Saturday Update

48 person hours of work, 750 stakes, 15,000 feet of tape, and we'll be back at it early tomorrow morning. The course looks great. The rain softened the grass just a little so we're not riding on bumpy green concrete. The grass isn't slick at all. The river bank section is slick in spots. Confidence will help, but don't get too confident. There is no mud pit. Bikes and wheels will definitely get dirty, but I rode it yesterday in jeans and today is a little drier yet. It is a little narrower at times than I would normally accept, but we are severely limited as to where and where we cannot ride. The wall will have you cursing. See you tomorrow. Should be awesome.

Friday Update

The course is in great shape and the forecast looks perfect. The rain this week is a godsend and means we'll actually get to race on grass instead of green concrete. The course by the way is different than years past.

The rain does make the course a little fragile. We are guests of the City of Winnipeg and responsible for any damage we create. Pre-riding will therefore be limited. I'm aiming for 11:30 or 12:00 on Sunday. Check at the registration desk for when the course is open. Please, absolutely no pre-riding on the course before then. Violators will be disqualified or given time penalties.

Forms

Waiver here.

Grocery Shopping

Ringing cowbells takes a lot of energy. At CrossTastic we've always made sure we feed the masses; free coffee, hot chocolate, and european wieners and sausages for everyone who comes out; racers, spectators, volunteers... everyone. 8 dozen Oktoberfest sausages, 10 dozen European wieners, 5 dozen jumbo hotdogs, 2 dozen vegan dogs for the veg-heads, litres of German Ketchup, 3 kinds of German mustard, litres and litres of coffee and hot chocolate... I used to worry about choosing whole wheat or white hotdog buns. Now I just walk into the store and take everything they have; white and whole wheat.

Eat, drink, and be merry on us. And ring those cowbells!

Citizen Correction

I noticed an error in the race fees for citizen riders. If you've pre-registered you'll be credited $10 back when you sign in.

The Last Open Race

Sunday is the last open race of the cross season; open in that anyone without a race licence can compete in the open race.

This is a bit of an experiment for the cross committee. Open races cost the organizer a lot of money in additional insurance. We'd like to offer more open races, but they often put us in the hole. Turnout at this race will determine how many open races we continue to offer. If you'd like to see more open races drag your friends out.

Registration is Open

2012 Cross Provincials Details

Cross-Tastic IV

Sunday October 21, 2012

Location: Whittier Park

Provincials are different than every other cyclocross race of the season. In the other races riders compete in categories that are determined by ability. In Provincials categories are determined by age and gender (except the Kidz and Open/Citizen races). Remember that all categories are based on your age as of the END of 2013.

You must possess a race licence (not a citizen licence) to participate in the championship races. Out of province racers are welcome, but only Manitoba registered racers are eligible for medals. Non championship races will be held for those without a race licence.

Open Races (no licence required)
12:30 - Kidz Fun Race     - 2 mini laps
  1:00 - Open/Citizens race     - 30 minutes

Provincial Championships (race licence required)
 2:00 - 13 and 14 year olds (M/F)     - 40 minutes
           - 15 and 16 year olds (M/F)     - 40 minutes
           - junior, senior, and master women     - 40 minutes
           - 40+ Men     - 40 minutes
           - 50+ Men     - 40 minutes
 3:15 - 17 and 18 year old Men    - 60 minutes
           - Espoir (U23) Men    - 60 minutes
           - Senior Men    - 60 minutes
           - 30+ Men    - 60 minutes

Registration/sign-in will open at 11:00 and close 30 minutes before your race.
Groups will be assembled in aged tiers (faster groups to slower groups).
Medal presentation will take place after course tear down.

Kidz race: free, register on site
Pre-reg: $25 (Closes 8:00 p.m. Oct. 20th)
Race day reg: $35 cash only
All proceeds to the cyclocross committee.

All riders must use a CSA certified bike helmet. You may not use studded tires, bar ends, or aero bars (time trial bars) in any of the races. See the cross blog for other rules.
Free european sausages and weiners as well as hot chocolate for everyone: racers, volunteers, and spectators.

Volunteers are still required to help with registration. If you can help please email gsewell at mts dot net.

2012 Cyclocross Provincials

CrossTastic will be the host event for 2012 Manitoba Cyclocross Provincials on Sunday October 21st.

Stay tuned for details.

Thank You

Thanks to everyone who came out and to everyone who helped out. Big, big thanks to Jarret Labuick, Dave Dorning, Seema Saini, and Brad Enns who put in a full days work Saturday and were out early again on Sunday and still the last to leave after the race. Results and more thanks coming.

Prize Winners:
Frame and fork: Tim Loewen
TRP brakes: Vanessa Peters
Keg gift certificate: JP Peters

PRIZES

Over $1000 dollars worth of stuff.

