CCC Tuesday Updates – 20241105
November 5, 2024
- Hills, Weather, Halloween, and more… Campton Cross again provided it all for us. Thanks to the entire Guaranteed Rate Cycling crew for another great Campton Cross. Links to all Results are here.
- It’s Election Day. You’ll never, ever hear us talk about politics or who you should or should not vote for. But… not every country in the world gets to elect their leaders on a regular basis, and we do, so don’t waste your opportunity to get out and vote today.
- This coming weekend the series has the first double race weekend we’ve had in a few years, brought to you by PSIMET Racing at Groundhog PSI-clocross. Note there are TWO BikeReg pages, Saturday and Sunday. If you want to race both days you need to register for BOTH days. Each race day is separate so there is not a multi-race discount across days. The multi-race discount still does apply for the same day. Online reg for Sunday’s race will still close at midnight on Friday, but online reg for Saturday’s races will close at midnight on Thursday. Finally, Saturday’s results will affect staging on Sunday, meaning overall series points and CrossResults.com points will be updated Saturday night for Sunday’s race. If you have any questions, email us.
- Also for Groundhog PSI-clocross… don’t feel like driving to and fro Saturday night and Sunday morning… there was a block of rooms available in Woodstock for the night of Saturday November 9. There was a special rate at AmericInn by Wyndham in Woodstock but we’re pretty sure it’s expired. Call 815.575.9093 and use GROUNDHOGCX to see if it’s still available.
- And finally… a note about USAC categories, upgrading, and what we call sandbagging. As everyone knows there are USAC categories 1-5 (Category is now called Novice). You start as a Cat 5 and based on your fitness and skills (which leads to race placings) you earn your upgrade to a high (lower number) category. USA Cycling has a very clear page here specific to cyclocross on how, when, and why you can and should upgrade. Some upgrading rules apply across disciplines on this USAC page, specifically how Juniors and Masters accrue points. Note also the CCC is NOT a series in regards to these rules since each race is hosted by a different race director. These are the rules we play by and if you’re racing in the CCC you should know, understand, and abide by those rules. Sandbagging is when a person knowingly disregards these rules or tries to game the system. No one wants to be a sandbagger, and no one wants sandbaggers in their race. Upgrading is a reward, not a punishment. Now all that being said, we think the only thing that’s worse than sandbagging is being a jerk anonymously about someone else sandbagging instead of improving yourself. If you think someone is sandbagging, speak to him/her in person at a race and encourage them to upgrade. If that doesn’t work speak to our awesome USAC officials at a race and/or send an email to USAC (several riders have already been auto-upgraded this year). The CCC does not issue USAC upgrades, but we’re always willing to listen to anyone’s concerns and speak to racers (and give them a nudge if need be) who are not improving the series by improving themselves. The bottom line is this, if you’re not here to help make the CCC series better for everyone then you’re not helping at all.
My favorite karaoke place used to always say that no one is getting a record contract from singing karaoke here, we’re all doing it for fun. That’s how I try to remember to treat racing cross.
Well said.
There is no glory in winning against competition well below your level.
There is no glory in winning only because you have forced out competitors who are at your level.
I have been racing in the most egregiously sandbagged category for something like a decade. I have never even sniffed a CCC podium. Not even an unofficial one for Masters 4/5 or even best costume. That is more my fault than it is any sandbagger. As I have redoubled my commitment to racing in the past couple seasons and slowly inch ever closer to being actually competitive in my category, though, I hope to maybe earn myself a podium and/or an upgrade point in a CCC race someday. Hopefully I just don’t have to beat someone who is hoarding upgrade points like a dragon to do so.
Like most things in life, it comes down to “don’t be a dick.”
Anthony, I want to formally nominate you for top step of the sickest bike podium. I have been eyeballing it from the 35+ race and *chef’s kiss*
Haha thank you Nick. I was long overdue for a big boy race bike and luckily, all the pieces fell together to make it happen.
I woke up angry today, so I apologize in advance for the attitude. I love you all, and if you are also struggling today know that I’m right there with you.
I work my ass off trying to improve myself on a level playing field. My friends and I are calling out these sandbaggers anonymously because we don’t want some psycho doxing us for trying to protect our community and this weird sport that we love. I don’t appreciate the both sidesism that we’re somehow worse than sandbagging dipshits.
How about the organizers help protect us and improve the series by using the chicagocx spreadsheet to “pull the rider aside and have a quick chat” with mandatory upgraders as part of pre-staging. Most of these doods are getting these points as part of the CCC series, you know who these guys are.
We can’t control what you do on other parts of the Internet, but when you’re here please refrain from foul language.
Email us at chicagocrosscup at gmail from your personal email address so we can have an adult conversation. Thanks.
CX is so back