Category: Course Preview

2023 Wheeling Preview

November 9, 2023
  • The Wheeling Park District welcomes us back for another day of cyclocross racing at Heritage Park cohosted by the Sasquatch Squadron powered by Main Street Bicycles and the Northbrook Garner Bicycle Club.
  • Preregistration on BikeReg closes at 11:59 pm Friday. Race day entries will be available only through BikeReg for an additional $10 upcharge. Registration closes 30 minutes before the scheduled race time. 
  • Preliminary Staging will be posted here on Saturday.
  • All are invited to attend a free Health Fair in the Community Center from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Check out the presentations, class demos like spin, activities for kids’, screenings, and more. The Center also has public rest rooms with hot showers available. The park hosts activities throughout the year, so get on their e-mail list. 
  • Please park in the North Parking lot east of the course to be closest to registration and the start. Please do not park in the lot adjacent to the Community Center to keep spaces open for folks heading indoors.  
  • The Cart will be put before the course once again with Mario’s Cart providing midday Mexican food
  • Lots of open grass and paved pathway for warming up, but as always, be mindful of pedestrians and other patrons of the park. Please refrain from riding on the playground surface and don’t set up tents in the pavilion grass due to underground electrical. No drones are allowed to take flight within the park due to the proximity of the Chicago Executive Airport. PWK for those of you booking last minute arrivals.  
  • Weather looks great, but its cold out there. Please plan and dress accordingly.
  • Staging is in the northeast corner nearest the North Parking lot access road. The finish line and registration are to the south of staging. The two-way pit is just east of the aquatic center.  
  • Bring your hops at “high” noon. Our local event is a bunny hopping contest. Sign up for free in BikeReg. The course runs anti-gravity. Go higher than everyone else and receive some high-calorie fare to make future hop contests fairer. 
  • The course runs clockwise. Flat at the start and finish, but in between you’ll ride the camber along the pool embankment until you hit the course elevation; enjoy the views of the lake and surrounding area from the top before heading back. The finish will be extra CX. Remember to look through the corners. 

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2023 Campton CX Preview

October 26, 2023
  • The Guaranteed Rate Cycling team host us again at Campton CX for the series’ second hilliest race.
  • Anderson Park in Campton Township (5N180 Brown Rd, Campton Hills, IL 60175). Need directions? From I-90: Randall Road South, to Rt. 64 West, past LaFox Road, turn right onto Brown Road and park is on your left. There are other Anderson Parks in the Chicagoland area, so please go to the correct one. The map on BikeReg is correct.
  • Pre-reg closes Friday night on BikeReg .
  • Preliminary staging will be posted here on Saturday. Make sure you double check your preliminary staging on Saturday, not Sunday.
  • Dave’s SLO Food will be serving up some fantastic BBQ.
  • Sorry, but NO alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park.
  • Campton is our Halloween race. Wear a costume, or not… keep it fun, maybe a little weird! There may be a costume contest. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with this year.
  • Please do NOT warm up on/around the soccer fields to the East of registration. The village has asked us to keep off the areas visible when you pull into the park. If you carefully ride North on Brown Rd for about 200 meters you can hop onto the Great Western trail, which is a great place to warm up. Thank you.
  • It’s warm right now, but temps will be dropping quickly and the forecast is for a chance of rain all day. Please plan your clothing accordingly.
  • There is plenty of parking on site. Please do not ride or drive on the grass surrounding the course.

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2023 ABD Sunrise Park Preview

October 19, 2023
  • The CCC heads to Bartlett for ABD Sunrise Park hosted by Athletes By Design (ABD).
  • #ABDcx
  • Preliminary staging will be posted here Saturday morning. Please check your staging on Saturday, not Sunday morning. Thanks!
  • Pre-reg on BikeReg closes Friday night.
  • PLEASE no parking on grass.
  • Parking on Foster Ave is usually allowed but on NORTH side only. There should be “No Parking” signs along the park (south) side. If not, please respect this. Also Parking is allowed on Struckman Blvd (better option), or at Sycamore Trails School (preferred).
  • No alcohol.  Sorry Park rules.
  • Weather forecast looks good but it will be chilly in the morning and we’ve had a lot of rain this week, so bundle up and come prepared. Also, please remember to collect your clothing from the staging grid after your race… the lost and found bin is only so large!

