• Aaaaaand… we’re back!
• We’ve had a bunch of updates to the event calendar, see everything on the Schedule page.
• Pre-reg for all CCC series events will again be hosted on BikeReg.com. Pre-reg for most events will open at 10am on Monday 9/5/16 with LaBagh Woods opening up Monday 8/22/16.
• xXx Racing is back with their Relay CX on Sunday 8/28/16 in Jackson Park. This year there will be yet another category, the Relay Roulette, which will serve as a fundraiser for a local area cycling charity/cause of the winners’ choice. Find more details here.
• Half Acre’s CX Eliminator will be on Saturday 9/10.
• The CCC’s first race of the series will again be hosted by xXx Racing and held in LaBagh Woods on Sunday 9/11/16. Due to Jingle Cross and the Trek CXC Cup changing dates, xXx Racing moved LaBagh Woods earlier on calendar so more Chicagoland racers could experience those larger races.
• A quick note from our neighbors across Lake Michigan… Looking to get your ‘cx season started off a bit early with a quick road trip to Michigan? Check out the Snap Fitness Alma Grand Prix of Cyclocross & 5k in Alma, Michigan (about a 4-ish hour drive from Chicago) for some good early season fun. The race website is AlmaGP.blogspot.com and pre-registration is available through USA Cycling. Camping on site Friday night, as well as an early number pick up option at Snap Fitness in town. Swag coming out of your ears!
• And as if that was enough CX in September for you… xXx Racing is Bringing the Sven’s to Chicago for a CX clinic. Check out all the details here.
• Interested in being a 2016 Series Sponsor? Please review our 2016 Series Sponsorship Proposal here and get back to us ASAP.
• And finally… did you notice we spruced up the place? Thanks to the guys at Bark Design for freshening up our website and logo.

• Thanks a wrap… official CX racing is all done here in Chicagoland.
• Thanks to the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew for winding us down after a long  CX season with another great Afterglow. Results will be here. MORE

• This Saturday the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew hosts Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race… now with #INSANEDEOMNIUM2015!!!
• Then on Sunday its the 2015 CCC Awards Party, we’re not going to make up some silly story that tickets are selling fast, there’s plenty of room, but please help us and EJ’s Place plan for how much food to make. Winners get their cowbells… and everyone gets something. Come join the fun.
• With the winding down of the CX season here in Chicago the CCC will crawl into its den evile lair and updates here on the site will be few and far between until summer 2016. Have great winter and ride safely as much as you can. Given the trend in competition over the last few years we expect 2016 to be another fast CX season.
• Want to keep in shape over the holiday and race your CX bike in January??? Well luckily for you USA Cycling is having CX National Championships in Asheville, NC January 5-10. Good luck to everyone traveling and racing!
• And finally… thanks again to everyone who made a series donation this year. With donated entry fees from Melas CX the CCC will make just North of a $2,100 donation to each of our three causes… West Town Bikes, Blackstone Bicycle Works, and Big Marsh. THANK YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Photo: Tipping Point Photography

