– Gihugimous thanks to North Central Cyclery and Half Acre Cycling for putting on another great race at Hopkins Park. From what we saw on Sunday and all the pix flooding in it looks like everyone had a lot of fun negotiation the flyover, although it seems barriers are still giving some people a bit of trouble! Congratulations to everyone who raced but especially The Pony Shop for taking the lead in the Team Competition and Rodrigo Aviles who won the Sister Sprocket Flying Pig Award. Congrats also to Mia Moore (xXx Racing) and Chase Negley (Iron Cycles) who won the Mad Alchemy First Lap Hot Legs Sprints. Don’t worry though all you Cat 4’s, both of these riders have already applied for and were granted their Cat 3 upgrades.

– It only makes sense that Half Acre was handing out tall boys of their sponsor’s brews, which is great in Dekalb, but please remember that not all of the parks that host CCC events (including upcoming Dan Ryan Woods & Carpentersville) are as hops and barley friendly. We don’t think anyone wants to jeopardize our ability to hold CCC races at these parks in the future, so please mind your P’s, Q’s, and Natty Lite. Just use your good judgement… which means don’t roll up to the start line with a beer can in your water bottle cage. Let’s keep it a little more classy than that.

– Next up, Beverly Bike-Vee Pak with support from Psimet Custom Wheels host Elvis Cross in the Dan Ryan Woods. Yes, the hill will still be there. Look for the race preview on Thursday.

– The 2010 CCC Series t-shirts are now up and ready for sale on the REKLAIM Apparel website. Choose either mail delivery or you can pick your shirt(s) up at an upcoming race. REKLAIM is donating 100% of all profits to our series long WBR fundraising drive. So buy 1 or buy 20… all the money goes to a great cause!

– We’ve been getting a bunch of comments about pulling riders this year. So to clarify… the 80% rule was introduced this year merely as a way to officially enforce rule 5G1 (see page 140) that has been in existence for a long time but not necessarily enforced, especially in CCC races. Our USAC officials have agreed that if fields are manageable they will let the riders finish or ride as long as possible. However with fields nearing or at capacity across the board this year our USAC officials will likely be enforcing the rule at most races due to the larger field sizes, and at the end of the day whether or not to enforce the rule is ultimately the officials’ decision. We do not enforce the rule in the Cat 4B’s and Women 4/Juniors fields because we want these riders to all to have the “full CX experience”.  The lead Cat 4A’s rarely lap the last riders in that field, but the the officials may start pulling riders in the 4A’s if needed. As far as the Masters races are concerned, in a nutshell… they are based on age. If riders want to race with others more their skill/fitness level they should race in the Cat 3’s or Cat 4’s, which is why those are skill/fitness based categories. If you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly at [email protected].

– Check out the ICA’s most recent CX Bikes Supermodel’s post. If you’re interested in contributing and/or have some glamor shots of your bike(s) get in touch with the ICA webmaster. Speaking of photography… if you are taking action shots near any CX course, please stay off the course and do not interfere with any rider. We encourage our spectators to get close to the action, but please remember you are still spectating.

– And finally… it is the CCC’s policy not to reply to messages on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Even though we do have umpa-loompas and mini-me’s running around in our secret evil lair (with liquid hot magma), we still don’t have time to check these sites all day long and respond. If you have criticisms of the series… or better yet suggestion or would like to get involved to make the series better… please contact us directly at [email protected] and we’d be happy to listen to whatever you have to say. Now… does anyone want to just race bikes for the fun of it?

– Looks like several CCC regulars did well at the Planet Bike USGP in Madison over the weekend. Congratulations to everyone who raced, heckled, and had a good time.

– Next up for the CCC is Hopkins Park in Dekalb, hosted by North Central Cyclery and Half Acre Cycling. Hopkins Park will also host the OUISCSSC. Look for a full preview on Thursday at the regularly scheduled time, but let’s just say the HAC guys and gals have been busy… very busy preparing for this year’s race.

– If you’re thinking about upgrading please do so through your My USACycling profile on USACycling.org and remember upgrades can take up to 2 weeks to process. That’s our way of saying, don’t pre-register for the cat 3’s and apply for your upgrade the Thursday before a race. Also, you can take 1/2 of your CCC series points with you if your upgrade is processed before Carpentersville. See all the CCC series rules here and USAC’s CX upgrading rules here (page 28).

