Think two whole days of NASCAR on bikes. Mud. Speed. Cheering. Competition soaked in humor and brute strength. And Talbott’s cider. And live music. Oh, my goodness.
October 5 and 6. This kick-off cyclocross race is pressed and totally sweet.
Cyclocross is the strangest kind of bike racing where racers ride, carry, and slog their bikes over crazy types of terrain while onlookers heckle. The Talbott’s Orchard Cross kicks off the 2019 cyclocross season with a circuit about two miles around, and racers will have to fjord through fruit trees, grass, dirt, pavement, and steady climbs any which way they can, both on and off wheels. They’ll be surrounded by a peanut gallery of spectators in varying levels of propriety and sobriety–and you can bet your tires–cow bells.
As you can imagine, a cyclocross bike is especially designed to take this sort of abuse, being a hybrid between a road and mountain bike, with a larger triangle for tossing over one’s shoulder. But it’s not just the bike that’s hybrid. Cyclocross racers themselves have to be hybrids of bikers, hikers, and comedians. There’s just no way to take mud slogging too seriously.
Cyclocross is wildly popular on the front range and gaining momentum here in the Grand Valley. Last
year’s kick-off race accommodated over 100 participants, despite torrential rain, and resulted in what organizer John Klish called “an epic mud battle.” While racers will take to the Talbott’s track all day both Saturday and Sunday, the time to catch the fastest action is between 10 am and noon, when the seasoned athletes will battle for the most mud laps. This will give the junior racers opportunity to study techniques and plan strategies for when they race in the afternoons.
Both racing and heckling are far more fun when cider, food and live music are part of the mix. Food trucks will be on site both days. Be sure to find your spot on the Talbott’s patio Saturday evening for one of the tightest and busiest bands around, Stray Grass. Says lead singer Garry Tullio, “We’re definitely looking forward playing at Talbott’s. It’ll be our first time [playing] there.”
Registration will be available onsite, but participants are encouraged to pre-register online to save $5. Fees vary from $10 for juniors up to $35 for adults. Spectators can attend free. Click here for full details about the Talbott’s Orchard Cross and all the races in 2019 cyclocross season.
