How to make a near-perfect Cross Crusade kickoff?

One part Alpenrose Dairy, two parts bumpy-ass meadow, one part Barry Wicks+Ryan Trebon.  Sprinkle a little stuffed clydesdale, add a dash of cowbell, throw in some hot boys and girls in skinsuits and mix well.

All that was missing was rain, mud, and a little beer. But we can wait for all that – it’s a long season after all.

More the 1400 people stormed the Dairy this past Sunday to race in the season opener of the largest cyclocross series in the world (holla!).  When Portland does ‘cross, we do it big-style.

Intrepid Wend videographer Eric Keeney and I were on hand to document the pain, suffering, mayhem and madness. We had a little technical difficulty with our tapes this week, but we’ve performed a seven-step exorcism on our equipment and we promise it’ll be all shiny and perfect for the next go-round. Look for us at all the Crusade races – we’ll be out every week to torment, heckle and otherwise document.

Provided my lungs and head are back to normal functioning capacity (see Flu), we should also have some sweet helmet cam footage from Rainier next week.

More cowbell!  Check it.