Fifth Street Cross Series

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 6:00pm. The first bike race is 4x laps and starts at 6:45pm. 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.
Abide by all USAC cyclocross rules.
The promoter’s ruling is final.
Call out your number every time you cross the finish line.
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.
Please inform the finish line judges if you withdraw from the race.
Awards will be awarded based on style and merit and solely at the promoter’s 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.
Rule 2 is crap; hand-ups are not a crime.
Seriously, don’t be a dick.

Entry Fees

We operate entry fees like an amusement park: one fee per night, and you can do as many activities as you want. Do just the run, or do all three races - it's up to you.

Season passes are available. This is your best bargain, saving you 20% on your entry for the year.

NIGHT PRICING

$25 weekly for credit card, Venmo or any digital payment.

$20 weekly for cash.

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.

Thanks to Blink Optical Boutique, Juniors race for $10 per week if paying cash or $12 if paying with a credit card or VENMO. Everyone gets a free season number!

Double Cross

If you run and do CX1, you’ll be scored in the official-unofficial Double Cross. You don't have to do anything to be scored; we do that magic for everyone.

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 5 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.