[Sportsandrec] Tandem Cyclocross...

[Thornbury, Kelly]

I always describe cyclocross as off-road riding on a road bike. I have also 
heard it compared to a steeple chase on bikes. Basically, the races are on 
"off road" courses and usually include sand traps, off-camber sections, 
occasionally shallow water crossings, and obstacles that require the riders 
to dismount and carry their bikes over. There are rules as to the obstacles 
for regional and national-type events, but we're just a local club, and I'm 
not sure how closely our courses conform to the set rules. The courses are 
not as technical as MTB single track rides, but are more difficult than road 
riding. "Cross" bikes are typically road bikes with some brake and tire 
modifications, and dedicated "cross frames" have a slightly different 
geometry, especially in the head tube and rear hanger sections. Racers 
usually ride a course for a certain amount of time, plus 1 lap (my race for 
example was 30-minutes plus 1 lap).

Hope this helps.