Speeding towards a hurdle

Over the years, cyclo-cross has come into its own, with the world championships dating back to 1950, several national and international race series, and a small but growing group of specialists who, in an ironic twist on the sport's roots, now use road racing or mountain biking as training for 'cross.

Cyclo-cross starts when nearly everything else in cycling stops — in late September or early October — and continues through the world championships in late January. Races last 45 minutes to an hour, and are run over circuits of one or two miles that include brief stretches of pavement, grassy meadows and hills, dirt roads and trails, and several unrideable sections where riders must run for short periods, usually up steep inclines or over 16-inch-high hurdles, often erected in series to deter would-be bunny-hoppers.

The specialized bicycles used in 'cross do little to mitigate the difficulty of the sport. At first glance, they look like road bikes, with drop handlebars, gossamer wheels, road shifters, and derailleurs. But a closer inspection reveals mountain-bike cantilever brakes, fatter, knobby tires, and the broader range of gears one might expect on a mountain or touring bike. Bottom-bracket shells sit a little higher for ground clearance, and brakes are often reversed — left lever for rear brake, right for the front — to let riders moderate their speed while rocketing into a dismount. These bikes also eschew heavy suspension forks and water-bottle cages, because the whole kit will be shouldered and carried as many as five times per lap on some courses.

Move on to A Very Bumpy Ride

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