Other generous sponsors and supporters include:
Day-of registration is available on Sunday with a $15 surcharge for adult races. Register today--save yourself time and money. Save your friendly promoters time and energy. We can do this NECX! :)
Come out to enjoy one of the most welcoming and friendly bike races in New England -- home to train primes, Holyoke's muscle beach, and the angry orchard off-camber.
Race #2 in the River Valley CX Series (@rivervalleycxseries on Instagram)
Details (en español below)
When: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Location: Pulaski Park, St. Koble Drive and Maple St, Holyoke, MA 01040
Day-of-race registration will be available for an extra $15 for all adult categories. Save money, register online before it closes. (Youth races can all be registered for day-of at no extra cost).
New to bike racing?: Hydra Cross is a great event to try out bike racing or cyclocross for the first time. There is a free intro to cyclocross racing clinic at 8:00 am on race day that is taught by local, friendly bike racers. Learn the basics to help you enjoy your race. Beginner races following shortly after -- novice men should sign up for the 9:00 am category 4 and beginner race and novice women should sign up for the 11:00 am women's category 4 and 5 race. Just a note on lingo, brand-new racers and novices start as 'category 5' racers. Since we are a USA Cycling sanctioned race, you will need a license but can purchase one when you register at http://bikereg.com/hydracross for $15. If you have any questions about the clinic or racing, please just shoot us an email at [email protected] and we'll respond with what you need.
Course Description: A fun, fast, twisty course that is primarily flat but has some surprising uphill kickers. After a slightly uphill, wide start from the "Legion Shelf," the course heads towards Holyoke's "Muscle Beach" and the hilly southern end of the park. The course design takes full advantage of the elevation to make riders work–but then also brings rewards with a swooping downhill that cuts back and forth across the hill. We have some stinging off-camber sections that will require your skills, with the most challenging and decisive sector coming at the end of the course (see Youtube videos below for a preview). The course runs the full length of the long, linear park with ample opportunities for spectating, with continuous announcing throughout the race by the voice of NCC Hydra Cross 2025, Jake Kravitz. Mountain and river views abound.
Equipment Recommendation: File treads (if dry) and all-around tires will work well for most riders. The course is a mix of grass, dirt, and some pavement. New to cyclocross? Mountain bikes, in any shape, work fine for getting started racing. Road or touring bikes that allow for 32mm tires also work fine.
Race Atmosphere: Come for the race, stay for the atmosphere. Our beer garden and picnic area are family-friendly. There is a playground, splash pad, and popular skate park as well. Our race is known for its good vibes and community-driven feel.
The excellent Thai Chili Street Food Hub will be serving food in the American Legion Parking lot at lunch time. As usual, expect the American Legion to be serving up coffee, breakfast items, beer and alcohol throughout the day, in addition to lunch and snack items.
Thai Chili Food Truck, 100 State St Stockhouse 122, Ludlow, MA, United States, Massachusetts 01056, 24 April
Want to do a second race? Great, the second race is just $15, just register for two races at the same time when you sign up.
River Valley Cyclocross Series
Follow @rivervalleycxseries on Instagram for updates and series standings
Volunteer Info
VolunteerSignup - Online volunteer signup sheets - 2026 NCC Hydra Cross signup sheet
In order to bring this race to you again this year, we can't do it without volunteers. Seriously, we can't do it without you, and we appreciate you believing in the value, community, and camaraderie that this grassroots race brings to Holyoke and NECX.
Please sign up to volunteer where you can. Volunteers will receive special “staff only” swag this year!
We pride ourselves on taking great care of our volunteers. Friday course setup volunteers will be provided with lunch. All setup, reg, and course maintenance volunteers will receive a free (refunded) race entry AND invite to the volunteers-only after-party (including a free beer ticket) hosted right on-site at our incredible hosts, the American Legion, at 4:30pm or as soon as the course tear-down is complete.
We need folks to stick around and help us tear down the course immediately after the last race--if you stay to tear down the course, dinner from Pizza d'Action (Holyoke's best, with ample vegan and vegetarian pizzas) will be provided for you on-site while the last race is in progress so that you can stay and help with a full stomach. Volunteers who work registration or course repair jobs during race day will also be provided with lunch.
VolunteerSignup - Online volunteer signup sheets - 2026 NCC Hydra Cross signup sheet
Join the club
Hydra Cross p/b Open Square is supported by the Northampton Cycling Club (NCC). Join in numerous weekly group rides (all ability and skill levels, including gravel rides, cross practices, and practice crits). Learn more about the club and become a member here: https://www.nohobikeclub.org/
Media from our 2021 event:
2021-09-05 Hydra CX from Jeff Dieffenbach on Vimeo.
Detalles
Lugar: Parque Pulaski, St. Koble Drive y Maple St, Holyoke, MA 01040
¿Eres nuevo en las carreras de bicicleta?: Hydra Cross es un evento excelente para probar correr en bicicleta o hacer ciclocrós por primera vez. Hay una clínica gratuita de introducción a las carrera de ciclocrós a las 8 am el día de la carrera que es impartida por corredores de bicicleta locales y amistosos. Aprende los conceptos básicos para ayudarte a disfrutar de tu carrera. Las carreras para principiantes empiezan poco tiempo después -- los hombres novatos deberían inscribirse para la carrera de principiantes categoría 5 de las 9 am, y las mujeres novatas deberían inscribirse para la carrera categoría 4 y 5 de las 10 am. Solo un comentario sobre la jerga, los corredores nuevos y los novatos comienzan como corredores ‘categoría 5’. Debido a que somos una carrera sancionada por USA Cycling, necesitarás una licencia, pero puedes comprar una por $15 cuando te inscribes en http://bikereg.com/hydracross. Si tienes alguna pregunta acerca de la clínica o las carreras, por favor envíanos un c
orreo electrónico a [email protected] y te responderemos con la información que necesitas.
Descripción del Recorrido: Un recorrido divertido, rápido y sinuoso que es principalmente plano, pero tiene algunas subidas inesperadas. Después de un comienzo levemente cuesta arriba y amplio desde “Legion Shelf”, el recorrido se dirige hacia “Muscle Beach” en Holyoke y hacia el extremo sur montañoso del parque. El diseño del recorrido aprovecha al máximo la elevación para hacer trabajar a los corredores, pero también trae recompensas con un descenso en picada a través de la colina que acorta las idas y vueltas. Tenemos algunos punzantes sectores off-camber que requerirán de tus habilidades, siendo el sector más decisivo y desafiante el que está al final del recorrido (ver el video de Youtube indicado más abajo para una vista preliminar). El recorrido abarca la longitud completa del largo parque lineal, con amplias oportunidades para los espectadores, con relato continuo durante la carrera por la voz de Hydra Cross, Adam Syzmkowickz. Abundan las vistas a la montaña y al río.
Recomendaciones de Equipamiento: Neumáticos con banda de rodamiento lisa (para terreno seco) y multiuso funcionarán bien para la mayoría de los corredores. El recorrido es una combinación de pasto, tierra y algo de pavimento. ¿Eres nuevo en el ciclocrós? Las bicicletas de montaña, en cualquier estado, funcionan bien para empezar a correr. Las bicicletas de carretera o de turismo que permiten usar neumáticos de 32mm también funcionan bien.
Ambiente de Competición: Ven por la carrera, quédate por el ambiente. Nuestro patio cervecero y zona de picnic son aptos para familias. Hay un patio de juegos, juegos de agua y también un parque para patinetas muy popular. Nuestra carrera es conocida por sus buenas vibras y por la sensación de comunidad.