Recent Video from StatenCX HQ
Hey Everyone,
StatenCX 2009 is in the planning stages- so mark your calendars. Geniuses at work, really…
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CJ’s Recap
- Staten CX- the best DFL
12/10/2008
It’s taken a good long while, but i think i needed some time to reflect on the race.
Staten CX ripped through NYC on November 30th. Jed, myself, and John put everything into this race and it paid off. I’ve never been prouder to be part of something like this. This whole event speaks volumes about the New York ‘Cross scene, my friends, and the people that came together to make this race the awesome new nyc tradition that it will surely become.
I’m wary of taking too much credit for putting this race on (and that’s rare coming from me,) but this race happened because of my friends and the greater cycling community here. this race was everyone’s baby. We had incredible sponsors, fantastic press coverage, amazing volunteers (i owe you all big time…), fantastic music, great food, a killer course, awesome photos, and great racers all come together for a good cause.
putting this race on made me realize that if you really like what you’re doing, you can do great things. it doesn’t feel like work. you want to do it. we did so much work for this, but it didnt feel like a chore. Weeks after the race, i’m left with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, and i want to do it again (and we will).
I’m going to pull a move usually reserved by hip-hop grammy winners- time for long winded thank you’s (its’ a long list)
Jed
jed got the idea of putting on a cross race. we’ve been partners in this through and through. putting this race on together also made us close friends. i’m totally pumped to put more races on with him next year.
John Cutler
the lone ranger in the full CRCA kit and (kind of) matching 14-year-old-girl rollerblade helmet, john jumped in to help the cause out of nowhere. he’s was responsible for getting us a ton of sponsors, including the FREE belgian wafels (more on that later), and also getting the race course equipment to staten island.
The Sponsors
Honest Tea showed up and supplied their great beverages.
Schaller & Weber Provided sustenance in the form of amazing sausages.
Wellshire Farms accosted us with 25 lbs of delicious, dry-rubbed bacon (drool).
Thomas Degeest, owner of Wafels & Dinges, sent some waffle men over to give out free waffles.
The waffles were free thanks two two great sponsors: Visitflanders.us (thanks Elke!), and Velo Classic tours (visit belgium! ride the cobbles!). Visitflanders and Velo classic also came to the race and added some belgian culture to our race village.
Chef Matt Sigel made sure the brats and bacon were nice and hot.
Kendra dropped furious beats and put on a euro-trash techno party in between races.
Cadence sent their team of crack mechanics (complete with Fu-manchu mustachio) to make sure the bikes survived the epic course conditions. they also came with 6 BMC demo bikes, which allowed for a ton of people (like Lisa Force!) to try out cross for the first time.
thanks to their bikes, a ton of people are going to buy a bike next season and race cross!

Claudette Lajam from orthochick.net made sure the ladies were taken care of and put in for Ladies-only primes. Robert Dvorin was another great sponsor and put in for additional Food and i believe some primes.Jan from Sportique sent me a ton of great chamois cream and embrocation to give out as prizes.
Andrew crooks from NYC Velo donated a ton of great schwag to the prize list, as did Tandems east and Toga! john’s friend Gus was a huge help and brought over Myles’ Step ins and barriers all the way from Southampton. Myles did us a big favor by lending us his cross course equipment- a buttload of step ins and a pair of barriers.
Friends
The best thing i took away from this race was the affirmation that i’ve got the best friends in the world. they all helped in so many ways- whether it was gathering Step-ins in wet 35 degree rain after the race, getting the word out about the race, bringing in bacon sponsors, etc. So, i owe a beer and one (1) lewd act to each of the following people:
Kendra- DJ extrardinaire/Trophy assistant/podium girl

Kyle Peepo- He’s Prussian, you know
Evie – sandbagging step-in-gatherer
Patrick littlefield- announcer/wino
Jason Gay- bacon intermediary- also did the write up for velo news
Rich bravo, Hott sam, Beth Renaud, Tony Slokar, Jed’s Parents, brian gatens- (course setup)Austin Horse, Evan Chalfin, Bret Vaughan- HUGE. course breakdown
Heidi Reijm- registration ALL STAR.
