For those who love great fall weather, cyclocross, and an opportunity to spend a day at the Soldiers’ Home, this weekend you are in luck. The annual DCCX races are scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21. The full schedule of events can be found at https://dcmtb.org/dccx2018/
Visitors can access the race area via the Randolph Street Gate located on Rock Creek Church Rd., NW. I’ve found walking in easiest, but there is a parking area for those who want to drive in.
The southern grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home were a buzz this weekend with the annual DC Cyclocross races. Below are a few photos and videos to give an idea of what the event is like for those who may not have been able to attend.
The annual DCCX races are back and located on the lower grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. The races are scheduled to be on October 21st and 22nd with the course winding around the ponds on the grounds.
The races are always a lot of fun, and a rare opportunity to enjoy the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home. More information is available here. The event was even one of the staff picks in the Washington City Paper’s Best of DC this year.
(Day 1 Race Course)
The 2016 DC Cyclocross races were held this past Saturday and Sunday at the old Soldiers’ Home. As with past years, the course was in the area of the two ponds just east of Park Road. While the weather was a little chilly and definitely windy on Saturday, the cyclists has great weather otherwise. I’ve provided two brief videos of one of my favorites sections of the course below.
(Competitors at the 2011 Cyclocross event)
Its October and the time of year when the annual DC Cyclocross (DCCX) races are run on the grounds of the old Soldiers’ Home. The races will be this Saturday and Sunday with races beginning at 8:15 am. The full schedule is below.
According to what I was able to find on the DC Cyclocross page, the annual DCCX is scheduled for this weekend at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (entrance at the Upshur Street gate). The races are always fun to watch and a great way to spend a fall afternoon. If you are planning to go you can see the schedule of events here.
If you aren’t familiar with cyclocross, the following introduction is from their Website:
DCCX is the only cyclocross race in the nation’s capital, and over its eight-year run has grown into one of the largest races on the East Coast. Last year the race added two huge changes: it went from one day to a full weekend of racing, and it added CrossHairs as a sponsor. CrossHairs, which runs the popular Svenness website, joined DCMTB as one of the two clubs putting on the race. The race was run one direction on Saturday, and the opposite way on Sunday.
The year, the races are scheduled for Oct. 24th and 25th.
To give you an idea of what the races are like, below are some photos from previous years.
Several community events scheduled at the Soldiers’ Home — such as the Oktoberfest — were cancelled due to the Federal shut down. Fortunately, now that the shut down is over, the 2013 DCCX Cyclocross is still a go and will be happening this weekend on the south grounds of the Soldiers’ Home — with events on both Saturday and Sunday, but Sunday is the day of the big race.
According to the DCCX Website (which has more information on race times and directions), the DCCX is the only cyclocross race in Washington, DC, and has quickly grown to be one of the largest Cyclocross Races in the Eastern United States, with ~ 850 registered racers and over 50 kids. Top regional talent compete in the elite categories, while age-group and lower category racers make up the undercard. Kids can compete on a separate course (free). The venue and course are designed to create a fun, family-friendly spectator environment, in addition to a challenging race course.
Having visited the races in previous years, I can attest that its one of the areas fall highlights. Whether racing or just enjoying the event as a spectator, its always a good time.
Image from the 2011 Cyclocross on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home.
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…)
"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.)
Metrorail disruptions Unknown Feed Washington Business Journal
Park View, D.C. 