– The Afterglow team has scored a brand new location–Douglas Park Golf Course! When registering to race, please consider donating those extra dollars you’re saving on the cheaper reg to the wonderful people at Blackstone Bicycle Works right from the registration page. Look for all the Blackstone kids (along with our friends West Town Bikes!) in the Juniors and 4s, and cheer them on! Intelligentsia will also have that coffee you’ll need for your second race for sale to help support West Town Bikes. Registration closes tonight.

– Continuing the theme of giving, Greater Chicago Food Depository has paired with the team on a food drive at the event–everyone who brings a non-perishable food item gets a coveted CALLUP. And if that’s not enough motivation to lend a hand to the needy during this holiday season, a Team Competition is in place–the team that brings in the most amount of food BY WEIGHT wins a fabulous item to impress your friends for an entire year! Sign up for the team competition here. You have until Friday at 4pm to register for the team competition (but we will of course accept day-of donations!). The award will be given out after the Cat 4/FatBikes/Etc race. UPDATE: Please see RpbL for more information about the food drive.

– If you’re coming in from somewhere that doesn’t have easy public transportation (hint),  figure out your parking strategy now! There will be parking along S Thompson Drive (leading toward the fieldhouse). Please leave the fieldhouse parking lot for volunteers and park patrons, as we aren’t the only ones at the park on Saturday. There’s also parking along Inner Ogden Drive.

– Congratulations to all the CCC’ers who raced up North at Badger Cross and down South at Miller Chill CX. Looks like some very solid results going into the end of the year.

– Up next, CX racing returns to Chicago with the Afterglow on SATURDAY. The Afterglow team has scored a brand new location—Douglas Park Golf Course! When registering to race, please consider donating those extra dollars you’re saving on the cheaper reg to the wonderful people at Blackstone Bicycle Works right from the registration page. Look for all the Blackstone kids (along with our friends West Town Bikes!) in the Juniors and 4s, and cheer them on! Intelligentsia will also have that coffee you’ll need for your second race for sale to help support West Town Bikes. Registration will be open until Thursday night at 11:59PM. More details here.

– Speaking of coffee, ROBOTS <3+Comrade Cycles+Just Coffee Co collabo CYCLOCROAST will be around to drink and maybe to buy if we can work it out to purchase.

– Continuing the theme of giving, Greater Chicago Food Depository has paired with the team on a food drive at the event–everyone who brings a non-perishable food item gets a coveted CALLUP. And if that’s not enough motivation to lend a hand to the needy during this holiday season, a Team Competition is in place–the team that brings in the most amount of food BY WEIGHT wins a fabulous item to impress your friends for an entire year! Sign up for the team competition here. You have until Friday at 4pm to register for the team competition (but we will of course accept day-of donations!). The award will be given out after the Cat 4/FatBikes/Etc race. UPDATE: Please see RpbL for more information about the food drive.

– Check back Thursday morning for the course preview, including details on an epic REMATCH.

– If you have any money left for Christmas presents after all of that the CCC merch page is still open and we can deliver to you at Afterglow or via USPS before 12/25.

– On SUNDAY (12/16) the CCC hosts its annual End of the Season Awards Party at EJ’s Place in Skokie at noon. Please pre-purchase your tickets here. The coveted CCC series winner cowbells will be awarded to the overall winners, our season long donation will be made to WBR, we’ll have a bunch of fantastical door prizes, and of course the world famous Lost & Found grab.

– Need more CX racing? The CCC’s New Years Resolution is at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort 1/5/13 and 1/6/13. See the NYR page and help us finish off the season right. We still need volunteers. Help out and race for really cheap free.

– Then USA Cycling’s CX National Championships in Verona, WI on 1/10/13 – 1/13/13 (nearly the same course as Badger CX but entry fees increase tonight at 11pm). Andden Masters World Championships and World Championships on 2/2/13 – 2/3/13 in Bourbonland (i.e. Louisville,KY).

– And finally… winter time means its cold and dark here in Chicago, but that’s not always so bad.

