Welcome to the 2011 CTW Season
December 13, 2011
We’re pumped for the State Championship race coming up this Sunday at Lock 4! The weather is looking good with low 50s and partial sun. Please note the race times shown on the flyer that’s available here. And in case any of you are wondering, this race is the equalizer. It’s open to everyone and the first person across the line wins the State Champ race (though you have to be a TN resident and racing on an Annual License to win the title or medals). Speaking of, get your license and all the information you need about licenses here. Buy a license now and it’s good through the end of 2012. And I know we’ve given away lots of great prizes this year, but we have more to give away on Sunday than we’ve had at any single race. Giveaways will be occurring during the “open” course times from 11:15-11:40 and 1:30-1:55, so make sure that you are within earshot of the PA during those times, as you have to be there to win! Also, be sure to bring your race numbers from the CTW Series, as we’ll be using those Sunday.
We’d also like to highlight our title sponsor for this season – MOAB. They’ve been our title sponsor since the first year of our series, which was 2009, but seems like many years ago. In case you haven’t been to their shop in Murfreesboro, or their newer place in Franklin, they’ve got EVERYTHING you could ever want to satisfy your bike lust. They carry more brands than any shop I know of, and what they don’t have, they can get for you. Plus Mark and the boys are the best people you could ever hope to buy a bike from. So the next time your in the Boro or Franklin, stop by and check out their wares and let them know that you appreciate their help in keeping racing in middle TN alive and well! See you all Sunday.
December 5, 2011
A huge thanks to everyone that came out to the CTW Series and raced with us this year – you all made it the funnest and biggest season we’ve had yet and we’re grateful! A huge thank you also to all of our sponsors: MOAB, ACME Multisports, Yazoo, Nashville Bicycle Lounge, Cumberland Transit, Biker’s Choice, and Eastside Cycles - we couldn’t do it without their support.
Next up………..the State Championship race on December 18 at Lock 4. Very similar course to yesterday’s, though you know it’ll be a little different. Remember to bring your race numbers from the CTW Series. Also, pre-registration is up here and there’ll be a $5 increase for all categories for day of race registration, so get on it and we’ll see you very soon!
November 29, 2011
We wanted to remind everyone to come out and join us on Sunday at Lock 4 for what always proves to be a great day of racing. Check the CTW Series page for more info.
We also want to talk about one of our fine sponsors. Eastside Cycles is supporting the series in a big way this year with lots of prizes and shop gift cards. We’ve been giving you a shot at all these great prizes via our door prize drawings between races and we’ll continue that on Sunday. Scott at Eastside runs a great shop and they carry a ton of bikes lines, plus all the accessories and stuff that you’d ever need. And they have some of the best hands in the business to help you out with anything you’ll need, so go see them today (or very soon) and let them know that you appreciate their support.
November 23, 2011
We want to thank everyone who came out on Saturday and made it one of the best days of racing we’ve ever had. The weather was perfect, the venue at Kurt’s was great, and all the people were there to have a good time. Thanks again to our sponsors who came out and made it an even better day. The results are up here. And in looking at the series standings, it looks like there may very well be some fireworks at Lock 4. Be sure to put December 4 at Lock 4 on your schedule, especially if you plan on racing the State Championship race on December 18, as you’ll get a nice preview of what the State Champ course is going to look like. Also take a look at our Photo/Video/Media page for links to some great pictures from last weekend.
November 16, 2011
We have lots of updates for you today! Preregistration is opening today at noon for the State Championship race that will be held at Lock 4 on December 18 – it’s available here. We’re encouraging preregistration for the State Championship race by imposing a $5 day-of penalty for registration. Remember to bring your race numbers from the Cross The Way Cyclocross Series, as we’ll use them in the State Championship race.
