This past weekend marked the start of the AZ Cyclocross season so Danielle and I made the trek to the small town of Globe, AZ for the Flat Tire Cross Race presented by the “World Famous” Flat Tire Bike Shop. While we entered the CX scene late in the season last year, we were immediately hooked, especially Danielle. She couldn’t get enough and we even made a trip to Sea Otter Classic in April so she could race in the off-season. So needless to say the first race of the season was circled in red ink on her calendar.
The Flat Tire Cross Race was a great way to kick off the season. Globe is surrounded by the Pinal Mountains which provided a beautiful back drop for the course. The course itself had a good mix of dirt, gravel and grass along with a surprising amount of elevation gain per lap. A few strategically placed barriers kept the race challenging and exciting. In addition to the high caliber racing good vibes were flowing all day with high energy music, awesome prizes and schwag, a kiddie pool full of delicious cold beverages and great people. The park staff and town were welcoming and wonderful hosts and Chalo’s Casa Reynoso just a few miles up the road is a great spot for delicious Mexican food and Margaritas.
Danielle and I wore our new custom designed Pactimo skinsuits which were very comfortable and if they didn’t actually make us faster, they at least made us look fast! At the end of the day we both made it the podium and came home with Clif Bar prizes and tired legs. If you haven’t done a cyclocross race yet, we encourage you to give it a try, you won’t regret it and will be some of the most fun you’ve ever had on two wheels. Below is the CX race calendar for the remainder of the year and check out the series website www.azcross.com, we hope to see you there.
Nov. 5-6 AZ CX #2-#3 p/b Absolute Bikes, Tuthill Park, Flagstaff
Nov. 12 Mooey Cross – Cranky Cross, Superstition Farms, Gilbert
Nov. 13 AZ CX #5 p/b Bicycle Ranch/VR 7, Crossroads Park, Gilbert
Nov. 26-27 AZ CX #6-#7 p/b North Valley Bikes, Horse Lovers Park, Phoenix
Dec. 10-11 AZ CX #8-#9 p/b University of Arizona Cycling, Himmel Park, Tucson
Dec. 17 CLIF Bar Series Finals powered by SRAM p/b VR7, Crossroads Park, Gilbert
Dec. 18 USAC CX State Champs p/b Bicycle Ranch Crossroads Park, Gilbert
Goolds Gone Wild 