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last month, Verdigris-Village CX junior David Lombardo has been tearing up the local scene (2nd by a tyre width at Montrose Harbor) and is on his way to Euro Cross Camp over the Christmas holiday. Donations are being accepted until 12/15 to help pay for the trip. David has been racing for years in the CCC, first as a junior, and now with the big boys in the Cat 1/2/3 race and we couldn’t be more excited for one of our home grown speedsters to show the rest of the country (and world) what the CCC is made of. David’s parents and especially his father Chris (who is no slouch on the CX bike either) are equally excited and wanted to share the following note with everyone in the CCC Community…

Dear CCCer’s, Chicagoans, and all who have reached out from surrounding communities and beyond,
We would like to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for your support and generosity! David has worked hard, sacrificed, but most of all grown in this community and been shaped by it. Thank you for all the kind words about David, and while we may have had something to do with that, he’s spent a lot of time with all of you too. Thank you for making our job easier. Your positive outgoing attitudes, sense of community, leadership, guidance, and plain good old fashioned friendliness, well who wouldn’t want their son around that. If it couldn’t get any better than that it does. Having one the best cyclocross series in the country, The ChiCrossCup in our own back yard certainly made a difference, what a gift. You all are deeply imbedded in David’s accomplishments.

Thank you again for helping make one of David’s dream’s Euro Cross Camp a reality. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Sincerely,
Chris & Tammy Lombardo

Photo: Luke Seemann

– One more to go! Ten27 Cycles once again hosts the last stop in the 2012 Chicago Cyclocross Cup… which just happens to also be the Illinois State CX Championships at Montrose Harbor. You all have been racing all season long with plenty of ups, downs, highs, lows, podiums, crashes, and heckles and we’ve finally made it to the finalé. We at the CCC and Ten27 again ask everyone to bundle up, bring your cowbells and cameras, and make a day out of Montrose… which means the Cat 4’s should show up early and heckle the 40+ field, and the Masters should stick around and cheer on the Cat 4’s. Lots to review below, so buckle up…

– Registration: We’ll be running reg the same way as every other CCC race. Please allow all 40+ racers to reg first since they have to get ready first. Several fields are already full but we’ll run wait lists starting Sunday morning. Combined categories have a combined field limit of 100 so once No-Shows are removed its first come, first served until we hit the 100 rider limit. As of this morning there are >625 of you pre-reg’d (we AND Ten27 thank you!), which is already more than last year. Online pre-reg closes tonight at midnight… so if you’re not yet reg’d, do everyone (yourself included) a favor and reg now!

– Staging: Since we know down and mid-state IL riders can’t make it up to Chicago every weekend but may still be racing CX outside of Chicagoland, staging at Montrose will incorporate CrossResults.com points for those riders (especially from downstate, but even out of state) without CCC series points. Riders with OUT CCC series points in a category but better (lower) CrossResults.com points will be staged ahead of riders WITH CCC series points in that category and worse (high) CrossResults.com points. Riders in the CCC overall who have better CrossResults.com standings than other riders in the CCC overall will NOT move up in position… you keep your overall CCC position. Also if you have raced in a category but not earned CCC series points (yes, we’ve been keeping track) you will NOT be moved up if your CXR points are better. See the procedure here.

– Preliminary staging will be posted here tomorrow (after pre-reg closes).

– State Champion Requirements: The CCC along with Ten27 and the ICA will be presenting 13 14 CX State Champion Jerseys (on the podiums) to the first IL rider to cross the finish line in every category (excluding the 4B’s). This means Juniors 15-18 AND Juniors 10-14… boys AND girls. Remember that in order to win the state championship you must be a permanent Illinois resident (we’ll be checking ID’s), a US citizen or permanent resident, and hold a valid and unsuspended 2012 USAC annual license before the start of the race (yes, we’re looking at you Cat 4’s). There must also be a full podium of IL riders (that means 3) to win the state jersey. This should not be a problem in any category.

