Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival

New Website!

2010-09-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

Harbin Park Category 1 for 2010

2010-02-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

The final published schedule came out today for the 2010-2011 world cyclocross calendar, and the Harbin Park event, the capper on the upcoming 2010 UCI3 Festival, was awarded Category 1 status for the October 10th event! There are only eight C1 events in the US for 2010, which puts the 'Nati in some good company.

Anybody else out there wish it was cross season already!?

Cyclocross Worlds Coming To Louisville

2010-02-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

Think everyone was too excited to post the article on the C3 blog. If you haven't heard the big news, climb out of your hole and click here. Maybe we'll see Katie pull of the big one right here in the Ohio Valley!

Cyclocross Battle Royale: UCI-3 Day 3 Harbin Park Cincinnati Video

2009-10-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Created by Lynn Lamoureux

UCI-3 Weekend Photos by Jeffery Jakucyck

2009-10-15T06:28:00.000-07:00

Some may take Jeff's photos for granted, but he's hard at work at nearly every single Cincinnati area cycling event. We're grateful to have such a talent who's as into cycling as we are. Rather than just share with your Facebook Friends, email the link to a family member as a little hint for a nice holiday or birthday gift. While it's true, you can never have enough carbon fiber, memories of the UCI-3 weekend last much longer. Photos are available for purchase and will look much better in your office or cube than that plaque for being employee of the month. Thanks Jeff!

http://jjakucyk.exposuremanager.com/g/cincinnati_uci-3_cyclocross_classic

Cinti UCI-3 Day 1 Darkhorse Stampede Women's Elite Video

2009-10-14T06:25:00.001-07:00

UCI-3 Results & Reports KFC & Jpow Sweep

2009-10-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

Day 1 Results & Report at CX Magazine.
Day 2 Results & Report here.
Day 3 Results & Report Here.

Cinti UCI-3 Cyclocross Live Race Coverage

2009-10-08T05:38:00.001-07:00

The Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival's day's 2 and 3 Pro-Elite Events will be live on CXmagazine.com in a scrolling blog format. Hosted by BioWheels Mitch Graham & Joe Bellante and Andrew from CXMagazine.com. Sign up below to get a pre-race reminder.

Day 2 Sunset Park Middletown, OH:

Day 3 Harbin Park Cincinnati:

UCI3 Weekend Schedule

2009-10-07T06:34:00.001-07:00

Click on the image below to view and print schedule

2009 Technical Guide for Cincinnati UCI3 Weekend

2009-10-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9

SATURDAY OCTOBER 10
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11

2009

TECHNICAL GUIDE

On the behalf of our cycling community, the City of Covington, and the organizing committee, welcome to Greater Cincinnati and the sixth annual Cincinnati International Cyclo-Cross Festival. The mission of the Cincy UCI weekend has been to bring the best in U.S. cyclo-cross to the area – so thank you for choosing our event here. We hope you enjoy your stay.

Weekend Overview:

The 2009 Cincinnati International Cyclo-Cross Festival encompasses three days of UCI-C2 ranked events in the greater Cincinnati area the long weekend of October 9-11. The City of Covington, KY is hosting athletes this year as well as providing entertainment in the evening in the local Mainstraus restaurant district.

Leadership Team:

Executive Director: Mitch Graham
Brand Manager & Marketing: Nick Tinsler
Cyclo-Stampede Race Director: Nick Tinsler
Java Johnny’s Race Director: Doug Dobrozsi
Harbin Park Race Director: Mitch Graham
Media Relations: Ken Getchell & Joe Bellante
UCI Commissaire: Shawn Farrell
Volunteer Coordinators: Alex Hasse, Dave Reimenschneider & TJ Turner
Secretariat: 2WheelSports – Barb Saive
Host Housing Coordinator: Shannon Smith
Announcing: Two Johns Podcast, Chris Mayhew
Graphic Design: James Billiter
Documentation & Photography – Jeffrey Jakucyk

Registration:

Elite Men and Elite Women pre-registration only. Pre-Registration is available through BikeReg until Tuesday, October 6th at midnight. Day of registration will be available (with the exception of UCI Elite men and women) for riders on-site at all three events for an additional $15 (with the exception of junior categories). Entry fees will increase $5 (with the exception of junior categories) on September 27th. There is no additional fee for pre-registration.