– More people around the country are picking up on the ChiCrossCup scene. CX Magazine even wrote a glowing reviewing of the ChiCrossCollective’s 2009 coffee table book… and for good reason… it’s simply fantastic! If you still haven’t picked yourself up a copy you can still purchase hardback and softback versions here. Get some!

– Speaking of buying all things CCC… REKLAIM Apparel is almost ready to accept orders for the 2010 CCC Series t-shirt as soon as we finalize some artwork. REKLAIM is donating 100% of their profits to the CCC’s season long WBR drive.

– If you haven’t looked at the 2010 CCC schedule here, here, here, here, and here… we have two double races weekends this year, and that means road trips and sleep overs. Psycho CX promoter Ted Schweitzer has secured a discounted rate at the Holiday Inn Express in Lake Zurich for $89 if you want to spend the night in between Wauconda & Carpentersville. Just mention “Psycho Cross” for the CCC reduced rate. Also Indian Lakes Resort promoter South Chicago Wheelmen have secured discounted rooms at, where else… the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort, for $79.00 for up to 4 people on both Friday and Saturday nights. Like last year ILR will have a Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffet, an all you can eat lunch and dinner buffet (both days as well) and Fat Tire will be selling beer.

– VeloNews had a great article about series sponsor Verizon Cycling… although they forgot to mention anything about cyclocross.

– Hey Ladies… on Thursday October 7th our good friends over at Spidermonkey Cycling are hooking up with Kristen Meshberg… wait, that didn’t sound right! Check out the SM’s Facebook page with all the details about an informal Q-n-A session with Kristen at 7 p.m. at the Get-a-Grip fit studio.

– And finally… hey parents, looking for someone to watch your kids while you race? Starbuck Babysitting Services (no, not the coffee) will watch your children for the entire day or just while you race at upcoming CCC events. Contact Scott (his daughter does the babysitting and is Red ‘Cross’ CPR certified) for more info.

– First off… big, big thanks to xXx Racing for putting on another great event. xXx hosted the Relay CX race a few weeks back to get everyone in the CX mood (although the 90 degree temps didn’t really help) and are already putting on another CX race! Make sure to thank anyone and everyone in a red and black kit for making the event happen.

– Remember the parking lot at Jackson Park is metered, but only costs about $9-10 for all day. We don’t want anyone getting a ticket, so you’ve been warned. If the lot right next to the course fills up, there is parking to the west of the course on Hayes Drive.  However, the lot south of Hayes Drive south of the main parking lot is off limits.

– Please note that the CARA 20-mile run will be taking place along the Lakefront Path on Sunday morning. xXx and the CCC urge all CX’ers riding down to Jackson Park for the race to exercise due caution and courtesy when traveling along that route.

– The CCC is trying to be green… take a look under the floor mats of your car, dig into to seat cushins and bring your own safety pins to properly attach your bib number. But how will you remember to bring pins each week? We suggest visiting one of your favorite local bike shops and purchasing a patch kit… we like the Genuine Innovations large patch kit in the green plastic boxes. Whether you use the patches is up to you, but we like to put a handful of safety pins in the plastic container and always keep it in our race bag. Mother earth thanks you!

– Our friends over at REKLAIM Apparel/ZeroEvents will also be helping the CCC be greener by providing recycling services. The 2010 CCC Series T-shirts will also be printed on organic cotton with soy inks. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite design by midnight on Saturday night. REKLAIM is donating 100% of all profits to our goal of raising $5,000 for WBR by the end of the series.

– Online pre-registration on BikeReg.com (say it with us… Bik Rej… like REGistration) closes tonight at midnight. Entry fees increase $5 on race day. Huge thanks to the 448 of you that have already pre-reg’d. Even huger thanks to the  34 of your that donated to WBR when registering. So far we’ve raised $208. That’s a great start, but not nearly enough, so keep it coming. If you’d like to donate your race winnings to our WBR drive, please see us after your race.

– Series sponsor CarboRocket will be out on Sunday with big coolers of CarboRocket mix and (hopefully) some coffee. Swing by and fill up your bottle, mug, or canteen. Temps are forecasted to be in the upper 60’s with an 80% chance of awesome, but we all need to stay hydrated.

– We’ve had a few questions about the Women Cat 4 field filling up. Due to the course length we can only allow a maximum of 100 riders on course at a time. So if less than 50 juniors show up we can open the remaining spots to cat 4 women.

