It's That Time Again!

The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter and that can mean only one thing! It's Cyclocross time.

For anyone who would like to try the sport for the first time or who would like a little practice and a work-out, we will be throwing a little practice race on Sunday, Nov. 2nd at 2:00 at Muse Park in Jackson, Tn. (Email if you need directions)

We'll take time to work with anyone who would like to work on their 'cross technique, then we'll run a couple of practice laps before a short "race" around the loop. The course will be roughly the same one used for our races last year. Mountain bikes are welcome!

This should help everyone get primed for the season and we'll throw some more races later if you guys want!

Don't forget the State Championships are in Memphis again this year! Outdoors Inc. State Cyclocross Championships

And there is a race in nearby McEwen, Tn next weekend Hoss of 'Cross

Hope to see you all there!

Outdoors Inc Cyclocross Race

More Pics From the Outdoors Inc Cyclocross Champs from Driven Magazine

More Pics!

Here are some of Greg Johnson's shot's from the race.

Jackson Spokes Cyclocross Pics

Sunday's Results

A Race

Russ Griffin

Cal Hill

John Carr

Ryan Bosio

B Race CX4

Jeremy Hall

Jarrett Kinder

Hugh Colvin

Michael Modesto

B Race CX3

Edward Krei

John Carr

John Schmidt

William Morehead

B Race 35-44

Tom Spence

Matt Joiner

Cal Hill

Butch Carter

B Race 45+

Kenny Marshall

Greg Casteel

Thomas Gee

Chris Stafford

Single Speed

Russell Griffin

Jeremy Nagoshiner

B Womens

Andrea Creasy

Valerie Nagoshiner

Some Race Pics

Here's some pics from his weekends races from Ryan Bosio. Saturday's pics and Sunday's A race pics by Andrea- the Rest were by Ryan.
Thanks guys!

Jackson Cyclocross Saturday Pics

Jackson Cyclocross Sunday Pics

Race Results- Saturdays Race

The weather turned out perfect and the course was actually mostly dry. Here's the results and hopefully we'll have some pics up soon.

A RACE

1 Bert Hull

2 Forrest Owens

3 Cal Hill

4 Matt Joiner

B RACE

CX3

1 Edward Krei

2 Gibb Morehead

CX4

1 Ryan Bosio

2 Jeremy Hall

3 Jarret Kinder

4 Hugh Colvin

5 Butch Carter

6 John Bowman

Masters

35-44

1 Tom Spence

2 Dustin Finley

3 Beau Rathburn

4 Ray Howard

45+

1 Kenny Marshall

2 Greg Casteel

3 Tom Gee

4 Chris Stafford

Single Speed

1 Jeremy Nagoshiner

Women

1 Valerie Nagoshiner

The Race Info!

JACKSON SPOKES CYCLOCROSS

Saturday Oct. 27th and Sunday Oct. 28th
Muse Park
Jackson, TN


EVENTS
12:00pm A Race - 50min. -USCF Pro, Cat CX1, CX2, and CX3

11:00am B Race - 40min. -USCF CX3 And CX4, Women, Juniors, S.S.
Divided into Wmn., Jr., Sr. (18-34) Master (35-44), Master (45+)

*Race Director reserves the right to combine categories and races*

FEES: $20 a Race, Race day registration only, opens at 9:00. USAC license req. One-day's will be available for $10/day.

PRIZES: Prizes for top 3 finishers in each division– Cash to top 3 A racers (Sr. and Master) and top 3 Wmn. - $50/30/20

REQUIREMENTS: USCF rules for cyclocross will apply. Mtn. Bikes allowed w/o barends

DIRECTIONS: MUSE PARK– From I-40 –Take Exit 82 South– Follow N. Highland south for 1.4 miles to Hwy 412 (N.Parkway) Take Left on Hwy 412.

Muse Park is 1.2 miles on the left.

COURSES: Both courses will be traditional ‘cross courses. Details will be available on the website.

SPONSORS: Outdoors Inc – Bicycle City – Moe’s Southwest Grill

Alpha Q - Greenway Nursery

For More Info Call- Outdoors Inc. 1.731.512.1766

'Cross at Murph's this weekend!

This Sunday, Oct 7, at 2:00pm, we will race again at Richard Murphy's house for the first time of the 07/08 season.