Of course we're giving away a bike frame.

- 1st prize: Frame and fork - Redline Conquest Pro (or similar) choice of size
- 2nd prize: TRP EuroX brakes
- 3rd prize: $50 KEG gift certificate

Prizes will be drawn after the course is torn down. You must be personally present to win.

Cross-Tastic III

Cross-Tastic III takes place Sunday October 23, 2011 at Whittier Park. Volunteers are always appreciated. Contact gsewell@mts.net


Times:

Kids (U11): 12:30 PM

Race C (CX 4 men, CX 4 women, citizen): 1:15 (20 min + 1 lap)

Race B (CX 1,2,3 women and CX 3 men): 2:15 (30 min + 2 lap)

Race A (Elite men): 3:00 (45 min + 2 laps)

Cost:

$15. Cash only.

$5 for citizen racers holding an MCA citizen license. Cash only.

Kids race: free.

Race bible here
Registration form here
Waiver here

More details to follow. See you Sunday!

Minnesota State Championships

CrossTastic II Results

A record 95 participants for a licence only cross race! Thank you everyone.

Men's and Women's Results. Kids are pending.

Thanks to my right hand men Allan Robertson and Jarret LaBuick who donated hours of work each, to Dave and Seema who were there Saturday and Sunday, Hal, Brad, Terry, Moni, and Tomek, commissaires Arlene and Moni, medical provider Sandra Schettler, FOG volunteers Rene, Gary E, Candy, Martin, and Albert, my ophthalmic assistant Aida, Jayson Gillespie for leading course tours, Karl Thordarson of the City of Winnipeg, everyone who did such a great job of tearing the course down, and everyone else who lent a hand.

Cyclocross Frame/Fork Winners:
S - Dallas Sigurdur
M - Leanne Friesen
L - Allan Robertson
XL - Morgan Porath

Autographed copy of Cyclocross: Training and Technique by Simon Burney: Melanie LeClair
Copy of Cyclocross: Training and Technique by Simon Burney: Harold Ramos
CrossVegas memorabilia: Russell Thiesen

See you all at Halloween At The Harbour

Four Frames!

PRIZE UPDATE:
With the help of Olympia Cycle on Portage the prize list has been revised. I'm pleased to announce we have a fourth frame set (choice of XS or small Surly CrossCheck or Redline Conquest) so now we have the whole range from XS to XL covered.

CrossTastic Seeding

Seeding lists for Sunday's race. Riders have earned their starting positions. All riders must start in their seeded position. Moving up on the start line will result in disqualification.

Riders not listed in either list must start at the back of the B start. Appeals to start in the A race based on out of province race results should be made to the Cyclocross coordinator (Gary Sewell) well ahead of the B race.

A Seeding
B Seeding

Riders eligible to move from A to B:
Cameron McLaren
Artur Pich
Milo Delbigio

CrossTastic Is This Sunday

Race Bible

Registration Form and Waiver

Please download and print the registration form and waiver. Save a tree and print on both sides if possible.

Volunteers greatly appreciated. Please email me a gsewell at mts dot net

Free food for racers, volunteers, and spectators.

See below for our crazy draw prizes.

For a refresher on how the double pit lane works

Revisit this page for the latest information and any last minute changes.

Frames Are In

The frames are in and they are suhweeet! Great dark blue metallic paint job. Great details: integrated headset with brake cable guide included, flattened top tube for easy shouldering, top mounted cables, light and strong carbon fibre fork with alloy steerer, beautiful wields...  I must be crazy. If they weren't too big for me I might keep them all.

Super Cool News

The bad news is no jerseys up for grab this year. The good news is they have been replaced by three, count them, THREE CYCLOCROSS FRAMES. Alloy Ridley with carbon fork. Sizes 52, 54, and 56 which in Ridley terms are a medium, large, and XL. I'm 5'10 and ride a 54 road bike. The 52 Ridley is perfect for me. Chris Ashley and Terry Macyk ride something like 58-60 road bikes and use the 56 Ridley. I couldn't get a small, but the top end TRP brakes are still up for grabs too.

It could be your first bike, your back up bike (look at how many bikes broke at CMU and LaBarriere and St. Malo and...), you could give it to a friend, or get your partner involved. Think of the possibilities!

Cross-Tastic 2010

Cross-Tastic 2010 takes place at Whittier Park October 24, 2010. It's the biggest party of cross season.

If there's enough firm interest I will consider supplementary insurance so anyone can race, including children (no licence needed), but only with firm commitments.

Up for grabs:

-AUTOGRAPHED COPY of Cyclocross Training & Technique by Simon Burney

-another pair of crazy light, crazy effective, crazy expensive Euro-X brakes

-cross jerseys in a full range of sizes
-much more

Again, european hot dogs and hot chocolate for racers and spectators.