The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

‘Steeplechase of Cycling’ event set for Yellow Springs

Cyclocross foes will vie for the state title at John Bryan State Park.

See cyclocross race At video.yahoo.com

Area health group's focus already on child obesity problem
2/10/10
Man reportedly shot at apartment complex
2/10/10
Woman, 19, reports rape, declines to pursue charges
2/10/10
Local pharmacist joins online cardiac venture
2/10/10
Supporters trying to keep aviation film festival on this year
2/10/10
> More headlines

By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 6:16 PM Friday, November 27, 2009

YELLOW SPRINGS — Cyclocross bicycle racing appears “absurd at first look,” admitted Ken Getchell, spokesman for the Zipp OVCX Tour that comes to John Bryan State Park on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Dubbed the “Steeplechase of Cycling,” cyclocross is a hybrid between high-speed bicycle road racing and technical mountain bike racing.

“It’s faster than mountain biking, more technical than road racing. More tactical, too,” Getchell said on Friday.

About 300 competitors are expected Sunday for the 2009 Buckingham Financial Ohio State Championships at the park.

Yellow Springs has hosted the cyclocross tour for several years, but this its first state championship event, Getchell said from Conshohocken, Pa.

Riders will compete for jerseys, medals and nearly $2,000 in cash prizes.

The cyclocross series has grown about 50 percent each year in terms of entries, Getchell said.

The sport includes man-made hurdles and natural obstacles that require the riders to periodically dismount and run with their bikes before jumping back on at full run.

First-time spectators might not even notice because the riders are “so smooth and so fast doing it,” Getchell said.

Some riders also will have a spare bike in the pit and switch bikes twice a lap during particularly muddy races.

“They’ll jump off, hand the bike to one person, grab the other bike and jump on,” Getchell said. “I’ve seen people who were able to do it so fast that they actually increased their position over the people who were still riding.”

Cyclocross bicycles look like a road racing bike, but use a different braking system and wider tires.

The bikes range in price from $1,100 to $8,000, according to Getchell. The carbon fiber wheels can cost as much as $2,000 or $3,000 each.

“It’s very serious,” Getchell said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Cyclocross bicycle racing schedule

9:30 a.m. - Amateur women

10 a.m. - Novice men

11:30 a.m. - Juniors

Noon - Free kids fun race (separate course)

Noon - Amateur men

1 p.m. - Elite masters men (age 35+/45+)

2 p.m. - Elite men and elite women

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Just return from the John Bryan, the course is more rolling grassy path thur trees with obstacles like sand pits or low gates or hairpin turns. No major injuries just scuffs, scrapes, minor cuts. Great fun and winding layout makes it easy to see the racers about 30% of a lap.

danc
3:06 PM, 11/29/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Sounds fun, but there's nothing technical about the John Bryant trails. They're flat, slow and easy. The only technical part of that trail system is all the pointless curves in the trail, which just slows down the flow of the ride. The Caesars Creek MTB trails are waaay better. They should've held the race there.

Trail Treker
1:55 PM, 11/28/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I gotta see this. EMS will be very busy.

flipper
8:43 AM, 11/28/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.