– Concerning waitlists… we’ll start waitlists for each filled category (Women 4, Cat 4A, & Cat 4B) when registration opens at 7:45am. First come first served. 20 minutes before each race is scheduled to start (yes, even if we’re running a little behind we will still close reg at the scheduled time) we’ll close out the race and reassign bib numbers to those on the waiting list. If you are pre-reg’d and show up after this time your bib will already have been reassigned and you will NOT be allowed to race. Period. If you are racing more than once and would like to give your number up to someone else so they have a chance to enjoy the thrill of heckles and whatever else goes on, thank you, and we certainly can accommodate that. Just make your way to registration as soon as possible and the reg staff will switch you in start list (just don’t give your number to the other guy/gal).

– Please remember to register for the correct category/age group. We cannot allow you to race outside your cat/age group and the reg staff will be checking licenses thoroughly all day long. If you have a question, please ask us or a USAC official.

– Concerning call-ups… we’re still not telling, but you will be lined up like any other CCC race, 10 wide in the starting grid. So if you want to be on the 2nd row, you’ll have to get there yourself. Last year’s placings have nothing to do with it. That being said, please do not fight over starting positions… after all this is just bike racing, its a long season, and karma can be a b!@tch.

– Full results will be posted on the CCC results board at the race (near registration) and online at illinoiscycling.org and usacycling.org/results later Sunday evening. Series standings will be posted here following each race. Remember we’re presenting podiums to the top 3 in each race immediately before the next race. So if you’re in the top 3, head to the podiums right after you’re done ripping legs off. The Pony Shop will be presenting awards to both Juniors categories.

– The CCC will be on Twitter all day… so feel free to follow us for up-to-the-minute updates.

– The CCC is supported by many, many amazing series sponsors who will personally be attending (and possibly racing) at Jackson Park. Make sure to swing by and say thank you for their generous support.

– Below is scheduled 2010 Jackson Park course brought to you by the twisted minds of xXx Racing (and the Bonebell.com). Please remember the map below is only an approximation as we may need to make adjustments on race day. Please note the course runs counter-clockwise (so bib #’s go on your left), the location of the 3 barrier sections (one is a double), registration, the starting chute, tent city, and most importantly the finish line. The wheel/bike pit is dual sided and currently right next to the finish line but may be moved to be more in the middle of the entire course (which is >1.9 miles in length). Please see  you friendly USAC official (and say thank you) for the actual location on Sunday.

– And finally… thanks to everyone for coming out and racing Cross! We knew this season had the potential to be even bigger and more importantly better than last year, but if the pre-reg numbers are any indication 2010 is going to be even more gihugimous than anything we could have imagined. So let’s race, cheer, heckle, and have a great time! See you Sunday!

– If you didn’t already notice, the Woodstock and Northbrook races have switched dates. Woodstock will now be on Sunday 11/7 and Northbrook will be on Sunday 11/21. If you pre-reg’d for Woodstock you are still entered in that event, but on the new date. Pre-reg for Northbrook will be opening on BikeReg.com soon.

– Thanks to all those who braved the 70 degree temps and slight breeze and came out to what we hope will be the first of many CCC Kick-Off parties at Iron Cycles. Everyone seemed to have a blast and we had a chance to unveiled something new for 2010. Big thanks to ThinkBig! and Goose Island for supplying the 312, and to Brandon and everyone at Iron Cycles for hosting the event.

– Don’t forget to vote for your favorite t-shirt design by this Saturday night (at midnight the voting poll turns into a pumpkin)!

– We’ve received a few questions concerning wait-lists for the Cat 4 races… here’s how it all goes down… 20 minutes prior to the start of each race category, sign-in for pre-registered riders will close. At that point, any unclaimed start spots will be given away in order of waitlist sign-up order to those waiting to race. Racers must be present at registration in order to be given a bib number.  If you are not there we’ll give the bib # to the next person waiting in line. We wish we could let everyone race, but we (and USAC) have limits to how many racers we can realistically allow on the course at one time. Starting last out of 100+ racers is no fun, even in the 4B’s.

