What is a kermesse race? I heard about a local club holding a kermesse race, and I was wondering what exactly they were?
Not a big fan of this type of answer, but wikipedia has a pretty good definition of it.


  The races are usually 90-140
  kilometers in total length. While some
  are longer or shorter, most are about
  120 kilometers. The race is comprised
  of a set distance and number of laps
  over the established course[2]. There
  are typically 10 to 20 laps, of
  between 5 and 10 kilometers. The race
  usually begins and ends in the center
  of the town which is hosting the day's
  race. The race will occupy the roads
  in town as well as the roads
  surrounding, either city streets or
  farmland.
  
  The course usually has a rolling
  enclosure. This means that while the
  race is not passing through, the
  streets are open to traffic. A
  designated car, usually with a caution
  sign and a red flag, leads the riders
  and close the cross streets to
  traffic. A following car, usually with
  signs and a green flag, open the
  streets back up to traffic.
  
  [...]
  
  The kermesse is similar to the
  criterium but differs primarily in
  total course length and lap length.
  While a criterium traditionally last
  60-90 minutes, a kermesse will often
  take 120-180 minutes. A single lap in
  a criterium is usually less than 5
  kilometers while the kermesse is
  usually 5-10 kilometers per lap.


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