Halloweenie

For Halloween I'm going as Erik Tonkin. He's the only good cross racer with a beard you know, and what a beard it is!

Yet another orange cross bike

Notice the integrated cow bell! Now you can have the effect of insane
fanatics on every ride!

SOUTHERN CROSS!

As if cyclocross wasn't hard enough already. 55Nine Performance is hosting the first endurance cyclocross event in the Southeast on January 24. That's the weekend after the Florida State Championship race.

Mostly gravel roads with some 'cross-style goodies thrown in to keep things interesting, the race will start and finish at Mulberry Gap in Ellijay, GA. The CX course will be completely on Mulberry Gap's 15 acre property with the gravel road section taking you out onto the National Forest roads.

WHAT IS THE COURSE LIKE?

Hard. There will be climbing, descending, a couple run-ups, and "natural barriers". Do not underestimate the difficulty of this event. The weather, if nasty, can add another element of difficulty. The course will be around 50-ish miles with the largest percentage of it on gravel roads.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY RACE ENTRY?

T-shirt, a killer race, free beer, hot showers, and a post-race HOMEMADE ALL YOU CAN EAT CHILI meal (vegetarians will be accommodated).

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Entry fees are $60 per person.

WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES?

Open Women, Open Men, Singlespeed, Fixed Gear

WHAT DO I WIN?

First place in each category will win equal cash monies and prizes. 2nd and 3rd place will win prizes.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

There is a limit of 50 racers for the 2009 event. Don't delay, register here.

Revised schedule

Some of the races have been consolidated to cut down on the amount of driving for everyone. We'll also start a few weeks later, so no excuses if you're not in shape!

• Nov. 22, 23: Tallahassee
• Dec. 6: Orlando
• Dec. 7: Clermont
• Dec. 14: Dade City
• Jan. 4: Miami (Oleta Park)
• Jan. 10: Lakeland
• Jan. 17: West Palm (Dyer Park)
• Jan. 18: Hobe Sound (Jonathan Dickinson Park) Florida Cyclocross State Championship Event

Visit FloridaCycling for all the details and a breakdown of the series points structure.

Waffles and 'cross! Yum!

I've received word from Dade City race promoter Dan Millstead that The Belgian Pearl should be on hand with their authentic Belgian-style waffles. The one above is what I sampled at the Bicycle Bash and all I can say is "Wow!" You guys are really going to love these.

Dan says the course looks great and will even roll through one of the barns on the ranch!

More USGP Louisville photos

Packet pickup was at Louisville Slugger Field. Hanky likes baseball!

The KT Prototype team car loaded up for two riders. Contents included 4 bikes on the roof; plus 10 wheels inside, 2 trainers, 3 helmets, 1 pit kit, 1 pump, 3 pairs of shoes, clothing for any possible wedder and a partridge in a pear tree.

this is an horrible photo of Florida Rider Kristen Bowers from Team Atomic. She made us proud fighting hard in the Elite Women's race.

Elite Women were tearing it up!

Katarina Nash pounding it to the victory on day 1.

Thank for driving KT.

U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross weekend

The GP was great in Louisville! I raced hard and was able to spend some time with some good friends from the Ole Miss Track/ CC days. Thanks to Ben, Laura, Tara & Wyatt Chisman. Also big Props to Dominik, Heather and Avery Fuhrmann.

All photos courtesy of Dominik Fuhrmann & Hank Campbell 

New whip

I will be doing much suffering at the mercy of this beast come November 7.

• Last of the LeMond Poprads
• Orbea carbon fork
• Deda bar/stem
• Salsa Shaft post
  
• 2x9 105 drivetrain
• 46/36 front rings on SRAM Rival crank
  
• Avid Shorty's

Wheel/tire quiver:

• Race: Super secret bling wheels (coming soon) with Vittoria XG tubular front and XN tubular (new 290 tpi) rear.
• Training/Backup: Ksyrium Elites with Michelin Mud 2 front and Maxxis Larsen rear. (Clincher)
• Mud: Same Kysriums with green Michelin Mud's front and rear. Oh yeah!
• Singletrack/Monstercross: Deore front hub to Mavic rim with 29x1.9 IRC tire, 105 rear hub to Mavic rim with old Bontrager wire bead cross tire.

What are you riding this season? Send in your pics or add to the comments!

We're back!

Start gluing those tubulars and scraping last year's muck off your cross bike, the season is only one month away. There are nine races on the calendar this year and there are some new courses to test your skills.

• Nov 9: Clermont
• Nov 22, Nov 23: Tallahassee
• Dec 7: Orlando
• Dec 14: Dade City
• Jan 4: Miami (Oleta Park)
• Jan 10: Lakeland
• Jan 17: West Palm (Dyer Park)
• Jan 18: Hobe Sound (Jonathan Dickinson Park) Florida Cyclocross State Championship Event

Can't wait to get those tires dirty!