Today couldn’t have had better weather for the 6th Annual Cyclocross races at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Below are a few photos from today’s event. You can see photos from last year here.
Elite women’s race in progress
A small cross country course was set up for children wanting to be a part of the action
As with last year, there was plenty of food and drink for everyone
Here’s a great fall event that I’ve enjoyed watching for the past few years … the annual cyclocross races on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Below are details from this years race supplied by their press release:
The sixth-annual cyclocross DCCX bike race comes to the center of Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 21, with more than 800 racers set to compete on the historic grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
The races, which begin early in the morning, are short laps of a course that includes cobblestones, grass, stairs and winding hills, stairs and barriers. Racers need to hop on and off their bikes to get over barriers and up stairs. The races last an hour or less, with the elite women racing at noon, and the elite men at 3 p.m.
Cyclocross is a great spectator sport, as the winding laps provide lots of opportunities to see the racers up close, stumbling up steps or launching off jumps. And it’s a great family event, with not one but two races for kids, one at 10am and another at noon. They can try one or both races.
With the weather forecast for Sunday looking perfectly autumnal (67 and sunny), DCCX can take up its usual role as a celebration as much as a race. Bike over to the venue, and try out one of the Raleigh Bicycles that will be demo’ed. Family Bike Shop, which sells a full suite of Raleigh bikes, will also be on hand for quickie repairs and kibitzing.
Staples Corner Liquors, in Crofton, Maryland has joined on for 2012 and is providing a wide array of malty refreshments to be responsibly enjoyed while you heckle racers. DogfishHead Alehouse and Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar are pitching in with refreshments and prizes, as well.
The food options are expanding this year to delicious new heights. The Dutch Club will be back with their famous pancakes, as will the Catholic University nurses with their chili (to raise money for charity). Baja Fresh will be serving burritos. New this year will be the PORC (Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine) truck, and maybe some super-secret dessert options.
Please note: The current Armed Forces Retirement Home entrance is located at the Randolph Street Gate on Rock Creek Church Road. The approximate address is 300 Randolph St, NW, Washington, DC 20011. Once on campus, follow the signs to venue.
For more information, see http://www.dcmtb.com/dccx/ . If you are interested in racing, there are still spots available in the exciting “rookie race” category. See the online registration page: https://www.bikereg.com/Net/17400
I hope everyone that wanted to go the this year’s DC Cyclocross was able to get there. I know I saw a number of residents from the neighborhood at the event, which was well attended — including children and dogs. I can’t imagine better weather for the races either.
The registration area was a hive of activity, including a couple of food vendors that really helped maintain a pleasurable atmosphere.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that usually takes place in the fall and winter. It consists of several laps on a short (1.5–2 miles) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstruction and remount. You can read more about it on Wikipedia.
You can see photos from yesterdays event after the jump. (more…)
If you love cyclocross, or simply want to spend some time on the grounds of the old Soldiers’ Home enjoying the races, the DCCX 2010 race will definitely be of interest to you. It’s this Sunday, October 24, 2010.
The DCCX is open to the public. To access the grounds, show up with your ID for the security at the gate and say that you are going to the bike race. The race is held down by the ponds (corner of Park Place and Michigan). There will be signs directing attendees and attendants to assist with parking.
This year is described as being bigger than ever and with big sponsors: Family Bike Shop of Crofton MD, and Dogfish Head Alehouses. The first race goes off at 9AM – beginner Men, and then additional races go off nearly every hour until about 4 PM, including intermediate women and men, juniors, pro women, pro men and then there’s a rookie race followed by a tandem race to close things up. The event provides refreshments, but suggests that folks make a donation to help cover costs for putting on the race when they pick up their food/beer tickets.
You can read more about this event by visiting its Web site.
DCCX 2010 race course
"The territory comprising Park View extends from Gresham Street north to Rock Creek Church Road, and from Georgia Avenue to the Soldiers' Home grounds, including the triangle bounded by Park Road, Georgia Avenue, and New Hampshire Avenue" (from Directory and History of Park View, 1921.)
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