• That was another fun Montrose Harbor and Illinois State CX Championship. Many, many thanks again to Ten27 Bicycle Club and Spidermonkey Cycling for making the event happen and to everyone, and we mean everyone who came out to make the day special. All results are online in the normal places.
• Its been another fun, exciting, and action packed CCC series with plenty of twists and turns (literally and figuratively), but we had a ton of fun and we hope you all did too. Someone pointed out to us on Sunday that every race this season (except the cancelled Melas CX) was above 45 degrees at some point in the day and we had no rainy/muddy races. Thanks el Nino! As we’ve said in the past, its the racers and community that makes a race, not the weather or even the course itself. So we are very thankful for everyone who participates in the CCC, on both sides of the tape, and look forward to hanging out with you all again next year.
• Speaking of results, congratulations to the 2015 Illinois State CX Champions (roughly in the order they were awarded, i.e. the CCC race day schedule)
  • Masters 35+ – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Masters 45+ – Michael Naughton (Unattached)
  • Masters 55+ – Gregory Anderson (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Masters 65+ – Albert Weigel (Verdigris-Village CX)
  • Single Speed – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Unofficial Women Single Speed – Daphne Karagianis (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Junior Women 17-18 – Audrey Ernst (EGO p/b Sammy’s Bikes)
  • Junior Men 17-18 – Juan Gonzalez (Heritage Race Club)
  • Junior Women 15-16 – Ella Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Junior Men 15-16 – Juan Gonzalez (Heritage Race Club)
  • Women Cat 4 – Amelia Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Junior Women 13-14 – Brianna Urban (ABD Cycling Club)
  • Junior Men 13-14 – Evert Lindberg (The Pony Shop)
  • Junior Women 9-12 – Ellie Hosey (UPB Cycling)
  • Junior Men 9-12 – Bennett Lindberg (The Pony Shop)
  • Cat 3 – Stephen Parkes (Comrade Cycles Racing)
  • Women Cat 1/2/3 – Maria Larkin (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Women Cat 3 – Amelia Moore (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Cat 1/2/3 – Brandon Feehery (Unattached)
  • Cat 4 – Benjamin Schlarman (Unattached)
• And since this is the website for the CCC series, the 2015 Chicago Cyclocross Cup overall winners:
  • Team Competition – The Pony Shop
  • Masters 35+ – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Masters 45+ – Danny Warner (Verdigris-Village CX)
  • Masters 55+ – Gregory Anderson (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Masters 65+ – Albert Weigel (Verdigris-Village CX)
  • Single Speed – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Junior Women 15-18 – Ella Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin Crew)
  • Junior Men 15-18 – Juan Gonzalez (Heritage Race Club)
  • Women Cat 4 – Amelia Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Junior Women 9-14 – Brianna Urban (ABD Cycling Club)
  • Junior Men 9-14 – Jonathan Costin (The Pony Shop)
  • Cat 3 – Kevin Hathaway (Unattached)
  • Women Cat 1/2/3 – Maria Larkin (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Women Cat 3 – Amelia Moore (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Cat 1/2/3 – David Reyes (Heritage Race Club)
  • Cat 4 – Mitchell Dutczak (The Pony Shop)
• That does it for the CCC series, but there’s one more officially sanctioned (i.e. legit) CX race here in Chicagoland before the winter truly sets in… Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race hosted by the other CCC (Chicago Cuttin Crew) on Saturday 12/19/2015 in Douglas Park. Come race, stop holding grudges, and do some good with all proceeds going towards Chicago area youth cycling programs.
• Then the next day the CCC officially, officially comes to an end with the 2015 CCC Awards Party. Come raise a glass and leave with some swag. Seriously, everyone gets at least something.
• Attention Chicago Cyclocross Cup Ladies! Sad to see the season come to an end? Interested in keeping connected with your competition friends? Come out for some leg burning, lung bursting, and sweat freezing on your face good ole’ fashioned outdoor fun on January 24th for a stair climbing challenge at Swallow Cliff stairs. We will run stairs and then regroup at Imperial Oaks Brewery for some more socializing. Wait! There’s more….Ultimate Pro Bikes along with other racers/teams are donating great items for a raffle. T-shirts, hats, fitness classes at INTENT, foam roller, art work and more! Start time 11:10 am at the Swallow Cliff stairs in Palos Heights. Meet at the base of the stairs. Imperial Oaks start time: 12:55 pm. Questions? Contact [email protected] Stay tuned for more details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1672778696328212/
• In other news, the Illinois Cycling Association (ICA) has a new website… check it out.
• And finally… speaking of legit, setting goals, working hard, believing in yourself, and holding no one but yourself responsible for your own success… and having it pay off big time, we’d like to give a hearty congratulations to Anthony Clark of Squid Bikes and Psimet sponsored rider for taking his first UCI win on Sunday and earning the VERGE NECXS elite overall title. Way to go Anthony!