Lindsay Paluska and corinne Karmiel- podium girls, etc
Alan Atwood- officiating and facilitating USA cycling permit stuff. also helped with course logistics
Patrick wilder- PDX transplant! helped design the course- added some PDX flava’
Josh Creem- donated a sweet cyclosportif winner’s jersey (which roger aspholm now owns- obviously)
the paparazzi: Maria Q (sweet video!), Anthony Skorochod, Liam Quigley, Kevin Dillard, david Chomowicz, Claudette Lajam, Jerry Kapkow, Eloy Anzola, and Harry Zernike
Colin Prensky- sandbagger extraordinaire
Lauren Zucker- for lending me her crazy Yellow Pickup Truck
The CRCA (notably Mike Green, Ken Harris, “Evil” Matt Howard)- for backing the event- this race was as much a CRCA event as it was an NYC event!I want to thank the racers that showed up- we had over DOUBLE the pre-reg of any race that day in the north-east- 119 pre-reg’ed and a bunch more same-day. you guys braved the elements and came out to race in perfect, miserable Belgian weather. you made the race fun and duked it out on the course. Nice job to everyone- Especially to those who tried ‘cross for the first time- what a day to try it! you experienced ‘cross at its best and worst: the mud, the wind, the rain, the cold, the people cheering, the food, the music, and the attitude. The whole scene is what its all about. As Barry Wicks said- anyone can put on a ‘cross race. But for it to be fun, you’ve got to embrace the right atmosphere. We had just that on November 30th, and it was thanks to all of the people i mentioned above
and a BIG thank you to the NYC Parks department- Sarah Frazier, Sandra Fernandez, Vincent, and Laurie. the parks department was a HUGE help, and this race could not have happened without their support. their willingness to help and their level of accommodation was astounding. From the entire new york cyclocross community- THANK YOU!
As for my race, well there’s not way to sugar coat it: i came in DFL in my own race! DFL! I know. apparently 2 hrs of sleep has an effect on my performance. instead of coming in 3rd to last, i came in dead last. and of course colin prensky had to win the damn thing…. Next time i’m putting that guy into the tape…
By the way, i love how different his blogging is from my own. He reports from the front of the pack, I report from the middle/back. He waxes poetic on the spirit of competition and winning, i make fart/bacon/poop jokes. i think it’s awfully complimentary…
Putting this race on was a great experience through and through- i made some great contacts, new friends in the cycling scene, and i was able to spend time in a borough that i had barely visited! Staten Island is a mythical, elusive, and funny place. it was the perfect setting for our race, and hopefully will be for years to come.
As for next year, watch out. We’ve got big plans. cool stuff is on the way. i think you’re goin to like it…
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Some folks have all the luck.
Not only did Patrick Wilder get 2nd in the Elite race, but he also won a Delicious Box of Belgian Chocolate by signing up on the VisitFlanders.US email list! Congratulations to Patrick, who can expect his Belgian Goodies to be sent to him in the coming weeks.
A big thanks to Elke van Bree (who braved the cold!) and Liliane Opsomer from the Tourist Office for Flanders, Belgium for their generosity and support. Their sponsorship of Wafels and Dinges was a highlight of the event, and brought a real Flemish flair to Wolfe’s Pond Park.
We’re still recovering from the extreme cold, but expect some race reports in the near future. Also, check out the Media section for great photos and video.
Filed under: Sponsors, Updates | 1 Comment
Tags: Belgium, chocolate, Flanders
Full Court (Liberal) Press
The New York Times posted an article and short video on ‘cross in NYC this morning.
To an outsider, waking up at 5AM and braving 20 degree wind chills to practice “getting on your bike, getting off your bike, and running up stairs” might seem a little, ah, weird. But don’t knock it until you try it (or watch it up close). Trust us, people do a lot weirder things on bikes. Wait till next year when we bring Bike Jousting to NYC.
