– Some people already got their season off to a start at Half Acre’s CX Eliminator.

– Next up, the always fun, always hard, always inclusive, always nutty, always almost tossing cookies… xXx Racing CX Relay. The Junior and Coed fields are already filled and there are a few spots left in all other fields. The team names are some of the best we’ve ever seen.

– If you haven’t heard (are you under a rock?) Chicago is getting its own bike park… Big Marsh. But, since there is no such thing as a free lunch… “An anonymous donor has offered up to $1,000,000 toward building Chicago’s first urban bike park in a 2- for-1 challenge grant, says Chicago-based non-profit Friends of Big Marsh. Friends of Big Marsh has launched a crowdfunding campaign at bigmarsh.org/build to leverage the grant that could provide much of the funding needed to open the first phase of the park in Spring 2016.” So contribute if you can.

– And since the CX is nothing without its riders and courses, the CCC has decided to switch gears this season and keep our focus local. So instead of collecting money for World Bicycle Relief (still a very worthy cause) we will forward all donations to Big Marsh AND West Town  Bikes & Blackstone Bikes at the end of the season.

– And finally… The nice folks on the other side of the pond are getting ready for the season as well… “On Saturday, September 12, the Michigan ‘cx season once again kicks off with the Alma Grand Prix of Cyclocross p/b Velocity USA, which is the first race in the new Michigan Bicycle Racing Association Cyclocross Series of events. There are a handful of hotel options in the area and this year there is also camping available at the race venue for Friday night. Also, please join us for the early number pick up and “meet the pros” at the Alma Brewing Company on Friday night (September 11). Pros, you ask? Yes! This year we’re excited to have four professionals from Australia in attendance. Joining us from the Focus Australia ‘CX Team are Chris Aitken, Tom Chapman, and Jack Hogan. On the women’s side, Josie Simpson from the Flanders Nemesis race team will be leading the charge. More information, including the race tech guide and spy photos of the course, is available on the website: www.AlmaGP.blogspot.com. The race Facebook page is:www.Facebook.com/AlmaGrandPrixOfCyclocross, and on Twitter @TheAlmaGP. If you have ANY questions please don’t hesitate to e-mail Brian Hancock (race promoter /at/ gmail.com) or find him on Facebook on the race page.”