Photo: Tipping Point Photography

• CX racing everywhere over weekend… IL, WI, PA, etc, etc, etc…
• CCC series racing kicks off this coming weekend at Caldwell Woods. More info on Thursday in the course preview, but in the meantime, please review the #CaldwellCX preview page… and while you’re at it, take another look at the CCC series rules. Remember you are NOT allowed to race outside your USAC CX category, and yes we check… everyone, so please don’t make us have to write that email.
• But before our local racing starts up, top riders from around the world (okay, really just the US and Europe) descend on Fabulous Las Vegas for Cross Vegas on Wednesday night, which is the first ever CX World Cup event to take place on US soil.
• Back closer to home, and in a few weeks… The Cuttin’ Crew is at it again and organizing a Junior Girls and Women’s Cat 3/4 CX clinic at the Trek CX Cup just outside Madison, WI on Friday 10/9/2015. Details are here and registration is free, but limited to 20 riders.
• One more series sponsor (re)joined the circle of trust this week. The CCC is happy to welcome back Nuun (pronounced Noon) the first company to separate electrolyte replacement from carbohydrates. Before Nuun, if you wanted electrolytes, the result was a bottle full of sugar. With Nuun’s simple, self-dissolving, sugar-free electrolyte tab, sports drinks are revolutionized forever.
• Tomorrow!!! Looks for Rob Kelley and Training Bible Coaching back with another season of Coach’s Corner.
• And finally… it seems we have to remind at least a few of people every year at this time the difference between heckling and just being a jerk. Let’s be clear… don’t be a jerk. If you need a refresher, see the CCC’s guidelines, Psimet’s post, or Ryan Kelly’s words of wisdom. Its totally cool if you and your friends call each other POS’s in private, but when you’re out in public, where young kids and people not familiar with CX are present, doing so makes you look obnoxious at best and the rest of us like fools at worst. We’re not saying don’t heckle. But when the best you can do is “You suck!” or some variant, do us all a favor and just don’t say anything at all. Instead, ring your cowbell haarder and come back next week when you have something more creative, funny, supportive, funny, crowd pleasing, or yes… actually funny to say. So in short, more cheer and less jeer. K? great… let’s have a lot of fun and race our faces off this season!

• The Illinois Cycling Association is holding Board Elections, developing a new ICA Website, and making a call for officials! Amateur cycling races in Illinois don’t just happen by themselves and the ICA and USAC need help to make them happen. Please seriously consider getting involved if you want to see cycling races continue to flourish and grow here in Illinois.
• This coming weekend is the last weekend before CCC series racing starts up, so make all those last minute adjustments, dial in your nutrition, and get ready for another great season.
• If you’re looking to get started early and in for a road trip, this coming weekend, former Chicago resident Brian Parker checks in to let us know… “The KISS Cross series opener is this Saturday 9/12/15 at Lakeside Park in Caledonia, MI.  Sponsored by Gap30 Cycles and Founders Racing. $20 old school Cyclocross racing, no license required, $10 second race if you want to double up. A, B, and, C categories, with Masters and kids races. Races start at 11:00am (10:00 CST) so you don’t even have to wake up super early to make it. A keg of Founders (beer) will be on hand for thirsty racers, and the grill will be cooking up some brats and dogs for after the race. Course design by former Jackson Park race director and The Bonebell rider, now full time Michigander, Brian Parker.”
• A little closer to Chicago, race promoter and ICA Member at Large Karl Crapse tells us… “There is a great Cx race this Sunday (9/13/15), only 1.5 hours south of Chicago at Patriot CX. The course is nothing like you might expect in the downstate corn fields. The course goes around a good size pond in Heritage Lake Park, Rantoul. We have steep hill repeats on the dam, a lot of off camber turns, a long straight with logs to bunny hop, barriers, sand pit, a DJ and more. Also beer is allowed. Grab a friend or 2, car pool down, gas is cheaper than it has been for a long time. We also have enough categories that most should be able to do 2 or more races. All profits go to a local Rails to Trails project.” https://www.bikereg.com/patriot-cx
• CX racing also begins this weekend in Wisconsin. Note the WCA has split their schedule into 2 categories; Super Cup and BRO (Bragging Rights Only).
• And finally… Just in under the wire the CCC has another new series sponsor in Mark Niemiec – State Farm Agent – Mark shares a similar view in that he wants to be there for his customers not only NOW but into the FUTURE. He goes the extra mile to make his customers’ experience with State Farm an exceptional one and one that can last a lifetime.

• Hey everyone, its September… so series CX racing is right around the corner. As of right now pre-reg for all CCC series events is open on BikeReg. Remember to have your USAC annual license number in your rider profile or you will be automatically charged $15 for a One Day license. Also, if you are trying to reg for a category you aren’t allowed to race in you’ll need to write in a reason before pre-reg’ing.
• If you’re reading this on the Internet and not through an RSS reader, you’ve probably noticed the CCC site has a new look. We have lots of fantastic photographers and figured since everyone is riding carbon bikes with disc brakes, one-by drivetrains, and electronic shifting that it was time for a site upgrade as well. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Don’t worry, you can still leave all the comments you want and all the historical content is still available. At the very bottom of the page either click the ‘Older posts’ link, use the ‘Search’ box, or use the ‘Archives’ drop down.
• Calling all sponsors, if you want to be a 2015 CCC Series Sponsor we need to know by 5pm today, at least if you want your logo or name on the t-shirts. Contact us at [email protected]
• Speaking of sponsors, we had a few companies officially join the CCC family this year.