– Our inbox has also been peppered with questions about how call-ups will be handled at Jackson Park. We will make call-ups for 10 pre-reg’d riders in each category, but the call-up order will NOT be based on order of pre-registration nor your place in last year’s overall standings. The fastest riders will have just as much of a chance to earn a call up as the slowest riders (assuming they are pre-reg’d). However, after the first ten spots everyone else is on their own, just like at any other CCC race.

– We’ve also received a few questions from riders new to the sport on which category to race in. Here’s a primer from last year, but always feel free to email us and ask. But please remember you must race within your category and age group. We check all licenses before races, so if you’re reg’d in the wrong race you will not be allowed to start.

– Why didn’t I get scored in the race? We and the USAC officials get this question all the time. So let’s start with the basics… we absolutely need everyone to pin their numbers correctly for each race. How do I know if my number is pinned on correctly? Funny you should ask! Imagine someone trying to read your number from the side of the race course… if your number is on the wrong side, on the top of your back, upside down, in your jersey pocket, folded into an origami crane, on your stomach (it happened at Jackson Park last year!), etc, etc, etc you will not be scored properly. The officials will attempt to identify those on the starting line that need to re-pin their numbers, but please be proactive and do it right the first time. Here’s an example of a wonderfully pinned number… and here’s one that should have been pinned lower on the rider’s side.

– New for 2010 the CCC institution that is Super Girl now has a sidekick and is please to announce The Sister Sprocket Flying Pig Award which will be awarded to the Cat 4B rider at every race who successfully manages to suppress fear, pain, and embarrassment and hurl his (or her) suffering sack of human clay through the chaos of his earthly existence to temporarily defy universal gravitation and take flight into a fleeting state of Grace. That’s the long way of saying the CCC’s newest icon Sister Sprocket will present a spirit award  in the shape of a flying pig to the most worthy 4B rider (not based on placings) on the CCC podiums as the last award of the day. Look for Sister Sprocket as she cheers on the 4A’s and 4B’s at each race.

– Look for a Jackson Park course preview on Thursday. There are already more riders pre-reg’d than last year!

– And finally… each promoter sets up their course in a certain way on purpose. The direction, contents, physical composition, and boundaries of each course are NOT subject to interpretation by anyone (racing or otherwise) during the day. You all were great about this last year, but just remember you cannot alter the course in any way, shape, or manner during the day. This includes adding water, sand, sticks, stones, and even the occasional golf ball… as well as removing or rearranging course markers, stakes, tape, sand, sticks, stones, and yes… even the occasional golf ball. Heckle Hill, Bacon Alley, small sand pits, and other famous specific course locations can always get a little nutty… but let’s please keep it safe, fun, and fair to everyone. Now’s let’s go race!

– P.S. Don’t forget WI has the ‘No Good Double Cross‘ on Saturday if you’re looking for a good pre-JP warm up… or a reason to snap a derailleur hanger right before the IL season officially starts. Also the Planet Bike Cup is the weekend after JP (and before Dekalb). We purposely do not hold a CCC race on this weekend so you all can see what a national level, UCI race is like. If you can go, even just to watch, we highly suggest it!

– The CCC Kick Off Party is this Saturday 9/11/10 at 4pm at Iron Cycles! If you’re on Facebook, please RSVP here. Music, food, drinks, and some special giveaways and deals will be waiting for you. Support the series sponsors as well as Team Iron Cycles sponsors and maybe get yourself some new race wheels or other schwag!

– More new series sponsors continue to pour in… please help us welcome two more!
– Carbo Rocket – Staying hydrated is key, especially when you start racing CX in August!
– Enzo’s Cycling Products – Keep your button happy.

– Just a friendly reminder that Cyclocross racing age is calculated as of 12/31/2011… not 12/31/2010 like on the road. For example, if someone was born November 13, 1996… as of today, that rider is 13. As of December 31, 2010 they are 14 but as of December 31, 2011 they are 15. So even though right now this rider is 13 years old, their cross age is 15. Juniors, please make sure you are racing in the correct age group! This rule also applies to the masters, but to their benefit since a 38/39 year old can race 40+ or a 48/49 year old can race 50+. Of course then you have to race against these guys. Good luck!

– Also for juniors… Paul Swinand’s “beginning cycling training” for CX starts this Friday in Evanston. Check out the Facebook page here.

