"fancy lads" Yacks, it's "Fancy Lads"

Hey guys. So Bern is a very short 25 minute train ride away from where I live in Fribourg, and today we went there for my son's first bike race on the Bern World Cup course. Tomorrow the elites race. Today we saw racers warming up. Or I should say, I saw them warming up, while my son jumped in a bouncy castle. KFC, Sven, Vos, Kaitlin Keough, Wout, and a few others rode past checking out the course. And then the big event, my son's first race. He had fun, and therefore it was a complete victory! Tomorrow we'll return to watch the elites race. Or, I should say, watch my son while they race around his playground. Here's some shots. Maybe this belongs in another thread, but since it's racing in a Kissena jersey, I thought this was an appropriate one. I'm a proud Dad. My first race wasn't until I was 14. He's starting at 3!

Passed the UCI tire check, and waiting for the gun to go off (while other kids are crying in the background)


Sprinting for the finish
 

with podium photo-bomber


And then we ran into guess-who after a visit to the port-a potty

Nathaniel, that is awesome! I can’t beleive how big your sone has gotten. Three, really? It seems like only yesterday that he was born. Way to go starting him early. 

Enjoy the races, the bears, the chocolate and of course Bern. I am likely to be heading to Switzerland this summer. We will have to get together for real this time 

That is the most heartwarming post ever!

So much awesome.

Patrick, I'm looking forward to seeing you. The roads around Fribourg are amazing. You should come out this way. And to everyone else, give a holler if you're ever in the neighbourhood. Whether it's road, cross or mtb, or even skiing, there's a lot to do. 
For today, when my son and I got to the race, we first went to check out some racers, and ended up taking selfies with the winning bicycles. Also had a nice conversation with Katie Keough and Stu Thorne of Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld. Then went to the playground and watched the racers ride around us while my son played. It just so happened that it was also the spot that Sven Nys chose to monitor his Fidea riders. In a moment when we were standing near each other I asked him if he missed it (the racing), and he smiled and said, "yeah."  The races themselves went as predicted on the fast course. Didn't feel like a classic euro cross course. More pavement than usual, a lot of turns, very fast. Somehow, it still gave a selection and the usual guys won. Mud would have made it a better event. My forest rides would have made for a better cross course (minus the minor detail of infrastructure). I enjoyed the women's race the most, not least because that's where the Americans were, and it was fun to cheer for them. Next year I'll hopefully be able to do the gravel ride that is tied to this event. 
Take care, guys. I hope you all have a great cross season. Come visit some time. 

With Katie Keough. Super friendly person. Spent around 10 minutes talking to us.


Vos' winning bikes. 


Best seat in the house.



Who dat?


The Svenster.
 

FYI I added the Long Island Cyclocross series (LICX) to the race/carpool spreadsheet. Dates are Dec 16 and Dec 30th. For those who are unfamiliar, this is a small local race that takes place in Sunken Meadow park on Long Island. It may be small, but its definitely fun

Coming up this week:

28th Annual Verge Northampton International Cyclocross.
Oldest UCI race in the US. Best course. Awesome town. This event is really a party set in the capital of North American Cyclocross. I've been there the past 3 seasons, and while I will have to skip this year, I can't recommend it enough:
http://www.nohocx.com/registration/

Fair Hill
Final race of the 2018 Mid Atlantic series. Another course I've done quite a few times, pretty awesome for roadies, don't let the 2+ hours drive scare you. It is well worth it, this is great race. Saturday, Nov 10th 
https://www.bikereg.com/first-state-velo-sport-xross-fair-hill

SCCX
Sussex cyclocross, in the Augusta NJ fairgrounds, about 45 mins from NYC, Sunday Nov 11th. Its been about 10 years since I last raced here, this location offers everything a world cup course can, climbs, bridges, sandpits, barns. It'll be awesome, and I plan to be there.
https://www.bikereg.com/sccx

Also worth mention
https://www.bikereg.com/sfcx
https://www.bikereg.com/rockburncross

Coming up this week:

NBX G.P. of Cross

Last race of the NECX, forever on the radar, promises to be amazing this year, production quality is supah high, course seems always awesome, and with Saturday as a C1 (Sunday as C2) the Elite races will be the hardest race in the US before Nationals -- Powers, Werner, Hyde, Fahringer, West are all signed up -- the women's race is gonna be a Supercross rematch!

https://www.bikereg.com/nbx

Westwood Velo

Last of the NJCX series, in a wonderful location at Wawayanda Lake, NJ. Many of us have raced it in the past check here for reports 

https://www.bikereg.com/westwood-cycle-cross-race

-----
I will race one of the two. Always wanted to check out NBX, anyone else going? I have a hotel and car reserved, but not yet 100%; If these conditions are true, then I would definitely be at NBX: 
1. Forecast is not mudfest friendly
2. Teammates

@eloy I was semi-planning on going. If it’s going to rain all weekend then I rather run on a treadmill and not the mud  .