Packet Pick-up:

Packet pick-up will be available for the entire race weekend on Thursday (Oct 8th) evening starting at 6pm at the Radisson Hotel in Covington, KY. Whatever packets not picked up there will be available onsite at all three races. Race day registration will be available at all three races beginning 2 hours prior to the start of the first event. Race-day registration will be available for a $15 fee, and is available up to 45 minutes prior to rider's event. There is no additional day-of-registration fee for junior riders.

Race Numbers:

Riders will receive one set of race numbers (one number for back and two for the front shoulders) to be worn at all races. Do not lose these numbers. A $10 fee will be assessed to re-issue a new set of race numbers.

Hotel:

The Radisson Hotel in Covington, KY is race headquarters for the weekend. http://www.radisson.com/covingtonky Located on the south bank of the Ohio River across from downtown Cincinnati, the Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront offers excellent service, an award-winning restaurant and first-class amenities (free parking, high-speed internet, airport shuttle, pool, fitness center, suites). The hotel is an easy 10 minute drive to Friday’s Devou Park race, 50 minutes to Saturday’s Java Johnny’s race, and 30 minutes to Sunday’s Harbin Park Race. Special $99 room rates for visiting athletes will be available beginning August 10. Link to UCI3 booking page.

Racing Licenses :

UCI Elite Men and UCI Elite Women - valid International UCI License required. USAC required for all other categories. One-day and annual licenses will be available for purchase at registration. One-day licenses only available for Cat 4 and junior riders – all others must have or purchase an annual license.

UCI International licenses can be purchased onsite or online at www.usacycling.org.

Racing Age:

A rider’s racing age for all cyclocross categories is their year of birth subtracted from 2010.

Starting and Staging Procedure:

UCI Men’s and Women’s Elite Events (UCI rule 5.1.043): starting order to be determined by latest published UCI cyclocross ranking, as posted on www.uci.ch. Riders with UCI points are staged first, with the highest number of points in front. After all riders with UCI points are staged, riders with no points will be staged by order of registration, with some discretionary picks placed towards the front. The top five ranked Ohio Valley Series 1/2 category riders will occupy the first five discretionary places. Every Elite rider registered will be called up to starting line in order of bib number.

All other categories will be staged by order of registration, with the first five positions reserved for the top five ranked riders in the Ohio Valley Series after the Oct 4th Tour de Louisville. Bib numbers issued will reflect starting position on the grid. For both Cat 3 and Cat 4, for all 3 age categories, riders line up and start together. Order of starting position is determined by OVCX ranking and pre-registration order.

Starting position will be the same for all 3 events.

Lapped Riders for UCI Elite Categories (UCI Rule 5.1.051):

All riders lapped before the final lap must leave the race the next time they cross the finish line. The rider will be given a placing if he was lapped more than half way through the race.
A rider who is lapped on the final lap shall be stopped at the beginning of the finishing straight line and shall be given a placing on the basis of his position.

Lapped Riders in Non-UCI Events:

Lapped riders will finish on the same lap as the leaders. Riders in danger of being lapped must yield to oncoming racers and are not to interfere with their progress or trail behind them.

Awards:

Awards are to take place immediately following all events. Top three riders should report immediately to podium area post-event.

Anti-Doping:
UCI Elite category racers must check in at registration to see if they are required to submit to doping control, located in adjacent parking area to registration.

Airports:

Cincinnati is the nearest international and Dayton the nearest domestic airport. When searching for best rates, some other possibilities are listed.

Airport Location 3 Letter Code Miles to Cincinnati
Dayton, Ohio DAY 55
Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky CVG 10
Columbus, Ohio CMH 100
Indianapolis, Indiana IND 120
Louisville, Kentucky SDF 120

Hosting :

Host Housing is available for out-of-town athletes on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact shannonsmith2@zoomtown.com for details and availability.

PENALTIES:

The UCI penalty scale is the only one applicable.

UCI Points available at each event

Place Men Women
1 30 20
2 20 15
3 15 12
4 12 10
5 10 8
6 8 5
7 6 4
8 4 3
9 2 2
10 1 1

1/2/3 Masters:

Per OVCX rules, $130 of the 1/2/3 Masters purse is earmarked for the top three 45+ riders as a bonus. 45+ riders may also place and collect within the overall masters purse.

Devou Park Course Map

Directions to Devou Park:

From downtown Cincinnati, take I-75 over the Ohio River, and get off at first exit – 192. Turn right at exit on Crescent. Turn left on Western Rd. Make first right at top of hill onto Devou Drive (look for Devou Park sign). At stop sign, stay straight (not right) and continue up hill. Continue straight at next stop sign, then follow signed directions for parking.

