Criterium Craze: Where Lycra Meets Local Flavor

Brought to you by the Sedalia Area Gravel Association (they're a bicycle club), the annual Criterium Race is back in Downtown Sedalia. It'll be here after the Missouri State Fair, with the actual date of the race being August 23rd. And you know it's gonna be a whole week of awesome stuff.

Wait, What's a Criterium?

Basically, it's a type of bike race. According to Bicycling:

A criterium race (often shortened to "crit") is a type of bicycle race that takes place on a closed course with multiple laps. The races are typically short, intense, and held in cities or urban areas. Crits are popular for their fast-paced, high-octane racing, and they often feature intermediate sprints for prizes.

And of course, the race will pass by great places to eat, drink, and enjoy your time while watching or participating in the races. Places downtown that are gearing up for this include Fitter's 5th St Pub, Ozark Coffee Company, Two-Bit Barber Company, Ivory Grille Restaurant & Oak Room Lounge, No. 5 Bistro & Bar, The Local Tap, and The 518 Provisions.

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Oh, Cool. What If I Don't Want to Cycle?

Here’s the deal, folks: You can get in on the action and see what goes on behind the curtain! Volunteer to be part of the event, and not in a “lift a bicycle rack while sprinting uphill” kind of way—we’re talking doable, human-level tasks.

You could be collecting hay and straw bales (yes, that’s a real thing), helping set up the registration booth, checking folks in for the race, or even playing course marshal—basically a traffic cop for spandex. They’re even looking for motorcyclists to help out, as long as your ride is more "hushed purr" and less "rolling thunder."

Now, let me ask you this: Why WOULDN’T you want to be part of this? You get to witness a majestic stampede of wildly expensive bicycles flying past you like caffeinated gazelles. It’s majestic. It’s weirdly soothing. It’s completely free.  All it costs is your time, a smile, and maybe a healthy respect for quads of steel. You might even walk away with firmer calves yourself, or at least some stories involving hay and lycra.

So go on—sign up today. Do it for the community. Do it for the calves. Do it because yelling “Go, go, go!” at strangers on bikes is oddly satisfying.

You can register for the race Here, you can find out more about volunteering Here, and if you want to just find out more about local cycling, you can click Here.

Criterially yours,
Behka