Everyone that raced last year had a blast and we hope to share the fun with more folks this time around. The .75 mile course should be in great shape and is a perfect course to learn the sport. 'Cross bikes will have a slight advantage but mountain bikes will do just fine. This is a great chance to try the sport and get ready for next fall. If you can get there a little early we'll have quick lesson for anyone new.

$0 entry fee-

Race starts at 2:00 - We'll start out with a practice lap first then start the real race. Race will be 35 minutes or so.

To get to Richard's house take the Hwy 45 Bypass (Exit 80 North) north to Humboldt- When you get to Humboldt take a left on Carriage Ln. then a left on Woodgate- House # 1312

Call 512-1766 for more info about the race

Even The Commercial Appeal is into 'cross!

Cylocross is ideal off-season cyclist activity

Monday, October 1, 2007

Competitive bicycle riding and running are difficult enough, so what would happen if you combined the two?

You would end up with a grueling form of bike racing designed to test the rider's ability to endure and overcome pain. In a word, you would get cyclocross.

Cyclocross races are typically done on road bikes outfitted with knobby tires and the courses are short circuits between one-half and one mile long, usually laid out on a grassy expanse that includes short, steep hills and strategically placed barriers.

Cyclists jump from the bike in advance of the barrier and, bike in hand, leap over the obstacle and remount the bicycle without slowing down.


Cyclists race around the cyclocross track like this for about 45 minutes.

Since 2005, Memphis cyclists Joel Glasgow and Robert Taylor have been hosting informal cyclocross races in Midtown's Toby Park. Riders trickle in around dusk, drop $5 and race for 40 minutes around an impromptu course that circles baseball diamonds, traverses gravel roads and challenges riders to trudge through strength-sapping grassy fields.

Taylor has been a part of the cyclocross community in Memphis for more 20 years, since Joe Royer, co-owner of Outdoors Inc., started cyclocross racing in Memphis in 1986 with a race at Shelby Farms.

Twenty-one years later, Royer's race -- the Outdoors Inc. Mid-South Cyclocross Championship Race -- is world-renowned.

The City of Memphis Chamber of Commerce has featured the race as a major attraction in its Relocation Guide and Professional Cyclocross National Champion Paul Curley has called it "a race worth traveling to."

Cyclocross originated as a form of off-season training for road-bike racers looking to stay fit and stay on the bike during the winter -- the "dead season" of cycling.

It is an ideal off-season activity for cyclists as the races are typically short, and jumping off the bike to leap over a barrier "brings your feet back" from the numbing chill of a cold winter wind. Plus, the occasional jog keeps the heart rate high and the insides warm.

Cyclocross gained more converts in the early 1990s as mountain bike riders joined the ranks of off-season road racers in this chilly test of endurance.

"There used to be eight people lined up at the cyclocross starting line," Taylor recollects. Now, cyclists from all over the country travel to Memphis to join a cadre of Bluff City cyclocrossers at Harbor Town's Greenbelt Park, each seeking victory in the Outdoors Inc. Cyclocross Championship Race.

"Cross is not an every man sport," Royer cautioned. "It's a training exercise." Taylor agreed, saying its "the hardest thing to do on the bike. It's very demanding."

As with any form of athletic competition, cyclocross racing requires intense physical preparation and unfaltering dedication, if one intends to compete seriously.

But beginners to cyclocross have the opportunity to push their physical limitations, and both runners and cyclists might find it just the sport they've been looking for.

The informal and unofficial races at Toby Park offer first-timers an excellent opportunity to try cyclocross racing. For the racers among us, October races provide an opportunity to condition for the Outdoors Inc. Cyclocross Championship on Nov. 11th.

Robert Taylor recalls that the neatest thing he's seen at a cyclocross race was "a 10-year-old at the race trying to lift his 30- or 40-pound bike over the barricades."

In the spirit of the determined 10-year-old, join us this winter for Memphis cyclocross.

Memphian Anthony Siracusa is a student at Rhodes College, a member of Memphis' Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, executive director of Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop and a daily cycling commuter. Contact him at revolutionsmemphis.com or comment on his column at our Healthy Memphis blog at commercialappeal-web.com/health.

More info:

Joe Royer, co-owner of Outdoor's Inc., will present a program on cyclocross at 7 p.m. today at Earnestine and Hazel's. Info: memphishightailers. clubexpress.com

Cyclocross Races at Toby Park will be on Tuesday, Oct. 9 and Oct. 16. Races begin at 7p.m. The entry fee is $5 per race.

