Midweek's Teusday Cyclocross Clinics & Races @ Centennial Park, Etobicoke

Cross at Centennial Park, Etobicoke begins September 4th. Start time now moved to 6:00 PM (disregard what the map says below). The clinic will continue every Tuesday until at least the end of November. You can start at any time and continue as long as you wish.

What is cyclo-cross?

If you like mud, riding in the dirt and having a blast, cyclocross is for you. It combines road cycling, mountain bike riding, cross country and hurdling and was originally created as a winter training program for road cyclists. While it is competitive, there is a huge "personal-best" component to it. The biggest benefits to a cyclist are: better bike handling skills, sense of personal accomplishment, and loads of fun.

What do we offer?

A place to train, and experienced, accomplished cross riders to learn from. Special sessions for youth 10 to 16 years of age. Course changes every week and is set up to enable you to work on those elements that you feel you need to work on. Basically, it is a training facility. Usually the evening ends with a 3 to 5 lap "personal best" type race. The first few weeks will be basically flat and rolling hill courses; please see map below for tonight's practice area. As the light fails we will switch to the ski hill. Washrooms are in the chalet. Post clinic: Tim Hortons for hot chocolate and conversation.

Instruction and guidance provided by expert cyclocross racers Carolyne Haille, Peter Morse, Lorne Anderson and Scott Doel.

Course Content:

On the bike skills: Stretching, positioning, transitions & hurdles (dismount, carrying, running, remounting, accelerating, how to not go over the handlebars, gearing (what, when), braking, cornering through technical sections, passing (handling traffic jams), straight riding off camber, cornering on off camber, descending steep, descending shallow, hills (when to ride, when to run), riding over obstacles, riding sand and mud, tire pressure (matching to terrain), training exercises to do at home.

In the chalet (after riding): the cross bike set-up, setting up a mountain bike for cross, prepping the bike, brakes, gearing, at race bike clean, race rules specific to cyclo-cross, clothing, feeding the body for cross, recovery, video review (what you are doing right, what needs more work).

What do you need?

A bike: typically a mountain or cyclecross-specific bike. For the first few weeks a road bike will do; but please understand you will be riding on grass, dirt and gravel, none of which are smooth or wheel friendly. Tires that give you traction. Cross, mountain or running shoes. Road cycling shoes don't have the grip you need to run in. A quality helmet that meets UCI/CCA standards. Gloves, and as the season progresses, warm clothing.

Weekly fee is $9 per person ($5 Midweek Club member) which goes to covering the cost of turning on the lights and the park permit.

Participants also need either a UCI licence or an OCA Citizen's Permit. One day permits will be sold to those wishing to try cross for the first time; please recall that you are only allowed to purchase three one-day permits during a calendar year. Note to attendees of Midweek's May-June Cycling Skills and April to August Learn-to-Race programs: your club membership and citizen's permit are valid for this program. Just bring it with you and present it upon sign-in.

Weather caveat:

Craig hates standing around in the rain, so if AccuWeather.com predicts more than light rain for the 7 to 8 pm time period at Toronto airport then the session is cancelled.