Parking/Registration:

Parking is available throughout the park. Volunteers will direct to the nearest available spots. The Beringer-Crawford Museum, at the center of the race course, will be the hub for registration, scoring and awards.

Medical/First Aid:

A first aid area will be set up on course near to the registration and a licensed physician will be available on site in case of emergency.

Directions to Sunset Park:

Address for mapping – Kenwood Rd., and Milton Rd., Middletown, OH 45042. Interstate-75 to the Route 122 / Middletown exit. West on route 122 to right on Briel Blvd. to left on Central Ave. Right on Kenwood Drive, Left into the park.

Parking/Spectating :

Sufficient parking is available, divided between the Roosevelt School grounds adjacent to the park, and the wide public streets near to the park. Kenwood and Milton roads, on the side opposite from the park, are the preferred area for TEAMS who wish to set up a canopy, which can be set up along the perimeter in the park. Please respect all “NO PARKING” signs and the property of the residents in the area of the park. A convenient drive-thru equipment drop area near to the pits is available, accessed only via one-way traffic flow on the east side of the park off of Kenwood Drive (see map). Reserved parking is available for event staff, officials, and sponsors.

Medical/First Aid:

A first aid area will be set up on course near to the registration / bath house and a licensed physician will be available on site in case of emergency. If you have a non-life threatening injury and need to go to the hospital, the nearest hospital is Middletown Regional Hospital, located at 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, Ohio 45044. The hospital is about 1 mile from the race course. Directions: Left (south) on Belmont, left on central, right on McKnight. Phone 513-424-2111.

Directions to Harbin Park:

From Michigan and areas north of Cincinnati : from I-71 and I-75 South, as you are approaching Cincinnati, take I-275 West to exit 36 (Mt. Healthy). Turn right at exit ramp onto 127 and head 2 miles north. Turn left on Hunter Rd. Continue for 1 mile on Hunter Rd. and it runs into Harbin Park. Parking is up the hill on the right/backup parking is on your way in on the left. Bathrooms are behind ranger station near playground.

From Kentucky and areas south of Cincinnati , take I-75 North through downtown to I-275 West. I-275 West to exit 36 (Mt. Healthy). Turn right at exit ramp onto 127 and head 2 miles north. Turn left on Hunter Rd. Continue for 1 mile on Hunter Rd. and it runs into Harbin Park.
From Indiana and areas west of Cincinnati , take I-74 East to I-275 East. Take Exit 36 (Mt. Healthy) and turn left (north) onto 127 - head 2 miles north. Turn left on Hunter Rd. Continue for 1 mile on Hunter Rd. and it runs into Harbin Park.

Injuries/First Aid :

Minor injuries can be treated with first aid at the registration pavilion. Two race doctors will be on-hand to administer first aid. If emergency medical treatment is needed, Mercy Hospital in Fairfield is located a short 10 minute drive from Harbin Park. To reach the hospital, take Hunter Rd out of the park to the light at Pleasant Ave/SR 127. Turn left onto Pleasant. Turn right onto Resor Ave. Turn right onto Winton Rd. Turn left onto Mack Rd. Mercy Hospital is at 3000 Mack Rd. For ambulance service, dial 911. There is an emergency telephone on the Ranger Station building, located immediately behind the sand pit.

Parking/Spectating :

Entry and parking at Harbin Park is free to the public. The new course is more spectator friendly this year. 100% of the course is viewable if you rotate between the Red Bull sand pit area, and the parking/registration area. The Start and Finish Line are located up by the pavilion by the upper parking lot.

Restrooms/Changing Rooms :

Located immediately behind the Ranger Station building, less than a five-minute walk from either parking area. Port-o-lets will also be available in the upper parking lot and expo area.

Venue and Course Description:

The race is being held at the queen venue of Ohio Valley Cyclo-cross Racing: Harbin Park in Fairfield, Ohio. Fairfield is located 20 miles north of downtown Cincinnati, and Harbin Park is at 1300 Hunter Rd. At 161 rolling acres, Harbin Park features an 18 hole disc golf course, 5 miles of mountain bike trail, 2 sand beach volleyball courts, a 15 ft wide mowed nature trail, a big sledding hill with a view, and lots and lots of mowed grass. Cyclo-cross races have been held at Harbin Park for 10 years now, and with the hard clay soil underneath the grass, the ground is packed smooth and fast! Dogs are welcome in the park.

