Weekend Forecast: CX Season Begins at Bubblecross 2023

It’s here! With the Green Mountain Stage Race now complete, all eyes are turning away from road racing toward cyclocross. And the CX event that is kicking it all off is one of our favorite races in the tri-state area: Bubblecross in West Milford, NJ.

Bubblecross has it all: a grass crit section (that is mostly an uphill slog, ugh), a singletrack woods section (yes!), and of course a long sand beach that makes for some of our favorite photographs of the year. And, after several years and warm and dry racing, it looks like we could be in for a wet edition of Bubblecross! Without any further delay, here is what we think this year’s race put on by Team Town Cycle is going to look like.

2023 Registration: NJBA CX Cup Race #1 Bubblecross presented by Team Town Cycle Online Registration (bikereg.com)

2022 Race Report: Bubblecross: cyclocross season gets underway — To Be Determined Journal

The Weekend Weather Forecast

In recent years Bubblecross has been dry and warm, bordering on hot. But sitting here six days out from the 2023 edition, the weather forecast could go just about any direction with several days of storms leading into possible rain on race day. But if Monday’s sunshine moves in early, it could still be a tacky rather than muddy day at Bubblecross:

Where does that leave us on race prep? We think it’s still too early to call. A bit of moisture on the ground could actually make for faster racing given the wood section should drain any water quickly and the sand on the beach becomes tackier. There are a few corners throughout the course that could become tricky if wet, but we’re not making any final gear decisions yet.

the Course At Bubblecross

Bubblecross is traditionally a course that suits mountain bikers over roadies. It also has a deceptive amount of climbing, and when you aren’t in the woods you are likely to wonder why every bit of pedaling seems to be uphill. A good third to half of the course takes place on single track-type sections, which tend to change slightly from year to year but generally consist of the typical rocky, loose soil of Northern New Jersey and can test the limits of your ability to maintain traction on your rear wheel. Last year the entire woods section was rideable, and we’re hoping for the same this year, depending on weather conditions.

The park has a small pond surrounded by sand, and usually the course builders make full use of it, famously forcing a full send down a rocky descent into the longest of two to three sand sections. Fully committing means being able to ride the full section, but misplaced weight on your front wheel means you’re in for a long run. The smaller sections of sand seem much shorter and easier, but tend to be deceptively deep, and people often get caught up in the entrance and exit - last year’s photo gallery highlights some of those problem areas.

As we wrote last year, this is ultimately one of the best, most technical courses in the mid-Atlantic, and anyone who is proud of their handling skills should expect to do well here (or get a helping of humble pie). Though the course has changed slightly over the years, this is a slightly stale diagram of what it looked like way back in 2019. Note that in more recent years the start line has been alongside the playground in this diagram.

The Hangs at Bubblecross

While the weather could potentially scare off some racers, people still have Big September Enthusiasm for cross, this is one of the closest races to NYC before the end of October, and a lot of people are likely to come out in droves for Bubble. The course is relatively compact, and there’s often a big group setup in the parking lot and cheering (heckling?) near the sand. The course also meanders around a playground, so cross parents tend to be found in the center of things chasing around their lil belgians.

The park is not super close to a lot of amenities, but in some years there has been food service either in the parking lot or outside the main building for the park (that includes restrooms). If you are newish to cross, know that people will stick around after they race, there will be kids and dogs and heckles and good spirits, but bring a chair or a blanket, as it’s a race where the main place to spectate and hang out is usually the parking lot.

Gear For BUBBLECROSS

Given the forecast for the week, the course almost certainly won’t be the dry and dusty version that we have experienced in recent years. Pending clarity on just how much rain will hit during the weekend/on race day, my current plan is to stick with file treads with a bit of side knob (Vittoria Terreno Drys remain a TBD favorite). That said, unless you’re really comfortable in the woods, a mixed tire isn’t a bad way to go, especially given the forecast.

As for pressure choices - Bubblecross is usually a course where a few extra PSI are useful for avoiding flats on the singletrack section. It might not be comfortable in certain sections, but it will keep you from sadly walking to the pits mid-race. Of course, the moisture in the forecast threatens to throw this all out the window, in which case it will be a balancing act between lowering pressure to keep traction while avoiding a flat that requires a long run to the pits.