– Speaking of… as of Saturday (12/1/12) you can start renewing your annual USAC license. Annual licenses purchased on or after 12/1/12 are good until 12/31/2013. We highly suggest renewing/purchasing your license online at USACycling.org as this is the easiest (for everyone) and most efficient method, especially if you plan to race with us at the New Year’s Resolution race.

– Podiums presentations for each race (top 3 overall in the race) AND and for the IL state championship (top 3 IL riders in the race) will occur immediately after each race finish… so pay attention after your race, we may be calling your name! The two exceptions will be for the W123/Master50+/60+/Single Speeds podiums at 12:15 pm and the Women 4 and Juniors races when the podiums will be awarded at 2 pm.

– Ten27 Cycles has secured several additional prizes beyond championship jerseys and the 2012 CCC minimum payouts thanks to their generous sponsors:

• EJ’s Place: the North Shore’s premiere supper club since 1997 with a menu of prime aged steaks and chops, pristine seafood, and traditional Italian specialties, presented by a mature and experienced wait staff.  E.J.’s Place is located on Skokie Blvd., just north of the Old Orchard shopping mall.
• Chicago Chiropractic and Sports Medicine: where they specialize in helping athletes and active individuals achieve optimal performance in sports, as well as body balance for every day activities through chiropractic care, Active Release Techniques® (ART), Rolfing, education, and exercises.
• Team Kenda presented by RACC (Racers Against Childhood Cancer): supports a strong US Domestic Elite Team with a mission to build the sport of women’s cycling by developing Junior, U-23 and Collegiate riders through their regional programs in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Western United States.
• Ten27 Cycles: located in on Davis Street in downtown Evanston, is conducting a going-out-of-business sale with really good deals now on the bikes, tires, shoes, and parts you’ll need for the 2013 season.
• Wheel and Sprocket: a nationally recognized bicycle shop from the Milwaukee, WI area, has announced they’ll be opening a new shop inEvanston early next year.  They look forward to supporting cycling clubs, events, and activities in the Chicago metro area in the years to come, starting with this year’s Illinois State Cyclocross Championships at Montrose Harbor.
• The American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure bicycle ride is held every June to raise money to fight diabetes, through research and patient support.  This event now includes a wide variety of rides, ranging from 15 to 100 miles, so there is something for all levels of cyclists.

– Thanks to these sponsor’s generous support, Ten27 Cycles has upgraded the prize list to $2,660, their largest ever and almost double what it was last year.

• Category 3: $275
• Category 1/2/3: $580
• Women 1/2/3: $580
• Category 4A: $200
• Women 4: $200
• Junior Boys 10-14: $30 (3 places)
• Junior Girls 10-14: $30 (3 places)
• Junior Boys 15-18: $30 (3 places)
• Junior Girls 15-18: $30 (3 places)
• Category 4B: $30 (3 places)
• Cash prizes for the other races will be as usual
• The winner of each of the 13 races will receive a Body Shape Kit from the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure.
• Furthermore, the Illinois State Champion in each of the Masters 30+, Masters 40+, Masters 50+, Men 1/2/3, and Women 1/2/3 categories will receive a $200 dining card from EJ’s Place restaurant, ensuring they can celebrate their hard-earned victory in style.

– The Chicago Cuttin’ Crew will also be awarding extra prizes and trophies for Junior categories. The (other) CCC will be giving out junior girls awards as usual (5 deep, medals and ribbons) for the race as well as trophies (3 deep) for final CCC overall standings in Boys 15-18, Girls 15-18, Boys 10-14, and Girls 10-14.

 – Ten27 will be selling Jay Ryan designed posters (at left) for this year’s Cyclocross Championships.  Those of you who have been collecting these posters every year will want to add to your collection.

– While a few riders have already locked up their CCC overall titles (see riders in yellow), there are quite a few very, very, very close categories still to be decided on Sunday. Overall titles will be  announced Sunday, but all official overall series awards will be presented at the CCC Awards Party on Sunday December 16th at EJ’s Place. We look forward to celebrating with all of you.

