Hang on to your chair people. After 10 years of saying Cyclocross is dumb, I finally decided to see if I have any idea what I am talking about. This is a very relevant issue for me, one that I probably should check into more frequently. You see, I regularly spout off about things I have not the slightest idea about, yet have a need to be the smartest person in the room. Not sure that is ever a valid objective to me, as my dog is in the room and she is probably smarter than me on all but a random wednesday. What is smart anyway? Smart alec, smarty pants, smart ass... You know that all cats have more than one name, so therefore why would all other animals? I mean snails, whales, your dog, birds. Most of the world.
But, what does this have to do with a Cyclocross race? Absolutely nothing. But, I did stay in a Hampton Inn last weekend at the Ironman GNCC race. They have the best oatmeal of any hotel - trust me on that, I know oatmeal.
For years I have been saying Cyclocross is dumb. I knew that to be true, because if it wasn't dumb then I would be doing it. I mean after all... But, as I said I decided to go and see for certain if I knew what I was talking about. Turns out, I kinda did and kinda didn't. First of all, we are riding a road bike offroad. It is a silly combination - kinda like Camelot. Road bikes are meant to be ridden on the road, Mountain Bikes are meant to be ridden off the road. A cyclocross bike is neither a good road bike nor a good mountain bike. But, that might be where the real beauty of it is. It is a goofy tool that you have to try to make do what you want it to do.
In the end, it was good fun. Yes, I did say that. I had fun. It was only 30 mins long, so not really that hard. Sure I was breathing really hard and my heart rate was up, but it was only 30mins. How hard can 30 mins be?
The course was at a park in Milwaukee. A couple of uphills, that could be ridden, another that could have been ridden - but there were big barricades that had be dismounted and run over. There was a box that needed to be bunny hopped (that provided quite a bit of entertainment afterward).
Trek people really like cross. There were a bunch of Trek employees at the cross race, giving it. Silly fun, if there is something that can be done on bicycles...
Will I do more, stay tuned and see.
After the race, we went to the Hollander Cafe in Wauwatossa.
Cafe Hollander is a really cool little Belgian pub. As you know, I am pretty much in love with Belgium and the spring classics. Given that this cyclocross thing is sort of a Belgian thing, I pretty much guess I have to talk very nicely about that as well.
Regardless of how you feel about Cyclocross, you need to go to Cafe Hollander. It is really cool, and they have frites and Belgian beer. What more do you need?
Joe,
Out.
In case you are wondering if Pearl Jam truly is the greatest band ever, give this a view.
Watch Pearl Jam on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.
I do not know what that has to do with this blog post either.
Out,
Joe
what? no costumes?
Posted by: ehaydin | October 29, 2012 at 12:37 PM