The UCI race course is a mix of new and old for this year. This will be the longest course on record - 3.5K. Of this, .4K is pavement, .6K double-track dirt, a 40 meter uphill run, a 25 meter sand pit, and 2.3K of perfectly mowed grass. The majority of the turns are at 90 degrees, so the speeds are very fast. The park has many sizeable hills, but the course hills are gradual. The run up will not have barriers, and may be rideable. Start is on pavement and finish is on smooth grass.

Pit Area/Bike Wash :

There is one Pit Area on course accessible from two points of the race course, and it will be located near the US flag at the bottom of the hill (surrounded by blue fencing). The Pit Area is for the exchange of race bikes or wheels during the course of a rider's event. On either side of Pit Area is the exchange lane, which is for riders' entry and exit only. Do not stand in the exchange lanes during race. Between exchange lanes is the median for storage of bikes, wheels, and riders' assistants. Only riders and riders' mechanics may be present inside the taped off Pit Area during racing. A bike wash will be set up adjacent to the Pit Area.

GearSwap

2009-10-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

As a part of the upcoming Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival, MaineStrasse, KY is welcoming the cycling community on Saturday, October 10 for an evening of food, fun and the swapping of cycling gear! Local restaurants such as the Cock & Bull English Pub and the Strasse House (and others) will have cycling specials on food and drinks throughout the night. This is quick 3 block walk from the Radisson Riverfront Cincinnati host hotel and is a great way to support the local businesses of the host community of Covington, KY.

Additionally, there will be a GearSwap, cycling swap meet, where cyclists can buy, sell and barter their new and used cycling products. All kinds of cycling products - cyclocross, road, MTB will be up for grabs. Exhibitor space (~10" x 10") is available for $5, and a limited number of tables are available for and additional $5. If you are interested in a space, please RSVP w/ Nick @ tinsler@hotmail.com.

Make sure that you leave some time to check out the Goldsprint stationary bike races at the the Strasse House. Team Hungry is bring this action to Northern Kentucky. If you have never partaken in or watched these races, you are missing one of the best spectacles that cycling has to offer. These races will get going in the early evening.

UCI3 Technical Manual Coming Oct 1

2009-09-27T19:31:00.001-07:00

Full technical manual for the 3 days of racing - course maps, directions, and all pertinent info - will be located here on October 1. Check back for the info!

The Parbo-na-tor is back!

2009-09-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

Let's all admit it, none of us are as that good, or as good as we'd like to be, especially when it comes to cyclocross. None of us have as much time as we'd like to spend on the basic skills of cyclocross, especially during these important early months of training and racing for this upcoming season.

The Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival has the perfect solution to this challenge in the form of a skills clinic w/ special instruction by 3x Danish National 'Cross Champ Joachim Parbo and perennial American 'cross favorite Molly Cameron. Both of these instructors bring World Cup racing experience to Devou Park on Wednesday, October 7. This clinic is open to racers of all ability and experience levels, gender and ages, and will focus on not only the basic skills required to race cyclocorss, but strategically putting those skills together to be successful.

The clinic will be held in Devou Park, in Covington, KY, on portions of Friday's Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclo-Stampede race course. The clinic will run from 6:00pm till dark, and is limited to the first 35 participants to keep the instruction personalized. Please register at the Cincinnati UCI3 Festival's BikeReg page. http://www.bikereg. com/events/ register. asp?eventid= 8824

This clinic is held in parallel with a women's only clinic presented by Katie Compton at Harbin Park in Fairfiled, OH. Registration for this clinic can also be found on BikeReg at http://www.bikereg. com/events/ register. asp?eventid= 8824

For additional information on the Parbo/Cameron Clinic, please contact Nick Tinsler @ tinsler@hotmail. com. For more info on the Katie Compton Clinic, please contact Mitch Graham at mitch@biowheels. com.

And remember, you are just not that good to not attend one of these clinics...

Java Johnny's - Lionhearts Course Changes 2009

2009-09-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

Anyone that has ever put on a 'cross race understands this - designing the course becomes an obesession. It's all you can think about. Course Perfectionism consumes you. Every place you ever go after that, the first thing that pops into your head is "that would be a fantastic course element". The landscape mounds in the parking lot at the mall; the foot bridge where your kids school picnic was; a friends front yard..... Your wife and kids develop a totally reflex eye roll when you go someplace new and are about to say something.

