Local Teens Say Cross is Boss

For many teens cooler weather marks the start of soccer, cross-country or football season. For four local teens it’s time to get their bikes ready for cyclocross.

Cyclocross is a type of bike racing that features several laps around a short course of varied terrain and obstacles. At certain points during the race, the rider may need to jump off and carry the bicycle, run or cross over an obstacle, and then remount to continue riding. This style of bike racing emphasizes cardiovascular endurance and bike handling skills.

Cyclocross is extremely popular in European countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands. It has been gaining popularity in the United States since the mid-1990s.

In 2017, Mendham resident and longtime cycling enthusiast, Eric Vollmuth, saw an opportunity to create a cyclocross team and introduce the sport to young bicycle riders in New Jersey. The goal was simple - to provide a fun atmosphere to encourage student athletes to grow into better cyclists and become more competitive racers.

The team, NJCX, began with four young riders and in just six short years has grown into a team of twenty. NJCX draws talent from all over the state and members range in age from 8-18 years old.

Team co-captain and Mendham resident, Maya Tassé, joined the team two years ago and has excelled at the sport. Maya is an excellent role model and strong competitor who credits the team for teaching discipline, leadership and advocating for oneself.

Maya’s twin sister, Julia Tassé, joined the team this year and has shown exemplary growth in just a few short months. The siblings are Canadian citizens and world ranked racers who will be competing in the Canadian National Cyclocross Championship later this month.

This is the third season with NJCX for Chester resident, Logan Heath. For him, the positivity and camaraderie of the cyclocross community is a big part of his love of the sport. He hopes to continue to become a better rider and is happy to have improved his cornering skills and power, two goals he had set for this season.

Mendham resident and team co-captain, Aidan Vollmuth, started his cyclocross journey with NJCX from its very beginning at the age of nine. Although he enjoys competing in many cycling disciplines, cyclocross remains his favorite. He enjoys the variety of terrain and honing the necessary skills required to be successful at the sport. Aidan is currently ranked the top first year elite racer in the USA. He is also world ranked and will be heading to Kentucky in early December with a select group of teammates to compete in the US National Cyclocross Championship.

All four local teens credit NJCX for introducing them to a sport they love. The team is united by strong bonds of friendship and commitment to becoming better riders together.

As the team size has increased so have the travel costs associated with racing. NJCX currently has a GoFundMe account set up to raise money for team travel. Anyone wishing to contribute to support this team’s effort may do so at www.gofundme.com/f/NJCX-travel...

If you are interested in more information or would like to get involved in NJCX, contact Coach Eric Vollmuth at www.njcxproject.org