If I were to consider my facefriends an average slice of American pie I can assume that nine out of ten people in this country race cyclocross. Everybody's doing it, talking about it, and pretty much bathing in it on a regular basis. I enjoy racing cross as much as anybody who has no intentions of ever doing well at the sport, and this weekend cross racing is coming to town.
I will be there, but once again only as a spectator. Last year I couldn't race because I had other commitments, but now I wished I woulda raced before USACycling made the rule change I bitched about already:
For races on the road and cyclo-cross, the use of fixed sprocket is forbidden: a braking system that acts on both wheels is required.”
Which means this bike is illegal out the wazoo.
To bring this bike up to code I would need to dig my shitty spare Bontrager wheel out of the attic, install a cross tire, mount up my old Hayes Mag brakes (which sorta work), and attach a front rotor... probably about 45 minutes worth of work just so I can race for 30 minutes. Hmmmm...
It's not like I haven't raced fixed in cross before...
I didn't kill anybody, and I didn't do anything truly dangerous like wear a helmet cam...
Sure I could race the Meatplow, but I currently have a 1,400 gram front tire , an 8" rotor, the steel fork, and a heavy rear tire that I ain't spending even more time swapping around.
Then there's the whole price thing. I hate when people bitch about registration prices, but I do have a point.
In order to race any event in this series you must pay for a number plate. That's cool... reduce, reuse, recycle.
Then if you do not have a USACycling license you need to pay an additional $10 for a one day license...
that only allows you to race in the Cat CX 4 or junior class (no single speed?).
Add all that to the $20 preregistration fee and were talking $35 to race 30 minutes or $45 if you register day of.
I know promoters aren't in this to lose money. I also know there are so many hidden expenses in promoting a race that most racers don't know about when they bitch about registration fees. The thing I don't like is that I don't believe you're going to get as many first time dabblers who might end up interested in the sport at that cost. I will admit I'm complaining about a problem without having a whole lot of ideas on how to solve it. Maybe an "open citizens" class that is only $10 (like the juniors) which has no series points and uses old numbers from last year or paper plates, or perhaps USACycling could back down on that one day fee a little... to the point where it's not 50% of the entry fee. Dunno...
I know, I know... "Put on your own damn race," or "A loaf of bread doesn't cost $.25 anymore!" Maybe even a little "Just go race one of the much more practical Tuesday night races (which only charges $5 for the same one day license)and save $15."
This is my blog, and if you don't like what I have to say I'm going home and taking it with me.
So anyways as much as I love cross I won't be spending 45 minutes working on my bike for one race (to have to spend 30 minutes returning it to its original form) just so I can pay $35-45 for 30 minutes of racing. It would make for better blog fodder come Monday, but c'est la vie.
Late Edit: I don't want this to seem like a total bitch fest. I'm stoked to see cross grow as much as it has over the last decade in the Southeast. No need to adapt the norm for my needs, but I do see that there is room to grow the sport even more with a few changes... and cheap, noncommittal assholes like me could take advantage of it. The "no fixed gear" rule? Yeah, I am pretty much bitching about that.
Wednesday, November 10
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15 comments:
You bitch and moan more than Namirta O'Dea
Impossible.
She's always like "Why can't Eddie be as cute as Dicky," or "Why can't Eddie be as strong as Dicky," or "Why can't Eddie be Dicky."
Use the money for gas and take some friends to Wilson Creek! Todd
Todd's onto something there.
Suck it up Pussy!
You bitch like a little girl you pussy!
You should be able to race ss on a one-day. It's an open class. They tried to keep me out of it last year and I consulted USAC and they said I could race masters and ss on a one-day (CX only, not road).
I agree there should be a citizens class for just the USAC fee. No points, prizes, or money. Put it at the end of the day though, so they can watch the races happen before they get it. That generally helps their nerves, so many here are too afraid/embarrassed to step up and race the first race.
Our races here let you race another race the same day for $5. So $20 to register for one race, then just $5 more for each additional race. The more you race the cheaper it is. Makes for a fun day out in the grass.
I haven't tried cross racing yet. I guess that would be an excuse to get another bike.
WV: suete
will your series let you race on the mtb? go kill some of those roadies on the santacruz and watch them scratch their heads. bunny hop some barriers. doesn't do anything for the pricing through but saves you some time of changing over the current rig.
i lol'ed at the first comment. if all of your posts were like this one, you still wouldn't surpass her whining. lol.
Whaddaya want? Some government handout to cover your registration fee ya LIBERAL HOMO!
those look to be misfit bars on the fixie . . . hmmmm, just the beginning of total sell out to the Empire?
Me thinks so.
I've had those bars for years... no sign of the end of times here.
get in the middle of pack when they are lining up. No official at a local race will ever check the bikes of the cat 4's and they certainly will give 2 shits less about you running a fixie. That whole fixie rule is kind of like the "no hand ups" rule. It was meant to be ignored. Seriously, DO IT. 'Sides we all enjoy a good tale about dicky sucking......er...well....you know what I mean.
Ahhh. You remind me of my favourite cyclocross video ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr6PU3MrEZ4&feature=player_embedded
"Screw you guys. I am not paying to rock the one-cog. That is totally janky."
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