Seattle, WA Seattle, Permit No. 5390 No. Permit Seattle WA 98122 WA Seattle PAID 1535 11th Ave #300 Ave 11th 1535 US Postage US Bulk Rate Bulk The Bicycle Paper Bicycle The THE VOICE OF NORTHWEST CYCLING SEPT. 95 • FREE You’ve gotta have rhythm Cyclo-cross racing offers excitement, tradition and fun BY ERIC G.E. ZUELOW thanks to the successful European-style Con- On the start line, a feeling of tension trol Tech Cyclo-Cross series. hangs in the cool air like the fog of the riders’ In the course of a 30-60 minute cyclo- collective breath. As the starting pistol fires, cross event, riders negotiate tricky sections of the mass of stationary riders lunges to life, off-road riding through sand, snow, gravel bursting off the start/finish line like a single and/or mud, jump over 16 inch barriers and rider trying to escape an angry rottweiler. run up and down hills with as much as 62 Each rider knows that the race can be decided percent grades. Not surprisingly, the demands in these opening seconds and they each fight of the average “cross” course require that for a position at the front of the group. riders develop amazing bike handling skills Moments later, the peloton heads into the and the ability to get on and off their bikes dirt and hits the first “run-up.” The top riders with a minimum of effort and lost time. go clear, dismounting and smoothly moving According to Craig Undem, who raced their bikes to their shoulders, digging deep his first full season of cyclo-cross last year and and forcing the pace as they run up the steep finished 6th in the 1994 Control Tech Na- gradient. tional Cyclo-Cross Championships, “Cross This is cyclo-cross, an exciting, visually is so brutal. It’s only an hour and you’ve got stunning and athletically challenging sport to go all out. At the start, you take it up to which combines criterium racing, mountain your limit and then several beats above. and biking and running to create one of the then there’s the running! It sucks the marrow world’s most difficult sports. Over the past from your bones, but I like it for that same five years, the Northwest, which has a long reason.” history of cyclo-cross, has become the unof- Racers are attracted to cross for many ficial capital of the sport in the United States, reasons. Top coaches, including Montgom- PLEASE SEE “CYCLO-CROSS” ON PAGE 12. Getting Started with PHOTO BY ERIC BURT A race-fan's treat: The three-way battle for first place at the 1994 National Cyclocross Championships. Weijack (center) leads locals Knapp (right) and Myrah (out of photo, Cyclo-Cross left) through a battle that doesn't end until they cross the finish line. Cyclocross often features short loops, tough weather and muddy conditions – all enjoyable for the BY ERIC G.E. ZUELOW bars—an important addition if you’re riding spectator while grueling for the competitor. Whether you’re a racer or a spectator, a technical section. cyclo-cross offers an exciting alternative to a The most important part of cyclo-cross, Sunday at the movies or a rain-soaked ride on however, is technique. Van Enkevort stresses Best bet for spectators the roads you’ve been cycling all summer. that riders should, “Practice mounts and dis- Spectators should wear warm clothing mounts. I cannot emphasize enough that and waterproofs. Cyclo-cross courses are each barrier is precious seconds!” Tour de Fremont Criterium short and offer frequent opportunities to To dismount the bike, place your hands cheer on the racers. Each course offers many on the tops of the bars, cast your eyes forward brings top racers to Seattle places to watch the action, and since a cross PLEASE SEE “GETTING STARTED” ON PAGE 12. race tends to spread out quickly after the BY ARLENE CARTER Brothers cyclery, Alfalfa Food Stores, Cas- start, riders will almost always be visible. Fremont will be the host of Seattle’s cade Ginsing Farms and Giordana Clothing. For racers, cross offers an exciting and newest bicycle race, the Tour de Fremont Fremont, home of the highly popular hard workout, as well as a nice change from Criterium. The race which will be held on Fremont Outdoor Cinema and Fremont road riding. September 23rd, will bring in top national Sunday Market is a very popular community It isn’t difficult to find the necessary equip- INSIDE riders to compete on a one kilometer course and is a great venue for bicycle racing in ment, either. According to Matt Van Enkevort, which circles the Red Hook Brewery. Local Seattle. Riders and spectators alike will be one of the Northwest’s top cross riders, “It is spectators will appreciate the evening sched- delighted with the selection of food and bev- best not to put a lot of money into cross during Out Spokin’ ...................................... 3 ule featuring a 3 pm Women’s Categories 1- erage spots close to the course. the first year, because you’ll be spending most of 4 race and a 5 pm Men’s Categories 1,2 and KCPQ, Channel 13 Fox will be the me- your time learning technique.” Letters ............................................. 3 Pro race. Women will race 60 minutes and dia sponsor for the Tour de Fremont Bicycles used for cross should have enough men will race 90 minutes. Criterium. The race was originally planned space between the tires and frame to accom- Advice .............................................. 4 To ad to the family focus of this neigh- to be a signature event in the Fremont modate the buildup of mud, but most old borhood event promoters have included a Octoberfest, an entire weekend of special touring or road racing frames will do. Braz- Health .............................................. 5 kids race. Children 12 and under will com- PLEASE SEE “FREMONT” ON PAGE 9. ing a set of cantilever brakes onto the frame pete for prizes in-be- will allow greater braking in muddy condi- tween the men’s and tions and will also allow mud buildup with- Regional Reports .............................. 6 women’s races. The esti- out compromising breaking. mated start time for the Remove all braze-ons, as the race will be Cycling Calendar ........................... 7-9 children’s race is 4:15. too short to need water and cages, pumps, etc. As well a soda garden is will only get in the way when getting on and Innovators Northwest .................... 10 planned for the Burke off the bike. Building parking lot in Wheels should be sturdy. Tubulars are Sports pages ............................. 12-13 Fremont. The soda gar- the tires of choice because they are not prone den will serve sodas on to pinch flats. John Shearer, a bike shop Classifieds ...................................... 14 tap. manager and cross racer adds, “The more The Tour de Fre- knobby the tires, the better! There are a wide Marketplace .............................. 14-15 mont Criterium is receiv- variety of tires out there to meet different ing considerable support MAP COURTESY OF TOUR DE FREMONT needs, but a good knobby tire will cover most from the title sponsor The Tour de Fremont course will circle the Red Hook situations.” Maynard ......................................... 15 Thomas Kemper Soda Brewery in Seattle's Fremont District. Especially Adding bar-end shifters allows shifting along with Wright familiar to local cyclists is the nearby Trolleyman Pub. without removing the hands from the handle- WASHINGTON: Olympic Sports Olympic Sports ESPONSE LITE 14401 NE 20th 10115 Gravelly Dr. SW R E Bellevue Tacoma (206)747-7990 (206) 582-0202 4.15 lb True Temper chromoly frame. 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