What started as a foray into a new ramvan weekend activity, quickly turned into a full blown obsession. I have many fond memories of traveling with Cody all over the Northeast during his bike racing days. One of the best parts is the new places it takes you. It has been so fun stepping back into that world and turning these races into family adventures, ramvan style.
Our first race was Cape Cross. Our friends from Aquidneck Cyclocross told us about it, and Huxley could not have been more excited. The kids, who had no idea what they were getting into, did a full lap of the adult course, and it was intimidating!
Willa, who loves riding her bike but hates competition, got to the race convinced she didnât want to participate. With some encouragement from her friend Elena, she decided to give it a try. She went way out of her comfort zone and took a wrong turn, but still finished (a huge accomplishment for her) and got third place in the 7-9 age group.
Huxley, who we pretended was 7, had been training and looking forward to his first race for weeks. He had a pretty bad crash at the very beginning and almost gave up. But he got up, got his bike fixed, and joined back in for the older kidsâ second lap. He flew through the course, bombed up every hill, sprinted across the finish, and wished he could do it all again. He didnât get a podium spot but didnât even pout about it (a huge accomplishment for him!)
One of the best parts of the day was watching the kids ride all around and cheer the other racers on. They get to have a certain degree of freedom that doesnât exist when youâre riding on roads.Â
The ramvan did great for its trial run bike race trip - for both hauling bikes, and more importantly a pizza party in the back to watch the end of the races.
KMC Crossfest was at a racetrack in Thompson, CT. One of the cool things that differentiates cyclocross from other forms of bike racing is how varied the courses are. You have no idea if the racers are going to be riding through sand, on grass, on a racetrack, running with their bikes up stairs, or a little of everything.Â
This race had a small designated kids course. It was pretty low stakes and more of a fun for all, everyone gets a medal kind of thing. They did a few laps, and then split into teams and did relay races.
It was a beautiful day, and we stayed for the rest of it to watch all the races. This time we were a little more prepared. We parked the ramvan right along the course, and cooked some hot dogs on the butane stove in the back.Â
Biking is one area of life where Huxley takes the lead and Willa is happy to follow. Itâs cool to watch the role reversal and see how their relationship stretches and changes.
The whole AQCX crew was at Boss Cross. Niklas and Hanalei were old enough for the junior race. Willa, Elena, Pia, and Huxley all did the kids race, which was on a separate kidsâ course.
This would turn out to be Willaâs last race. She was doing great until she wiped out in the mud right before the finish. She was pretty upset, but she got herself back up and walked across the finish line as people cheered.Â
Hux was super psyched about the kidsâ course having a real barrier and loved every minute. He even ended up on his first real podium.Â
In the end, they had all the kids come up to get their pictures taken on the podium. Willa was still upset about her crash, until the hilarious announcer encouraged them to dance. That got everyone smiling.
Two of the Aquidneck Cyclocross dadâs also raced in the menâs race. Not sure if the kids had more fun in their race, or sprinting around the course cheering them on!
The Gloucester race was one we had been talking about all season. Cody did this race when we were 18 and itâs the first cyclocross race I had ever seen. It was a big race and we knew there was a decent kids course, plus the setting was pretty unbeatable.
It was a beautiful day with a big crowd. The whole AQCX gang was there. Willa deemed herself the team photographer, a perfect role for her.Â
There was a much bigger field for the kidsâ race than at any other race. They didnât do a podium, and all the kids got medals, but Hux crossed the finish line first in his age group, which was a big point of pride for him.
There were food trucks and a beer tent at this race, but we came prepared. Not pictured are the stromboliâs we cooked in the back of the ramvan for lunch, along with the cooler of beer from Newport Craft.Â
Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross
This race really lived up to its name. It was another big race on another beautiful fall day with the whole gang.
Hux decided to try the 9-14 junior race for the first time. They did a couple laps of the full course, and he hung right in there.Â
There was a professional photographer at this race, who got some amazing shots.
There was also a kidsâ race that wound around a bouncy house, with a podium ceremony at the end. This race really was ideal for people of all ages!
