What is Cyclocross

A good definition of cyclocross can be found in Wikipedia...

Cyclo-cross (sometimes cyclocross, CX, CCX, cyclo-X or 'cross') is a form of bicycle racing. Races take place typically in the autumn and winter (the international or "World Cup" season is September-January), and consists of many laps of a short (2.5–3.5 km or 1.5–2 mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike whilst navigating the obstruction and remount in one motion.^[1][2] Races for senior categories are generally between 30 minutes and an hour long, with the distance varying depending on the ground conditions. The sport is strongest in the traditional road cycling countries such as Belgium (and Flanders in particular), The Netherlands and the Czech Republic .

Cyclo-cross has some obvious parallels with cross-country cycling and criterium racing. Many of the best cyclo-cross riders cross train in other cycling disciplines. However, cyclo-cross has reached a size and popularity that racers are specialists and many never race anything but cyclo-cross races^{[citation needed]}. Cyclo-cross bicycles are similar to racing bicycles: lightweight, with narrow tires and drop handlebars. However, they also share characteristics with mountain bicycles in that they utilize knobby tread tires for traction, and cantilever style brakes for clearance needed due to muddy conditions. They have to be lightweight because competitors need to carry their bicycle to overcome barriers or slopes too steep to climb in the saddle. The sight of competitors struggling up a muddy slope with bicycles on their shoulders is the classic image of the sport, although unridable sections are generally a very small fraction of the race distance.

Compared with other forms of cycle racing, tactics are fairly straightforward, and the emphasis is on the rider's aerobic endurance and bike-handling skills. Drafting, where cyclists form a line with the lead cyclist pedaling harder while reducing the wind resistance for other riders, is of much less importance than in road racing where average speeds are much higher than in cyclo-cross.

Cyclocross Course

A typical cyclocross course uses a variety of surface areas, including: pavement, gravel or crushed stone paths, established paths, grass, sand, and dirt. The course is between 2.5 and 3.5 kilometers in length and consists of straight and winding sections. Courses will sometimes incorporate natural obstacles such as logs across a path, stairs, hills and sand pits. For these sections racers will dismount their bikes to clear the obstacle.

Impact on Environment

Cyclocross does have an impact on the environment, but it is more minimal than it first appears. There have been numerous studies that looks at the impact the bicycles (and other users such as motorcycles, hikers and horses) have on grass and similar environments (see references below). These studies all show that humans have an impact on the environment. There is one significant difference between the human impact in these studies and the impact that a cyclocross race has on the environment; cyclocross races are one time events and do not create or promote the development of continuous pathways, because of the minimal and quick recovery of areas that are used in races (see photos below).

Cyclocross race impact on grass - flattening does occur, but the grass bounces right back

Paths become evident but only because leaves are crushed and the grass shows through

Another view of bikes impact on grass


Photos of Bikes Impact on Grass in Wetter Conditions (please note this only happens in very wet conditions, this shows an extreme example)

Immediately following a race

Three weeks later

Another view of grass following a race - this shows how the mud that come "up" from the turf as the race the progresses, it is not that wheels dig down into the grass

Three weeks later

Here is what can be expected following a cyclocross race:

• Grass will be flattened during a race
• If the ground moisture is high mud will appear on the race course, this becomes unnoticeable in the following couple of weeks due to grass growth, subsequent rain falls, or when the grass reappears following the winter season.
• If the ground is frozen, there is no damage.
  

References

Bratton, S. P., Hickler, M. G., & Graves, J. H. (1979). Trail erosion patterns in great smoky mountains national park. Environmental Management, 3(5), 431-445.

Goudie, A. (1993). Human influence in geomorphology. Geomorphology, 7(1-3), 37-59.

Liddle, M. J. (1975). A selective review of the ecological effects of human trampling on natural ecosystems. Biological Conservation, 7(1), 17-36.

McQuaid-Cook, J. (1978). Effects of hikers and horses on mountain trails. Journal of Environmental Management, 6, 209-212.

Quinn, N. W., Morgan, R. P. C., & Smith, A. J. (1980). Simulation of soil erosion induced by human trampling. Journal of Environmental Management, 10(2), 155-165.

Weaver, T., & Dale, D. (1978). Trampling effects of hikers, motorcycles and horses in meadows and forests. Journal of Applied Ecology, 15(2), 451-457.

Wilson, J. P., & Seney, J. P. (1994). Erosional impact of hikers, horses, motorcycles, and off-road bicycles on mountain trails in montana. MTN RES.DEV., 14(1), 77-88.