In Praise of Grassroots Cyclocross Races
We are on the record as being big believers in big races and big race series. Whether it is Intelligentsia Cup, Charm City, or GMSR these big races deliver a premium experience to racers and spectators alike. If you have the chance to participate in or spectate at one of these big races, we wholeheartedly endorse doing so. But this past weekend at Bubblecross was a reminder of just how much excellence exists at the opposite end of the bike racing spectrum: the local races where the fields and crowds may be smaller, but there is just as much fun to be had.
According to Bikereg, 168 participants pre-registered for the 2021 edition of Bubblecross. This is roughly half of the turnout we observed for the Dave Jordan Central Park Classic road race and much smaller than UCI weekends like Noho CX or GO Cross, the latter drawing in an impressive 689 registrations the same weekend as Bubble.
But here is the thing: the smallish fields at Bubblecross did not in the slightest detract from an awesome day of racing. The course remains one of my favorite of any CX venue and as always, the race organizers at Team Town Cycle did a great job bringing out juniors racers, including from the NJCX Project. And with a variety of NYC teams making the trip to West Milford, the course side hangs were equally excellent.
Bubblecross is undoubtedly a hidden gem of the East Coast cyclocross scene - not every venue features a beach that seems perfect for CX, especially not a beach matched with singletrack sections that are sure to test technical abilities. But the race was also the perfect reminder not to sleep on the local grassroots cross races. These events, which are often sustained by a small team of volunteers, can punch well above their weight in the quality of the experience.
Bottom line: with a lot of CX racing still to come, don’t miss out on these local gems.
The Full Bubble Cross 2021 Gallery
A New York City based cyclist and sometimes photographer. Part adventure rider, part crit racer, and fully obsessed with an English bulldog named Winifred.
Instagram: @photorhetoric
E-mail: matthew@tobedetermined.cc