And from the Staten Island Advance, another article. Phew. The glitter. The glamor.
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We’ve had 119 racers preregister for Sunday’s race. Incredible!
Race-day registration is available. Plan to be at the venue a good hour before your race to give yourself enough time to register, maybe ride the course, and complete your archaic stretching and warm up routine.
Register for more than one race. Once you dip your toes in the lush, muddy waters of ‘cross you’ll want more. We understand. Cat 4 riders can race both the C and B fields. If you’re over 35 you could technically race the C field, the B field, AND the B Masters field. Do it. Push yourself. We’ll feed you.
3/4 and Elite Women at 12 Noon! We’re combining the our women’s fields and giving them a primetime slot at noon. The crowd will be warmed up and all the C and B men will be cheering you on.
Waffles and The Grill will get cranking by 11AM. Free. Free. Free. If you’re racing early, don’t overdose on Cliff bars and your antiseptic tangerine recovery shake. The REAL RECOVERY MEAL is just an hour away. We’ll also have hot chocolate, coffee, and vegetarian options.
Bring lightly used toys to donate to the SIUH Burn Center in memory of Fire Lt. Robert Ryan Jr.
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On Waffles And Cycling

by Thomas DeGeest (Wafels and Dinges)
Here’s a word from the waffle guy on the importance of cycling in the waffle-world, and vice versa.
Cycling is one of my fondest memories of my growing up in Belgium. Just like waffles, cycling came in many flavors back in those days. I loved biking to school every day (mostly in the rain of course), my family had a tradition of watching the great classics in the spring (on TV), the Tour in the summer and the cyclocross races in the fall…always accompanied by coffee and cake on a Sunday afternoon.
But my best memories of cycling certainly come from the typical Belgian “kermiskoers”. Every village in Belgium had its annual street fair with as typical ingredients the bumpercars, the shooting stand, the rollercoaster and of course…the cycling race which would always swing by the street fair and around the church tower before heading for a loop through the local fields and cobblestone paths from the Roman days.
And a “kermiskoers” would not be a real one unless there were waffles being served, preferably with powdered sugar and whipped cream. In my mind, waffles are unmistakably married with cycling races, they are both part of the Belgian folklore, where local kids devour waffles, where the farmers take a day of to watch the race while chewing away on their cigars, where romances are born on the bumpercar track.
I really hope one day I can translate this feeling into a store…wouldn’t that be great: a cyclocross themed waffle store in the middle of Manhattan. Not sure if a lot of people would get the link, but certainly a direction I am thinking.
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Closing In On 100 Pregistered!
We can’t believe it! Did the Brats put us over the top? Does DJ Kendra have a legion of European, ‘cross- riding, techno loving fans? Let us examine:

Brats it is!
We’re closing in on 100 preregistered riders for the race (with almost 24 hours until preregistration closes and you need to register day-of). Please continue to spread the word and thanks for your rabid, almost cultish support. “Yes We Can” have a ‘cross race in NYC, roll around in the mud, invite friends and family to witness our infantile weekend obsession, and eat meat and waffles (all for charity).
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Tags: Brats, cyclocross, Waffles
Preregistration closes on Thanksgiving day at noon! So to avoid the throngs waiting to register on Sunday morning (and the $5 race-day registration fee) scoot on over to Bike Reg and do your thing. Mountain bikes without bar-ends are fine, and one day licenses will be available if you don’t have a USCF license.
Listing all the reasons you should race on Sunday would take a whole blog, but let me summarize:
Awesome Course
Awesome Park
Free Food
Great Prizes
For Charity
NEW YORK CITY
You dig?
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I’m as giddy as a plump schoolgirl right now. Schaller & Weber has agreed to be the official sausage sponsor of Staten ‘Cross!
What does that mean for you??
Brats, franks, and lots of ‘em.