– Neutral race support will be provided by Ten27 Cycles, in the heated tent next to registration. This year’s equipment/wheel pit should also be plenty big enough for everyone, but please do NOT leave your spare bikes and wheels in the pit after your race. The next category needs to use the pit too.

– Food: Thanks to Ten27 the Big Star truck will again be serving Champurrado Hot Mexican Chocolate, Tacos al Pastor, Tacos de Pescado, and the Tacos de Papas con Rajas from 11am – 3pm. Hand-ups encouraged!

– Series sponsor NovaCare Rehabilitation will once again have physical therapists (and CCC participants) at Montrose providing free injury screens and stretching. We’re getting to the end of the season, so take care of yourself and bring your beat up body over to the green NovaCare tent between 10am – 1:30pm to get checked out. Also see us for a free energy bar or for information on our bike fit services and physical therapy services.

– More than any other factor, the weather usually makes Montrose the legend it is. However right now the forecast is rather benign). In any event the weather can always change on a dime, especially next to the lake, so bundle up, dress appropriately, and come prepared with extra warm (& dry) gear.

– Todd Busteed will be announcing the race.

– We will have all pre-ordered CCC merchandise (t-shirts, socks, & embro) at the race and available for pick-up. Socks are sold out but we will have t-shirts ($15), Mad Alchemy embro ($20), and Contigo coffee mugs for sale (cash only). You can still pre-order your merch here.

– Parking: Like the last 2 years, the parking lot at the east end of the park is closed (now boat storage). Parking will be on the street only along Simonds Dr. Several parking spaces near the restrooms and registration will be roped/coned off (for officials, CCC staff, BigStarTruck, etc) so please do NOT move the cones. We also need this area clear for pedestrian and bike traffic.

– The Course: Course designer Chuck Judy brings back several of Montrose’s classic features course while incorporating a few new twists and turns. The course goes anti-clockwise, beginning at the staging grid which will be just East of the finish line due to a few new trees planted over the summer. The finish line, wheel/bike pit, and registration will be in nearly the same location as years past, just off the road and near the main sand pit. Note the equipment pit is backwards (unless you get off your bike on the wrong side) but its the best place to put it given the layout of the course. Please be careful when pitting and have your mechanics stay out of the way of other riders entering/exiting the pit. Feel free to set up your tents near registration and the sand pit, but given the potential for strong winds, bring weights and stakes. Yes the main sand pit will be back, where spectators are all but guaranteed a great view of all the action. The 2nd sand section close to the bath house will likely not be in play. As always the final course route will be determined Sunday morning and may be altered from the map below.

Photo: Tim Homola

– Thanks again to Chris Henning and the entire Northbrook Bicycle Club for hosting stop 11 of the CCC at the new venue at Melas Park. Reports coming in so far are that everyone loved the new course and we would have to agree. The absolutely fantastic weather helped too!

– Here’s a link to photog Josh Dreyfus’ portraits. 100% of all purchases go to World Bicycle Relief and the Arlington Heights Fire Fighters Charitable Campaign.

– The CCC series takes a break this coming weekend to eat turkey, but one guy who never passes up the stuffing and cranberry is Rob Curtis who with his crew from PSIMET host the 2nd annual installment of the NORGE Ski Jump CX race. Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes Wednesday (tomorrow) night at midnight. Look for the course preview tomorrow morning.

– After we all wake up from our tryptophan induced turkey and mashed potato comas the CCC finishes up with the 12th and final stop at Montrose Harbor which just also happens to be the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships, hosted again by Ten27 Cycles. Since many of you have been asking, yes the shop is closing but the club is separate and is full steam ahead for hosting the race. More details to come next week but in the meantime please reviewing the staging procedure.

– In case you didn’t hear Verdigris-Village CX‘s youngster David Lombardo (pictured above leading the Melas CX Cat 1/2/3 race) was recently selected to be one of six <18 year old juniors to represent the US at Euro Cross Camp over the Christmas holiday. David will go head to head with Europe’s top rising talent on some of the toughest courses of the season. Many of the United States’ top riders are alumni including names like Trebon, Wicks, Summerhill, Matter, Selander, Townsend, Anthony, Wells, Driscoll, Eckmann, Lindine, etc as well as current U23 and Elite national champions Zach MacDonald and Jeremy Powers. This is great not only for David and VVCX but the entire CCC series which has encouraged and helped our juniors develop their talents. We can’t wait to see the next wave of CCC juniors head to Europe.

