cyclocross

There are not many times that i wish i was not crippled but as the fall comes around and the world cup series of cyclocross begins in europe i wish that i didn't have this gimpy left side slowing me down. While i have never raced cyclocross i know that without a fully functioning left leg and arm i could not dismount and run over barriers and stairs effectively enough. Cyclocross combines two sports that i love, mountain biking and road cycling. Growing up on a ranch i couldn't ride my road bike from my house due to the mile long dirt road to the county road so i road my mtb a lot. After seeing world cup on you tube i saw the beauty of cyclocross. A short, hour long effort, combining the bike handling skills from the dirt and the high speeds from the road. as i have watched more races i see the toughness these guys have as they race though cow pie covered fields, often in the rain, with races finishing in the snow or sleet. Plus the Euro guys have an awesome sense of style, who else would wear a white kit full knowing 2 minutes later it will be covered in mud and grime. After seeing my own inability to fully utilize a 'cross bike i have decided that to quench my thirst for cyclocross i want to go to belgium to see where part of my family was originally from and see a world cup up close. Complete with pomme frites and copious amounts of belgian ale, and scream my lungs out as the racers pass.