Junior Cyclocross Training 

Program Details

The Northampton Parks and Recreation Department partners with the Northampton Cycling Club (NCC) to offer a spring Junior Cyclocross Training program.

  • For: Youth in grades 2 - 8
  • Day: Mondays
  • Dates: April 25 - May 23
  • Time: 5:30 - 6:45 PM
  • Location: Look Park, Florence
  • Fee: $45.00 ($55.00 Non-Residents)
    • Look Park Cyclocross ONLY Pass (only at the NPRD Office), season pass sticker or daily vehicle entry fee is required.

Registration

Young kids on bikes by wooded area

About Cyclocross Training

Anyone who can ride a bike can probably do cyclocross.

Cyclocross is one of the country’s fastest growing participation sports. Think of it as steeplechase on a bicycle. It combines the skills and action of mountain biking with the speed and power of road cycling. Cyclocross is typically raced on a 1 to 2 mile loop consisting of grass, dirt trails, pavement, sand, mud, barriers, obstacles, tree roots and hills. Cyclocross races are usually held in the fall and winter in cool and cold weather, rain, snow, ice or sunshine.

Equipment

Participants will need a bicycle in good working order (a mountain bike is fine but you’ll probably want to remove all of the water bottle cages), a snug fitting helmet and a full water bottle and snack. In addition and for your own comfort (but not essential), you might want: cycling shorts, sunglasses and/or cycling gloves.

Kid riding through the woods on bikes

Participation

This activity is open to youth in grades 2 through 8 who have a bike and like to ride it. Depending upon registration numbers, we will likely split the group into smaller groups depending upon ability so that each group will get ability-specific training.


View of group on bikes in the woods

Benefits

Participants will receive a team shirt (included with your registration fee)! Also, in addition to learning cycling skills, participants will make new friends, stay active and get in shape, have fun learning with peers and, perhaps, get so stoked about cyclocross that they want to race this fall as part of the NCC Junior Cyclocross Team.

Instructor / Trainer

The training program will be run by longtime NCC members and racers who have raced in hundreds of cyclocross races in New England in the last few years. In addition, a handful of professional cyclocross racers live locally and may stop by on occasion to help out and offer advice.