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On the heels of our Podcast #19 interview with Brian Crosby I sat down for a more extended interview with the aspiring track racer. 

At age 20 and with just four years of racing under his belt Crosby has dominated local track racing, traveled to velodromes across the continent, ventured into European track racing and been paired with pro cyclist Brad Huff recently at the Burnaby Six Day.  While literally going head-to-head with some very accomplished pros Crosby learned a lot, some of it the hard way. 

After an ominous journey to Burnaby that included a litany of transgressions like stepping on numerous cracks in the sidewalk, sitting in row 13, spilling salt and not doing the customary over the shoulder salt toss, boasting of pending success, and various other anti-superstition actions (none of which are true) Crosby got down to racing.  With a lightning fast opener in the team flying 200m opener that netted he and Huff a second place finish to eventual champions Svein Tuft and Zach Bell things seemed to look promising for team LA Lightning. 

That optimism soon faded with a day one helmet-splitting crash that left Crosby with a concussion, scrapes and bruises, and put the team of Crosby and Huff out of contention almost immediately.  Crosby eventually succumbed to injuries sustained in another incident and was a spectator the final two days of the event.  While not filled with the type of success one would hope for, the microcosm of his season was another invaluable experience.  Listen to Podcast #19 for more on the Burnaby Six Day.

Crosby began racing on the velodrome in Blaine four years ago while racing for MNJRC.  Crosby wasn’t too serious about racing his first season and after having done a handful of criteriums and road races he immediately fell in love with the track.  Crosby cut his teeth the remainder of the season in Blaine and returned with vigor in 04’.  Having begun the 05’ season prepping for the Tour de l’Abitibi, Crosby come into the track season with good form and has been climbing the local ranks since then.

This past season Crosby captured the “Track Rider of the Year” competition at the NSC Velodrome despite a limited schedule and spent much of his season traveling and competing at other facilities.   Crosby said, “I targeted the highest level races I could go to to push myself.  Racing against the same people all the time gets predictable and a change of scenery is good.”  Crosby started the 07’ season with a trip to Arkansas with the University of Minnesota Cycling Club and finished the spring competing in several collegiate events including the National Collegiate Championship Road Race.  With the collegiate season behind him Crosby set his sights on the track competing in Blaine before heading out west to compete in Colorado Springs and at the Alpenrose Velodrome in Portland.  In August he headed east to Detroit and Trexlertown, PA and then continued his journeys in the fall to the Elite National Championships in Los Angeles and then on to the Dortmund Six Day in London, Ontario prior to a trip to Europe. 

Crosby met promoter David Butterworth last season on a trip to Trexlertown and was contacted shortly after regarding an opportunity to compete in some select events.  The timing just wasn’t right last season but he was approached again this season by Butterworth about competing in Europe and Crosby jumped at the opportunity this time.  Crosby competed in what he described “incredibly intense” racing in Germany at Dortmund and Munich and in Geneva, Switzerland.

Crosby is looking forward to a break from the bike after a long season and will be heading to Patagonia for three months for mountaineering school.  Next season Crosby will head to Colorado Springs to race for Cody Racing.  The early season will be focused on events in Seattle, Portland, and Colorado Springs.  With primary sponsorship up in the air after SPIKE pulled the plug, the remainder of the season is a little cloudy but will definitely include racing in Blaine for Speedfix Racing as well as another trip to Elite Nationals.   

While never having an official coach Crosby has had help along the way.  Bob Williams, NSC Velodrome Director, has been a mentor and advisor to Crosby on which events to target and has facilitated his preparation.  Crosby gave thanks to Williams as well as Bill Nicholson for “mind-numbing” marathon motor-pacing sessions in Blaine.  Those marathon sessions paid dividends in 07’.  With a welcome respite from the bike and a character building season behind him, 2008 looks promising for this young local rider.  You’ll be able to track his exploits on bikethrow.com and on his blog, Riding Around in Circles.  Keep it rubber-side down.