Cobb’s Hill welcomes the Ninth Cobb’s Hill Cyclocross

Cobb’s Hill welcomes the Ninth Cobb’s Hill Cyclocross

IMG_1192

Yesterday was yet another reason to call Cobb’s Hill our urban oasis.IMG_1187

IMG_1186

Jeff Walker from Syracuse (starting bell in background)

Drivers passing on Monroe and Culver might not have known what they were seeing. It was the Cobb’s Hill Cyclocross where fans and cyclists enjoyed a sunny afternoon of intense competition and warm camaraderie.  (Much more on Cobb’s Hill at end.)

Scott Page, owner of Full Moon Vista Bike and Sport, runs the event and is its primary sponsor (along with many other cycle-friendly businesses and organization). Scott provides a full vista of the event:

The Cobb’s Hill Cyclocross celebrated it’s 9th year on Sunday November 15th with amateur bicycle racing all day. The event is part of the Western New York Cyclocross Series which includes other events from Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse. Athletes attended Cobb’s Hill from as far away as Buffalo, St. Cathrines and Syracuse. One unique aspect of the sport of cyclocross is that it attracts riders of all athletic levels – from beginners to very experienced. There are different categories to race in depending on your ability level and it’s a ton of fun for all that give it a try. Races are shorter in length (typically 30 to 60 minutes) and riders have to dismount their bikes to get over obstacles, kind of like a steeple-chase course. An exciting aspect is that the event pulls together mountain bikers, road riders and everyone in between to enjoy a beautiful day in the park!

IMG_1185

“bunny hopping” across the planks

And a beautiful day it was.  The area near the the lower tennis courts and Lake Riley was packed with spectators and resting participants: hearing the ring of the bell (beneath the American flag) announcing starts, watching cyclists “bunny hop” the planks, and medal winners enjoying their hard earned trophies.  The slopes of the Hill–where some onlookers picnicked on blankets–looked like Christo’s Running Fence (1976) or those crop circles somewhere in England.

IMG_1179

Bonnie Symes and Dave Bathowski from Buffalo

As I wandered and met people, I was immediately realized how much the Cyclocross is regional, not knowing Rochester was part of–if not a marque destination–the Western New York Cyclocross Series.

I met people from Ithaca, Syracuse and Buffalo who told me the Series draws people from all over the Northeast. In the Wheel Pit, I learned members of the Cyclocross Series are very much a community, swapping stories about the sport they so passionately enjoy.

rtc

“Officially” the first to cross the Twilight Criterium finish line. At 11:19 am, eclipsed Second Place by roughly 10 hours and 45 minutes. A new world’s record!

Cycling is thriving in Rochester. Scott says the event is growing 10 – 20% a year. And there will definitely be another Twilight Criterium this summer. (You may recall my Twilight adventure, courtesy of Scott and his crew Join me at Twilight/ )

While my feat at the Twilight was unprecedented, I rallied to the Cyclocross challenge. Through an unlikely turn of events–and my own  bunny hopping brilliance–I managed to capture first place in the Women’s Category 4 race!  Well, not exactly. That honor actually belonged to Kate Brett, a trainer at Fleet Feet down the road at the Armory. This was Kate’s second triumph in two days, having won at the Cross in the Maze event at Long Acres Farms in Macedon.

IMG_1188

With Kate Brett at left, Talker of the Town’s CyclingChallenged team member donning hard won (and borrowed) solid gold first place medal from the Women’s Category 4 competition.

IMG_1180

Dylan Antum of Ithaca

Above is another actual winner, 13rd old Dylan Antum from Ithaca, who came in second in the junior competition. Glad to hear from Dylan that competitive cycling is considered cool in middle school. And that the various slopes on the course are “the meanest things in the area.”

Please consider subscribing (and contributing) to Talker of the Town (at right). That just means posts will get sent to your email.

ON COBB’S HILL

On the 22nd of October, 1844 on top of Cobb’s Hill/ 1844

 

invisible

The Cobb’s Hill tragedy of an “invisible man” ten years later

Rochester’s own street ball Rucker Leaguerucker 2

normalcy

Back to normalcy at Cobb’s Hill basketball

The 8th annual Festival of Softball after 800 innings. The Tribute to Noah nears 100000/noah

That Championship Season thirty five years laterbanner

Diehards and the Cobb’s Hill Tennis Courts/

grp

About The Author

dkramer3@naz.edu

Welcome to Talker of the Town! My name is David Kramer. I have a Ph.D in English and teach at Keuka College. I am a former and still active Fellow at the Nazareth College Center for Public History and a Storyteller in Residence at the SmallMatters Institute. Over the years, I have taught at Monroe Community College, the Rochester Institute of Technology and St. John Fisher College. I have published numerous Guest Essays, Letters, Book Reviews and Opinion pieces in The New York Times, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, the Buffalo News, the Rochester Patriot, the Providence Journal, the Providence Business News, the Brown Alumni Magazine, the New London Day, the Boston Herald, the Messenger Post Newspapers, the Wedge, the Empty Closet, the CITY, Lake Affect Magazine and Brighton Connections. My poetry appears in The Criterion: An International Journal in English and Rundenalia and my academic writing in War, Literature and the Arts and Twentieth Century Literary Criticism. Starting in February 2013, I wrote for three Democratic and Chronicle  blogs, "Make City Schools Better," "Unite Rochester," and the "Editorial Board." When my tenure at the D & C  ended, I wanted to continue conversations first begun there. And start new ones.  So we created this new space, Talker of the Town, where all are invited to join. I don’t like to say these posts are “mine.” Very few of them are the sole product of my sometimes overheated imagination. Instead, I call them partnerships and collaborations. Or as they say in education, “peer group work.” Talker of the Town might better be Talkers of the Town. The blog won’t thrive without your leads, text, pictures, ideas, facebook shares, tweets, comments and criticisms.

Donate

Like what you see on our site? We’d appreciate your support. Please donate today.

Featured Posts

Loading