Hopefully the cross race Saturday will draw big crowds. Cyclocross is GREAT for spectators. They can see most of the action, the spills, the thrills, the mud, blood and agony. Cow bells will be a ringin'. No BEER tent as is customary in many American and ALL Euro races. We're be on City property so that's out. Actually it was customary in Belgium to run the races directly THROUGH the beer tents. Now that had be a crazy scene. As usual one beer leads to another to another to another to a stick in the competitors spokes, a flying beer glass and a bad problem. Those Euros take their Cross and their beer seriously. In 2005 the UCI actually banned the pass through beer tent route:


"No more beer tents in Cyclo-cross
The UCI has banned cyclo-cross races from passing through beer tents, one of the hallowed traditions in many Belgian events. The decision was made on the grounds that it was unsafe, on the basis of remarks made by Richard Groenendaal last year about the difference in inside/outside temperatures and the danger of being hit by beer glasses. However, Groenendaal said that his comments were not intended to be taken that way. "
from Cyclingnews.com

Of course fans can, will and do still drink. Some can get quite rowdy and heckle riders to no end. What would youdo if you had an obnoxious fan shouting nasty expletives at you every time you passed by? Well..............one option is learning this move. Very nice, his line didn't waver much, he got full extension and didn't lose too much speed.

Leave that beer tent alone 'till AFTER you get your

RideOn (Unless you're a smokebomber, or too drunk to shift)

JB