We also want to remind you that we’re racing this weekend in the Boro at the Page Farm. Registration will open onsite at 8:30AM. Bring your numbers from the first race at Fontanel – they say “Cross The Way CX Series” across the top. Expect some mud, though we’ll update our facebook page Friday afternoon to let you know how the course conditions are looking. We’re also going to be giving away a ton of door prizes between races, so plan on sticking around all day and winning some great prizes from our fabulous local sponsors. We’ll need some people to judge “barrier” technique throughout the day too, so please let Melissa or me know if you’re willing, as we’d greatly appreciate your help. Leslie Allen – our friend and food service provider – who some of you met last year at our series, will be onsite throughout the entire race day to provide you with delicious sandwiches, muffins, cookies, and other edibles, so bring some $$ and fill your belly. She’s now the proud owner of the “I Dream of Weenie” hotdog stand in east Nashville too, so she MAY be mixing in some killer dogs to boot! We’re also proud to be partnering with the TBRA Annual Banquet which will get going following the conclusion of our final race around 2:30-3:00 pm.
Lastly, we’d like to highlight one of our great sponsors since we have your attention. Cumberland Transit has been supporting the series for a couple of seasons now and they do one hell of a job. They provide us with many of the prizes that we’re giving away this year between races and they run a great shop, not only with bicycle related items, but also outdoor gear, fly fishing stuff, climbing gear, paddling gear, and all sorts of other stuff. So the next time you’re around West End, stop by and thank them for supporting your local race scene. See you Saturday!
November 2, 2011
We had a great time at Fontanel and thoroughly enjoyed seeing all our old friends and making some new ones. We’ll be at it again in just a couple of weeks at the Page Farm in the Boro. If you missed this one last year, you’ve no doubt regretted every minute of it since I know you heard how cool and unique the course was. We aim to please again this year and will be taping up quite the doozy for you – though maybe with a few less turns.
We also wanted to preach for a moment about one of our fine sponsors – ACME Multisports in Goodlettsville. ACME is run by a great bunch of people who are fully committed to everything bike and beyond. Let’s admit it – some of us cyclist also run. There…….I said it. So head up to ACME and thank them for supporting your local ‘cross races. And while you’re at it, check out their MASSIVE inventory of bicycles. They have road, time trial (or triathlon depending on what you’re into), mountain, commuters, they got it all. On top of that, they have a great selection of clothes, running shoes and gear, swimming stuff, and all kinds of other cool stuff.
Lastly, we want to remind everyone to keep their race numbers from the first race – assuming you were there. In fact, keep it and we’ll also use them at the State Championship Race on December 18. As stated in the flyers for the CTW Series, if you loose it, it’s $5 for the next one.
Go see ACME today and say thanks! See you in the Boro on November 19!
October 25, 2011
Thanks to everyone that came out and made it such a fun weekend. A big thanks to Fontanel for having us out to an outstanding venue too. The results are up on the TBRA page here. We’re already getting ready for November 19 in the Boro and can’t wait to see you all again.
October 23, 2011
Weekend report and results coming soon.
Meanwhile check out some photos & video from Sunday’s racing.
October 19, 2011
We can’t believe the first races are here! It’s time for cyclocross in middle TN and we’re pumped!!! We have several things to run through to bring you up to speed.
1. We want to welcome Yazoo and all their tasty and local goodness back as a sponsor again this year. They’ve once again stepped up to help quench your post-race, or anytime, thirst and we very much appreciate their continued support of the cycling community!
2. Parking at Fontanel will NOT be in the asphalt parking lot by the restaurant. Instead, follow the gravel road BEHIND the restaurant to the cyclocross parking area. Please abide this, as Fontanel gets pretty busy on the weekends with folks just visiting and we don’t want to take up parking in the regular lot.
3. Please DO NOT bring your cooler full of adult beverages and food to the races this weekend. The good folks at Fontanel are going all out to help provide you with a great weekend of racing and you can say thank you by taking advantage of their food and beverage sales. And yes, they’ll have beverages of the adult nature.
4. It’s time for cyclocross in middle TN, so come on out Saturday and Sunday and take part in the first race in our area AND earn TBRA points on both days! The weather is going to be beautiful and the venue has some fantastic color on the hillsides with the leaves turning, so come on out and spend the day with us and all your friends.
We’ll see you soon!
October 12, 2011
Wow, the first race is almost here! In the meantime, we’d like to welcome Cumberland Transit back for another year of incredible prizes. You aren’t going to believe how well they’re treating you guys this year, but you’ll see. We’d also like to welcome Eastside Cycles on board the sponsorship train and say that we’re oh so happy to have them. We also still owe you guys an announcement on a little shake up with our race schedule, but still awaiting final approval to let the so called cat out of the bag.
