Project Mayhem CX: Lowering the Barriers to Cyclocross Artwork

New England Endurance Podcast

Celebrating New England's thriving endurance sports culture.

Our mission is to passionately showcase and celebrate the vibrant endurance sports culture thriving in New England. Through engaging conversations, local endurance athlete (Art Trapotsis) embarks on a journey to uncover the essence of the region's clubs, group rides, cherished routes, legendary races, and the devoted community of athletes who proudly call New England home.

From the exhilarating realms of road cycling to the rugged trails of mountain biking, from triathlons to ultramarathons, from open-water swimming to collegiate rowing, this podcast is a tribute to the challenges, victories, and compelling narratives that shape the endurance sports landscape in this distinctive part of the United States.

With a commitment to fostering connections, providing valuable insights, and igniting inspiration, we strive to unite, inform, and empower the New England endurance community.

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New England Endurance Podcast

Project Mayhem CX: Lowering the Barriers to Cyclocross

August 15, 2026 • Art Trapotsis • Season 3 • Episode 10

0:00 | 34:13

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Cross is coming! Cyclocross has always been about more than mud, barriers, and cowbells. At its best, it's a community. But over the past decade, many grassroots races and regional series have disappeared, participation has declined, and newcomers often find the sport intimidating.

Jeremy Brazeal believes it doesn't have to be that way.

After leading creative and brand teams for companies like LEGO and Coca-Cola, Jeremy decided to stop complaining about the state of bike racing and start building something different. The result is Project Mayhem Cyclocross, a multi-race Connecticut series with a bold mission: lower the barriers to entry and make cyclocross welcoming for everyone...from first-time racers to seasoned veterans.

In this episode we discuss:

Why Project Mayhem CX was founded
The current state of cyclocross in New England
Why grassroots racing matters
Free clinics and race entries designed to bring new riders into the sport
Why you don't even need a cyclocross bike to get started
What the future of Project Mayhem—and cyclocross—could look like

Whether you're a longtime cyclocross racer, a gravel rider looking for a new challenge, or simply someone who cares about the future of endurance sports, this conversation is full of ideas about how great communities are built. Project Mayhem proves that sometimes the best way to grow a sport isn't by making it more competitive, it's by making it more welcoming.

This podcast embarks on a journey to showcase and celebrate the endurance sports community in New England.