Outdoors Inc. Mid-South Cyclocross Championship: Nov. 11 at Greenbelt Park. Registration at 8 a.m., beginners' race at 9 a.m., experts' race at 10 a.m. For info: outdoorsinc.com.

Just to get everyone ready!

It's 'Cross Time AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

It's time to get ready for Cyclocross season again! We have a lot of news for all the 'cross fanatics in West Tn. and we'll keep the blog up to date so keep checking back for updates as the season progresses.

First of all- The Jackson Spokes will be putting on two USA Cycling/TBRA Permitted Cyclocross Races at Muse Park on Oct.27 and 28. The courses have been laid out and we can promise you they are going to be a blast. We'll post the flier here in a couple of days.

Second- TBRA has announced it's 2007/2008 Cyclocross series. This will be the first year that 'cross will have it's own TBRA series championships so it should be a big boost to the sport in TN. The Jackson Spokes races will be part of the series. Go to www.tbra.org for info.

And Finally!- the Cyclocross at Murph's series is starting up soon. The first two races are Sun. Oct 7 and Sun. Oct 14 at 2:00pm. We'll add dates as soon as we work out the schedule.

.:Last Race at Murph's - Sunday Feb. 25 - 2:00pm:.

This may be your last chance to come out and try 'cross racing 'til fall. We have big plans for 'cross in Jackson (including a couple of official races in Oct.) so this is a great chance to get in on it. If you need directions or have a question call us at 512-1766.

Cyclocross at Murph's Race #2 Recap

With 16 racers, last Sundays race was a little bit more successful as far as attendance goes. The fact that the weather was perfect might have had a little bit to do with it. The temps were in the 50's and the course was perfect. This time around we added a few laps for a total race time around 40 minutes.

Results (top 5 at least- we lost track after that)
Men
1. *
2.Bill B.
3.Gib M.
4.Butch
5.Murph

* winner in dispute over positive result for illegal tofu doping- (b sample is being tested)

Women
1.Jennifer M.

.:Cyclocross at Richard's -Race 2:.

This Sunday, Feb. 11, at 2:00pm, we will race again at Richard Murphy's house and it looks like the weather will be quite a bit better.
The forecast is for partly cloudy skies and a high of 44 degrees- Perfect for 'cross.

Everyone that raced last time had a blast and we hope to share the fun with more folks this time around. The .75 mile course should be in great shape and is a perfect course to learn the sport. 'Cross bikes will have a slight advantage but mountain bikes will do just fine. This is a great chance to try the sport and get ready for next fall. If you can get there a little early we'll have quick lesson for anyone new.

$0 entry fee-

Race starts at 2:00 - We'll start out with a practice lap first then start the real race. Race will be 35 minutes or so.

To get to Richard's house take the 45 Bypass north to Humboldt- Take a left on
Carriage Ln. then a left on Woodgate- House # 1312

Call 512-1766 for more info about the race

Special Offer

Greetings,

First let me congratulate everyone on the tremendous response that we have had with the club apparel set. We have enough jersey, vest, and jacket orders to qualify for the next discount level. This is a good thing since I forgot to plan for the 9.25% tax that we will absorb when we buy all of these clothes. The discount will cut the tax burden in half. Now I need to get to the next discount level on the shorts and bibs. Here is the offer.

I need at least 12 more orders for shorts/bibs. If we can make that goal then you can purchase a additional pairs of shorts for $39.00 each or a pair of bibs at $45.00. I need to know ASAP because Brad and I are down to the purchase order and sending him a check for half the purchase cost. FYI: Our purchase amount is going to exceed $10,000.00. Please fill out the attached order form and drop it off at Bicycle City or Outdoors, Inc. I will need to know by next Friday. I must have the commitment for the additional order for the price offered to be in effect.

Since we have met the goal for the jerseys, if you would like to order additional jerseys you can also order these at $44.00 each. This price is good to any member but must be in by next Friday, Feb. 9, 2007.

-Greg

-DEADLINE is Near!-

The deadline is near for the Jackson Spokes jersey and shorts order. If you haven't turned in your order, bring it in to either Bicycle City or Outdoors Inc. today or tomorrow!

.: Cyclocross - Jan 28 :.

