The mud and the fun of cyclocross

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/01/2015 (3957 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Zach Peters began cyclocross racing for the adrenaline rush, but he’s continued because of the community.

Cyclocross is an obstacle course bike race featuring racers chasing other and the clock through mud, over hills and other obstacles. Obstacles are often so large that racers have to get off their bikes and carry them on their shoulders while they run.

It can get pretty intense and it isn’t for everyone. Traditionally, the cyclocross season runs from September to January — not the easiest months in Manitoba to be outside biking.

But Peters thinks there’s room to grow the sport of cyclocross racing in Manitoba, which is part of what he’s hoping to do when he launches his documentary, Sprocket and Chain, at Canadian Mennonite University on January 28.

In the doc, Peters interviews four Manitoba cyclocross racers about why they love taking part in these offbeat races and why they think cyclocross is beginning to take off in Manitoba.

Peters began racing after he began commuting by bike to his job at CMU. He’s hoping other amateur cyclists will come to the documentary launch and be inspired.

“I want to share why I fell in love with cyclocross, what the culture is like, and why people do these weird races,” he says. “I’m hoping recreational cyclists will come out, and be inspired to come and try something new.”

But it’s not the racing that excites Peters the most.
“There’s a community aspect at cyclocross races. It’s more than just an individual race. People are there to hang out with friends. There’s definitely a party atmosphere,” he says.

Peters is a Creative Communications student at Red River College. His documentary is a year-long project major project he has produced and marketed as part of his course work.
Sprocket and Chain will screen at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 on the north campus of Canadian Mennonite University at 500 Shaftesbury Blvd.

Amanda Thorsteinsson is a community correspondent for Charleswood.