Cyclocross is fast, fun, offroad bicycle racing. It's easy to get into: all you need is a bike, a helmet, and a little bit of fitness. Races take place around the DC-region from September to December. (They also take place all over the world, but we're focused on the DC-area.)
Cyclocross (or "CX") races last anywhere from 30-60 minutes, depending on the race type. You'll spend that time riding as hard as you can (or want to). Races courses typically have multiple surfaces, including grass, gravel, dirt, and mud (and maybe a little bit of pavement). Courses are about 1.5 to 2 miles, and you will do as many laps as you can in the alotted time. Racers will get pretty spread out acround the course during the race, but there is almost always someone nearby to duke it out with.
We can all agree that bikes are fun. Cyclocross takes that fun and adds some competition into the mix. Unlike a lot of racing, you'll almost certainly have someone to race against, whether you're at the front, middle or bringing up the rear. And because you get to pre-ride the course before your race, you'll get to size up the competition and hopefully make some new frenemies before the whistle. And after 45 minutes of turning yourself inside out on the course, you get to hang around and heckle the next race. Plus who doesn't like to tear up someone else's lawn every once in awhile?
The most important piece of gear is a bike! What kinds of bikes work? Well cylocross bikes are great. But so are gravel bikes. Mountain bikes will also work. Really, any bike that has knobby tires on it. You'll also need a helmet. And that's it! Most people race in cycling clothes, but that doesn't mean you have to - as long as you're comfortable, you'll be set.
It's as easy as signing up for a race! See below for links to race schedules and registration pages. But CX racing in the US starts in September and ends with the National Championships in mid-December. It helps to learn the ropes and get some practices in - which is where we can help! We host a beginner's clinic in early August, as well as weekly practices in the fall to get ready for the race season.
Interested? Here's are some resources that will help get you on your way to trying cyclocross. These are focused on the Washington, DC region (including Baltimore and Northern Virginia), but plenty of cities have CX scenes if you live somewhere else. Questions? Let us know!
The Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association (MABRA) is the USA Cycling regional association for Maryland, DC, Delaware, and Northern Virginia. MABRA provides support and coordination for racing in the region.
MABRA
We host a beginner's CX clinic in early August. There is a nominal registration fee to cover insurance and expenses. The clinic will cover skills, training, race preparation, and anything else you might need to know. Plus we'll provide ongoing support throughout the season!
Registration
There are currently 12 MABRA races on the calendar, plus some other local and semi-local races. They're all on different courses, and they're all fun. Here's the schedule for 2026:
Schedule
We'll be hosting a weekly evening practice from August through October at Fort Reno Park - Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Want to join in? Let us know below!
Contact
Race registration is usually handled through BikeReg.com. You can find registration pages for most local races here (more will be added as we get closer to the fall):
BikeReg
CX racing in the MABRA region is sanctioned by USA Cycling (USAC), so you'll need a USAC license to race. One day licenses are available but if you're going to be racing a bunch, it's worth buying an annual license.
USAC
We don't know a ton about youth racing, but fortunately there are some great junior programs in the area. Rock Creek Velo (RCV) is based on the DC-area and Baltimore Youth Cycling (BYC) is based out of (you guessed it) Baltimore. So if you've got kids, make it a family affair!
RCV
BYC
You've probably still got questions. Feel free to reach out below and we'll be happy to help. But here are some answers to some questions we've seen.
There are multiple races throughout the day, broken down by things like age or skill level (see "Categories"). Some races take place at the same time, so there may be other people on course who will be placed separately from you - but that doesn't mean you can't have friendly competition with them. The best race for most people to start out with is the Novice race.
For most people just starting out, the Novice (or Categoy 5) race is the one to get started with. It's filled with other beginners, it's usually early in the morning, and it's the best place to learn the ropes. After you get a few races under your belt, you can upgrade to one of other races and begin your journey to a world championship.
USA Cycling categories are rankings based on your past performance. Everyone starts out at "Cat 5" (or "Novice"). You earn upgrade points based on your finishing position in a race, and the number of people in that race. The higher your placing and the bigger the field, the more points you earn. The highest category is Cat 1.
A lot of cyclists choose to join a race club or team. There are many teams in our region, and each have their own structure, goals, and membership processes. Cyclocross is generally an individual discipline, but it can be nice to have teammates to train with, cheer you on, and keep an eye on your stuff while you're racing!
Congrats! The singlespeed field in MABRA-land is one of the best races of the day. It's big, it's tough, and there are racers of all skill levels and competitiveness - some take it seriously, and others do it as a second race for extra credit.
We're just some folks who really like cyclocross and want more people to come spend their weekends with us! You can find us hanging out at local races all fall (and then at a Taco Bell after the race, treating our bodies like the dumpster fires they are).
Have questions? Want to try CX but still not sure? Don't want to try CX but still want us to convince you? Want to join us for some practice sessions? Seriously, let us know!