Cross is Back!

It’s a thing bike lovers look forward to all year: The end of summer and the return of the silly fun that is cyclocross. That eagerness is even more pronounced this year, as races return after being largely shut down for the 2020 season. Cyclocross races—defined by USA Cycling as “a cross between road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase”—have already commenced in Central Oregon, with the first Thrilla Cyclocross race taking place Sept. 2 at The Athletic Club of Bend. That series of Thursday-night events, put on by the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, continues Sept. 16, 26 and 30, with races starting as early as 5:15 pm.

Also happening this weekend, and also put on by MBSEF, is the Can Chaser Cross, a day-long cyclocross event at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center Saturday, Sept. 11. The event is part of the Harvest Cyclocross Series, a series of six events taking place at various Oregon and Washington locations through Oct. 3. Everyone from tiny tots on Striders to Masters cyclists will be racing—and in true Central Oregon style, local barrel racing champion Denali Hart will “prep the course” by doing a barrel-racing demonstration during the noon hour. This is the first year for the Can Chaser Cross, and if it’s successful, MBSEF plans to do the event again next year.