The Gatineau man only recently took up the cycling sport, but so far he’s hooked.

“I’m an old guy getting back into shape,” said Saunders. “I picked up biking and a friend told me about this sport.”

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that takes place in autumn and early winter – the international season runs from September to January.

Cyclists navigate a twisting cross-country course across pavement, wooded trails, steep hills and grass and  must frequently dismount to cross natural and man-made obstacles.

“The best way to describe this is cross-country running and steeplechase – but on bikes,” said Saunders. “It’ very popular in Ottawa."

Saunders was one of over 160 cyclists from across the city, the Ottawa Valley and Gatineau participating in a race at Kanata’s Walter Baker Park on Sunday, Nov. 2, the fifth of the 10-race Eastern Ontario Cyclocross Series, run by the Ottawa Bicycle Club.

“It’s very popular,” said Bob Woods, the race organizer. “It’s a lot of skill development, a lot of fun.”

He said 220 people have signed up for this year’s cyclocross series, ages 11 to 65; it costs $15 to enter an event or $50 to participate in the entire 10 races.

Over 160 cyclists signed up for the race in Kanata.

Cyclists must attempt to complete as many laps as possible during the race’s one-hour time limit. Most of the competitors ride mountain bikes or old touring bikes fitted with cyclocross tires.

During a race, a cyclocross rider is allowed to change bikes during a race or make a pit stop to change a tire or repair a piece of equipment.

The sport first became popular in Europe – during the early 1900s competitors would race cross country from village to village negotiating difficult terrain, fences, rocks and other natural hazards.