I didn’t think I’d be able to make Charm this year, scheduling wise but when things opened up and I checked the reg list I saw there were like 140 people already registered for the 4s lol. I like a good MVP mid season call up, but I didn’t end up registering and I know I’ll regret it. 

RobertMullen said:

I didn’t think I’d be able to make Charm this year, scheduling wise but when things opened up and I checked the reg list I saw there were like 140 people already registered for the 4s lol. I like a good MVP mid season call up, but I didn’t end up registering and I know I’ll regret it. 

Think about how you'll feel, afterwards, once you realize this was be the best 2021 bicycle race of any kind in the United States.

IT'S HAPPENING

Also, the 2021 map is quite different than previous years.

That course looks crazy!  

@eloy, it looks like they're streaming the pro races on GCN+, so I expect to see you in the background lookin' sharp as hell!

eloy said:

RobertMullen said:

I didn’t think I’d be able to make Charm this year, scheduling wise but when things opened up and I checked the reg list I saw there were like 140 people already registered for the 4s lol. I like a good MVP mid season call up, but I didn’t end up registering and I know I’ll regret it. 

Think about how you'll feel, afterwards, once you realize this was be the best 2021 bicycle race of any kind in the United States.

Idk, I heard (and started) rumors that Lucinda Brand was making a stop this weekend at Game Creek Cross™️ in beautiful Pilesgrove, NJ on her way to the trek races. 

@RobertMullen oh damn, can't wait to see her lol

if Lucinda was in the US she would be at charm.

Yeah Lucinda brand won’t be there, but I will! 

Here is my Charm City report. It was great to race with James and Eloy and to see Jim Feehan there as well.

Before I say anything about my race let me just say that the course was awesome. Lots of flow and ups and down and the fencing was super pro. The second day was a little less heavy and suited me and my mediocre fitness a little better. I can’t say enough about how great the course was. 

Clay and Matt climbing the run up



James ripping the off camber



Eloy's got skillz



Nice legs




GoPro even got me rolling my tubular back onto the rim...

That off-camber was so much fun in both directions, especially day 2. I followed your advice @PatrickGrehan and was able to pass many riders in the first 2 laps through that section. Day 2 I felt my best, and went back and forth the final 2.5 laps against Jaime Hibell. He ultimately finished 9 seconds ahead of my 20th place finish.

Some great pics here: https://dominioncyclingphotography.zenfolio.com/p915077582

Started to write a super detailed report, but don't have much time. So here's an attempt at a short one...

I hyped up this race big time, and somehow to say it delivered would be an understatement. It completely surpassed expectations.

Maybe the best produced cycling event I've ever been at.

Patrick, James, Jim, myself, and hundreds of our best friends and best cyclists in the Americas raced a course that's hard to describe other than the awesome level of awesomeness is on full on awesome high. Roller coaster forever. We rode the highest mountain off camber, described in 2019: "The most hardcore steepest ever mega pro off "if I love you hard enough will this tire hold?" off off off camber. " but in 2021 we rode it in one direction one day, and dirty side remounts direction the next day. Pictures and movies can't do Everest justice. BRAPP BRAPP, omg omg omg hold on hold on. Then also found the biggest "how much is the rent right here" flyovers ever created in the universe, the last one including a mario kart booster effect to the finish, let's go, let's go, let's kill this!! let's go!!! We saw current world champions, and several national champions, current and past, battle it out, the nyc cohort acts as one big team, bffs off course, killer assassins on course. We then watched the coverage on GCN. I had good races. Can not wait to do it all again.

You reading this, I honestly missed you. You would have loved it.

Cyclocross is everything you want cycling to be.

Let's go race bikes!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFKjyh7Ec5g

Charm City Cross level of awesome is another level of awesomeness level!

James and I were there with international cyclocross superstars, a crazy town number of new york cyclocrossers, and all the best cyclists in this American land. I so wish you would have been there too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l1MVfSolRY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBcHbjh3t9U

Let's go race bikes!!

Charm City 2022 Report

On our drive back from Carpenter, a week earlier, James is already, "dude, Charm looks like rain!"

Show up on Friday to a North Baltimore hotel, where a good portion of racers are staying, hang with Caroline Mani "Looks like the rain will hold on for a bit tomorrow" she says "I just don't want it to be a shit show" -- also, she was wearing the coolest gold sneakers, everyone around commented on the shoes

---

I started to write my typical bullet report, but whatever, Charm City is Charm City is Charm City. Literally the best bicycle race in the United States.

Saturday Day 1

James and I line up under torrential rain with about 70 of our Masters 40+ 3/4 friends, the race will be slip and slide and muddy, but wet muddy, one bike kinda day.

Whistle, LET'S FUCKING GO!! 

We go thru the highest flyovers in the universe, including one with more stairs than the Empire State, to then turn 180 into tent row, you will get screamed at, I hear my name a million times, because there are a million new yorkers at this race!!

