Could fixing-gear stadium races be the solution to reviving American cycling enthusiasts? Formula Fixed is confident in this notion.
Bike racing in America: A fresh spin with Formula Fixed
It's time for a change in the stale world of American bike racing, and the folks at Formula Fixed think they have the solution – high-speed, fixed-gear criterium racing in a ticketed stadium setting. Advertising themselves as a "cultural movement on wheels," Formula Fixed aims to bridge the gap between street culture, gaming, and entertainment while providing an unforgettable experience for spectators and online viewers alike.
Inspired by golf's TGL and basketball's Unrivaled, the series promises to deliver electrifying, immersive experiences that connect digital-native fans to real-world action. And with the right mix of speed, skill, and showmanship, Formula Fixed is confident they can draw excitement back to American cycling.
But hasn't this pitch been heard before? The National Cycling League (NCL), with its city-based franchise teams, huge celebrity-backed investments, and a big prize pot, promised to revolutionize American cycling just a few short years ago. Yet, that series barely lasted a season, crumbling under the weight of poor execution, internal turmoil, and the sport's continued struggle to find a mainstream audience in the U.S.
Clare Grady, co-founder of Formula Fixed, is optimistic that Americans will embrace bike racing if they can see themselves competing. Her vision is to be the series that captures the LeBron James of cycling and offers a fresh, relatable face for new fans to rally behind.
So how is Formula Fixed different from the failed NCL? Rather than relying on traditional cycling, they're looking elsewhere – to the fixed-gear street racing and bike messenger scene – for inspiration. This movement is more aligned with skateboarding culture and aims to court a younger, digital-native audience that may never have even heard of cycling legends like Lance Armstrong or Greg LeMond.
"94% of people know how to ride a bike, but our ability to convert them into fans or consumers of cycling as a sport is fundamentally broken," says James Grady, co-founder of Formula Fixed. "We're not here to tweak the old model; we're here to tear it down and rebuild it from scratch with culture, inclusivity, and energy at the core."
Formula Fixed events will take place at indoor venues across the U.S., with two qualifying events gracing the East and West Coasts in September 2025. Top finishers, along with selected auto-qualifiers, will advance to conference play and a championship slated for early 2026.
Formula Fixed organizers James and Clare Grady have been putting on bike races in the San Francisco area since 2014, including the highly popular Mission Crit. Their partnership with Red Bull in 2021 saw them put on short-track races on go-kart tracks, and in fall 2024, they held a proof-of-concept event at a Formula 1 racing facility in California.
The September qualifiers will adopt this same tournament-style format, capped at 72 riders per category. The top 24 from each category will advance to the 2026 series. This all-new street-style racing series is set to captivate fans and reinvent the world of American cycling when it debuts in late 2025.
Who'll be racing? Athletes are coming from various backgrounds, including the bike messenger community, rare fixed-gear clubs, crit racers, and even cyclocross racers, mountain bikers, and BMXers, thanks to the handling element that street-style racing demands. Riders will have to pay their own way to the qualifying events, but "pro" athletes selected for the 2026 series will have their expenses paid.
Formula Fixed is poised to set itself apart from previous attempts with its emphasis on venue, brakeless racing, and a genuine American feel. If they can successfully execute on this unique vision, they might just ignite a new era of excitement in the world of American cycling. Interested bike racers can register for the September qualifiers at FormulaFixed.com.
Sports enthusiasts can look forward to an innovative take on bike racing with Formula Fixed's new street-style criterium series, aiming to captivate fans and reinvent American cycling starting from September 2025. This all-new racing series will attract competitors from diverse backgrounds such as bike messengers, crit racers, and even BMXers, offering a fresh and exciting experience for both spectators and participants alike.