I thought Java Johnny's 2008 was dialed. After all, Katie told me after the race "this is probably the most fun course I ever do". And she races in what to an Ohoioan are the promised lands of 'cross; East coast, West coast; even Yurrup. If you ever met Katie in person you would know that she is absolutely, perfectly, graceful. She may say that to every promoter, but I'm going to believe her. Sunset is a small park. I like to call it intimate. I just didn't think I could fit it all in any better and still have a long (3.4km) course.

But after last year - my friendly UCI comissaire told me I really ought to have a paved start and a paved finish. I disagreed. I am an old guy and my bones mend slowly and I've raced enough to know I like a nice grass start even better. And he also told me that the elite riders from all around the U.S. and those national champions from Yurrup and such really can't be expected to dismount on the right side of their bikes, so I ought to not have a double left-handed pit. I disagreed again - I like to put some technical "elements" into the course to make it interesting, and a wrong- handed pit is a technical element in my 'cross obsessed mind. Besides, I'm left handed.

So I succumbed. 2009 Java Johnny's - Lionhearts has a paved uphill start, paved finish, and a double "right hand" pit. A lot of the same elements as in the past, just linked together a little differently.

I have also upgraded my switchbacks. These debuted in 2007 and Barry Wicks called them "HOKIE". Actually he said "sort of hokie" but I only heard the last word. So this year I think it will be the physically hardest element of the course. Instead of zig-zagging back and forth up the hill, I decided that each zag should just go all the way back to the bottom. Barry - you'll have to let me know - are they even more hokie (probably), or what.

THE REALLY BIG NEWS on the Java Johnny's course is that the kids course will be totally separate and free-standing this year. The little stars of tomorrow, who really aren't very good at sitting and watching anyway, can ride all day long if they want to. I always tried to give the youth event a good chunk of time on the schedule. This year is an upgrade. Their own course totally. It will be OK if the senior riders want to warm up there, but first read this disclaimer: Ryan, Barry - the kids start / finish banner was not designed for you guys. You may need to work on a little 'cross bike limbo.

Oh - one more change for 2009. We will try and remember to turn on the hot water heater for the showers this year.

Ridley The Cyclocross Wonder Dog: The Interview

2009-08-24T06:54:00.001-07:00

Coming to the Cincinnati UCI-3 Cyclocross event? Chances are you'll meet Ridley The Cyclocross Wonder Dog. Get aquainted via the exclusive interview on The Best Bike Blog Ever* here.

Harbin Park Wednesday Night Practice

2009-08-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

Cyclcross practice starts tonight (8/5) and runs every Wednesday at Harbin Park in Fairfield til it get's too dark to ride. The official start is at 6:30pm, but riders usually start trickling in and warming up as early at 5:30p. Practices follow the UCI course that'll be used in October and will include: barrier work, sand, off-camber turns, starts, lap intervals...etc. If you're new to cross it's a great way to learn from the most talented riders in the city. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There's riders of all speed/ability levels, so you'll never be out there riding by yourself. Please respect & yield to other park users and abide requests by the Park Ranger.

Map & Directions

Just over 10 weeks to go!

2009-07-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

2009 Harbin Park Women's Clinic

2009-07-11T02:33:00.000-07:00

Details are beginning to materialize about a women's-only cyclo-cross clinic at Harbin Park the Wednesday prior to the UCI3 weekend. Mark your calendars for Oct 7 @ 5:30pm - it will be one to remember!

'08 Harbin Park DVD Available

2008-12-26T06:51:00.000-08:00

Make your winter indoor training that less painful...70 minutes of UCI cyclo-cross goodness covering all the race categories. Helmet cam, bike cam, stage cam, 1500 photo collage, rocking soundtrack, and racer interviews courtesy of Masher's Media.

Buy online, or BioWheels in Cincinnati has them in stock.

Mark Your Calenders...

2008-12-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

UCI3 2009

Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede (UCI C2): October 9, 2009 / Burlington, KY

Java Johnny's - Lionhearts International Cyclocross (UCI C2): October 10, 2009 / Middletown, OH

Bio Wheels/United Dairy Farmers Harbin Park Cyclo-Cross (UCI C1): October 11 / Fairfield, OH

Harbin Park DVD Trailer - Lotsa misc action!

