NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. - No matter how many layers he wears nothing shields cyclist Richard Bowman from the knifing wind.
"You dress for it and hope for the best. You don't concentrate on the cold you concentrate on getting through the course."
Around 100 cyclists traveled to Tuileries Plaza in the northland for the second annual cyclocross race.
"Essentially you ride like you're on a road bike until you're on dirt or grass sections then you'll find some kind of obstacle to make you get off and run with a perfectly good bike," explained organizer Mark Thomas.
Riders snake through the mile and a half course. Obstacles challenge even the most skilled athlete. The sport originated in Europe. It's one of the fastest growing cycle events in the metro.
"People who've come from mountain biking find it very easy compared to mountain biking. Road bikers find it not only challenges them but the races are short," explained Thomas.
Perhaps not short enough on a day like Sunday. Every rider maneuvered just to finish hoping the bitter conditions don't win.
The local cyclocross season runs from September to January.
