DCMTB/CITY BIKES Mountain Bike Team

Press Contact:
Matt Donahue, Race Director
mattydonahue@hotmail.com

Cyclocross racing is coming to Washington, DC this fall. The first USA Cycling sanctioned cyclocross race in the city will take place October 28th, 2007 on the Grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Bike racers from across the mid-atlantic will line up for a full day of racing in 9 categories that range from beginners and juniors racing for prizes and cowbells to elite and professionals racing for a cash purse. The race is being promoted by the City Bikes DC Mountain Bike Team with the assistance of the team’s sponsors: Metro Gutter and Home Services, Whole Foods Market - P Street, and Temperance Hall.

“The DCMTB/City Bikes team has always wanted to hold a race within the District since we are based out of Washington.” says race promoter Matt Donahue “The AFRH offered us a chance to do this, and the location is great for cyclocross.” Living close to the Armed Forces Retirement Home gave Donahue many chances to look at the grounds and the thought that kept jumping to mind was “wouldn’t it be great to set up a cyclocross course in there?” Earlier this year he was able to schedule a meeting with the AFRH staff to explain cyclocross racing and what it was all about. “They were receptive to the idea,” says Donahue “and now we have ourselves a race. A lot of area teams hold some excellent cross races outside of the city. We thought it would be great to hold one in the city and we found a great venue.” Race proceeds will be donated to benefit the veterans at the AFRH.

According to Course Designer Marc Gwadz the course is “a mix of grass, gravel road and pavement.” The picturesque course circling 2 fishing ponds will encourage exciting racing by rewarding “carrying high speed around the 2 mile circuit with a set of barriers, a run-up, and a brick sidewalk” says Gwadz.

Volunteers are needed to help register racers and keep things running smoothly. Any interested volunteers should contact DCCX volunteer coordinator Loren McWethy at loren.mcwethy@gmail.com.

Cyclocross is a style of bike racing that developed in Europe early 1900s. Bicycle racers seeking to stay in shape and improve their bike handling skills started riding on forest roads in the winter and soon these rides developed into race. The sport first grew in popularity in Europe and is now booming both there and in the United States.

Typically raced in the fall and winter, it’s a sport that now stands on it’s own, not just an off-season training discipline. Cyclocross races are short, fast, and intense. Professionals race for one hour and lower classes race for 40 to 50 minutes around a wide grassy track between one and two miles long. Cyclocross courses typically feature tricky off camber corners and use both natural (hills, sandpits) and artificial (barriers - 16″ planks set across the course) obstacles to force racers to dismount, run, jump, and then remount their bicycles. Despite terrain that typically reminds the layman more of mountain biking, riders race on bikes that are closer to road racing bikes with drop handlebars and narrow tires.

The relatively short and compact courses used in cyclocross races make them great spectator events.

There will be no on-site Registration for DCCX, so racers will need to register online at http://www.bikereg.com by 9pm on Friday October 26th. Please note that a valid government issued photo ID will be required for entry to the Armed Forces Retirement Home Grounds. All racers, volunteers, and spectators should enter the Retirement Home Grounds at “Eagle” gate, which is located at Rock Creek Church Rd, NW & Upshur St, NW.

Racers, volunteers, and spectators should take note that this event is taking place the same day as the Marine Corps Marathon and as a result some roads will be closed throughout the day. Please be advised to plan your route carefully.

Additional information about DCCX and the DCMTB/City Bikes Mountain Bike Team can be found at http://www.dcmtb.com

Online Registration is Available at http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=5327

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1. Tester - October 16, 2007

Cyclocross Comes to the Nation’s Capital O…

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