60 Minutes or 60 Miles?

Cross season is just about upon us. Mud, cold, cowbells, pain, and beer tents (or at least small coolers filled with hoppy goodness). I've done a handful of cross races in my life, and they hurt. HURT BAD! Cross is far from my normal long and slower every year style of riding and racing, but I suppose it is great way to try to get faster, mix up disciplines, and enjoy some burning pain without racing for 6+ hours or contracting an STD. With cross you race for 45 to 60 minutes, cool down, warm up and then enjoy a few beers while watching other folks swallow their tongue and turn themselves inside out for 60 minutes.

But for those who want their cross and mileage too there's XXCross season (I made that term up by the way. Not like copyrighted, penalty of law type made up, but made up nonetheless). I'm talking about dirt road, double track, hike-a-bike, shit road type racing done on cross bikes. I've talked about it here before, and I'm talking about it again, because many of these races are coming up this fall.

First up there's the legendary Three Peaks cyclocross race in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It's the UK's (dare I say Worlds?) original "let's ride 'cross bikes for a stupid long time over some stupid tough terrain" race.

Three Peaks 1961. 10 years before I was even born! I love it!

This race is for cross bikes only, mountain bikes are NOT permitted. The course is 38 miles in length with 5,000 feet of climbing and includes a number of footpaths and private land areas that 364 days a year are closed to cyclists, EXCEPT on race day. This is one of the most popular events on the UK cycling calendar and draws a huge number of racers, spectators and coverage.

Last year in XXC #4 Phil Ingham wrote a piece titled "The Ramblings Of A Three Peaks Obsessive." It was one of the funniest, and possibly one of the best pieces I've had a chance to work on for XXC. Check it out.

This year's Three Peaks will go down on September 26th. For more information on this classic event check out the Three Peaks website, and the Three Peaks Cyclocross Blog for a ton (or is that stone?) of tips, pics, videos and more!

The same weekend as the original Three Peaks race, Pirate Race Productions is hosting Three Peaks USA in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. The race will benefit the Mountain Alliance, which is a group committed to working with high school aged youth in Watauga County by helping them to realized their learning and leadership potential. Heck the students will even be out working as course marshalls, and aid station workers. Pretty sweet! The kids learn some stuff AND get exposed to the best sport in the world.

Three Peaks USA is 46.5 miles in length with over 5,500 feet of elevation gain. There will also be a 21.5 mile option for folks. Mountain bikes will have their own class for this one. For more information check out the Three Peaks USA website or for up to the minute updates join the Three Peaks USA Facebook page. To register visit BikeReg.com.

Then we have Iron Cross VIII- America's longest 'cross race! 62 miles of dirt, pavement and rocky Michaux State Forest love. Iron Cross was possibly the first race in the U.S. to take the Three Peaks format and get all freaky with it. This race continues to grow in popularity every year and attracts cross racers, mountain bikers, and roadies alike.

Iron Cross VII winner Jeremiah Bishop doing a little hike-a-bike.

Iron Cross VIII happens on Sunday, October 10th and is limited to 300 racers and filling up fast, so get on it and register now at BikeReg.com!

Then of course this winter there will be Southern Cross down in Georgia (date TBD), and then Barry Roubaix up in Michigan (soon to be my new home state) in late spring, OK, NOW I'm treading into Gravel racing with the Barry and that's a WHOLE other post/story/blathering, etc. Of course I can't forget the Hilly Billy in the summer.... Did you notice there is no REAL off season now?? Eeesh!

Hope you all have a chance to check out some of these XXCross races (yeah, I'm still using that term, get used to it). I'm sure I missed a few that are coming up or yet to be born, so if you know of an event where folks use cross bikes, act like cross racers, but race closer to 60 miles rather than 60 minutes, feel free to contact me. Also if you want to share pics or words of triumph, pain, remorse and/or regret from any of these races drop me a line, earn some shwag, and get your name in huge flashing neon lights (actually just in the mag, sorry).

Stay tuned to XXC Magazine for more on these races in the coming weeks and months.

Jason Mahokey
xxcmag.com

Photo credits: Murrysville Cross- Jason Mahokey. Three Peaks- Unknown. Iron Cross VII- Don Pagano.

EDIT: I did miss one! Brian W., sent me some info on the Devil's Backbone Mountain Cross race. 65 miles, 50% road, 50% dirt, and about 6,600 feet of climbing in the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you want to read what Brian had to say about the race, and check out the course and profile, go to his blog: BIKEWRIGHT. Thanks for the tip Brian.