What is going on in Western Shawnee?

Welcome to the Donderdag Cyclocross Bike Park in Western Shawnee!  We’re making a new home where kids of all ages and skillsets can come and learn this great sport!

What was once an unusable flood-plane will be transformed into a cyclocross course for all to enjoy.  Starting mid-August through the end of the year, you’ll see a race course set up that winds you back and forth around in circles, in and out of the sand, and up and down the grass hill.  Please feel free to hop on and go for a few laps! We ask that you please don’t remove the tape or remove the poles. If you accidentally do take a turn too fast or too wide and break the tape, no problem. Please tie it together (if you can) and we’ll fix it next week.

Who is Donderdag?

Donderdag is a not-for-profit organization that centers around youth enrichment through cycling. Our main passion is cyclocross because it’s a fun sport that is welcoming to all skill levels.  Browse around our site to learn more and feel free to join our Facebook group to get updates and see plenty of photos.

What is Cyclocross?

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing. Races typically take place in the fall and winter, and consist of many laps of a short (2.5–3.5 km or 1.5–2 mile) course featuring pavement, wooded trails, grass, sand, mud, steep hills, and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount and carry the bike, while navigating the obstruction and remount.

Here are a few videos to help you see what Cyclocross (CX) is all about:

Donderdag Youth Cyclocross Clinics:  This video was shot a few years ago at our original location. A few of the riders you see in this video have gone on to race at the college level, while some of the young ones are now mentoring the newcomers at our new location.

Junior racing in Kansas City:  This video was shot two years ago at a race out at Herman Laird Park on a cold winter day.

What is Cyclocross?  FYI – This video is short and begins with a nice overview of the sport. Then goes into more detail about the kind of bike most people ride. While we love to see cyclocross bikes out on the course, we are fine with just about any bike you have to help you get started.

Please reach out to us on Facebook if you have any questions about what we are doing!