A few important reminders about our October 22 and 23 weekend that we are having with Homegrown Bicycles. Click on the CTW Cyclocross Series page for a link to the flyer and all the information you could ever need, except for one very important piece of the proverbial pie. The fine folks at Fontanel are allowing us to use their venue for free and are also helping with getting things set for us in order to provide you with a quality weekend of racing. In order to make this a two-way street, they’re offering food and beer sales at the venue and we ask that you refrain from bringing the old “red cups” or using the “water bottle” trick with which to mask your home-brought beverages of choice. I know it sounds painful, but they’re taking good care of us by having us all over to their house and we should all be nice and take part in their offerings. Thanks and we’ll see you VERY soon!
October 7, 2011
Alright ‘cross fans, our series is about to begin and some of you are already prepping by travelling to take part in some of the other great races offered throughout our region. For those of you that aren’t, hopefully you’re getting some good racing going with your friends to get you where you need to be, because it’s about to be on!
We also wanted to let you all know that we expect a slight change in the schedule that we’ll hopefully be announcing next week. It’s a great change and everyone’s going to dig on it!
Lastly, we’d like to send a BIG THANKS to all of our sponsors thus far that are returning from last season, including: MOAB as title sponsor, The Nashville Bicycle Lounge, ACME Multisports, and The Biker’s Choice. I’ve said it before and will say it again, please frequent these businesses and let them know that you appreciate them giving back to the sport that we all love.
OK, really lastly, click here to take a quick eight questions yes/no survey that will help us provide you a better race experience. Thanks!
September 27, 2011
We’re moving right along here at UpHillGrind Productions. The first ‘cross practice that Dan hosted didn’t have a big attendance due to the ‘cross weather we were experiencing, but tonight should be irresistible with clear skies and cooling temps, so if you don’t come out tonight, you’re ‘cross crazy friends will most definitely be talking – and you won’t like what they’re saying. Tonight will be at Shelby Park on Naval Hill. If you’re coming from the direction of the stadium, take an immediate left as soon as you enter the park and go up the hill. There’s a big parking area at the top on the right and that’s where we’ll be. We’re going to set up two pvc barriers for everyone to practice on, or for our first timers to learn on, then after everyone is rolling along, we’re going to go to our short course for some race simulation. You do NOT want to miss it.
We want to welcome MOAB back as our title sponsor and also Nashville Bicycle Lounge as a continuing sponsor. We’ll start announcing additional sponsors and some super sweet and scrumptious prizes in the coming weeks and we’re going to post our flyer as soon as it’s approved by USA Cycling, so stay tuned for more!
September 2, 2011
Alright all you slackers, it’s high time to start working on those cyclocross skills and our friend Dan at Nashville Bicycle Lounge is going to host the first of several practices starting this coming Tuesday night – September 6, 2011. Click here for more info. Aspiring cyclocrossers and seasoned veterans should all attend. If you aren’t there, we don’t want to hear you crying later about your funky remount. We’ll see you there!
We also wanted to give you a little teaser to get you pumped. Thanks to Nathan Taylor of Harpeth Bicycles for the video from last year’s CTW #1.
August 12, 2011
Let’s start by thanking all of our sponsors from last year in no particular order: MOAB, Harpeth Bicycles, Nashville Bicycle Lounge, Nashville Holistic Pet, The Biker’s Choice, ACME Multisports, All-City Cycles, Yazoo Beer, Earth, Wind, & Rider, Warp9Bikes and MultiSportDirect.com, Hammer Nutrition, and Road ID. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we can’t put on these races without the support of these local businesses, so go show them some love.
We hope you’ve had a great year thus far. Maybe you’ve been training hard while racing mountain or road, or maybe you’ve been slowly building back up for what’s coming soon……………..’cross season! This year will prove to be the best year in Tennessee for cyclocross yet and you heard it here first. We’re going to have our flyer out by the end of August and you’re going to LOVE what you see. We’re upping the ante this year and you stand to reap all the benefits by coming out and taking part in the fastest growing series in TN. Check back in the coming weeks for additional details.
Thanks!