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2023 Jackson Park Preview

October 5, 2023
  • Jackson Park? Weren’t we just there? Yes – xXx Racing received short notice that Schiller Woods was not available and Indian Lakes is definitely no longer available so we’re back at Jackson Park in the Chicago Park District. REPEAT: The race is at Jackson Park on Sunday. There’s not a lot of space in this location, but we’ll make it work, and its better than no race at all. Let’s all pitch in and make it another great CCC race.
  • Pre-registration is open on BikeReg until tomorrow (Friday) night at midnight. Don’t delay, reg today!
  • Staging: Remember for the 2nd race and the rest of the series the front row of each category will be staged by series points, while everyone else is staged by CrossResults.com points. See full staging protocols over on the Rules/FAQ page.
  • Preliminary staging will be posted here on Saturday. Sometimes the link between BikeReg and CrossResults is not correct, so please, please check your staging on Saturday and not Sunday on the start line. We will NOT be able to adjust incorrect CrossResults points on Sunday.
  • Directions: Set your GPS to 1987 E Hayes Drive in Chicago. While there is still construction in the area for the Obama library, Hayes Drive should once again be accessible both from Stony Island Ave and Lake Shore Drive. Check the link below for any last-minute road closures: https://jacksonparkimprovements.org/traffic-updates
  • Parking: DO NOT PARK in the boat launch lot adjacent to the course. Ample parking is available in the PAID lot on the north side of Hayes Drive. You can drop off equipment, tents, etc. in the boat launch parking lot but then you MUST move your vehicle. Thanks!
  • The Chicago Marathon also takes place on Sunday morning and while there are no closures on the highways, Lake Shore Drive, or any of the nearby surface streets, please allow for extra travel time just in case.
  • Food: Unfortunately with the late venue change xXx Racing was not able to arrange for a food truck so please plan to be self-sufficient for food and beverages.
  • Autumn weather looks to be heading our way with Sunday morning temps in the 40’s. Please dress and pack extra clothes accordingly.
  • Bib numbers are always on your left side for all CCC races.
  • The course: while we are using the same patch of land as Relay CX, we’ll be changing things up by running the course counter-clockwise (i.e. backwards from the direction Relay CX was run), with an all new start/finish and other tweaks throughout.

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2023 Glenwood Academy Preview

September 21, 2023
  • The South Chicago Wheelmen host the series opener of the 2023 CCC this Sunday at Glenwood Academy CX in Glenwood, IL.
  • On the South side of the city, set your GPS to 500 W 187th Street Glenwood, IL 60425. Then please drive slowly through the campus to the parking area. This is an active school with children, so please drive carefully.
  • Registration closes on Friday night over on BikeReg.com. Its way easier to reg online as opposed to at the venue (which you still can do), and we’ll have your CrossResults.com points if you reg online. If you sign up at the venue you’ll be staged at the back of the grid.
  • Look for preliminary staging here some time on Saturday. As this is the first race of the series, everyone will be staged by CrossResults.com points. Then on 10/8 at Jackson Park the first row of 8 will be staged by series points and everyone else by CXR points. See the Rules & FAQ page for more details. Please check the preliminary staging on Saturday and let us know on Saturday if there are any errors as it’s a lot hard to fix Sunday at the race. Thanks!
  • Please renew your USAC annual license BEFORE Saturday evening before you go to bed.
  • Weather looks great!
  • There will be a Food Truck from 11-3 but that’s all we know. If you have dietary restrictions please pack your own food/drinks. There’s also plenty of stores on Halsted St just around the corner. BYOB if you’re an adult.
  • Parking: You can use any parking lot. Plus use the grass. DO NOT park in any cottage (residence) driveway.
  • Registration will be located next to officials at the finish line.
  • Reg is NOT in Kenny‘s tent. Lost or not sure where to go and what to do? Listen for his voice.
  • Staging will be at the North side of the access road at 187th St. which is reverse from the last 2 years.
  • The course will be open on Saturday afternoon for inspection and pre-riding.
  • And finally… we’re not making too many changes to the series this year, but putting on any bike race is still not easy, even if the South Chicago Wheelmen and our USAC officials make it look that way. Please be courteous to everyone and remember to say thank you to everyone making our events happen. See you all on Sunday!