– Concerning rules, guidelines, regulations, and such… now might be a good time to review the CCC overall series standings rules on the ‘Series Rules and FAQs‘ page. It is your responsibility to make sure you are signed up for the correct race, and as we mentioned a while back we’ll let you know if you really need to upgrade (especially out of the 4A’s or 4B’s), but don’t be afraid to send us an email if you are unsure. However, actual upgrades are handled by USAC (not the CCC).

– Pre-reg for all CCC races (except Northbrook… coming soon!) is now open on BikeReg.com. Jackson Park is already starting to fill up. While registering, please consider making a donation to World Bicycle Relief to help us reach our goal of donating $5,000 by the end of the series. That’s enough to purchase one nice new Blue Norcross SL for yourself… or 37 WBR bikes that will equip almost an entire school with simple, sustainable mobility. Think about it. Update: Planet Bike has just pledged $5k to WBR as well… let’s make sure we match our friends from Madison!

– Speaking of, pre-reg for Jingle Cross just over the border in Iowa Thanksgiving weekend is now open.

– Our friends up North in WI are putting their races on BikeReg.com as well. See all the WI reg pages here. Besides the USGP Planet Bike Cup there are 2 other races that sound fun at the No Good Double Cross which will have a working bar for those of legal age (and apparently if you race fast you win a prize) and the Cross the Domes (which The Pony Shop has $5 IL toll vouchers for).

– But if you’re heading up North on that Saturday just make sure to save some energy for our own CCC Hopkins Park/Dekalb race hosted by North Central Cyclery & Half Acre Cycling. Tobie at NCC and the good folks at Half Acre always host a great event, and rumor has it there will be a special surprise awaiting everyone who makes the trek out to Dekalb. Half Acre is also hosting a Women’s Cyclocross Clinic on Saturday 9/11/10 (the morning of the CCC Kick-Off party).

– A new CX racer pointed out that the old links to the VeloNews.com series of CX how-to videos was broken. Thankfully VN kept the videos and just moved them here. We found these videos invaluable when we first started out racing and hope you will too. Have a watch and then go practice in your local park.

– Ever wonder why your comments take a while to show up here on the CCC site? Become a registered user and your comments will be displayed almost immediately.

– And finally… Don’t forget about this year’s CCC t-shirt design contest. Entries are due this Thursday… so sharpen up your pencil’s and Photoshop skills.

– The CCC continues to be blessed with plenty of wonderful series sponsors. Please help us welcome the two most recent additions.
– Blue Competition Cycles – There was a need for a company that could design and build the same world class framesets that were capable of giving elite athlete a competitive advantage and offer those same, identical frames to the amateur athlete or serious enthusiast. That’s how Blue Competition Cycles got its start.
– Verdigris Custom Homes – “Old World Excellence, Modern Technology, Mindfully Green”

photo by Liz Farina Markel

– Well that was a lot of fun! xXx Racing put on another great event with the Relay CX race. There are too many to post here, but check out the pix and vids. Results are here. A quick video is here. A quick Google search finds even more.

– Online pre-reg is now open on BikeReg.com for all CCC races (except Carpentersville and Northbrook… they’ll be up soon). If you’d rather wait, bookmark this address for all CCC races on the calendar. While you’re pre-reg’ing, please consider making a donation to World Bicycle Relief. Last year the riders of the CCC donated over $3,400 to this worthy cause, but this year we’re challenging you to hit the $5,000 mark. Let’s see what you can do!

– Concerning call-ups at Jackson Park… they will have nothing to do with the order of pre-registration… but you must pre-reg to qualify. Got questions… well, you’ll just have to wait 3 weeks to find out!

– Don’t forget 2010 series t-shirt design submissions are due by Midnight Thursday September 9th (just make sure it says Chicago Cyclocross Cup somewhere in the design). Voting begins the next morning and ends the following week… just in time for Jackson Park. We’ve only received one design so far… so your chances are currently very good.

– We recently received a big ‘old box full of mellow, medium, and Uber Secret embrocation from our good friends and series sponsor Mad Alchemy. MAE creator and brewer Pete Smith wants us to be creative with awarding these goodies, so in the Category 4A races we’ll be introducing the Mad Alchemy “First Lap Hot Legs Sprints”… think criterium primes, but always on the first lap, and not at the finish line. We’ll announce sometime before the race (probably on the start line) where the sprint line will be, but you can expect it to probably be at the top of a run up, at the end of a sand-pit, or somewhere else fun and exciting. Don’t worry, we won’t make you stop and apply a layer… that is of course unless you’re into that sort of thing.