Located on 86th and 2nd, Schaller & Weber is the only American sausage and processed meat manufacturer to consistently and repeatedly receive the coveted Gold Medals of Honor awarded at International Exhibitions in Holland, Austria, and Germany. Since opening on the upper east side in 1937, Schaller & Weber has been a family run business whose products are synonymous with quality. My family’s been going there for years, and if my coach’s disappointment about my body fat % is any indicator, they make some delicious sausage! Schaller & Weber’s Award-winning Brats and ‘Franks will be on the grill on race day – be sure to try one!

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Tags: Bratwurst, Meat, Sausage, Schaller & Weber, Sponsor
Doug Dicks, a New York City fireman and CRCA member, will be collecting gently used toys at Staten CX in memory of Fire Lt. Robert Ryan Jr. who died fighting a fire in New Brighton on Sunday, November 23rd. The toys will be passed along to Staten Island University Hospital’s burn ward and pediatric unit for their holiday toy drive.
Ryan, 46, was a 17 year veteran and father four. He started volunteering his time for the hospital burn center after suffering near career-ending burns in 2006 and spending a year at the hospital in excruciating rehab. To honor Ryan’s life and work, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holidays, let’s do our best to help Doug collect toys for children in need.
Doug will have his truck in the parking lot and will do his best to hang some posters for the drive. Used toys are fine, but the center cannot accept fabric toys (e.g. stuffed animals). The SIUH Burn Center also accepts monetary donations. Please contact them at (718) 226-6988.
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Staten CX welcomes Robert Dvorin at Prudential Douglas Elliman as a 2008 sponsor. With Rob’s help we will be renting a grill for celebrity BBQ chef Matt Sigel (from the Fox reality show Hell’s Kitchen) as well as offering free grilled food, hot chocolate, and coffee.
Cyclocross and Real Estate?
“I normally work purely on referrals — people being happy with my help and passing along the word — but when I heard about the race and the charity I knew I wanted to get involved. You guys aren’t sitting around watching the sky fall! You’re out on a Sunday racing bikes, having a party, and helping the community.”
In the top 1% of Prudential brokers nationwide, Rob prides himself on being available 24 hours a day for his clients. “We’re in a very turbulent time,” explains Dvorin, “so having a great broker is more important than ever. Call me anytime at 917-365-0040 or visit my website at www.RobertDvorin.com. “
Alvin, maybe it’s time to make a little more room for your eight bikes, 12 wheelsets, trainer, wife, and three kids?
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Tags: cyclocross, real estate, Sponsor
Claudette Lajam M.D. has offered up $50 premes for the Women’s 3/4 and Women’s Elite races under her almost superhero-esque moniker OrthoChick.Net! Don’t complain boys … you’ve been getting the good premes since time eternal (since you make the rules). So women: race like your entry fee and round of drinks depend on your first lap!
I first met Claudette under not-so-appetizing circumstances. Somewhere in the wilds of Long Island I was forced off the road by a truck and landed squarely on my knee. After posting on the CRCA board I received numerous recommendations and all roads seemed to lead to Claudette’s office. I was fixed up (without surgery, thank god) and was back in action a couple weeks later.
Seeing that in my first ‘cross season I have managed to knock my knee against something in almost every race, I thought I’d use this interview opportunity to pick Claudette’s brain without paying a copay. And now I’m sharing ….
Continue reading ‘Gender Inquality: $50 Premes For The Women!’
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Tags: cyclocross, orthopedic surgery, tips, yoga, stretching, prizes
Having VisitFlander.US and Velo Classic Tours sponsor Staten CX has been an incredible treat. Based in New York City, Velo Classic Tours is the only U.S. tour operator that offers trips to the Spring Classics in Belgium, and have been traveling to Belgium since 2002. Translated, VCT is the only U.S. tour operator bold enough to cater to crazy cyclists who appreciate cold, mud, gravel, and good beer. And where will those cats be on November 30th 2008? Genius!
In addition to supplying a tent for VisitFlanders.US, VCT has offered up a $300 transferable discount to their tours as a race prize. So some lucky person will not only reign supreme in their category, but they’ll also be on a jet plane next spring to the Tour of Flanders while recovering from another successful ‘cross season. We’re doing some intense calculations to figure out exactly which category will see this prize. I can be bribed (with food).
