Get ready for Cyclocross with a throwback to Rainey Park '21
Nothing quite gets you excited to race cross like remembering how much fun it was last year. For the NYC ‘cross crowd, Rainey Park is always the highlight of the season. We never got around to posting our Rainey Park article last year, so we decided to save the pictures and our favorite memories to get you pumped up for 2022 cyclocross.
Some honorable mentions go to:
The non-traditional field times (W4/5 in the afternoon!)
Being able to ride to a cross race!!
The new stairs placement! We loved that
The chaotic primes p/b Shane Ferro
The grass line next to the stairs (that was sadly removed for the later fields)
The cycling-adjacent friends of racers who had no idea what they were signing up to watch
All of the NYC photographers who came out and highlighted how much fun everyone had
All the dogs in the audience (spectators)
Keith patiently waiting a year to see our pictures of the one race he puts on
I’m already stoked after writing this list. Cross hasn’t even started and I already want it to be Rainey Park. Let’s relive the big moments and look at some pictures..
Our favorite memories of Rainey Park ‘21
Smooth turns behind the playground
My personal favorite part of the course were the wide S turns behind the playground, before the Belgian steps. An underrated and extremely fun part of the course, I looked forward to doing it every time. It made the false-flat climb up the back section by the end of the park worth it. It wasn’t very technical, but you could take them at speed, lean in, and fly through that section. It was a good opportunity to rest your legs and rely on your weight placement. Too fast and you overcooked it before the Belgian steps though!
Surprise! You’re outside of the tape now, Ben
Maybe you’re someone who likes to race inside the tape. But, then again, maybe you like to take more creative lines during your race–– there’s a place for that at Rainey Park, too.
After the 180 that takes you out of the start straight, make sure you don’t drift too far left. There’s a bit of creative taping around there that could catch you out, causing you to careen off-course into the spectator area only to make eye contact with a very confused Shane and the 5s clinic she’s leading, and then for you to turn around and see your entire field passing. You know, hypothetically speaking.
But then, as a friend kindly pointed out, “didn’t you help tape the course?” which leads into…
Volunteer opportunities, or, How the Course Gets Made
Definitely one of the highlights of Rainey is how easy it is to get sucked in and help out (and learn how to build a CX course in the process.) Volunteer slots are usually made available one or two days before the race. BONUS: volunteer spots usually get you a first row call-up!
Photo gallery throughout by TBD’s own Daghan Perker
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I race road for To Be Determined and work in technology in NYC.