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2022 Montrose Harbor Preview

December 1, 2022
  • Spidermonkey and Half Acre cycling clubs are excited to bring Montrose Harbor/Beach back! Please read the info below for some important notes. #MontroseCX
  • Preliminary staging will be posted here on Saturday morning. We want everyone to be staged correctly, so please, please, please for the love of all that is good and green check your staging Saturday morning. We can make corrections at that time but it is highly, highly unlikely we’ll be able to do so on Sunday. Thanks!
  • Since this is the Midwest Regional Championship AND CCC finale, podiums are a little more complicated than usual. Please help the best announcer a race series could ask for and if you are top three in the race or the overall, report to the podium ASAP following your race.
  • The weather looks great with a 30% of awesomeness, but as always, the wind coming off the lake is no joke; please make sure to secure your tents and spheres.
  • Here’s your friendly reminder that this is a city park where people who might have no idea what cyclocross is WILL be wandering through on their usual Sunday strolls (the lakefront path now cuts through the course). Yes, we’ll be celebrating the return of cyclocross with drinks** and food and more dranks**, but please be on your best behavior and show the city what a classy bunch we are.
  • ** And now let us pause for the annual message from the fun police … it’s Chicago Park District property and alcohol is not allowed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 
  • There will be THREE food truck options this year with Firecake Donuts arriving at 07:00 with donuts/coffee, and Aztec Daves tacos and Gilty Pig coming for lunch, so come hungry.
  • Big thanks to our generous sponsors for helping make the Ald. James Cappleman Midwest Regional CX Championship presented by Specialized Chicago possible:
  • Speaking of Specialized Chicago, pre-reg riders can head to the Fulton Street location on Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. to get your bib number early. Pin your number from the comfort of your own home! While there, you can pick-up the event poster you already ordered on BikeReg when you registered early. If you didn’t, there might still be some available for purchase at either Specialized location or at series sponsor Tailwind Cycles.
  • Simonds Drive is closed to thru-traffic and parking within the barricades is restricted to officials, food trucks, sponsors, porta-potties, and the like. Regular parking will be along Simonds Drive and Montrose Drive either to the north or south, entering and exiting the way you came in.
  • Per the Park District, NO PARKING ON THE GRASS OR PATHS, ANYWHERE! We cannot emphasize this point enough and yet still had vehicles break this rule in the past. Please adhere to marshals regarding your vehicle parking and movements.
  • Speaking of, a few parking spaces within the barricades (near the finish) are available with a donation on BikeReg to help defray the overall event costs. Entry for this is from the NORTH END of Simonds drive — check in with the nice volunteers and show your receipt. (If you have a trailer please count that as a second space).
  • Teams are welcome to drop off equipment at the turn-around on the south-end of Simonds Drive near the staging grid. The driver must remain with the vehicle to expedite unloading and keep traffic flowing, just like at the airport. It’s usually a high-volume operation with everyone coming at the same time so help your teammates.
  • Speaking of team tent placement, all are welcome, nay encouraged, to drop/place tents and other large items on Saturday afternoon! There is hired security for overnight watch (though of course SMC, USAC, CPD, et al. cannot take responsibility for what the weather/acts of gods could do to items left overnight, so make sure it’s secured/laid down/tied down). And hey, stick around to lend a helping hand with course setup.
  • Speaking of helping hands, Spidermonkey could use a few more hands during the race on Sunday for course marshaling spots required of the new course design and lakefront path interaction. Volunteers get free coffee & lunch! Check the sign-up sheet.
  • We understand the desire to pre-ride, especially with so many CCC’ers living nearby. However, we kindly request you DO NOT RIDE the course this week, especially during setup on Saturday, to enable course construction AND to keep it in nice condition for game day. Again, please drop the bike and pick up some course stakes and tape to help — it takes a village!
  • Onto the course: We had such great feedback on the course in 2019 we are sticking (mostly) to that same design, featuring the start on pavement. Bonus, the city repaved the road! However, that includes new six-inch curbs, so we will have a ramp transition after the first turn. All this is to say, please stay friendly on the starts, remembering that you can’t win the race there, buy you can surely lose it. Same expanded pit with neutral support provided by Jose from NRS & Events!
  • UPDATE: Please stay off the sand shown in the picture below which has been designated a Protected Natural Area by the city and park horticulturalist.
  • We can’t wait to see everyone and close out the CX season in style on the lake front in our namesake city. See you all on Sunday!  
Image

