Montrose Preview
This is it!!! The 10th and final CCC race of the year… and it just happens to also be the Illinois State CX Championships. Turin Bicycles of Evanston with promoters Chuck Judy and Chris Mailing at the helm are aiming to make the Montrose Harbor race the best yet. The race will certainly be one of the largest with 391 of you pre-reg’d.
- Please review our previous post about State Champion Rules. IL Technical Director David Fowkes confirms that if you purchase an annual license now (after December 1st) it is good for all of 2010.
- Our USAC officials have again asked when pinning your number to your jersey this weekend to position them as in the photos below. The officials are NOT on a platform or stage and can’t read your number if its high up on your back (or on the wrong side). So please help the officials out so they can score everyone correctly. Thanks!
- Both 4′s fields have filled up, but there are usually a bunch of riders who are no-shows. We’ll start a wait-list Sunday morning and get those riders in on a first come, first served basis.
- Turin has brought in sponsors EJ’s Place, Lake Cycling, and Craft to create an enhanced prize list here. For the Men 1/2/3, Masters 30+, and Masters 40+ categories the Illinois State Champion will win a $200 dining card to EJ’s Place. The first rider who is not the Illinois State Champion will win a pair of Lake cycling shoes. The IL State Champs in the Masters 50+ and Women 1/2/3 will also win a $200 dining card to EJ’s Place.
- Turin is still selling Jay Ryan designed race posters here.
- Turin is collecting non-perishable goods as part of a food drive to benefit the Chicago Food Depository. Drop items off at the store by Tuesday, December 10th or bring your canned goods to the race on Sunday, December 6th.
- K-Bars will again be a the race with samples of their delicious energy bars. They’re also helping out with the prize list.
- We’ve heard of some people shopping at Costco for hand-ups this weekend… and we’re guessing there will also be some sort of pork product. Just remember to keep it safe and do NOT interfere with any riders who are ole’ scrooges and don’t want to partake in the hand-up fun.
- The weather forecast is calling for slightly chillier temps than we’ve been racing in recently… so make sure to dress warmly!
- Speaking of clothes… we’ll have all of the pre-ordered CCC t-shirts at the race. Please pick your shirts up from the series director near the start/finish area after the Masters 30+ race. And don’t forget to heckle Joe Kallo for designing the shirt this year!
- Remember, anyone dressed up like Santa (beard required), Mrs. Claus (beard optional), or a Christmas tree (or Chanukkah bush) will get a special call up after the top 10 in the overall standings.
- We at the CCC would again like to request that everyone plan on making a day of Montrose… meaning we want to see all of the 40+, 30+, 50+ Masters AND all of the 4A’s and 4B’s… and the Men 1/2/3′s, Women 1/2/3′s, Men 3′s, Women 4′s and Juniors lining the course all day long. 2009 has been such a great CX season here in Chicago and we’d like to see everyone together for the entire day. Heck, maybe someone will take a group photo?
- If you missed it earlier this week, TheBoneBell.com posted a great interview with one of the CCC’s celebrities “Flannel Mike“.
- Below is a estimate of what the course should look like… but as always, the course is subject to change due to weather and ground conditions. Cricket Heckle Hill should provide some good spectating, but last year most people seemed to congregate in the sand just opposite the start/finish line. Either way… it should be a fun day! Due to the proximity to the city Turin has asked that we do NOT pre-ride the course before Sunday. There’s a security deposit involved and Turin would like to hold the race at Montrose again next year. Thanks.
- And finally… the 2009 CCC Awards Banquet will be held at EJ’s Place in Skokie on Sunday January 10th 2010 from noon to 4pm. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for Juniors in advance and on sale now on BikeReg here.
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How long is the race?
All CX races are based on time. See here. Distance doesn’t really matter, but the course should be between 1.6 and 1.8 miles long.
I want to express my gratitude to everybody that has raced, promoted, and supported the athletes and these events. This series is the best thing going in the Midwest. Happy holidays and have a great Montrose. It’s going to be really special. If you remember racing when Illinois had to hand over our state champ race to Wisconsin becuase we couldn’t get our $hit together, I’m sure you share my enthusiasm. Not just the number of event (10 is an amazing series…look at the national scene)and the number of racers, but the support and fun vibe that fills the air every race.
Again: Thanks for booking 1/4 of my year.
xo,
Meshberg
ditto that! As a matter of fact, meshberg – I credit Leah, Dave and you for getting me doped on cross in the first place and the series this year has been nothing short of phenomenal – already have pre-post-season withdrawal – if such a thing is possible…
See Al, it was fate that we would meet in the parking lot at Palos that day so I could invite you to CX practice! Let me know if you ever want to get rid of that Lynskey!
I have a spot in the men’s 4B cx race that I probably can’t use due to an injury and 3 weeks off the bike. Happy to sell it – first come/first served. Email me: james@championshipglobal.com.