Peter Easton is a walking encyclopedia of world cycling. I rigged up a microphone, put my phone on speaker, and called Peter to chat about the Spring Classics, RUI (riding under the influence), and bone chilling cold.
Continue reading ‘Interview: Spring Classics, RUI, and Mind Numbing Cold with Peter Easton’
Filed under: Background, Sponsors | 1 Comment
Tags: beer, Belgium, cobbles, Sponsors, spring classics, touring
[Being the superstitious lot, we at Staten CX begged some Blog-Gods to write the official Event Horoscope. Sensing our New York angst, The Unholy Rouleur from DC volunteered to calm our nerves with clear predictions for Sunday, November 30th, 2008. Thanks Jim!]
The good promoters of next week’s ‘Cross race on Staten Island asked me if I could provide a cyclocross horoscope for their race. Evidently, the BikeSnob is too busy running his combined Phrenology and Faith Healing shop, and I understand Stevil Kinevil is spending most of the week sacrificing California Virgins – both of them – and test riding a new Norwegian Death Metal-inspired Razr Scooter. So the task fell to D team – the Unholy Rouleur.
I freely admit that I’ve never been to this race. It’s new, and I live about 200 miles away, plus I doubt I could get to Staten Island without getting mugged coming through North Jersey. So I don’t know what I’m talking about when I tell you that it’s going to rock. I know this for certain because they will have free Belgian waffles. Nothing is bad if there are free Belgian waffles – a point I made recently to the King of Belgium when we were talking over beers about how to rehabilitate his country’s image in the eyes of the Dutch. The other half of my strategy was free pommes frites with a chili pepper mayonnaise, but he wasn’t so sure about that.
Continue reading ‘Official Event Horoscope – The Unholy Rouleur’
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Tags: horoscope
Sometimes the stars align. You get the hole shot, you float atop mud while others fall face first, and you beat the teenager half your age and half your size. ‘Cross is typically void of such good luck but on November 30th, 2008 that will change.
Staten CX is witnessing an epic confluence of sport, food, and charitable giving. Everyone’s a winner. No joke. It all started with a shot-in-the-dark call. And now behold … Free Belgian Waffles.

VisitFlanders.us, the official site of the Tourist Office for Flanders, Belgium in US, along with famous NYC waffle vendor Wafels and Dinges will be serving up FREE WAFFLES from 11AM until supplies run out. VisitFlanders.us will also be giving away CHOCOLATE if you sign up on their wonderful email newsletter. The idea is that waffles bring out racers and spectators which in turn help us donate more money to I Challenge Myself (ICM). So by racing, eating, and cheering you’re doing a good post-Thanksgiving gluttony deed!
Thomas DeGeest from W&D is a huge cycling fan and is very excited to participate. Remember, in Belgium ‘cross is like NASCAR but with better beer, better food, and an actual sporting activity taking place.
Sharing the VisitFlander.us’ tent will be Velo Classic Tours, the only U.S. tour operator offering trips to the Spring Classics in Belgium. Peter Easton from Velo Classic Tours along with Elke van Bree from VisitFlanders.us will be on hand to talk cycling in Flanders.
If you refer to this graph, you’ll notice that calories burned by 200 racers (140,000) will be nicely offset by consumption of 140 waffles (assuming you heap every possible topping on your waffle).
Sometimes there is such thing as a free lunch! We’re extremely grateful for the addition of these three sponsors and look forward to throngs of well fed spectators and racers.
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DJ Kendra
A CX race without killer music is like having a cheeseburger without bacon- you can do it, but it’s not reccomended. That’s why we’re thrilled to annouce the Kendra will be DJing the race all day!