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2022 Wheeling CX Preview

November 10, 2022
  • #wheelingCX
  • Gravel may be having a moment, but there’s still lots of life left in that grass. Cyclocross racing returns to Heritage Park cohosted by the Sasquatch Squadron powered by Main Street Bicycles and the Northbrook Garner Bicycle Club.
  • Preliminary Staging will be posted here on Saturday. Please double check and email us if you see any errors.
  • Got Health? Wheeling Park District is hosting a free Health Fair in the Community Center from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Check out the presentations, class demos (I see Spin), activities for kids’, screenings, and more. There may also be giveaways (more cowbell?); plus it’s heated. Public rest rooms with hot showers are also available. Get on their mailing list too: Cultural events, 5ks, free concerts, family activities, kids’ triathlons, beer tastings, etc. The fun happens year round, not just on race day.
  • Pre-registration closes at 10:00 pm Friday. Race day entries will be available only through BikeReg for an additional $10 upcharge. Registration closes 30 minutes before the scheduled race time.
  • Please park in the North Parking lot east of the course and not the angled parking lot adjacent to the Community Center.
  • Mario’s Cart will be back on course serving tacos, nachos, and burrito bowls with a choice of protein.
  • Lots of open grass and paved pathway for warming up, but as always, be mindful of pedestrians and other patrons of the park. Please refrain from riding and setting up tent in the pavilion grass.
  • Staging is in the northeast corner nearest the North Parking lot access road. The finish line and registration are to the south of staging. The two-way pit is just east of the aquatic center. The course has 10-inch-high double barriers in the first half-mile. After dipping around the pool, a short stretch of pavement leads to higher ground.
  • shortened course will be utilized for the Junior 9-14 race at 11:25 am. The course will be directed back to the finish area before cresting Heritage hill on the southwest side of the course.

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2022 Groundhog Psi-clocross Preview

November 3, 2022

Phil : Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
Mrs. Lancaster : I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.

Why is this race called Groundhog PSI-clocross? Well, in 1992 the downtown square of Woodstock, IL was used to film the movie Groundhog Day. Rob Curtis and the PSIMET crew have carried some parts of the movie into the venue.

  • Remember to use #psiCX on Twitter and Instagram.
  • Registration closes Friday at 10pm. There will be day of registration available at a higher price but only through BikeReg.
  • Preliminary Staging will be posted here on Saturday.
  • State Championships: This event is the 2022 Illinois State Cyclocross Championships. State Championships will be awarded to categories and participants as outlined on the flyer.
    • There must be 3 Illinois residents in a race for a championship to be awarded.
    • There will be the following podiums – One for the race. One for the CCC standings. One for the State Championship being awarded. Quick math reveals that could be as many as 18 podiums for the junior 9-14 race alone so while Kenny is a master at doing podiums please be patient and understanding.
    • State Champion podiums will include medals for 1-3 place. A Championship jersey will be presented. If there is no longer a jersey available in the correct size for the winner they have the option of taking a jersey that is available or they will get a link to allow them to purchase one directly from Pactimo. There are plenty of jerseys available but we no longer have all sizes available.
    • JUNIORS – The 3 COMPETITORS RULE is SUSPENDED for Junior competition only. Junior Championships are awarded in 2 gender divisions in the following age categories: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 meaning there are 10 possible junior champion positions available.
    • Women Cat 4 State Champions will be awarded from the Women Cat 3/4 Race. Men Cat 4 State Champions will be awarded from the Men Cat 4 race. There are no State Champ jerseys awarded to novice (i.e. Cat 5) categories, meaning there are no jerseys awarded in the Men Cat 5 and Women Cat 4/5 races.
    • Have questions on State Champ categories/awards? Contact the race director or us and we’d be happy to clarify details for you.
  • Remember that Daylight Savings ends the morning of the race so be sure you have the right time!
  • There is plenty of parking throughout the park. As with all previous years there is NO PARKING ON THE GRASS. This is the strictest rule the park and city have for the facility. This also means no vehicles on the grass to drop off gear early in the morning <looks at masters teams>. We say this every year and yet it still ends up being a problem at some point in the day. No cars on grass anywhere for any length of time.
  • If you enter from either of the Park’s North entrances (Kishwaukee Valley Rd or Jackson St) then you can drive right up to the “tent city” field and drop off gear.
  • This park has “always” had a “no alcohol” policy. So when you bring in cups for your soda and lemonade PSIMET asks that you pack out what you bring in. It helps PSIMET make sure the park doesn’t think we’re a drinking series with a cycling problem if there aren’t a lot of juice boxes laying around.
  • FoodPerk and Pickle Food Truck will be on site all day long serving breakfast, lunch and an early dinner if needed. Serving hours will be from 8am-5pm. The menu for race day is available on their site now – https://perknpickle.com/menu
  • Equipment Pits will be single width and will not use the orange fencing this year. There will NOT be any water or washing facilities at the race though, so if conditions look to be getting worse please plan your own support accordingly. There are a couple of water spigots around the park that may or may not be in service.
  • There won’t be much if any daylight left after the last race ends, so please plan accordingly. Also if you can, please help PSIMET tear down the course so they aren’t doing it all in the dark.
  • There is an informal Car Show that we are hosting on site like we did last year. If you bring a notable car for display (classic, antique, etc.) we will have an area for you to park at the top of the hill near the food truck. You will also receive a free food truck meal voucher from the PSIMET coordinator.
  • As another reminder, if you are pre-riding while anyone is finishing up, please make sure you are NOT inadvertently riding in front of people still racing. Just ride slowly behind them and offer words of encouragement or ring a cowbell. Thanks!
  • If you’re interested in looking over the filming locations for the movie there is a great map for self-guided tours here: http://www.woodstockgroundhog.org/walking-tour/
  • The Course: A collection of no less than half a dozen pinwheels/toilet bowls Roughly the same course as last year with a few small modifications.

