You want to have a balance of both of those.”
Mr. Fasczewski said cyclocross courses also have required barriers and often have hills requiring the rider to jump off his or her bike and carry it. Consequently, agility, quickness and strength are also key.
“Cyclocross is done at a very high intensity because it’s so short,” he said. “The level of intensity and the length of the race have a completely inverse relationship. The shorter that race, the harder it’s going to be because people know it’s so short.”
GET INVOLVEDTo learn more about cyclocross and Cross-A-Nooga, visit:* www.sceniccityvelo.com* www.tbra.org* www.usacycling.org
The skills attained in the sport, which can be done on a mountain bike or a cyclocross-specific bike, are also transferable, Mr. Fasczewski said.
“By working on your handling skills by racing cyclocross,” he said, “you can then take those skills forward to help you in the other (cycling) disciplines. But you can’t neglect your fitness, either, because if you do then somebody’s going to walk away from you (over a course).”
Cross-A-Nooga had two junior sectors, one for cyclers ages 10 to 14 and one for cyclers ages 15 to 18.
While the local event is just once a year, cyclers interested in Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association cyclocross points series competitions can compete in various places across the state every weekend through February.