• Here we go! The 11th and final event in the 2019 Chicago Cyclocross Cup. Montrose Beach and the USAC MidWest Cyclocross Championships at Montrose Harbor hosted by Spidermonkey Cycling!
  • More info and maps are over on the Spidermonkey Cycling website.
  • Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes tonight. Preliminary staging will be posted here.
  • Since this is the Midwest Regional CX 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.
  • Speaking of this being an important race, to keep the finishes clear for epic battles, our hard-working USAC officials may finish riders early if they are deemed out of contention and within the 80% time gap to the race leader. Listen for Kenny and look for the officials to know if you are being finished early; you will still be placed in the results.
  • A reminder from One2Go to please, please, please pin your number properly (see the image below) and put any long hair up in pony tails. If One2Go can’t see your bib number you won’t be scored properly. Great LEFT SIDE Example
  • The weather looks positively great (oh crap, what did we just do?!) but be warned, the wind coming off the lake is no joke; please make sure to secure your tents.
  • Lots going on and its winter, so no Kiddie Cross this year.
  • Here’s your friendly reminder that Montrose Beach is a city park where people who might have no idea what cyclocross is might be wandering through on their usual Sunday strolls. Yes, we’ll be celebrating another great season 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.
  • Speaking of food, there will be FOUR food truck options this year with Firecake Donuts, Big Mama’s Urban Soul Food, Aztec Daves tacos and Five Squared pizza so come hungry.
  • ** And now let us pause for the annual message from the fun police… the park is a Chicago Park District property and alcohol is NOT allowed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  • Thanks to our generous sponsors for helping make the Midwest Regional Championship presented by Ald. James Cappleman possible:
  • Speaking of Rapha Chicago, pre-reg riders should head there on Saturday to get your bib number early and enjoy free refreshments while talking smack with that person just ahead of/behind you on the overall — as well as getting 25% off almost the entire store. Please RSVP to let them know you are coming for food planning. And it should go without saying, make sure you put that bib number somewhere safe (i.e. pin it the night before like a pro). If you lose your number between Saturday night and Sunday we may not have an extra number for you.
  • Simonds Drive is closed to thru-traffic and parking within the barricades is restricted to officials, food trucks, Evanston Subaru, porta-pottie deliveries 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, ANYWHERE! Please adhere to volunteer requests regarding your vehicle parking and movement
  • Speaking of parking, VIP parking spaces within the barricades (near the finish) are again available on BikeReg to help defray costs. Entry 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 equipment, team tents can go in many of the traditional areas, and with the start/finish change you are welcome to line the finish stretch, but only on the WEST (grass) side. No tents on the roadway. Also, please keep the area behind (east) of the sponsor/reg tents open as well for podium, et al. (red area).
  • 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 additional course marshaling spots required of the new course design. Volunteers get free 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 on Saturday, to enable course construction AND to keep it in nice condition for game day. Again, drop the bike and pick up some course stakes and tape to help — it takes a village!
  • Course: NEW START AND FINISH ON THE ROADWAY! Wooooot, we so fancy. We expect the weather to be dry but let’s keep those crit elbows in for that first turn and the transition onto the grass. You can’t win the race in turn one, but you can lose it. Also a new EXPANDED pit. (But still, please remove your equipment expeditiously after your race.)
  • As is tradition with Montrose, the course alternates the direction each year, going clockwise (i.e. sand first, Cricket Hill second). Note: The Junior 9-14 will have a cut-off section to bypass some of Cricket Hill and possibly some sand.