Aquidneck Cyclocross had paid for a tent spot, so we had a great set up for the ramvan.Â
This was probably my favorite race. The course was set up in a way that the kids could ride all around and have all sorts of independence without getting lost or getting in anyoneâs way. As is usually the case at these races, everyone there was supportive of kids riding bikes. Even though Willa didnât race, she rode her bike miles with her friends and had a blast.
We had been hearing about the fabled Secret Squirrel race all season from our friends who had done it last year - about how challenging and muddy the course had been, and about the Donut Madison. It lived up to all the hype and more. But first, we had to make squirrel cookies.
There was no designated kidsâ course - Hux raced in the 9-14 category. There was a decent sized pack, and they did two laps of the adult course. The course was mostly in the woods with two super steel hills, and it was freezing!Â
There was a part of the course that went so steep uphill in the woods that even most of the adults had to get off their bikes. Hux was wearing sneakers without much traction and he kept slipping back down the hill. It would have been comical if not for the fact that he was losing it. He was so frustrated, and finally a guy standing at the top directed him to try a different side of the hill where there was a tree root he could use for grip. Huxley begged him for help. To his credit, he didnât ever physically help - Iâm sure this wouldnât have mattered in a kidsâ race, but it showed he was taking it seriously. He kept cheering, and by this time everyone else in the crowd was cheering too, including two of our friends who had made the drive to watch.
He finally made it. By the time he came down the other side, his face was full of tears and he was ready to quit. We all knew he had another lap, which meant he would have to face the hill again. After lots of encouraging cheering and a pep talk from Cody when he crashed again a little later, he kept going. His second lap was great, and he made it up the hill without a hitch. As he crossed the finish line, the announcer noticed how much smaller he was than everyone else, and was shocked to hear he was only six. She then announced it on the microphone, which effectively cancelled out any other negative feelings from the day.Â
If thereâs one thing Iâve learned about Huxley from watching him race, itâs his ability to turn a frustrating situation into a story of valor by the time the day is done. Gradually, a crash that was actually devastating to him at the time becomes a superhero story of courage when he relays it to others. This part of him always makes me smile.
Meanwhile, Willa spent most of the afternoon bombing down a hill on the other side of the course over and over.
They both made friends at this race. Willa met a girl her age who also had a brother Huxleyâs age. Her ability to make friends anywhere awes me. The two girls were disappointed to learn they both lived an hour away from the race in opposite directions, and would likely not run into each other again. But that didnât stop them from having fun for the day.
The last race of the day at Secret Squirrel is the Donut Madison. You find a partner, eat a donut, do a lap of the course, and then pass off to your partner to do the same. There was a guy who needed a partner and we convinced Cody to do it. He had to borrow a helmet and bike and ride in his work boots and jeans. It was a hilarious and gross way to end the day.
Cody took Huxley alone to the first day of NBX GP to do the 9-14 race. It was another hard course with sand and a full flight of stairs to run up. There was a professional photographer who got these great shots.Â
The next day was the kidsâ race. It was pouring and cold so only a few kids came out. Willa rode her bike, but didnât do the race.
The announcer came over to commentate the kidsâ race and he was hilarious. âHuxley Harple - with a name like that, they ought to name a library after you.â
Some friends braved the weather to watch this race too and got one of my favorite pictures of Huxley ever - it captures him so perfectly.
Ice Weasels was another legendary race. Itâs always one of the last of the season, usually in the beginning of December, so almost guaranteed to be cold. This one was held at Medfield State Hospital, an abandoned mental hospital, which gave it an even more mystical vibe.
This was one of Huxleyâs best races. He did the 9-14 race, and for the first time he actually beat a couple kids. It was a freezing but beautiful day. The kids did two full laps of the adult course. It was the perfect course for him - other than the barriers up to his thighs, it was mostly grass and hills, just like our yard course.Â
Hux is starting to see the same group of 8/9 year old boys at most races, and they are finally becoming friends.
One of the most fun parts of this race is the absolute silliness. People wear crazy costumes, and at the last race of the day they stop to chug beers or take shots being passed to them. Willa totally embraced the vibe with her Wonder Woman onesie.Â
What a fun way to end the 2018 cyclocross season! Next year we will be back better than ever, this time with a bike rack for the ramvan.