– From the mind(s) behind the first and second ever CX billboards a new venture is lighting up, quite literally, the Chicagoland landscape.

– Ultimate Pro Bikes is a full service shop located in Countryside, nearby Palos Forest Preserve where most of us have spent at least a few hours climbing hills or shredding trails.

• And for those of you keeping track at home, nearly all of last year’s sponsors have returned in one form or another.
• And finally… for all you slacker patient riders who have been holding off to purchase or renew your USAC annual license, USAC has a special offer for the 2015 and 2016 season.  So now you really have no excuse not to own an annual license.

#CXRelay CoEd Open Podium – Photo Tyler George

• Looks like everyone had a great time at the CX Relay. Thanks to xXx Racing-Atheltico for hosting another fun event. Results are here, but fear not, these results will NOT count towards your CrossResults.com ranking.
• Speaking of CrossResults (CXR) since move people are now looking at this website, please review the updated staging protocol we posted back in July. Lots of other good details in that post as well. We’ll have the Series Rules and FAQ page updated soon, but one important thing to remember is you must pre-reg to be staged by CXR ranking, otherwise you’re in the back.
• Speaking of pre-reg’ing… all 11 events in the 2015 CCC schedule are now up on BikeReg.com. Take a look any and bookmark the page, pre-reg will open at 9am CST on Tuesday 9/1/15.
• The crew at BikeReg has been busy adding new feature to their site, many of which are transparent to you as riders, but are very helpful to us as event organizers. Three of which are:
  • Category Restrictions – All CCC races are USAC sanctioned which means you are not allowed to ride outside your CX category. If you try reg’ing for a category you’re not supposed to BikeReg will warn you and you’ll have to supply a reason before being allowed to reg. If you ave a legitimate reason (upgrading, license is messed up) that’s cool. But remember we also double-check all the reg data before each race so let’s be reasonable adults. Also, BikeReg matches your annual license to the USAC database, so make sure you have renewed (do it now!) before attempting to reg.
  • One Day Licenses – Speaking of licenses, if you are reg’ing for a Category where you can actually race on a One Day license (any Cat 5 men or Cat 4 women race) and if you do NOT have an annual USAC license, BikeReg will automatically charge you $15 to be applied to a USAC One Day license. So if you have an annual license… get it in your BikeReg rider profile now!
• And finally… the CCC wants to wrap up our 2015 series sponsor drive so we can get to racing. If you still want to be a 2015 series sponsor, please review our 2015 sponsor proposal and email us ASAP at [email protected]. We are closing the sponsorship window, at least if you want your name on the 2015 Series t-shirts, on Tuesday 9/1/15.

– 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.”

Photo: The Bonebell

– It looks and sounds like everyone had a good time at MWRCXC and a few Chicagoland CCC’ers even hit the podium (of course) before hitting the beer garden (of course). Congratulations to everyone who traveled and raced. Results are not yet online.

– We’re not done racing here in Chicago though… Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race is this Saturday in Douglas Park hosted by the cool kids at the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew. Prepare yourselves for the INSANEDEMONIUM 2014! Online pre-reg closes Thursday night on BikeReg.com.

– Then on Sunday we wrap it all up (quite literally) at the 2014 CCC Awards Party at EJ’s place in Skokie. Everyone is invited to attend but please purchase your tickets ahead of time so we know how many people to expect. And given the prize donations that have been coming in from The Pony Shop, SRAM, Sheila Moon, ABUS, Yojimbo’s, SmartBikeParts, Spin Doctors, Spy, Main Street Bikes, and Red Writing we’re pretty sure everyone will go home with something.

– And finally… Waaay back in August we announced Junior racers would have to pay entry fees but (if they qualified) could request an entry fee reimbursement at the end of the season. We will obviously still honor those requests but a very generous and forward thinking “cutting” edge parent asked if they could donate their child’s reimbursement to the West Town and Blackstone youth programs, which we are more than happy to do. Then the Pony Shop caught wind of the idea and their entire junior team donated their reimbursements to West Town and Blackstone… even before winning the Afterglow awesomeness award. So juniors and your parents, please contact us at ChicagoCrossCup at gmail this week to let us know how you would like your reimbursement handled. Thanks and Happy Holidays!