– Check out the upgrade the ICA webmaster recently made to www.IllinoisCycling.org… you can now find great pictures from last year’s series on the homepage. The webmaster also has a little picture project he needs help with. Check it out here or email him at [email protected] for details.

– And finally… Don’t forget about the CCC Kick Off Party on Saturday September 11 at 4pm at Iron Cycles (3136 West Montrose Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60618, 773-539-4766 ). We’ll get the shop to put up an event RSVP on their FaceBook page soon, but feel free to let us know if you’re going to attend.

– First up, this Sunday is the xXx Racing CX Relay race. Remember pre-reg (which closes at 11:45pm on Thursday) is always easier on everyone… so get yourself over to BikeReg.com. Also, be sure to read the xXx’s non-denominational race bible for all the specific rules that apply to this unique event. We know of a few Cat 4’s still looking for buddies to high five, so if you need a partner, email us or leave your request in the comments below.

– Before we get started racing however… let’s review a few rules of engagement. Yes, we’re all racing, yes many of us are aggressive, yes you will fall down, yes the officials might not get your placing correct, and yes tempers might flair here and there… but remember first and foremost we’re all out there to have some fun and enjoy each other’s company. So please smile, have a lot of fun, and enjoy this precious time we have together.

– For those of you who would rather not start off the season in your chamois… clear your calendars because we’re having a 2010 CCC kick-off party at Iron Cycles on Saturday September 11th. We’ll have some adult beverages (and stuff for the kiddies too) and food while we hang out and chat about the impending fun to come.

– Hello there… remember me? Details about the 2010 CCC series t-shirt contest will be posted later this week… so start getting your designs cleaned up. We’ll run the contest with similar rules as last year and the shirts will be printed and distributed by our good friends over at REKLAIM apparel. Check out last year’s submissions here.

– Speaking of orange… series sponsor Tati Cycles is running a promo for CCC racers at the shop. $500 for a pair of handbuilt tubular wheels and properly glued tires (Challenge Fango/Grifo/Grifo XSs). Tati loves the exotic stuff as much as anyone, but if you’re looking for some workaday hoops, basic=better!

– Someone asked us the other day what this year’s CCC theme would be. We didn’t have a good answer. Then later that night while starting up iTunes we realized the CCC did not yet have good theme music. We got a little PA for the start line this year (yes there are that many of you and no the bullhorn is not going away) where we can play some tunes at each race while you all go around in circles. We have plenty of music but not enough time to comb through it all… so we’re now accepting requests. In the comments below let us know what you’d like to hear, assuming you don’t have sand in your ears. As always, please keep it clean, we won’t play music with foul language.

– And finally… Many of you are racing cross for the first time this year… and many of you have been racing for a few years… but have you ever wondered what the CCC looked like waaaay back when it started in 2004? Original series promoter Joe Doyle reminds us of our humble beginnings here when there were only 4 races on the calendar, categories were letters, juniors paid to race, Jason Meshberg & Joel Feinberg actually raced, and there apparently were no cowbells or bacon.

Final round up of series sponsors. If you’d still like to be involved we always have room for one more, but please hurry!

– Iron Cycles – We at the CCC are pleased to announce our first ever series Title Sponsor. Brandon and the folks over at Iron Cycles have stepped up in a major way to sponsor the entire series from start to finish and the CCC is excited to be partnering with yet another great local bike shop. Follow Iron Cycles on Facebook, their blog, stop by their tent at any CCC race, or swing by the shop itself at 3134-3136 W. Montrose Ave Chicago, IL 60618 and say hello.
– RoadID – The name says ‘Road’, but the IDs still works on grass, dirt, and sand.
– SockGuy – Keeping your tootsies stylish and comfy.
– Verizon Cycling Team – Young guys, old guys, it doesn’t matter… the Verizon squad rips legs off at will, and then tweet about it on “the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless network.”
– REKLAIM Apparel – Organic, Repurposed, Upcycled clothing and gear.
– BikeReg.com –  Simple, easy online bicycle race registration. You can register for all 12 CCC races on BikeReg.com… just add this address to your favorites and look for the CCC logo.

– Some of our race promoters have been working ultra hard to secure extra merchandise and product above and beyond the standard CCC payout for their races. However, they don’t want to hold on to this stuff forever, and we don’t want it in the trunks of our cars. So make sure to check the flyers for each race because you (or a designated  teammate) must be present to win. Otherwise your winnings will be offered as handups at the next race.