THIS IS FIRE!!

We then climb Mount Everest and find the most hardcore muddy wet grass off camber, if I believe in god just for this instant now, will god help us come out alive as we lock our rear wheels to come down the steepest Mount Everest muddy grass moment, oh god oh god oh god, to then pedal full blast down this hill, gotta catch him LFG!!!

The juniors start a minute or two behind, at some point they fly by us, taking the most insane lines at 90LBS -- Let's cyclocross, let's dance, baby, let's do this!!! LFG!!

We will repeat this for however many laps, in what somehow is sufferfest too long, but also way too short.

I manage a clean race, the climbs help me, the slip slide conditions have somehow become my jam, you now, cyclocross.

I finally put it together and finish 7th. 

We then spend the afternoon watching everyone else race, including international superstars, former world champions, current national champions, eating good food, and getting crazy wet.

Sunday Day 2

James and I line up 2nd row with about 50 Masters 3/4 on mud threads. It is not raining. The mud is sticking hardcore. Two bike kinda day. This hard peanut butter is less my jam.

James takes off like the fire!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The conditions are crazy town supercross ghosts haunting us all, this is not just slip slide this is can my heart love you hard enough so that traction doesn't ghost me too!?!?!!?!!????????

My start is less stellar, and then fuuuuuu, slip on a corner still before the first flyover, now James is gone and Lawrence Liu is ahead of me, so are about 40 other riders. 

There will be moment of chaos, keep pedaling.

I am somewhat confident thanks to yesterday, so let's go!!

Takes me the almost the full lap to close in on James, as I push to get to him, I slip again, fuuuu, my saddle moves too, bump bump back where it should.

There is a clear speed limit to the combo of conditions and my skills.

Somehow, not getting frustrated. Everyone is making mistakes, it is just about making less mistakes than those around.

We climb again, I manage to catch and barely pass James as we reach the top of Mount Everest Druid Hill, the off camber is now the opposite direction, not rideable, run run run, as I try to make the first turn, I slip -- third's a charm -- now on my knees I pray for oxygen and traction, James stuck right behind says something encouraging and gets me moving. We were probably there for less than 5 seconds and more than 20 years.

For the rest of the race I manage no more mistakes, find flow in all this mud messotoponia. Finishing 7th again. 

After, we commiserate with Richard Sachs and a ton of others waiting to clean up their bikes before we bolt back to New York in torrential rain.

On the drive back we listen to Maghalie Rochette's podcast, she does these pieces where she rapid fire interviews anyone and everyone at the side of the races, from 11 year old juniors, to cat 5s, to Raylen Nuss, etc... and it is obvious, we are from everywhere, at every level, walk of life, and yet: WE ARE ONE.

Let's go race bikes!!



You reading this, I honestly missed you.

Day 1: 31st/68, 40+ 3/4/5 field. 
Very disappointing result.
Still, loved racing in the mud, seeing NYC friends from CX practice, and watching the elite racers make it look like a Saturday ride in the park.
Eloy with all the pro tips.

Day 2: 14th/47, 40+ 3/4/5 field.
Result is more like I expect. 
Loved racing in the muddy mud even more.
Held off Eloy as long as I could but he's going like the mud is hot lava.

Charm City 2023. I don't even know what to say anymore. 

We went, we raced, it was AMAZING.

The place is out of this world, pro tour level, mega hotness track. USCX FIRAH. This track has the most stairs and highest flyover we've ever done, and that's not even close to the most technical feature of the course because there they'll make us do the Mansion Hill off camber in both directions both days, and full blast cyclocross.

FULL BLAST CYCLOCROSS.

There's a pro village, with millions of 180 turns, accelerate, turn, accelerate turn, pass now, flyover, accelerate, turn, one million empire state stairs, fly thru tent row, also a village but more pro, let's then go up to everest druid mansion hill and off camber our lives forever.

Patrick and myself left crazy NYC rain on Friday for Baltimore, where we met with former Kissenistas James, and Marc.

We woke up Saturday and raced bikes. We then woke up Sunday and raced bikes. It was stupid and awesome. Saturday, we raced the best cyclocross track in the Americas, we came back Sunday, and raced an even better faster harder stronger daft punk pro lines for every field version. 

You needed to be there. 

My fitness is nowhere where I want it, still building in the right direction. I am able to put together good races, Sunday a dropped chain gets a little in the way -- Strava suggests 40ish seconds, but still managed well. Saturday had some good battles. Okish results. Cyclocross LFG!!

On the drive back with Patrick, while listening to cycling podcasts, I cut together a very disorganized video.

You really needed to be there, we missed you.

TBD Preview of Charm City.
https://www.tobedetermined.cc/journal/weekend-preview-charm-city-cx

Pre-Reg Closes today. Sign up. Come join.

