Scott Martin

Soon the leaves will be turning color and falling. Just like me.

My skin will be turning from lustrous bronze to pasty white. And I'll be falling off my bike. Into the muck. With a stupid grin on my mug.

Yes, it's cyclocross season, and I'm here to say there's nothing better you can do this autumn or winter to upgrade your road riding -- and your collection of cool scars.

"Oh, please," I hear you muttering. "How is my road biking going to benefit from 45 anaerobic minutes spent riding around a course with everything from mud and sand to grass and pavement, while jumping off every few minutes to hurdle a barrier or run up a hill ?"

For starters, your bike-handling skills will flourish like fungus in a neglected water bottle.

After the mayhem of 'cross, nothing on the road can faze you. Road construction with two miles of gravel ? No problem. Switchback descent in a downpour? Wake me when it's over. SUV-sized pothole requiring instant bunnyhop ? Yawn.

Not convinced ? Think Lance in the '03 Tour, taking that unscheduled trip through a plowed field, vaulting a drainage ditch, rejoining the race and probably saving win No. 5.

'Cross will keep you fit and fresh during those cold, wet and dark days of winter. Grinding through mud bogs does wonders for your power. Leaping back into the saddle and sprinting full gas sharpens your speed. Grunting up a greasy embankment lugging 20 pounds of crud-encrusted bike on your shoulder, well, it just makes you tough.

Best of all, 'cross is a blast. The people are friendly. The vibe, low-key. Just try taking yourself seriously when there's mud in your ears, nose and up your, um, shorts.

So give 'cross a shot. I bet you fall for it.

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Pick yourself up and write to Scott at scottmartin@roadbikerider.com

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