SSCXWC09 : Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships 2009

It was Stumptown, not Bartertown, and Mad Max and Auntie Entity were conspicuous by their absence. But there was a Thunderdome and a battle, and when it was over, Canadian Drew MacKenzie and Seattle’s Kari Studley were the winners of the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships (SSCXWC).

While finding a winner is the ultimate goal of any competition, the spectacle and zaniness of the event largely overpowered the actual race.  Held on the sloppy grounds of Portland International Raceway, with Audis and Porsches racing on the track 50 yards away, the SSCXWC showcased course furniture seen only in sci-fi movies.  Well, one movie in particular: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.  The promoters of the race acquired a to scale version of Mad Max’s thunder dome, about 1300 square feet worth, that racers passed through each lap.  Three acrobats suspended in harnesses taunted the racers as they snaked through the dome, raining marshmallows and heckles.  No one was spared.  Spectators climbed the dome to witness the madness and join the heckling.

Elsewhere on the course, racers had to contend with more “traditional” obstacles like barrier sets, muddy, off camber stretches, a football field sized mud bog, a school bus with dancing strippers as a short cut, and barriers with launch ramps.  Needless to say, this made for some extended lap times compared to early races run on the regular course.

The race started off with a Braveheart/Le Mans style introduction, complete with a kilted bag pipe player.  All 250 racers, men and women, placed their bikes along the center of a large field.  Half the racers went to the west side, the other half to east side.  After the countdown and the yelp of freedom, racers dashed to find their machines and vie for the all important hole shot.  As the racing began so too did Black Sabbath cover band Rat Salad fueling the energy around the Thunderdome.

Portland frame building icon Tony Pereira was the first to the top of the hill winning, somewhat ironically, a Raleigh SSCXWC frameset for his efforts.  Matthew Slaven made it around the first lap quickest netting the glory of being the first cross racer to ever ride through the Thunderdome.  Following him was a field of outrageously dressed racers; many in Mad Max style costumes, others in frighteningly uncomfortable looking “race kits.”  Drew MacKenzie came though donned in his golden speedo from last year’s victory.  Barry Wicks rolled around dressed in a sweater vest and what looked like wool britches (as well as a musette full of adult beverages that he happily dispersed to a willing crowd.)  Ryan Trebon ran most of the first lap with his dog on a leash.  Two racers dressed as though they just walked off the Mad Max movie set raced a single speed Madsen cargo bike, one person pedaling while the other person sat in the cargo bucket waiting to assist on the dismounts.

As more rain and darkness fell, the officials rang the final lap bell and the winners emerged.  How the judges could keep track of 250 people on the course at one time wearing all manner of outfits is beyond comprehension.  MacKenzie will add another SSCXWC tattoo to his skin.  Also, a custom built Pereira Cycles single speed cross bike will look nice next to his Vanilla Speed Wagon from last year.  Studley, too, will be graced with an SSCXWC tattoo and will be seen next season riding a custom rig from Spanner Bicycles.

Directly following the finish the second SSCXWC competition began.  The battle for race ownership for next year’s edition came down to two cities: Seattle and San Francisco.  Naturally, the battle took place in the Thunderdome.  Two people entered, one person left.  Seattle’s contestant: an energetic man poised for whatever lay in store for him.  San Francisco’s contender was an equally ready woman who will be forever known as St. SanFran as she toppled Seattle in a sumo style mud wrestling bout in front of a surly crowd.  The day before Seattle was victorious in part one of the hosting battle, a debate moderated by SSCXWC promoters.  With the score at one win for each city, the tie breaker came from the race results.  Since Kari Studley of Seattle won the women’s race, she also won ownership for Seattle next season.

Truly, Portland gave the race an unforgettable send off.  Racers and spectators couldn’t help but smile and laugh, and stories will be told for many weeks to follow.  When the race came to fruition three years ago it reminded participants that the essence of this sport is fun through competition.  Each year following that mantra has been clear and proud.  Seattle certainly has some big shoes to fill but if their performance and enthusiasm this last weekend is any indication, they’ll do just fine.

Full results are here.