– Speaking of juniors racing CX, Tim Johnson has started a Mud Fund to help fund juniors racing CX.

– CCC Merchandise is still on sale.

– Tickets (registration) for this season’s End of Season Awards Party at EJ’s Place are now on sale.

– Online pre-registration is open for the CCC’s UCI New Year’s Resolution race. All details are on the NYR page here.

– And finally… Let’s have a quick chat about spectating shall we? We’ve had more than a few comments here on the site (and direct emails from concerned adults) recently that spectators during the Cat 4 races have been getting a little too… shall we say… aggressive. Everyone loves a good heckle or Twinkie handup, but we all need to know where to draw the line. Our USAC officials have been very lenient in the past to allow for this fun, but they can just as easily take it away and then the CCC would be boring with just a bunch of fast guys riding around in circles like they do in New England. So if you don’t want to lose it, here are five simple rules that no spectators should never, ever, ever, evar do…

1. Never change the course after the promoter has set it up unless you’re helping to fix broken stakes or course tape, etc. Do NOT take it upon yourself to decide where the course should be routed so people will crash. This also includes adding elements like water, tacks, snakes, dog hair, or dirty baby diapers,
2. Never enter the course during a race. Sure we all lean in a little bit to get closer to see the snot running out of the oxygen deprived racers’ faces, but the course if for the racers… not the spectators. If a racer isn’t looking for a hand up, there’s a pretty good chance they don’t want one in the first place. Racers should never be impeded because you are on the wrong side of the tape and blocking the course,
3. Never throw things… like sand, boiling oil, flames, lawn darts (you laugh but it happened one year in Madison at the Planet Bike USGP at UCI3 in Cincy) at riders or anyone else for that matter, racing or otherwise. You are spectating, if you want to be a part of the race that bad, pay an entry fee and pin on a number,
4. Never introduce glass to the race. Sure an aluminum beer can might mess up a rear derailleur, but it won’t cut a 3″ gash into someone’s face that will last a lifetime. No one wants that on their conscience. Dog poo probably falls into this category as well,
5. Never yell out a truly mean spirited heckle you wouldn’t want to receive yourself or would be embarrassed having your grandmother hear coming out of your mouth. As professional heckler Rob Curtis said… “Heckling cross….any d bag can yell ” You SUCK”. Intelligent people heckle gently. It’s an art. If you don’t get it drop the mic.” Follow @TheRealPSIMET and search for #HeckleClinic on Twitter for more info. Can’t think of anything better to say? See our Heckle Hall of Fame for inspiration. Or here’s an idea… just use enthusiastic words of encouragement (but please leave the F-bombs at home).

These general principles go for riders in the race as well. Sure we all want to grab that dollar bill, piece of bacon, or the European Twizzlers, but if you’re stopping in the middle of the course to do a Malort shot you are most.certainly.doing.it.wrong. Handups are fun, but part of that fun is trying to grab them while still racing. We all want to have fun, but the Cat 4 races are still USAC sanctioned races where rules apply and hopefully common sense prevails. So let’s all keep it under control and have fun without endangering our fellow racers and making a the CCC look like a frat party gone horribly wrong. K? Thanks, now let’s ride!

Photo: Luke Seemann

– Back for the 5th year, PSI-clocross For Life hosted by Rob Curtis and the crew from PSIMET is the 8th stop in the CCC at Emricson Park in Woodstock, IL. 

– Please pay attention when you are racing and entering the park in your car. There are 4 (four) road crossings on the course and while there will be course marshals at each crossing, please look both ways before crossing. Better safe than sorry.

– Speaking of cars, no parking on the grass – anywhere.  There is plenty of parking available throughout Emricson Park, please use it.

