STAR-CROSSED RECAP

{words reed pike}

The cyclocross season is officially open! Seattle’s Star-Crossed event started the season with a bang last Saturday (September 22) night and it was a huge success. According to Steve Westover, Starcrossed PR guy, there were over 2,000 spectators (and that’s just those who paid) lining the top of Marymoor velodrome (or hanging out in the beer garden) and over 500 racers took part. Only in Seattle do that many people came out and pay to watch a cyclocross race! Of course it helps that the event is held under the lights and has a beer garden – there were even waffles this year – just like Belgium, and I have to say those waffles were mighty tasty. This year’s Star-Crossed was also blessed with great weather and a stellar pro field, including teammates Barry Wicks, Ryan Trebon, Geoff Kabush, Ben Jacque-Maynes and Swiss rider Christian Huele, who is currently 5th in the UCI rankings. Check out race report on Neil Brown’s (of ROAD magazine) blog.

We had the pleasure of hosting Neil for the second time in two weeks. Neil was up in the Seattle area just a couple of weeks ago to ride with the Raleigh group in the local MS Ride. It was great to have him back in the “Northwet” again as the weather always seems to be great when he comes up – “what rain?” Neil was not only reporting on the event, he rode the Category 3 race and did great! Steve Westover had asked us to provide him with a bicycle and clothing kit and we were only too happy to oblige. We set him up with a 2007 Rx 1.0 (Thanks Brian for letting us use your bike!) and we tricked it out a little with a little help from Shimano, FSA, TRP, and Mavic. A big shout out and thanks to Dave, Chad, Matt, Ric, Lance, and Larry – you guys rock! Shimano Dura Ace shifters and derailleurs, FSA handlebar, stem, seat post and crank, TRP euro style cantilever brakes and a set of Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels – pretty trick! The good news – the bike performed flawlessly and Neil liked it. If you are going to be in the Seattle area in September 2008 be sure to check out the dates for next year’s Star-Crossed and have a beer and waffle as you cheer on some of the best cyclocross racers in the world.

Neil doing his best Euro team pose.

RX 1.0 - dialed for the race.
Neil hopping the barrier.

Neil getting loud post race.

Enjoy.