2008-11-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

2008 Harbin Park Cincinnati Masters 1/2/3 CX Race Video

2008-10-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Powers & Compton Enjoy Cincinnati UCI 3-Way Wins

2008-10-12T17:14:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Men's Elite Podium courtesy of Jeffrey Jakucyk)
Note: Photos of 3-day weekend available at Jeff's link above

On day 3, the UCI C-1 race of the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, Katie Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) and Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com) completed their hat-tricks of the first ever 3-day UCI weekend. Thanks to a broken chain on Jeremiah Bishop’s Trek just 250 meters to the line, Powers took the win in the Men’s race over Bishop (Trek Factory) at the BioWheels/United Dairy Farmers Harbin Park International sponsored by Reece-Campbell. Katie Compton held off a determined Georgia Gould (Luna) for a third day in a row to collect maximum UCI points on the weekend.

Article continued here.

J-Pow & Compton Stampede To Wins at Cincinnati Cyclocross Festival Days 1 & 2

2008-10-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

(photo: Katie Compton coutesy of Jeffery Jakucyk)
The course at England-Idlewild park rattled bones and turned wheels to tacos at the Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede UCI C-2 in Burlington, KY on Friday, October 12th. The Cincinnati area hasn’t seen a soaking in weeks and the victims of the pounding course lined up for post-race massages at the Wellington Orthopedic tent throughout the day. The 80 degree heat compounded the hurt. In the Men’s race, after a lap-3 bike change which sent Barry Wicks (Kona) on the defensive, Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com) took advantage for the win. For the women, it wasn’t until lap 5 where National Champion Katie Compton (Spike Professional/Primus Mootry) put in a dig near the “horseshoe” chicane and shook Olympian Georgia Gould (Luna) off her wheel and escape to the finish.

Day 1 Article continued here.

Day 2 Article Below:

Compton and Powers win in Ohio
By Promoter's Release
Posted Oct. 11, 2008

The mid-October heat in Middleton Ohio was matched only by the hot racing action at the Java Johnny’s / Lionhearts International UCI C2 race on Saturday.

The women's race saw Katie Compton power away from the field of the country’s top ‘crossers, including Rachel Lloyd, who finished second on the day, and eventual third-place finisher Sue Butler.

Georgia Gould finished sixth after putting in a huge effort overcoming a flat, and was assisted in the pits by none other than Mark Legg-Compton, Katie’s husband, and Kris Auer, mechanic for fourth place finishing Laura Van Gilder of C3-Sollay.com. Sportsmanship reigns supreme in cross.

The men's race saw a flurry of attacks. Barry Wicks, Jeremy Powers and Jeremiah Bishop each took flyers at the front, none of which were successful until two laps to go when Powers was able to accelerate away from his rivals and take the win.

Both Bishop and Powers used their crowd-pleasing bunny hopping skills to separate themselves from the pack. Bishop, the current U.S. MTB short track champion finished second while Wicks, rounded out the podium. It was an identical podium to the previous day’s Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede.

Next up is the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival’s Grand Finale: the Bio-Wheel / United Dairy Farmers Harbin Park International, a C1 event for both men and women. As a C1 event paying top finishing women equal to men according to the Gould Formula, the race in Fairfield Ohio’s Harbin Park will be one of the world’s richest women’s cyclocross races n 2008.

Elite Men

1. Jeremy Powers – Cyclocrossworld.com

2. Jeremiah Bishop – Trek/VW

3. Barry Wicks – Kona

Elite Women

1. Katie Compton – Spike Professional/Primus Mootry

2. Rachel Lloyd – California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized

3. Sue Butler - MonavieCannondale.com

Joes Meet The Pros

2008-10-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

(article continued on "Out Of True" The Best Bike Blog Ever)

Directions to the center of the Cycling Universe:

2008-10-06T09:05:00.001-07:00

Use your favorite web service to get directions to Friday's Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede:

England Idlewild Park
5550 Idlewild Road
Burlington KY 41005

Two John's Podcast Sign On

2008-09-19T10:36:00.001-07:00

Two John's Podcast have signed on to provide audio play-by-play and color cometary for the Cyclo-Stampede. Find your missing saddle and check out their blog here.

Java Johnny's - Lionhearts International Cyclocross

2008-09-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

The second leg of the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, the Java Johnny's - Lionhearts International Cyclocross (UCI C2) is open for business. Register here. Doug and crew are back for another great event. Check back for more details as UCI3 approaches.