– In thinking about what we missed in last year’s CCC one thought kept popping up in our minds…  all of you were working overtime for your placings but we at the CCC didn’t recognize those achievement until later that evening online. So this year we’re making it a priority to hold podium presentations for the top 3 finishers immediately after each race. If you finish in the top 3 in your race, don’t go to your car, don’t head to the beer tent, don’t go kiss your girlfriend, definitely don’t go kiss someone else’s girlfriend (unless they’re into that sort of thing), don’t go eat dear jerky, and don’t jump in the back of the Cuttin’ Cruiser to… well, whatever it is they do in the back of the Cuttin’ Cruiser. Don’t worry, in colder months we’ll have something to keep you warm. Please head immediately to the podiums (probably somewhere near the start/finish line… you’ll see them) where you can bask in the glory of all your admirers and stand on a step. We won’t start the next race until the podiums are done from the prior race… so please help us stay on schedule.

– We know almost all of you race every weekend anyway, and most categories are decided in the last one or two races, plus we’re not sure why you wouldn’t want to race all 12 races anyway… but just in case, we’re making a slight change to the series rules for 2010. Starting this year you must race at least half of the series (6 races) to win the overall.

– CX Clinic with Jeremy Powers and Randy Warren was a hit this past Sunday. The weather might have been completely un-cross-like, but a few lucky souls got to learn from the best. Check out the photos below from the morning session and more from Liz Farina Markel at Tipping Point here.

– We know you keep looking for it, and registration for Jackson Park (and all other races) will open soon on BikeReg. We’ll post here and on our twitter feed as soon as it is.

– Registration is however already open for the xXx Racing Relay Race. We know of several people looking for partners, so if you’re looking for a buddy too let everyone know in the comments below.

– And finally… The weather seems to almost be turning to Autumn and everyone is itching to get racing. We may have heard of a few CX practice that may have started popping up around town where people may have been riding on grass, dirt, etc, etc. Please remember that if you are using public spaces to respect everyone and everything out there… other people (yes, even those people on rollerblades) have just as much right to use our public parks as we do. So be kind, say hello and wave. You never know… you just might introduce someone new to CX!

– More new Series Sponsors!
– Avid – A division of locally headquartered SRAM Corporation… new this year Shorty Ultimate brakes!
– Rapid Transit Cycleshop – Bikes, service, and a fleet of Kona’s in Wicker Park/Bucktown.
– Spin Doctor Cyclewerks – Bikes and service in Bartett… home of the original “Heckle Hill”
– Tati Cycles – One offs, customs, rare vintages… if you can’t find it anywhere else, Tati has it in stock, today. Tati is also starting up a junior CX team.

– There’s still time and space to register for this Sunday’s IIT Cyclocross Clinic with Jeremy Powers & Randy Warren. We’ll be there to pick up a few tips ourselves and look forward to seeing everyone.

– If you are switching teams for the CX season or looking for an upgrade make sure to get that process started soon. License upgrades and team names are handled through USA Cycling on your ‘My USA Cycling’ page. But make sure to update your BikeReg profile as well.

– Registration for CCC races will be opening up soon on BikeReg. Look for updates here and on our Twitter feed. Remember you can always see who’s pre-reg’d for each race by checking out the ‘Confirmed Riders’ link on each race’s reg page. Like last year we’ll call up the top 10 riders in each category before the start of each race. We know you’re probably wondering, “How will you do this at Jackson Park since its the first race of the series?” You’ll have to wait and see, but we’ll have a special call up procedure on September 19th based on who pre registers.

– Speaking of… look who’s matched up together at the xXx Racing Relay Race. We aren’t betting people, but if we were, we’d be looking for Cat 1/2/3 state champ Scott McLaughlin and Mike Hemme of  the composite team SRAM/Courage to set a blistering pace at the front of the Cat 1/2/3 field. Are you looking for a buddy to high five? Post your request in the comments section below and we’ll see if we can play match-maker.

