By 303cycling Contributor, Veronica Penney
Saturday morning saw a record turnout for the 2017 edition of Schoolyard Cross. A mid-season cyclocross favorite, the course has a little something in store for roadies and mountain bikers alike. Evidently, the word is out. According to the announcer, who broadcast his condolences to the volunteers working registration, over 150 racers turned out for race day registration– twice as many as organizers anticipated.
The course took racers through a fast and flowy loop across the grounds of Alexander Dawson School in Lafayette. The starting chute led straight into a series of hairpin-turn ride-ups and descents, which rewarded those who got off the front fast and avoided the innumerable crashes and pileups.
To ride or not to ride was truly the question for the first barrier in the race, a log that teetered on the edge of too high to bunny-hop. From there, riders tackled a steep run-up and gravel stretch to reach the more technical back section of the course, which ended in a twisting downhill before a long asphalt grind back to the starting line.
Heavy grass sections at the start of each lap allowed riders with big engines to pull ahead, while the steep run-ups, loose gravel, and tight turns gave the mountain bikers in the crowd an edge. Overall, the course was still a safe choice for first-time racers and the event organizers even waived the one-day license fees for “newbies” as an added incentive.
Race proceeds benefit Boulder Junior Cycling and the Dawson School Cyclocross Team. For more information on the race, head to the Schoolyard Cross website or check out the full results at coloradocycling.org.
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