Sponsors & Vendors
Whether it’s before your race, after your race, or if you are not racing at all there’s lots to do in the Independent Brewing Company Expo Area. Lucky for you, some of the best spectating is right where all the action is taking place. So, grab a drink, a bite to eat, and enjoy the race. And if it’s a bit chilly, warm up in the heated tent area steps away from the best viewing area for the race. Heighe Street Band will be playing from 1-5 and the action in the Kiddie Academy Kids Zone will be going on all day.
Beverages
Independent Brewing Company
Title sponsor Independent Brewing Company will be serving some of their finest craft beer for your enjoyment at the Independent Brewing Expo Area. No matter what your taste, they have something for you.
Food
Crossroads Bistro
Offering a veritable twist on signature items such as sandwiches, salads, tacos and more, whether you're craving Mexican, Greek, German, Italian or Indian fare, you'll never be at a crossroads to choose from this adventurous food truck's menu.
Music
Heighe Street Acoustic
Height Street will be filling the area with music from 1 to 5. That’s right, live music in the beer garden and if you’re racing you’ll be going right past the music pavilion. If your spectating, enjoy the music and watch the racers come through the area.
Health and wellness
Pioneer PT
Have a lingering ache or pain? Cross back acting up again? Pioneer PT, the first mobile physical therapy clinic in the country. Owner and operator JT is a cyclist and will make your life easier by bringing the clinic to you. Learn about the services offered by heading to the Pioneer PT van.
Trail stewards
Gunpowder United Mountain Bike Operators (GUMBO)
If you have ever ridden at the Little Gunpowder trail network you have seen their handy work. From building trails to building bridges they have put in an obscene number of volunteer hours to keep the trails in prime condition. Learn how you can help the cause.
Youth Cycling
Gunpowder Mill Racers
Have a young man or woman in your family interested racing bicycles? Learn more about the middle and high school bicycle racing league in Maryland from the Gunpowder Mill Racers.
Bike
Trek Bicycles
Learn about all the newest technology including the new WaveCel helmets aimed at reducing concussions and brain injury at the Trek area.
Bike
Bike Doctor of Bel Air
Question about your next bicycle purchase? Just love to talk bikes? Bike Doctor Bel Air will be on hand to offer you knowledge and show off some of their high profile toys. Be sure to stop by and say hello!
Education
Kiddie Academy
With support from Kiddie Academy we are able pleased to have what we think is one of the best venues for children. In addition to the lil’ Belgians race, we will have a bouncy house, skills course, face painter, and more.
Food
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Vagabond Sandwich Co. is located in Bel Air MD and we are happy to have their food truck at the festival. They offer a range of delicious handheld sandwiches, salads, and sides.
Food
Love Crust Pizza
The name kind of says it all. These folks know pizza and they know it well. Whether you put in a hard effort on the course or hard day of spectating, they have your energy replacement needs covered.
Restoration
Ecotone
Ecotone Ecological Restoration has been supporting cycling in the area for years. They have taken the lead on expanding the amount of singletrack trail at Annie’s Playground and are sponsoring the U19 Men and Women at BACX.
A Spectators Guide to Watching the Race
Etiquette
One of the great things about a cross race is how close spectators can get to the racers. We encourage you to light the course and cheer on racers, just provide them with enough space to navigate the track safely.
Shouting words of encouragement and some friendly heckling are part of the fun. Just remember the racers take this seriously whether they are in the front or the back of the field. Everyone is racing to do better than they did the last race.
Feel free to walk around the venue and see different parts of the course. Please use the designated course crossing areas to do so.
Please be respectful of course marshals, volunteers, and staff who work hard to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Following the Race
Depending upon the race and strength of the individual racer, lap times may range from 7 to 15 or more minutes. We are fortunate to have Shawn Downing as our race announcer. Shawn will keep everyone informed of the action on the course.
The following is your guide to following a racer around the course without leaving the Independent Brewing Company Expo Area.
The Start
To your right and down the paved road you will see the racers blast up the hill and right past the Independent Brewing Company Expo Area. Note they will follow this path only on the first lap.
Pit One
Racers will then go through the pit area to your left and down towards the Creative Playground. There are some fast and technical turns in that area. Racers will then end up on the paved lower section of the course.
The Hill
The next time you see the racers they will be coming up Humagalas Hill, the steep hill in front of the Independent Brewing Company Expo Area and running or riding the stairs up towards the baseball field backstop. This is one of the best places to get pictures of the racers.
Pit Two
Racers will then head through the pit area for the second time.
The Bike Doctor Drop
After the second pit, racers will descend the steepest and fastest section of the course, the Bike Doctor Drop, which, again, is right in front of the Independent Brewing Company Expo Area. This will take the racers into the wooded section of the course.
Trek Bicycles Traverse
After the racers complete the wooded section of the race they will encounter the Trek Bicycles Traverse, a gnarly twisty, off-camber section with a cement wall to hop as racers head for the finish. The Trek Bicycles Traverse is the last technical section before the sprint for the finish.
The Finish
You will see racers sprint to the finish line which is located just past the start line.
The Pavilion and the Band
After the first lap, racers will follow the course into the Pavilion Area where they will ride past the Heighe Street Band and cheering fans and then around the Independent Brewing Company Expo Area as they did on the first lap.