– Registration this year will again be in a tent next to the Start/Finish. Preliminary staging order will be posted here.

– Activator Cycle Club will again be doing the Kiddie Cross. Start time is 1:45.

– Remember if you pre-ordered CCC merchandise please see us BEFORE the Cat 1/2/3 race at 1:30pm.

– There will be 3 porta potties near the start/finish.  There may also be access to the warming hut restrooms, but due to low usage last year and the “overflowing” reception that racers gave the 2 by the start/finish we decided to up the number at the start finish instead.

– PSIMET has the same pizza vendor as last year coming to the race. They will also have water and Gatorade starting at 10:30am. No word yet if the pizza selection will be sausage and pepperoni only.

– Not that any of you actually drink the stuff, but alcohol is prohibited in Woodstock parks, so if you’re going to sneak it in, keep it under wraps. No one wants the CCC to lose a venue because of a silly thing like a can of Old Style. So please be on your best behavior… which also means do NOT leave evidence like a mini keg on the ground next to the trash can… take it home and recycle it!

– The weather forecast looks exceptional… again!

– Remember to change your clocks Saturday night before you go to bed. Going off of day light savings the sun will set in a real hurry after the 4B’s race… so we ask that if you’re just hanging around after the race, please help us tear down the course so we’re not cleaning up in the dark.

– Last year there was construction on Rt 47 through Huntley, so please plan your travel times accordingly. Best bet directions are to exit I90 on Randall Road (North), left (West) on Algonquin Rd, right (North) on Route 47 into the town of Woodstock. A left on Lake Ave and another left on South St should lead you right to Emricson Park (on your right). If you have a better route please post it in the comments below. There is still construction at the exit from 90 on to 47 north.  Plan for extra time, but most of the rest of the 47 corridor is not as congested as it has been in previous years.

– There are some sections on the far West side of the course that are very far away from everything else but CX rules still apply. If you suffer a mechanical you must go forward on the course and you cannot cut across the park. The wheel/bike pit will be at the top of the hill near the road crossing.

– The Course: The Woodstock course is very spread out, tracing parts of the outline of Emricson Park. For 2012 PSIMET brings back a few classic sections (going close to the sand again but not in it).  However, with so much delicious terrain (read: hills) it will still be a suffer-fest. The course is run clock-wise (and as always in CX numbers go on the left). The last 1/2 mile or so should again provide the most excitement for spectators, Heckle Hill, barriers, lots off-camber sections, twists, and turns, and yes… HILLS!  You are encouraged to stay and heckle – otherwise PSIMET’s Rob Curtis has threatened to put on that Gould’s Luna skinsuit again. As always, the course map below is subject to change on race day.

Photo: Snowy Mountain

– Aaaaand we’re back… a little catching up to do, so here we go.

– Sorry we missed last week’s Tuesday update, but thanks to Jim Nowak and the entire ABD crew for a great event at Sunrise Park!

– Thanks also to this past weekend’s race promoter Rob Kelley and the guys and gals from Bicycle Heaven. Plenty of great costumes and pics of them down below. Tony Reinks from BBVP won the costume contest for his “A Christmas Story” Leg Lamp costume. Full results including Women 4’s and Juniors are now posted on USAC here. Overall standings are updated and posted here.

– Next up the CCC travels NorthWest to Woodstock for stop 8 of the series, PSI-clocross for Life hosted by PSIMET (say it with us… SIGH-MET). Course preview at the regular time on Thursday.

– For everyone who seems to get a little confused by individual race results vs. overall standings on race day we have added a little color to the overall standings print-outs. Just look for the RED page headings and overall points on the series standings sheets.

– Thanks to everyone who has donated online and/or their race winnings to World Bicycle Relief. We’re slowly but surely raising funds for a truly great cause.

– Remember last seasons UCI New Year’s Resolution race? We’re doing it again this season on 1/5/13 and 1/6/13 so you will have plenty of time to recover from your NYE hangover. Look for more details soon!

