Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross (presented by Deschutes Brewery) is the UCI-season opener Sept. 18-19 at Fallon Park in Roanoke, VA.

Come watch amateur and pro cyclists compete in a super spectator friendly cyclocross race. We’ll have food vendors, beer (by Deschutes of course), chill pool, slacklining, and more.

What is cyclocross? Picture mud-splattered cyclists running up hills with bikes flung over their shoulders. Riders smoothly dismounting, leaping over barriers, then jumping back on. Loud cheers, the clanging of cowbells, camaraderie and fun. (performancebike.com) Cyclocross courses are typically 1.5-2 miles off-road, although may include pavement and include a variety of riding surfaces and obstacles including grass, dirt, mud pits, gravel pits, sand, stairs, barriers and a slew of other creative combinations. The races are based on a set time (measured by numbers of laps), not distance. Depending on your category, a race can be as quick as 30 minutes (for beginners), or as long as 60 minutes (for pros). Race officials will see how quickly riders complete the first laps before deciding how many total laps will be completed.