B.C.’s Geoff Kabush looks ahead to the Winnipeg cyclocross nationals, hoping for a muddy course

Like many competitive riders this time of year, Geoff Kabush finds his heart pulled in two directions when it comes to training, forcing him to make the tough choice between cross-country and cyclocross — the twin cycling loves of his life, he says.

The problem, he says, is that the calendar simply isn’t long enough. At least until recently, at any rate.

“Cross-country has always been my main focus,” Kabush told Canadian Cycling Magazine, “but I’ve always wished there were a few more months in the year so I could put more effort into a cyclocross campaign. I always really enjoy racing cyclocross but I need to take a break sometime, so it has always limited my schedule.” There are irresistible forces of attraction that keep him coming back, though, no matter how draining his cross-country season or the need for downtime. The muddy, technical runs of a good trail or CX course, for the Vancouver Island rider, may as well be in his blood. It seems like the 38-year-old is forever destined to hit the dirt in one way or another.

Recently, Kabush has found more opportunities to embrace the cyclocross side of things, though, making the all-important choice between the two disciplines a bit easier to swallow. “One thing that has made it easier in recent years,” Kabush said, “is that cross-country races have gotten shorter, which makes the efforts and training more similar.”

But in terms of preparation, few things beat a well-fought race. And though this year’s competition didn’t go quite the way he wanted, CrossVegas, he says, was a high point of 2015 for exactly that reason.

“CrossVegas is a great event,” he said, looking back at September’s race, “so it’s always on my schedule and it was really exciting to have it be a World Cup this year.” As ever, Kabush went into the Nevada race expecting a fight. What he got, however, was a veritable roller-coaster ride — and a frustrating one at that. “After getting caught in some early crashes, I came tantalizingly close to a great result but it all came unravelled with a mechanical near the end,” he recalled.

“I’m really hoping the World Cup returns next year and I get another shot. CrossVegas already seems like a long time ago but it definitely left me motivated.”

CX season ways away but excited after seeing Addict CX update. Everything we asked for & more! http://t.co/wknWt2clej pic.twitter.com/wC2PiEVia3

— Geoff Kabush (@GeoffKabush) April 22, 2015

The experience of CrossVegas set the tempo for the rest of the season, and as Kabush looks ahead to the kick-off of this weekend’s Canadian national cyclocross championships in Winnipeg, the lessons learned at that tough, grueling Nevada battle, he says, have put him on good footing for what he expects to be an unforgiving field of competitors this year. “The men’s race looks like it will be one of the most competitive fields I’ve seen for several years,” Kabush predicts, “so it should be an interesting race. There are five or six riders that have a legitimate shot to win, so my main goal is to get a good start and be at the front fighting for the win.”

Winnipeg’s terrain, of course, will be decisive in that strategy. “The venue and course at the Forks in Winnipeg was great last year,” Kabush recalled, describing the grounds of the national championship competition, “but the beautiful conditions made it fast and tactical. I’d love to see a bit of moisture, but regardless, it will be some good racing.”

Kabush also takes some good energy from the enthusiastic culture growing around cyclocross nationally. “I think it is great to see cyclocross continuing to gain momentum in Canada,” he said. “The turnout at the local Vancouver VCXC race on the weekend was great and I know they are getting record numbers at Cross on the Rock on Vancouver Island, as well. I think the popularity is due to the accessibility of cyclocross and the fun atmosphere.”

“The social aspect is always what I’ve enjoyed and it’s nice to have something to keep me from getting too fat before I begin training for my mountain bike season.”

After Winnipeg wraps up, Kabush nonetheless plans to park his ‘cross bike — a SCOTT Addict CX with disc brakes, he says — and cool his pedals for a little while, before cross-country preparation begins in earnest. Which, of course, likely means taking to the trails of his B.C. home for a bit of fun, just without the pressure of competition hanging over him. “I’ve already enjoyed a lot of fun events this fall, but after Winnipeg, I will carry on to race two more weekends before shutting things down,” he said. “I will race in Cincinnati at the Pan Am cyclocross championships and then finish things off at Iceman Cometh.”

The 2015 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships begin on Friday, Oct. 23 and end on Sunday, Oct. 25.