Race Information

Are you looking for the 5k-ish Run information? Click here.

Each Thursday includes one 5k-ish run and two cyclocross races. Registration opens at 5:00p. The 5k-ish is 2x laps starting at 5:45pm. The first bike race is 4x laps and starts at 6:30pm. We take a break between each race to check your lights or figure out why you came here in the first place. The second race is three laps in the opposite direction. We keep score, but as long as you start the race, you’re winning!

USA Cycling sanctions us as a “Fun Ride,” and we thank our governing body for its cheap insurance.

We race after dark, so bring your lights.

Race rules:

Don’t be a dick.
The promoter’s ruling is final.
Runners wear their numbers on their bodies at all times. Riders have their race plate on their bike at all times.
We will make every reasonable attempt to provide accurate results.
All results are final.
Mountain bikes are allowed without bar ends.
Fat bikes are allowed, but only with tires wider than 3.8 inches. Narrower than that, and it’s just a mountain bike.
Tubulars are discouraged. I mean, if you like burning money, buy us a beer.
You may cut the course to access the pit.
There is no pit.
No warm-up on the course after 5:40 because the runners are racing.
Runners are not permitted on course after 6:30 because the riders are racing.
Awards will be given based on style and merit, and at the promoter’s sole discretion. We rarely have awards.
Don’t break the tape. If you break it, you fix it.
Please patronize our sponsors.
If you get hurt, it’s your fault.
Sign a damn waiver
You must check in with the registration staff to be counted in the results.
You cannot “just test out the course” on a Thursday night. All participants must have a race number, regardless of age, experience, or intention to compete.
Seriously, don’t be a dick.

Let’s Talk about Rule #1

Problem: Weaving on the course while the runners are racing. We’ve seen and heard multiple instances of riders treating the race time for the runners as if they are not there. That includes weaving across the runner’s intended lines, riding erratically (too slow while chatting three abreast, too fast cutting into turns, etc), and sort of pretending like they didn’t hear someone just scream out for their own well-being.
Solution: Yield to runners from 5:45 to 6:30. If you choose to be on the course while the runners are on the course you MUST yield to the runners. Use your best judgment when to pass safely, do not pass on whoops, do not pass in corners, and do not pass on parts of the course that have one line through it. Parents – if your junior would like to pre-ride the course, you must instruct them that they must yield to runners. They should be defaulting to staying on the right side of the course to allow for faster riders/ runners to pass easily. Simply holding your line, and riding single file will make a huge difference. Not sure which side is the right side? We’re talking about the literal right side, not the “correct side” because the interpretation of that can change from one corner to the other.

Problem: Riders treat warm-up like they’re getting ready for a UCI World Cup. Listen, we all love a good hot lap, but we have to ask that on Thursday night, you keep that in check for the race.
Solution: Get that hot effort in elsewhere. We had issues again with riders being too aggressive with pre-riding the course while the runners were on course. We understand you would like to warm up before the race, but are asking you once again to reserve the hot laps for the actual race. The course doesn’t change each week (for the most part), and there are better places to get a 15-second sprint in than the course, like the paved road coming into the compost center.

Problem: Not yielding to runners. Ok, so you’ve been riding on the right at a reasonable pace, but on one of the 374 turns you’re about to get into a jam-up with a runner (or a group of runners). Now what?!
Solution: Yield to the runners, including stopping on the side if you can’t clear the race line. We know there are a billion turns and it can be really hard to know exactly where everyone will be, but we’re confident that you’re a smart cookie, and that you’ll make a sweet decision to steer clear of the runners.

Problem: Riding the wrong way on the course.
Solution: My dudes. This is a NO NO for everyone, always. This isn’t even a runner and rider problem – this is a you problem.

Problem: Fast riders passing slower riders without enough verbal warning. This mainly happens in Race 1, when lapped riders are starting to get caught on the leader’s final lap. We’ve heard a few times that the faster riders are passing without instructing the slower rider what to do.
Solution: Be the teacher. We’re going to learn from the velodrome. Use words like “Stay!” or “Move Right/Left!” Do not just say, “On your left!” because the newer rider may interpret this as “Move to the left,” which actually puts them in your way. Combine your thoughts and say, “Passing on your left. Stay where you are!” This tells the rider what side you’re about to pass on, and what they should be doing. And if the rider dos the wrong thing, it is your responsibility to back off, stay cool, and instruct them how to clear the line. If you cannot do this, you are not ready to pass this rider because you haven’t learned the basics of being a good bike racer. Sorry to bust your bubble, homie.