2008-08-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Let the registration begin...

http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7040

The CX Training Killer: Daylight Savings

2008-08-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

It’s the end of August, new chains and cables round out both CX bikes. You switch-flopped saddles and cranks between bikes. To top it off, your new carbon tubular wheels bling hard enough to make Kanye West jealous, uh. While the CX races haven’t started yet, the bikes are dialed in and everything seems to be going to your evil plan. Gulp. Now you got to live up to the hype, yo.

Some will say that August is too early for CX, but this is the OVCX series we’re training for and those people are likely road racers. The OVCX ends early December. Unless you plan on racing through December and into January on the World Cup circuit the time to hit it hard is now.

Hopefully you’ve spent at least part of your August practicing technique, have a few bad-ass core workouts to your credit and have 2-3 interval workouts under your belt. I’ve been racing the OVCX for the past five to six years, and if you’re trying to figure out a training plan now, at the end of August, you’re totally F’d. Kidding. But you better get crackin’ homie.

Read on: Article Continued on the Joe Biker Blog here.

The OVCX Diabolical Double

2008-08-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Masters aged crossers in the OVCX series this year may notice something a little different with the daily race schedule this year. The Cat 3, Masters 1/2/3 and Cat 1/2/3 race are back to back to back, Noon, 1pm and 2pm respectively. For Masters aged racers, with only a fifteen minute turn around between masters and open races, the double is now the diabolical double.

There’s a method to the madness. In the past, it’s been Masters 1/2/3 first, then Cat 3’s, then Elite 1/2/3. With the Cat 3 (B) race in between, it gave masters aged racers nearly an hour to change their stinky kit, recharge, down a coupla gels, relube the chain, stretch, pony up a 2nd entry fee and do the double. At the same time, Cat 3 level masters aged racers who could compete in the Cat 3 race and the Masters 1/2/3, faced a quick 15 minute turnaround. Consequently, masters aged Cat 3 racers usually chose one or the other. However, for some “middle of the pack” masters aged Cat 3 racers, that left a tough choice on race day: get whopped by doubling 1’s and 2’s in the Masters race or get smoked by younger racers in the Cat 3 race. This year, doing a double will require a 15 minute turnaround for masters aged racers of any level. In less words, the playing field is more level for the double. For those “middle of the pack” masters aged Cat 3 level races, no matter which race they enter, trust that the beatings will continue, but the competition should be a little more evenly matched in the Masters than in year’s past.

For more on the purse structure and points system of the OVCX visit www.ovcx.com. Note: the OVCX schedule changes for UCI race dates.

Written by: Joe Bellante BioWheels Racing - Read more from Joe on the "Joe Biker Blog"

Joe Biker and the Search for the Holy Tread

2008-08-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

If you want to make a cyclocross racer curl up into the fetal position, rock back and forth and suck their thumb, tell them that the can’t get their favorite tire. No! Wait! Chill! Your tires are available! It’s not you, it’s me. And, it’s not that the tires aren’t available any longer, I just switched to tubular wheels and the tire I like for racing in the OVCX, the Ritchey Excavator, doesn’t come in a tubular. It’s okay. Take your thumb out of your word hole.

After my wife uncurled me from the corner, I got to work to find a tubular that I think would work for me in the OVCX series. The operative words are “me” and “OVCX.” Everyone rides a bit different, I tend to lay the bike kind of low in tight corners, so euro style tires with small knobs and very little side tread like Tufo elites or ones with the file pattern are out. Again, that’s me…and that’s my bike sliding under the caution tape. Until the November rains come, most OVCX courses are relatively hard packed, mostly grass and I think have a lot of off camber turns. I need a tire that can hook up in tight grassy corners. Grass is slippery. Dugast's (pictured left) are pricey. What's an OVCX tubie newbie to do?

Read more here. BioWheels Joe Bellante’s article continued on the Joe Biker Blog. Kill time at work and Google “Joe Biker Blog”

Starting to Feel Like Cross Season

2008-07-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

It’s beginning to feel like cyclocross, isn’t it? The Tour de France is over, the magazine rack in the grocery store is littered with football preview issues and you’re starting to see college kids driving U-Haul trucks. Are you ready?

Speaking of magazines, have you seen the new issue of Cyclocross Magazine yet? There’s a feature article on Zipp OVCX Tour’s Bob Bobrow and the Louisville Kid’s Cross scene. Check it out, it’s their best issue ever.

Can’t write anything more right now. It’s almost cyclocross season, and Word Guy is not ready.