I can not properly describe how good of a race and event this is. You owe it to yourself. 

+ Course Preview by Charm City:

Charm City Cross 20th Years Anniversary.

What's a report, really?

This race is mythical, the stuff of legends. 

"That's running evil little game, in order to have success you always have to slay a dragon..." Allie Ostrander (on running, arguably applies to all endurance racing)

• Text chain mid week, "have you seen the charm forecast?" ⛈️ 💩 ⛈️
• We arrive Friday to a canceled pre-ride because, oh, helene
• We walk the course, which turns out is a very pro thing to do
• Episode 1 of Eloy overthinks everything "which skinsuit for tomorrow?" Patrick might kill me at any point if I ask again, brooklyn fashionistas get involved via text, no one, not even the moon can tell the difference skinsuit a or b
• We come back Saturday and preride an already crazy town muddy course
• They have made some clear changes from year's past and everything is way HARDER and also crazy muddy
• Episode 2 of Eloy overthinks everything "which tire for today?" RoR's Alden Copley "dude, Limus, all all day, all the way"

Day 1 Masters 3/4

• Patrick and I line up about 4th row with a bit more than 50 riders, including former Kissenistas James Redeer, Marc Bertucco, and fellow new yorkers Rod Millot, and Lawrence Siu
• One minute
• 30 seconds
• LFG!!
• FULL FUCKING BLAST CYCLOCROSS
• I have a great start
• Power thru those flyovers, power to the to top of EVEREST DRUID HILL -- steepest highest mountain ever in the world
• Shoulder that bike, run mother feather run!!
• LOVE IS AN OFF CAMBER IN BALTIMORE
  
• Bomb down that thing
• Run that sticky bog
• Scream gestures at King Kog's Patrick Taylor and Mark Steffan who somehow are pitting for us
• Exchange bikes better than MVdP ever has
• Die a thousand deaths flyover 30 RPM cadence
• Fight off Rod and Jalapeño's Jon Cutler
• 56 minutes on course 
• I managed to put together an ok race, enough for P14
• Cross the line, we were always, but now specially, friends forever

What is an report, really? we sort jumped into a blender, and stopped when they told us to stop.

Whoever I was when I woke up Saturday I am not anymore.

Bruce Buckley says hello post race, asks if I crashed, because my shoulder is all muddied up, I explain it was from shouldering the bike and breaking hearts.   

Later that day, we eat the most awesome greek food with the Bertuccos.

Eventually Eloy overthinks everything episode 3 "mesh skinsuit for tomorrow, or do I cut the sleeves of this nicer long sleeve skinsuit?" 

Next morning Eloy overthinks everything episode 4 with King Kog's Mark Steffan and Pablo, who hear my list of last second changes I wanna make, and tell me: "No, Eloy, you will not do any of these things" 

Day 2 Masters 3/4

• Patrick, Marc, James, Lawrence, Rod, and myself line up again with about 50 racers all on mud tires
• Oh this time they start the juniors ahead of us
• Scrum will be more scrum
• I don't even attempt to ride the first flyover
• The mud is heavier, sticking and making any tire a slick tire
• I fall here, I fall there, whoever finishes ahead of me makes a mistake or two less than me
• Another racer screams at me in the off camber for the way I am passing, we both say sorry, but he adds "sorry I just needed a fight"
• HEARTBREAK IS AN OFF CAMBER IN BALTIMORE
• Try to keep momentum as we hit infinite stairs in the highest flyover in the world
  
• Mark and Patrick are killing the pit again
  
• The exchanges are so stupid pro!
• Rod is one or two spots behind, Jon Cutler one spot ahead
• Ah cyclocross battles
• totally 100000% a blender of mud and blood, I stop when officials tell me to stop
  
• Good enough for P19
• I feel a little disappointed on day 2, but ultimately aware that my goal of top 20 both days was achieved and is better than last years (but not even close to two years ago)

Patrick and I pack the car, and drive back to NYC listening to cyclocross and cycling podcasts, & eating all the snacks.

Was it all a dream or were we just in the best bicycle race in the US?




Watch this clip:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAjCu_UuxrH/

Let's go race bikes!

So much hotttnesss. Dreaming of joining you all in '25

2025 REGISTRATION IS OPEN.
https://www.bikereg.com/charmcitycross

Sat Sep 27 - Sun Sep 28, 2025

Many questions answered:

• USCX is sponsored by Trek
• Men's Master 40+ 3/4/5 as at 11:30am!! (this is a popular category)
• 2024 was not the last year of Druid Hill
• Cyclocross is always coming

Let's go race bikes!

What if I'm 50+?
I'm going to be in NYC the weekend before, so I've actually been thinking about this one, if I can figure out how to rebuild my bike...

So.... guess who has two thumbs and renewed his USAC license?