Implementation and Penalties

Eh, we could get into yellow cards and penalties, but the easiest thing to do is not let riders on the course from 5:45 to 6:30. So, if we continue to hear issues after 10-10, we will enforce this for everyone on starting 10-17. As it’s been pointed out, we’re in season 19 of what started as a cyclocross event. Well, we’ve grown, and we now have more runners than we had riders just a few years ago, so we need you all to respect each other out there so we can maintain the status quo.

Rule #1 Violations

There is one instance when we will implement a penalty: Disobedient Intentional Crash Killjoys (DICKs). If you intentionally cut someone off, trip someone, or injure someone, you will be asked to leave for the night, and 25 points will be deducted from your season total. A second offense will result in a season ban. A third instance will result in a permanent ban.

Thanks for reading.

Listen, the only reason we have to send this is because we have a community of people who give a sh*t about each other. If no one cared about our Thursday night community, no one would raise these concerns with us to try and make this a bad ass place to come hang. So, thanks for caring. Feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Entry Fees

RUN: $20 weekly. If you forget your number, there is a $5 replacement fee.

CYCLOCROSS:

CASH, Credit card and VENMO entry fee is $20
Entries include all three races for the night (5k and two cyclocross races).
Thanks to Blink Optical Boutique, Juniors race for $12 per week if paying cash or $12 if paying VENMO.
Everyone gets a free season number! If you lose your number, you will be heckled, and you will have to buy another number for $5. No, there is no discount for you being forgetful and making us update the spreadsheet with your information. Thanks for asking.
Discounted season-long registration is available. We have two options: a 6-pack and a 12-Pack. A 6-pack makes every night about $17 and a 12-Pack makes every night about $15. You also get a free number. Get on it!

Women’s Discount thanks to Justin Walters Real Estate

When Justin Walters has his Monopoly board ready, up to three women each week have a chance to get a free entry! Roll the dice up to two times for a chance to land on one of four free entry spots on the board.

This opportunity is available to all women at FSX, whether you’re running or riding.

Double Cross pb The Ribardo Team

Do you like sabotaging your Friday ambitions by doing too many things on a Thursday? We’ve got your activity! You can do all the things, and you’ll be scored in the run and the first ride for the official-unofficial Double-Cross.

Entry is $20. You can pre-reg for Double Cross over at RunSignUp.com/fsx

No Racing License

You do not need an annual USA Cycling license to participate in our weekly series. You do have to sign a waiver, though.

Parking

Park in the lot at the intersection of Kline’s Lane and East Minor Street in Emmaus, then ride along the road into the recycling center. Driving directions can be found by clicking here.

Weather

The event is rain or shine. In fact, it’s double points on rainy nights! Please check in every week with event staff in the registration trailer.

Course Map

This map is approximate. We may change the course at our discretion because this is a Thursday night fun thing, not national championships. Though sometimes national championships change the course without notice, so maybe this is national championships, and no one told us?!

For Black Friday 100, everyone runs and rides counter-clockwise.

History of Fifth Street Cross

Established in 2005, Fifth Street Cyclocross originally lived at the home and estates of Bill and Beth Strickland, on Fifth Street, in Emmaus. After a few years, the event outgrew the backyard and moved to the Emmaus Compost Center. The Stricklands passed on the event to Ray Ignosh, who then passed on the event to Andrew Bernstein. It is now a Long Tail Productions project by Gabe and Kacey Lloyd and has added a cross-country run before the two cyclocross races. Each Thursday from the first week in September to the week before Thanksgiving, we host races open to all experiences. We have national champions and riders who have raced at World Championships and riders from 4 to 10 years old trying to race for the first time. Sometimes it’s warm, and sometimes it snows — no matter the conditions, our course, which includes grassy fields, lots of turns, steps, barriers, and pavement — is the perfect venue to perfect your technique in a competitive training environment.