Cyclocross

What is Cyclocross? After seeing it today and cheering on my friend Tom Franek, I can tell you that it is basically a cross country race on a bicycle. Invented by the Belgians and other European countries that wanted something to do in the cycling "off season", cyclocross is a combination of several "short" laps of 1.5-2 miles in length, coupled with wooded trails, pavement, steep hills and obstacles, along with sand, like the NEO Cyclocross races that were held today at Edgewater Park in Cleveland, Ohio; right on the shores of Lake Erie. It is truly something to see, and from what I gathered, quite fun to do, though very grueling, and each lap seems to get a wee bit harder from the one before.

And because Tom Franek is a competitor and a phenomenal athlete, he was able to "podium", winning not only his age group, but the younger age group as well. I was thankful to cheer him on along with his wife, Rosalie, and to see him win at a big event. The day was perfect with sunny skies and perfect temperatures for all athletes to grit out the tough course (the sand, I think, being the most difficult part). A big shout of Congratulations to Tom on his big win today!

BSoleille!
Terri

Photos of Tom, plus Rosalie and I at Edgewater Park in Cleveland, Ohio.