I Hate My Cyclocross Pit Bike

2008-07-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Let me save you another season of dreading flats, rolled tires, tangled chains, and bent shifters because you can’t bear the thought of jumping on your P-O-S pit bike. First off, your poor pit bike is a decent bike. You just treat it like it’s the nerd of all your bikes. After I got my custom Indy Fab Planet X, my Jamis Nova hit the “D” list in my stable. Last year I moved it up to “B” list status by getting the fit and feel as close to the IF as possible. Better yet, it became an advantage in races, rather than a last resort and didn’t cost a whole lot to do it. Keep in mind, fit and feel is more about how you feel on the bikes, not so much how the bikes handle the terrain. Pay more attention to the areas where your body touches or is affected by the bike. Before September is the time to get crackin’ on your CX rig setup. CX stuff is stacking up in the shops and you’ll most likely get first dibs on your friends old parts if you start asking around now. Rather than upgrading your race rig, it might make more sense to make both bikes as similar as possible. continued here

Joe Bellante writes the Joe Biker Blog on AOL and races for BioWheels Cincinnati.

Harbin Park '08 Course Map

2008-06-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

For those that are already out on their cross bikes at Harbin, here's a little teaser of what's to come in October:

Summer Crit

2008-06-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Sucking wheel at Ault Park in June

mind drifts to fall 'cross

Back to the front

Crazy and Stimulated

2008-06-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

So here it is, the official blog for the Zipp OVCX Tour's Greater Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival -- and they gave me the password. Are they crazy? What were they thinking? That's like giving your 17 year old son the keys to the Lamborghini...

Speaking of crazy, how's this: Three consecutive days of UCI and Zipp OVCX Cyclocross around Cincinnati in October. Like, the only other place they do stuff like that is in Belgium, right? There was one press release in May that barely mentioned the three-day weekend and, judging by the Google search results, lights went on all over the country. Apparently there are a lot people who "used to be" from Ohio and Kentucky, and they're already thinking "homecoming". I can't wait to see what happens when they make the big announcement.

But you're probably thinking that a promoter would have to be crazy (or stupid) to run a cyclocross on a Friday afternoon, right? I mean, who would be crazy enough to organize a bike race during a work day in America? Oh sure, there's Super Week, and the Tour of California, and the Tour of Georgia, and the Tours of Missouri & Utah & Pennsylvania, and just last week was Philly Week (which had races on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons). I know what you're thinking, "but those aren't normal races." Give yourself a star for getting right to the point(s). Because Cincinnati on October 10, 11, 12 aren't going to be "normal" cyclocross races. Think about it, are any of your local cyclocross promoters simultaneously working on their cyclocross races and their base tan? I didn't think so.

It's funny, even just 2-3 years ago, people used to say you had to be crazy to race 'cross. (Of course, those people were right, you DO have to be crazy.) But now, people also say you're crazy if you're a bike racer that doesn't do 'cross. So it would seem that you're pretty much screwed no matter what you do. But remember, there are different kinds of crazy. There's "crazy" like the fun-loving crazy guy that dresses fashionably trashy and always seems to leave parties with the hottest girl. And then there's "crazy" like the guy who thinks he's going to score by wearing last decade's clothes (because "you can't dressy trashy 'till you spend a lot of money") and refusing to go to parties because "that's not what I do". To each his own, but we all know who's going to be stimulated on Friday...

Speaking of stimulation, if you're not already a cross dresser this is your golden opportunity to be hip, trendy, cutting edge and dirty all at the same . Thanks to Uncle George, you have a shiny new economic stimulus check (you didn't spend it already did you?). The Prez is a big-time mountain bike rider, remember? Sheesh, he rides one of Lance's old Tour de France bikes on a trainer while flying on Air Force One. Do you think it's merely a coincidence that the government is giving couples just enough money to buy a bike but not nearly enough to do a home improvement project? The government gave you that money to stimulate the economy and save America from oil dependency, by golly! It's you patriotic duty to spend it on a new bike! Whatever your political views, you gotta admit this is the greatest excuse of all time to buy a racing bike, "I need to spend the money on gear Honey to, uhh, stimulate the economy. All our friends are doing it. And think how much money we'll save because everybody knows that cyclocross bikes are the perfect commuting bikes and it'll save the planet from global warming and protect that very expensive and delicate road racing bike I bought last year. And besides, you look totally hot in Wellington boots."

Cincy's gonna be the place to be when the cross festival kicks in. Are you crazy enough to dress fashionably trashy and be there?

Or are you going to stay home and wait for that casting call from Ashton Kutcher...

Chill.