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2022 Campton CX Preview

October 27, 2022
  • Anderson Park in Campton Township (5N180 Brown Rd, Campton Hills, IL 60175). Need directions? From I-90: Randall Road South, to Rt. 64 West, past LaFox Road, turn right onto Brown Road and park is on your left. There are other Anderson Parks in the Chicagoland area, so please go to the correct one. The map on BikeReg is correct.
  • Another Costume Contest! Prizes will be awarded to the winners by the Campton event organizers. Kenny is in charge of the inaugural Thriller dance competition at 2:22pm, so listen for his decrees.
  • Remember pre-reg on BikeReg closes Friday night.
  • Preliminary staging will be posted here on Saturday. We’re moving to USAC’s new rider database, so please make sure you double check your preliminary staging.
  • Sorry, but NO alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park.
  • Please do NOT warm up on/around the soccer fields to the East of registration. The village has asked us to keep off the areas visible when you pull into the park. If you carefully ride North on Brown Rd for about 200 meters you can hop onto the Great Western trail, which is a great place to warm up. Thank you.
  • There is plenty of parking on site. Please do not ride or drive on the grass surrounding the course.
  • The Course: Will likely be a little different this year. Check out this animation.

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2022 ABD Sunrise Park Preview

October 20, 2022
  • Athletes By Design (ABD) host stop number three of the 2022 CCC at Sunrise Park in Barlett, IL.
  • Preliminary staging will be posted here on Saturday morning. Let us know if you spot any errors. Thanks!
  • If you have recently upgraded and want 1/2 your CCC series points to follow you to the next category, please contact us at ChicagoCrossCup at gmail by Saturday. We will NOT automatically transfer your points. See the rules/FAQ page here.
  • Parking on Foster Ave is allowed but on NORTH side only. There should be “No Parking” signs along the park (south) side. If not, please respect this. Also Parking is allowed on Struckman Blvd (better option), or at Sycamore Trails School (preferred).
  • PLEASE no parking on grass.
  • Mexican food truck will be on site.
  • Teams can drop tents by using the bike path off Struckman Blvd. Enter the park but then you must park outside the park. Please, thanks!
  • No alcohol.  Sorry Park rules.
  • Single Speed Women will start AFTER the Single Speed Men.
  • And finally… we all like to have a good time on these Sundays in Autumn, but remember the CCC is a series of bicycle races, and it is not a collection of drinking contests or B Movie frat parties. Our USAC officials don’t roam around the venue trying to be the fun police, so please don’t ride across the finish line with an always recording video camera with a red solo cup in your hand giving them any reasons to suspend your license to race. K, thanks, see you all on Sunday!

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