Remember how you felt riding your bike as a kid? Odds are you spent hours on your bike each day. It was your ticket to freedom as you patrolled your neighborhood in search of your next youthful adventure. The responsibilities anchoring adulthood rob us of the time to break away from the schedule of life to act like a kid again.
Many people who come into Epic Bike and Sport preface their shopping experience with the meekish phrase “I’m interested in getting a new bike……but I’m not a racer or anything like that.” “Wonderful!” I respond. “You’re just the customer we’ve been waiting for!” Truth is it seems as if the bicycle industry has done itself a disservice by creating an impression the only cyclists allowed are hardcore racers. Fact is cycling has always been about having fun, just like when you were a kid.
Imagine this. It is a crisp fall afternoon. Dozens of people are riding their bikes around the park. Kids are playing on the swings as leaves blow off the trees. Food is carefully laid out on the picnic tables. Some guy is talking on a loud speaker while more people are registering for something. Sounds like fun? You look closer and you realize a bike race must be in progress. Some of the riders look like they know what they’re doing, others don’t. Someone looks 12 while someone else looks to be pushing retirement age. Some wear colorful jerseys while others are in t-shirts and sweatpants. The bikes they ride are of all different colors, shapes and sizes. Hey, that bike looks like the one you have in the garage! Upon further observation it is clear a race is going on although you have no idea who is in first and who is in last…..it is just a bunch of people riding around the park. Curiosity gets the best of you and you decide to watch. This is a race like you’ve never seen before. They ride on grass, through gravel, on the road, through mud and they have to get off their bikes to jump over plywood barriers. And why are they trying to ride through what looks to be a vacated sand volleyball pit?
Cyclocross racing is one of the fastest growing segments of cycling. It is easy to understand why. You get to ride like a kid again! People from all backgrounds and ages participate. Some ride to win but most ride to stay fit, release the tensions in life, spend time with friends and test themselves. The many categories and limited course length make it easy to fit in to any number of local events. Triathlons have exploded in popularity in large part due to the limited embarrassment factor. The number of heats, age groups, and race distances make it impossible for the casual observer to understand who is in first or last. Spectators simply cheer for their friends, family and anyone else who flies by their spot along the route. Cyclocross race participation is increasing due to some of the same factors. Come on out and give it a try. Think of it as you next youthful adventure.