Most competitive bicycle races are held in the summer. Cyclocross is one of the few races held in winter. Recently, there was news of a test event held on snow, with the goal of making it a Winter Olympic sport.
Last night, I watched a World Cup series race held in Belgium via YouTube live stream. I highly recommend subscribing to the UCI channel, as it lets you watch a variety of interesting races.
Cyclocross: Fun to Watch, Fun to Race
Because cyclocross is held on closed courses in parks, the distance between the spectators and the riders is short, and since they pass by right in front of you multiple times, it’s also an exciting spectator sport. Races held in the sport's heartland of Belgium and across Europe are just like festivals. Be sure to check out the photo collection by Sergeant NB, who travels to Europe every year to capture the scene in cool photos.
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For Tokai Cyclocross, We Recommend the Aichi Farm 2-Day Event
Our own SimWorks Racing team races almost every weekend, but the event held at Aichi Farm (HP) in Nisshin City is especially large, fun, and highly recommended for beginners. You can ride there from Nagoya, and because it’s a tourist farm, it has great attractions, souvenirs, and high levels of hospitality.
This season, it will be held over both days on January 15th and 16th (Saturday and Sunday).
Tokai Cyclocross
http://gcf-fukyu.p2.weblife.me/cx/
Registration is already open, so if you're thinking about participating, be sure to sign up early.
If you have any questions about participating—such as equipment, clothing, or the race flow—please feel free to consult with us at Circles.
Why Race??
I think everyone has their own reasons, but for me, it feels like an annual medical check-up or a ritual of purification. Even if I’m feeling sluggish day-to-day, the moment the race starts, my blood gets pumping whether I like it or not. How high will my heart rate go? The real weight of my own body, the sensation of oxygen and blood circulating, the palpitations and shortness of breath, the cheers of “Keep it up!” that fly toward me the moment I’m about to slack off and think about resting, reminiscing about when my body moved more freely, reflecting on my lack of discipline, and that blank-slate world after reaching the finish line...
The rollercoaster of body, emotion, and thought that felt so dizzying almost every day when I was a child. It’s fun to occasionally force myself to kick things into gear with the bike I love, especially while living an adult life that focuses on avoiding unnecessary strain as much as possible. (Though I’m sure there’s a whole different world if you aim to actually win.)
If you’ve managed to get your hands on a good bike and have started to feel the joy of pedaling, I recommend trying your hand at a race just once.
