Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood is about to get muddy, loud and slightly ridiculous. Kern Park Kross returns to Kern Park on Saturday, Nov. 7, with racing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for riders of every age and skill level. The day wraps with a fixed-gear finale where coasting is simply not allowed.
According to the WICX Series, the event is organized by Gelbbrücke - Spirit of Sport and is billed as a course that “weaves and winds through Riverwest’s Kern Park.” OnMilwaukee, which wrote up the event in a piece titled Kern Park Kross brings out the cyclocross nuts, reports this is the race's third year. Kern Park is a Milwaukee County Park at 3614 N. Humboldt Blvd., bounded by N. Humboldt Blvd., E. Nash St., the Milwaukee River and E. Keefe Ave., per Urban Milwaukee.
A Course Built for Spectators and Suffering
The course sends riders over obstacles and across multiple terrains, including barriers, an off-camber hill and Belgian stairs. The racing loop doubles back on itself six times, according to the series listing, which keeps spectators close to the action. OnMilwaukee's account says the park's course doubles back at least four times per lap, so the exact count is described differently by the two sources.
The Wisconsin Cycling Association organizes the WICX Series, which bills itself as “a rambunctious bike racing series for all ages and skill levels,” per the series' own site. That spirit shows up in the schedule: racing starts at age 9, and there is a free race for kids under 8. Beginners and the cyclo-curious are encouraged to jump into the entry-level Cat 5 race.
Fixed Gears, Squirrel Beer and Free Samples
The afternoon closes with the Tracklo-kross state champs race, which is cyclocross on fixed-gear bikes with no coasting. OnMilwaukee notes that competitors often ride without brakes. Past coverage from the 2024 edition called it Wisconsin's only tracklocross race.
Amorphic Beer is rolling out Sciurus & Procyon, a Kern Park Kross-themed hazy IPA named for the scientific names of squirrel and raccoon. OnMilwaukee reports it will be sold on-site from the barrel and in collectible four-packs. Red Bull will be roaming the course with free energy drink samples and teaming up with DJ Topher, who plays music from the Red Bull DJ truck all day. Winners can score koozies, candy, beer and pecans from Fortune Favors.
Discounts and Collegiate Racing
Riders who preregister before midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 4 can save $10 on race-day registration. First-time women and non-binary racers can get $15 off by requesting a unique discount code, and collegiate racers can get $5 off entry the same way. Kern Park Kross is also once again the first stop on the 2026 Midwest Collegiate Cyclocross Conference.
The event has become a fixture on the local calendar. Coverage of last year's race noted that participants could choose from eight race blocks and sign up through the WICX Series, which is also where riders can find registration details for this year's day of racing.
