Really quickly… don’t forget the IIT Swap & Hop is tomorrow (Saturday 10/31/09). Details here and pre-reg for the clinic is open here until 6pm tonight. Now back to our regularly scheduled course preview…

Back again for 2009 is the hilly St. Charles / Campton CCC race hosted by Bicycle Heaven. 308 of you are scheduled to toe the start line in your best Halloween regalia.

  • First and foremost… remember Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday…  that give you all (unless you live in Indiana) an extra hour to sleep-off your Snicker hangovers. No one gets a pass for showing up late on Sunday… so be on time!
  • St. Charles is one of the “further away” from the city venues so give yourselves plenty of time to get there. Here’s an idea… don’t set your clocks back and use that time to get to the race and watch the earlier categories! There are plenty of food and caffeine vendors along Randall Rd on the way out, so stock up as there isn’t much food close to the park.
  • In addition to whatever the Cuttin’ Crew decide on for handups this week (we saw an X-Box game at Bartlett!?!), promoter Rob Kelley will be handing out $20 primes for the winners of the first lap of every race. Its a gamble to go out so fast, but if you do, you will be rewarded.
  • This year’s St. Charles course will be nearly identical to last year’s with just a few modifications (see below for an estimate). As always, the course can change on race day depending on conditions. Update: The course goes anti-clockwise
  • Speaking of conditions… according to the current weather forecast it looks chilly still another fabulous day for a CX race. Whoever has been making sacrifices to the weather gods… please keep what you’re doing!
  • Don’t forget we’re giving special “best costume” call-ups after the top 10 series overall. Here’s a sneak peak at what the rest of you might be up against.
  • Where will the best spectating spot be this week? We’re guessing near kids playground equipment… but we’ll let you decide. There is more than enough legal parking for everyone, so please use it.
  • Also, don’t forget to vote for your favorite t-shirt design (below the map). Please only vote once and polls close tomorrow (Saturday) night at midnight.