– For those of you recovering roadies that slipped and found yourselves on the sidelines at the Grayslake Cycling Classic this past Saturday, you were treated to a show during the kids races just before the P/1/2 race. Below we see 6 year old Peter Swinand giving his best Cavendish post-up impression at the end of the 5-6 year old category. We can’t wait until he’s old enough to race in the CCC… but in the meantime Peter’s dad Paul will be hosting kids cyclocross introductions/training on Friday evenings in September in Evanston.  If you’re interested in getting your kids hooked on CX too, check out the Facebook site “beginning cycling“ or contact Paul here.

Photo by Andrew Rizzo

–  The US Gran Prix of Cyclocross has a new video. Check it out here. Registration for the Planet Bike Cup in Sun Prairie, WI is open NOW!

– And finally… racers always ask us lots of questions before, during, and after races. Things like “What tire pressure should I run?”, “What side does my number go on?”, Where’s the start line?”, “How much further?”, and “How much embro should I apply directly to my chamois?”. Note… DO NOT put embro anywhere near your chamois! But we here at the CCC have a few nagging questions of our own that have been stewing in the backs of our minds for a while now… things like:
– Will Flannel Mike where spandex this year?
– Can anyone challenge The Pony Shop juggernaut in the team competition?
– Can anyone pry the Cat 1/2/3 cowbell from Scott McLaughlin‘s hands?
– Does Wayne Simon really have small motors inside his bike?
– If gravel is the new dirt, and white is the new black, then what will the new bacon be?

We can’t wait to find out the answers this year (okay we already knew Wayne had motors surgically implanted in his legs long ago) and we hope you’ll help us… in just 4 weeks!

– Lots of news on the series sponsor front. Please help us welcome the following companies/organizations below to the CCC family. Remember, if you’d like to join in too, please let us know by August 15th.

– EJ’s Place in Skokie – Juniors race free (again) thanks to EJ’s!
– Psimet Wheels – Custom handbuilt wheels.
– MOX Multisport – Bikes and more in downtown Chicago… with Mox Appeal.
– Van Wagner – For all your outdoor advertising needs… did someone say another CCC Billboard?
– Tipping Point Photography – ChiCross Photo Collective co-founder Liz Farina Markel takes pictures of things besides bikes too.

– Online registration is now open for the Sunday August 29th xXx Racing Relay Cross race here. Find info on xXx’s site here including the very important  race bible/tech guide. Make sure to take note of the specifics of the “high-five” rule, and that there will be LeMans style starts for each race. Many of the same categories as normal CCC races will be run, but the schedule is a bit different with the Cat 4’s race in the middle day, and what looks to be the main event, the Coed Open, finishing out the afternoon. And while this isn’t an official CCC race (so there are no series points), we’ll just go ahead and consider this the official kick off to the Chicagoland CX season. Get your cowbells and luchador masks ready… this one promises to be a wild event!

– Online registration is also open for the Sunday August 15th IIT Cyclocross Clinic with Jeremy Powers & Randy Warren. Jeremy and Randy have years and years of proven CX experience… and even better know how to transfer that accumulated knowledge to you. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from two of the best. Rumor also has it that Adam Myerson will be in town and might be convinced to stop by for a little bit. Make sure to send Adam a note on twitter at @adammyerson to let him know how much we’d all like him to be there!

– There’s a new CX race up North on Saturday September 18th, the day before the Jackson Park CCC race. See the WCA schedule here. From promoter Ron Knaflic: “Saddle up, CXers as Lake Country Endurance brings you a new venue this year. After 13 years of Lapham Peak we are moving to a new pasture. We present to you The No Good Double Cross. Set in a mock Old West town, the course has sand, gravel, billy goats and features a stair runup to the a hilltop Chapel that will have you praying for one less lap. We at LCE are raising the bar this year, literally! The Jack*^# Saloon will be open, air conditioned and serving (legally of course) as well as the venue for awards. If that was not enough to get your spurs shined up, we will also be trying something new this year. Each race will feature a 2nd Lap Prime. Cash or prizes to be determined. Donations accepted. To see the town go to www.kettlemoraineranch.com”

– And finally… apparently we were wrong and no one is getting ready for CX season… which is a crying shame because we were really looking forward to another great season. Lucky for us, rumor has it Andrew Zens (of CBR fame) will be racing for bacon in the 4B’s. However, if you’ve ever seen Andrew near Pratt and Ridge after the Wednesday night MidWeekeGem then you know Andrew might be looking for something besides bacon during the carnival. Will this be your first season racing CX? We’d love to hear from you and what you’re doing to get ready. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.