Portland State Cycling Club participates in the River City Bicycles cyclo-cross crusade this weekend.
The Portland State Cycling Club will compete in the eighth series race of the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade at the Portland International Raceway on Sunday. The Cross Crusade series is a cyclo-cross race based in Portland. Since 2005, it has been one of the largest cyclo-cross series in the United States.
“I am very excited for the cyclo-cross crusade,” geography senior and club officer Michael Paxson said. “Even though I have never actually raced in a cyclo-cross event, I have a watched my fair share. I am planning on fixing up my mountain bike to race this upcoming weekend.”
share
Portland State Cycling Club participates in the River City Bicycles cyclo-cross crusade this weekend.
The Portland State Cycling Club will compete in the eighth series race of the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade at the Portland International Raceway on Sunday. The Cross Crusade series is a cyclo-cross race based in Portland. Since 2005, it has been one of the largest cyclo-cross series in the United States.
“I am very excited for the cyclo-cross crusade,” geography senior and club officer Michael Paxson said. “Even though I have never actually raced in a cyclo-cross event, I have a watched my fair share. I am planning on fixing up my mountain bike to race this upcoming weekend.”
Photo courtesy Pat Malach/Oregon Cycling ActionRough riders: The PSU cycling club will ride in the cyclo-cross series this weekend at Portland International Raceway. Competitors must bike over a variety of unique terrain.
Cyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing in which the participants do multiple laps of a short course on terrains involving pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills or obstacles. The competitions usually take place in the autumn or winter season. They test the rider’s aer-obic endurance and bike handling skills.
Sunday’s competition will include various categories ranging from expert and masters (ages 35 and above) to beginners and kids (ages 12 and under). All bikes, including mountain bikes, ’cross bikes, fixed gear, cruisers and unicycles are legal.
The Portland State Cycling Club has been around since 2004, and although it is a rec club, it now caters more to racing. The club is a part of the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference, which organizes road, mountain and cyclo-cross events in the Pacific Northwest. The club’s season begins at the end of March, so in the meantime the club is focused on training and base work.
“Cycling is a very fun sport to get into,” Paxson said. “It is one of the sports you can continue for the rest of your life, which is pretty appealing. We have one of the best teams in the conference. In this sense, we have both good riders, but more importantly there is a great atmosphere.”
Interested students can stop by the Bike Hub, email an officer or check the club’s website at cycling.groups.pdx.edu. Riders are required to bring a helmet, a working bike, riding clothes and a flat repair kit on the rides.
