It's a little bit mountain biking and a little bit road cycling mixed with a whole lot of chaos.
Cyclocross, a fast-growing branch of cycling that combines elements of road and mountain biking, returns to Fresno this month with the 2009 Homegrown Cyclocross Series at Woodward Park.
The five-race series begins Oct. 25.
Cyclocross blends the speed of road biking and the ruggedness of mountain biking with a pinch of steeplechase. Races are on dirt, grass and sand -- often during the same lap -- with short sections that require riders to dismount and carry their bikes through thick mud or over man-made obstacles.
"It's a lot of fun, but I can't really explain why because it hurts," joked series organizer Chris DuBurg.
A rider leads a pack of cyclocross riders up the hill as he carries his bike over a hurdle during an expert division race at Woodward Park.
A forerunner to mountain biking, cyclocross was invented by European road racers in the early 1900s looking for a way to stay fit during the cold and rainy winter months.
The sport is huge in cycling-mad countries such as Belgium but has also surged in popularity in the U.S. to the point where most West Coast cities have their own cyclocross series.
"Mountain biking, you have plenty of opportunities to pause along the trail," said Dave Maddux of Fresno, who races with sons Austin, 14, and Jack, 12. "Cyclocross is definitely going to punish you. There's no letting up for the entire time."
This is the sixth year that cyclocross races have been held at Woodward Park and the second since the series was taken over by Central California Off-Road Cyclists, a Fresno-based mountain biking club.
DuBurg, the club's president, said he's expecting an even larger turnout than the 100 cyclists who attended last year's races.
"It's a really big mix of roadies and mountain bikers," he said. "We have a lot of roadies show up that would never come to a mountain bike race."
The cyclocross course sits in the park's southwest corner, just off the main entrance on Audubon Drive. All races are timed, with experts (A's) racing for 60 minutes, intermediates (B's) for 45 and beginners (C's) for 35.
The course includes four 16-inch-tall barriers, two forced run-ups on a sandy hill, a grass section, a pavement section and a mud pit.
Cyclocross bikes are similar to road bikes except they use knobby tires. But most of the field, especially those in the beginner class, ride hard-tail or full-suspension mountain bikes.
"We had a girl out there last year on a beach cruiser," DuBurg said.
Because the course is tucked into one corner of the park, the races are spectator-friendly.
Hang around the mud pit long enough and you're practically guaranteed entertainment.
"We had a guy last year fall in the mud pit and bring down three other people with him," DuBurg said. "He was dressed as a ninja, so we started calling it the Ninja Hole."
Costumes and other forms of general zaniness are encouraged. To promote more female participation, women can race Oct. 25 for just $5. (And if any guy wants to race in a dress, he'll only be charged $5, too.)
"It's just a good time," Maddux said. "The CCORC guys put on a great event."
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