After a three-year hiatus, cyclocross bicycle racing returns to action today.

When the U of I property was sold and no trespassing signs were put up, the race lost its venue, Jason Welker, director of Pend Oreille Pedalers, said. After previous organizers, among them Team Autism 24/7, passed the baton to local cycling club and trails organization, Pend Oreille Pedalers, the next step was finding a venue. That brought the club and its race organizing committee to Hickey Farms.

After visiting the 360-acre property, owned by the Hickey and Holt families, and spending hours exploring the vast forest on the farm’s western half, the committee realized it was the perfect venue for a cyclocross race.

Starting at 9:30 a.m. today, Pend Oreille Pedalers and Syringa Cyclery’s Crosstoberfest cyclocross races and end-of-season party will kick off at Hickey Farms. Races covering 19 categories for riders aged 5 and up will run throughout the day, with youth and junior races lasting between 30 and 45 minutes and higher categories extending for up to 55 minutes, POP officials said in a press release.

The format is simple. All racers start by the big barn at Hickey Farms, race across the cow pasture, cross a bridge into the forest, where they follow a 1.4-mile course through the woods on both wide and narrow trails, over obstacles, up and down steep descents, eventually emerging back to the field where the final sprint to the barn will bring them to the course’s start and finish area. Racers will loop the course as many times as they can in their allowed time, and whoever finishes the most laps in the least amount of time (beyond the 45 or 55 minutes allowed) wins!

All skill and experience levels are welcome. Cyclocross bikes are the bikes of choice, but mountain bikes are also welcome. There are even separate categories for racers on single-speeds and fat bikes.

Proceeds go toward supporting Pend Oreille Pedalers’ mission to expand cycling and mountain biking opportunities in the Sandpoint area, including through youth programming, trail building and maintenance, and advocating with public and private land managers for improved access for cyclists.

Information: pendoreillepedalers.org/crosstoberfest