Oregon’s off-the-hook cyclocross scene grabbed even more attention this month. Issue 8 of Cylocross Magazine features Molly Cameron, Portland’s own “iconic” cross racer.

The in-depth article by Josh Cohen covers Cameron’s gender identity, world travels and life in general as a bike-shop-owning pro cyclocross racer. From the article:

“A lot of guys were like, ‘what the f***?’ at first, but when they got to know me, they were like, ‘OK, this isn’t something weird.’”

Find a copy and check it out!

Here at Cycling Action World Headquarters we’ve reached all the way back to October 2009 to bring you these very brief videos of Cross Crusade superstars Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon.

The first video features Cross Crusade crew members Andy Wilson and Brad Ross repairing course tape as ‘08 National Champion Ryan Trebon (Kona-FSA) flies over the run-up and barriers.

The second video, from the 2009 Cross Crusade in Astoria, features “Cougar Bait” Barry Wicks (Kona-FSA) entering the coffin corner. Wicks won both days in Astoria, including Sunday’s costumed event shown here.

The last Cross Crusade race of 2009 didn’t disappoint. On a slippery course that mixed pavement, singletrack, mudbogs and rock-strewn gravity testers, the battle for the men’s A series overall crown came down to the last few meters between Team S&M’s Sean Babcock and Portland Bicycle Studio’s Molly Cameron. Truly fantastic racing!

Then, in the spirit of doing things differently, the Crusades closed out 2009 with an arm wrestling contest. It’s all here. Check out the PHOTO GALLERY.

ESTACADA – Sean Babcock (Team S&M) and Molly Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio) battled into the final stretch of the final race for the Cross Crusade crown Sunday in one of the most dramatic finishes possible. Hudz-Subaru continued its dominance of the women’s A race, with Emily Van Meter finishing ahead of teammate Wendy Williams, winner of the overall series for the second year in a row.

The relatively flat course had sections of sloppy mud, but the gravel yard where the event took place ensured a well-packed layer beneath much of the two-mile circuit. Riders traversed short power climbs and steep descents but faced little sustained climbing.

The men’s A race came down to an untimely tangle during the day’s final remount after the leaders flew over a run-up and into a short 180 degree turn to the finish. (more…)

Another soggy Pacific Northwest fall weekend means another full menu of cyclocross around Oregon. The fun begins Saturday with the first race of the Crossaflixion Cup in Bend. The two-race series, which takes place at the Seventh Mountain Resort, concludes two weeks later on Nov. 28. The day starts at 9 a.m. and winds up with the men’s a race at 1:30 p.m.

Jacksonville will be hosting the fourth installment of Southern Oregon’s five-race Outlaw Cyclocross Series Saturday as well. That series winds up next Saturday, Nov. 21, at Paradise Ranch outside of Jacksonville.

Saturday’s races will offer a perfect build up to the big Cross Crusade finale at Barton Park near Estacada. The eight-race granddaddy of Oregon ‘cross races concludes Sunday with most of the series overall battles still very much in play. (The riders’ overall totals will be based on the best six finishes of the eight races. Points are awarded 18 deep in each race, distributed as follows from first to 18th: 26,20,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1).

The men’s and women’s A races are coming right down to the wire. (more…)

Costume day at the Halloween Cross Crusade race in Astoria shined a spotlight on the peloton’s creative side, from batches of Borats to parades of cleaning ladies and fighting hockey players, nary a stone was left unturned at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds Nov. 1.

Check out the complete Halloween costume photo gallery.