I am heading to Westwood for the first time (at this venue). I'll be going to my son's concert the night before so won't be able to carpool. One day I really want to go to NBX. I have heard good things. Usually fatigue or family conflicts have prevented me from going. Maybe next year.

The Long Island CX series is finally up on BikeReg. They have a variety of categories, including mountain bike, single speed and fat bike. Those of you who don't have a cross bike but want to try it out on a mountain bike can race the CX fields as well. 

Dec 16: https://www.bikereg.com/40717

Dec: 30: https://www.bikereg.com/40718

Life is conspiring against a long trip this weekend, so I'll be at Wawayanda Lake for Westwood Velo.

Stybar is coming back to cross , anyone think he can challenge MVDP

Mark Taylor said:

Stybar is coming back to cross , anyone think he can challenge MVDP

I think he may be able to if he was training specifically for cross but as a lark in the road off-season, my guess is no. 

Agree with Jim.

About 2 seasons ago 16/17, Lars Boom (exactly like Stybar, 32 years old and former CX World champion) came back for a few cx races full Astana kit and all, and at first struggled to even finish on the lead lap, eventually moving up to "solid" ahem top 30ish mid pack.

If Stybar is truly training, then he obvs got the skills and talent to top 10, dude can pedal mega high torque. It'll be awesome if he can be a contender, we'll have to see how he deals with his other commitments and the age change/shuffle at the top of cx.

Regardless, he produced this photo in full world champ kit, so OG hotness:

Coming up this week:

Rainey Park
Simple: if you have a cyclocross bike and live in NYC you are expected here. This is a party and a legit cx race in NYC. It is the hotness. Come race bikes. Sunday in Astoria:
https://www.bikereg.com/raineyparkcross

Soltice Cross
Saturday in Eammus PA, cool flat location, where the Philly's weekly cx practice is held. Raced here in 2016 and it was everything cyclocross, in other words... basic awesome.
https://www.bikereg.com/solstice-cross

on Rainey Park CX:


Let's go race bikes!

I just got off the waitlist for Rainey. I’ll see you guys there!

^ awesome 

I also saw Matthew Story post a Cat 4 spot on Facebook earlier today. If someone is looking for one it may be available...

Rainey Park Cyclocross will be my first race as a Cat 3. See you on the line, @PatrickGrehan and @eloy.

When Kissena alumni become national champions, I'll post about it. Dan Chabanov wins the baby masters 30-34 CX Natz Title

Cool. Did you see he mud/ice packed in his shoes?

https://twitter.com/cyclocross/status/1072882728335486976?s=21

Awesome - that venue definitely makes for some hardcore racing.

My sister-in-law came in 12th place in the Woman’s 55-59 race! https://www.cxmagazine.com/results-masters-women-55-59-2018-cyclocross-national-championships-louisville-2

RobertPeras said:

My sister-in-law came in 12th place in the Woman’s 55-59 race! https://www.cxmagazine.com/results-masters-women-55-59-2018-cyclocross-national-championships-louisville-2

Nice. And finishing on the same lap as Laura Van Gilder is something anyone should be proud of.

Adam Myerson 3 in a row

Reading the #CXNATS coverage has left me wanting more. I just signed up for Sunday’s race in Sunken Meadow Park on Long Island.

Come join me!

Pre-reg closes at midnight but you can reg day of for an extra $15

https://www.bikereg.com/long-island-cyclocross-series-race-2

For those not racing today, here's the live feed for Nationals. They are broadcasting right now, but Elite Women go on at 12:45pm and Elite Men at 2:00 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzed9JCx1pM

ZOMG the drama.

Kudos to Sunny Gilbert and Becca Fahringer for getting up there! 

Sunny Gilbert!