By Tom Hoogendyk
Published 07/06/2022; Updated 07/06/2022

Thank you all for coming out and riding with us in the Spring 2022 NCC Jr. Cyclocross Training Series. It was so great to be back in the saddle riding with all of your wonderful children. I’m always impressed by how much they can learn in just five weeks!

Here’s a link to the photos from the series (5/23 and 6/6). A big thank you to our very own Michael T. Bello (MTB) for taking and sharing these wonderful photos! Michael is a professional photographer, NCC board member, jr. CX dad, cyclist, and all around great human being! Thanks, Michael!!

And a big thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who helped with course setup, break down, and leading groups groups each week! This event would not be possible without the help of our incredible cycling community. The NCC is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization. Everyone involved in running the program generously volunteered their time and expertise. I can’t thank you all enough!!

If your child wants to ride more, we have two opportunities to offer:

1. The Summer 2022 Youth Cycling Series starts next Monday evening at Look Park. This is a FREE three-week race series on a cyclocross course next to the Dow pavilion. We only require the signature of a parent or guardian, bike, and helmet to participate. Come on out and join us on 7/11, 7/18, and 7/25 at 5:30 PM. Details may be found on the NCC Youth Cycling Series page.

You are, of course, welcome to come ride the course before, during, and after the races. The format will be just like the racing part of the last night for the Jr. CX series. Also, racing is not required. Some kids like to just hang out with friends and ride the course before and after the races :^)

2. The Verge Northampton International Cyclocross race is held every November in Look Park. It’s the oldest UCI cyclocross race in North America and our club helps out with it every year. Many of our NCC juniors race on the full course, but we also offer a small, free cyclocross course for kids 3-12 years of age before the pro races each day. The entire park is transformed for two days into a festival with racing, food trucks, vendors, an NCC team tent, and more–just spectating is a blast! You really have to see it to believe it. This year’s event takes place the weekend of November 12th and 13th.

Here’s the 30th anniversary tribute video we showed on the projector in the Dow pavilion (watch it with your kids). It really showcases the great cyclocross racing tradition in the valley and all of the fantastic people that work behind the scenes to make it happen.

And here are more of Michael’s photos from the 2021 edition of the race (including the kids’ races!).

 

 

Please reach out if you have any questions. I hope to see many of you on a Monday night in July :^)