Kendra is typically found DJing in techno clubs and bars, but thanks to her bike-obsessed friends, she has landed gigs at a new nightlife venue: crits and ‘cross races. If you went fast because of the music at the Harlem Crit, you can thank Kendra and get psyched again because she’ll be blasting the adrenaline jams for speed again in Staten Island. One can only tell what the crowd that day will inspire her to play but she is preparing by loading up on AC/DC, Van Halen, GN’R and Rammstein. Welcome to the Jungle!

Filed under: Updates | 1 Comment
Tags: DJ, Kendra
Sponsor Update- It’s Bacon Time!
Being as I’m a corpulent cat 4 who’s kind of obsessed with bacon, I’m proud to announce that Wellshire farms is one of our new Sponsors! They’ve lovingly donated two CASES of delicious, thinly sliced pork belly that once cooked, will inundate the entire cross course with the amazing smell of my favorite pork product.
Wellshire Farms is a family owned operation that produces fully cooked, “All Natural” meat products that are free of artificial ingredients and preservatives. We only use small family farmers and vendor partners whose ideals match those of Wellshire- animal friendly practices, no antibiotics ever, small batch artisan production, to bring you and your family the best tasting, most affordable all natural beef, pork and poultry products in the markets today!
On November 30th, Thanks to Wellshire Farms, I’m going to do what i do best- Gain weight on a race day.

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Tags: bacon, cyclocross, Sponsor, Staten CX, Wellshire Farms
As a show of appreciation for the Century Road Club Association’s support we will be issuing call ups to preregistered CRCA racers in their respective categories. Without the hard work of CRCA volunteers there would no Staten CX.
The call up could mean different things to different people. If you’re new to ‘cross, this will be absolutely terrifying and you will probably saying something like “uh, no, that is OK, I’ll just hang here in the back”.

No! No! No! There is no “hanging in the back” in ‘cross. You will soon learn that a call up is a gift from the ‘cross gods. You can’t count on picking your nose for two hours and then sprinting for the win. And if you don’t plan to win, it is still the place to be:
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Tags: call up, crca, start
NYT Does ‘Cross
Unfortunately Michael Barry wasn’t aware of Staten CX, or he would have certainly mentioned New York City’s first ‘cross race in 10 years (the volunteer publicist will be promptly flogged). But for the uninitiated, this New York Times article from November 12th is a good read. We have taken liberties to rewrite a paragraph in the article. Our addition below is [bracketed]:
The cycling-rich communities in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Massachusetts have consistently hosted the premiere events on the United States cyclocross calendar. [Now, New York City joins them with Staten CX, NYC's first 'cross race in YEARS! I am so honored to be telling you about this amazing race. The rest of this article will seemingly ignore the race, but I can assure you that it will be incredible.]
We’ll have our people call Barry’s people and see if we can work something out.
Update: Our people got in touch with Barry’s people, and though he can’t turn back time on an article in the NYT, he had this nice reply:
I am glad you liked the piece and thanks for sending the note. Great you’re bringing cross back to NYC. All the best with the race. I hope it becomes an annual and you get a good crowd of riders and spectators. Cheers, Michael
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Tags: NYT, Press
Recent Entries
- Recent Video from StatenCX HQ
- CJ’s Recap
- 291
- Full Court (Liberal) Press
- 119 Riders Preregistered! Hot Damn!
- On Waffles And Cycling
- Closing In On 100 Pregistered!
- Avoid Race-Day Madness. Preregister Now!
- Sponsor Update- Schaller & Weber- It’s officially a sausage fest!
- In Memory Of Fire Lt. Robert Ryan Jr.
- Sponsor Update: Robert Dvorin @ PDE
Categories
- Background (2)
- Press (1)
- Sponsors (6)
- Uncategorized (9)
- Updates (10)


















‘Cross without stepins and barriers is like bowling without gutters and pins. Unfortunately, the hardware is very expensive and the cost is a real barrier to staging a race (especially a race for charity).
And the Pepperidge Farm guys gave us cookies on the way out! What surreal luck! Unless, of course, Staten CX has unknowingly become an accomplice to a cookie racket.

