The Inaugural NZ Cyclocross Champs

This Saturday (August 30th) the first NZ Cyclocross champs will take place at Pukete Mountain Bike Park in Hamilton. This event is set to be a fun and fast race that will provide plenty of action. Basically a celebration of playing in the mud on your bike, this is the perfect event to dig the old hardtail or fully rigid bike out of the shed and bring it down for a blast in the mud.

Cyclocross is big in Europe and America and this will be one of the first chances to experience it in New Zealand. The format is friendly for all abilities as the course is non-technical and allows for plenty of passing, while man made obstacles provide a challenge to negotiate at speed, and mandatory running sections will give the lungs a good workout. With lap times of around 15 minutes and a total race time of an hour this event will be great for spectators too.

As well as a trophy for the overall champion there will be plenty of spot prizes on hand from our generous sponsors: FRF Sports, Maxxis tyres, and Cycletime. There will also be two special prizes awarded:
- The best cyclocross supporters (cow bells, and heckling being key elements)
- The most crap bike to complete the course (old mtbs or road bikes dug up from under the house would be perfect).

So bring down your bike and come have some fun in the mud!

Plans are falling into place, the course is sorted, and plenty of mud has been provided by the recent weather. Preliminary riding has it running about 12-14 mins a lap which will probably be a bit faster come race time. The format will be Bell Lap, so race for an hour then when the bell rings complete your last lap, the winner is the one with the most laps in the quickest time.

The Details:
When: Saturday 30th August, Registration from 10am Racing starts at 11am
Where: The Hamilton Mountainbike Park, Maui St, Pukete, Hamilton.
Price: $15
[url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=pukete+farm+park+hamilton+nz&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.733797,175.237169&spn=0.031157,0.053215&z=14&iwloc=addr&pw=2]
Click for Map
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Prize giving will be held straight after event, with plenty of prizes from our generous supporters below.



As well as spot prizes, prizes will also be rewarded for a couple of "special" categories:
The Crap bike award
The crap bike award will go to the entrant who completes the race on the bike deemed the most crap by the organisers.
The Ultimate Cyclocross Supporter Award
Here I'm thinking cowbells, yelling, heckling, drinking hot tea, Waikato... I mean Belgian colors and all other things Belgian and Cyclocross.Vid

Sponsors:
FRF SPORTS: www.frfsports.co.nz
MAXXIS
click here to check out the range We'll have some of Maxxis' cross tires for spot prizes on the day.

ENTRY FORM
Thanks to Tui at Tuiscope webdesign

More vids to get excited over:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rVrSjTL ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDto3wr1 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWxuDZL_ ... re=related

awesome

I'm away so can't race but big thumbs up to the organisers for this.

Hope it goes well and gets lots of support.

Sweet.

fixed or freewheel?
what a dilemma...

Not fixed, it ain't the fashionbiking nationals

Fixed, for shits and giggles... you shit, we giggle.

I'm wondering what would qualify a bike to run in the CX category (or perhaps it's easier to identify what would disqualify a bike from the CX category). Wheel size, tyre size, handlebar style, type of brakes (does the UCI allow discs yet?), suspension?

I was wondering the same.
Im running discs.

*Disclaimer: This is not a UCI sanctioned event

Im assuming its fairly low-key, and the organisers arent going to be overly strict on what does or doesnt qualify, they want the numbers.

Mel wrote: I'm wondering what would qualify a bike to run in the CX category (or perhaps it's easier to identify what would disqualify a bike from the CX category). Wheel size, tyre size, handlebar style, type of brakes (does the UCI allow discs yet?), suspension?

I believe they have been allowed for this season or the one before, I remember Avid promoting its road lever-compatible BB7 as being perfect for cyclocross. Best check the UCI rulebook though

Cool, sounds like a fun event, I might try to get along and maybe even ride if I'm feeling energetic

Mel wrote: I'm wondering what would qualify a bike to run in the CX category (or perhaps it's easier to identify what would disqualify a bike from the CX category). Wheel size, tyre size, handlebar style, type of brakes (does the UCI allow discs yet?), suspension?

No disc are still not allowed under UCI rules. Seeing the event isn't UCI certified (if thats the right word) it doesn't matter though.

I'm keen, I'll be back in Auckland by then... Our Spanner down here at bikeHQ in ChCh said I can borrow his cross bike.... should be great fun.

I'm so keen for cyclocross

I just need to find a suitable frame to cobble togethor a bike, any suggestions welcome

i fully dont get this whats the fun in it like what type of track and stuff is it and what do you do