Five brave souls battled it out against each other and the bitter cold (25 degrees) at this weekend's cyclocross race at Richard Murphy's house.

Ken McCorkle, Chris Winters, Ray Howard, Matt Joiner, and Richard Murphy raced for thirty plus minutes over the 7/10 mile course that covered everything from singletrack to grass field to a little bit of driveway. The course was in excellent condition and will only get better as it gets broken in (no that wasn't really it in the previous post, but it WAS nice.) Several spectators even came out to enjoy the racing as Matt narrowly eked out a win against Richard. They were followed in shortly by Ray and Chris, with Ken rounding out the top five.

The next race is scheduled for Sun. Feb 11 at 2:00pm at the same location.

On the other cyclocross front, Tom Gee and Gib and Jennifer Morehead raced at the final races of the Columbia cyclocross series. I haven't seen the results yet, so you guys write in and let us know how you did.

The Course Is Almost Ready!

Here's a quick preview of the course at Richard's.
Obviously, we were able to acquire a quick sponorship from Shimano.

The fencing took a while to put up but it'll be worth it!
See you all Sunday- Tell your friends!

..:: Cyclocross at Richard's house ::..

We are proud to be hosting Humboldt's first ever (somewhat serious) cyclocross
race this weekend!

We'll race this Sunday (Jan. 28) at 2pm at Richard Murphy's house. The course
is about a mile in length and not very technical (but still fun enough for you
MTB folks). We'll ride for 40 minutes and it will be very laid back-just for fun- race.

It will be a great chance for anyone to try out 'cross racing (The plan
is to have 2 'cross races in Jackson in fall '07). There's no charge to race and
there may even be a few prizes. Mountain bikes are more than welcome!

To get to Richard's house take the 45 Bypass north to Humboldt- Take a left on
Carriage Ln. then a left on Woodgate- House # 1312

Call 512-1766 for more info about the race

It's Time For Weight Training

CYCLING PERFORMANCE TIPS

WEIGHT TRAINING

Cycling regularly is great for lower body strength, but leaves a lot to be desired for the upper body muscle groups. And this can be a major liability - both for roadies who need that extra edge in road competitions and for mountain bikers who need this upper body strength to lift, jump, or just plain muscle heavier bikes over rough terrain and obstacles.

A reasonable approach is to focus on building strength (not bulk) in the winter and then backing off to just maintain it during the peak riding season. Strength from the weight room will help with on the bike performance, but 3 sets of leg presses at 400 pounds is different from the riding demands of roughly 30,000 pedal strokes during a century. When you're riding, resistance is in the range of 10-40 pounds per pedal revolution. So for the riding season you need to convert that weight-room strength to cycling-specific power with intervals, training time trials, and hill work.

WHY "MUSCLE UP"?
1.The upper body, including abdominal muscles, is an integral part of the pedal stroke. A strong torso provides the rigidity to deliver maximum power from the quads to the pedal. On a level stretch, a strong rider will barely move their upper body while those who are tiring will rock their pelvis on the saddle. And watch a group of road riders in a sprint or a technical single track rider pulling and rocking their shoulders and handlebars. This motion actually levers the bike, adding to the power of their legs on the pedals.

2. Muscle strength in the quads and legs can mean the difference between walking and riding up a short (10 to 15 pedal stroke) hill.

3. A strong upper body gives additional protection for those falls that are part of the sport.

4. Muscle strength and endurance help prevent the fatigue of the constant jarring and correction that are part of a long descent - and in turn this freshness helps to maintain sharp reflexes and technical

For more info check out - http://www.cptips.com/weights.htm or http://www.altaalpina.org/juniors/Strength.htm

The First Step

Here it is- The first step into the new year and a resurgence of the Jackson Spokes Cycling Club. 2007 is primed to be year of growth and excitement for cycling in the city of Jackson. Our plan is to use this website and blog as a hub for all our members to connect for rides, friendship, and planning.

We've worked hard this winter to create our new jersey and they will arrive just in time for the start of the weekly group rides!

We have more exciting news to tell but we'll wait a little while to release the details, but here is a little preview...

Coming in 2007
-New jerseys, shorts and more
-A new venue and date for the Summit Quest MTB race
-More team time trials
-A possible road racing training series
-Cyclocross!!!
-A new local century
-And More!!!

Stay Tuned!