– Before NYR the CCC visits the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort (ILR) for our 2nd double weekend 11/10/2012-11/11/2012. So make a weekend of it, book your room now at Indian Lakes Resort. Call 630.529.0200.  Code word “ccc” for room discounts and up to 4 people per room!

– This coming Monday Beverly Bike-VeePack (hosts of the Dan Ryan Woods race) is having an open house for new riders. Find details on the Internet.

– A little sponsor time, Real Estate, PT, and physical wellness edition…

 Building wheels is a craft that requires knowledge and patience. PSIMET’s Rob Curtis knows what he’s doing (he has a heckling megaphone stand for crying out loud), even if it doesn’t seem like it on the CX course (see above left). Learn more about PSIMET custom wheels at PSIMET.com.  

Verdigris Custom Homes –  Are you in the market for a custom home? Sure aren’t we all? Talk to the green team. “Old World Excellence, Modern Technology, Mindfully Green”

Existing house more your thing? Then talk to Michael Heagney of Koenig & Strey. As a self starter with an ability to wear many hats, his experience in overcoming the hurdles in a challenging market place are second to none. Attributes you want on your side when serving on your behalf as a trusted advisor, skilled negotiator and expert facilitator. Mike also knows a thing or two about racing his bicycle, especially on the CX course.  

Does your body need fixing? HPI is a fully-equipped health and wellness facility. Licensed healthcare professionals are there to help keep you active, healthy and pain-free located within a 24/7 access fitness center. Itʼs your life, donʼt just live, Live Well.   

Suburbs more your location? MNO Sport Chiropractic has Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician Alan Stoughton who offers the best in diagnosis and natural treatment of sports injuries in Kane and McHenry Counties.  Insurance accepted, affordable cash plans, evening hours until 7:00 pm.  Call today with any questions–consultations are always free.  Life is a sport, stay in the game with MNO!

Kettle bells, yoga, and metal is your MO? Mr. Cyclocross himself Newt Cole opened Morning Bird Studio this past summer as a private personal training boutique and cycling-specific coaching service, empowering clients with the tools and knowledge to transform into the best version of themselves in an inspiring atmosphere that encourages physical creativity and forward-thinking. Couple that with a few laughs, great music and videos, and you get a typical Morning Bird session.   

Need coaching? TZCoaching based out of Oak Park offers affordable personal training plans for endurance athletes across the country!!! Using strength and conditioning as a foundation, and endurance racing as measurable goals, TZCoaching creates personalized training plans addressing strengths and weaknesses while working with athletes towards their desired goals.  

 Closer to the city Well-Fit Triathlon and Training is the premier coaching company creating world champions and everyday heroes. The foundation of every successful training program is the athlete. The best coaches are experienced guides who begin with the hopes, dreams and desires of the athlete and then tailor a training plan based on the athlete’s current fitness, race schedule and lifestyle.

– And finally… so you think cyclocross is a niche sport?

Photo: Snowy Mountain

Photo: Jason Knauff

– One of the original CCC races, Campton Cross returns for another year hosted by race promoter Rob Kelley and Bicycle Heaven. Being held just a few days before Halloween and ‘cross being the spectacle that it is, we’re looking forward to all the costumes you all bring to the party. Just remember to make sure you can still ride you bicycle (safely), you have sleeves (yeah, its a USAC rule), and wear a helmet.

– Payouts have be increased to a total of $2,760 spread out across the board, including to the Cat 4B’s. Note however that registration still closes down 30 minutes prior to each race.

– Activator Bicycle Club will be back again hosting the Kiddie Ride at at 1:45pm. Location TBD but likely close to the registration pavilion.

– Rob Kelley will be the decider of the winner of the costume contest. You must race to win and based on the prize, hopefully you are of legal adult beverage imbibing age.

– Bicycle Heaven will be having first lap primes again.  VeloCity T’s will provide this t-shirt to the winner of each category’s first lap. Mad Alchemy First Lap Hot Leg primes will also be awarded to the Women 4 and Cat 4A fields.

– Campton is one of the “further away from Chicago” venues, so give yourselves plenty of time to get there.

– Campton’s food vendor will again be T-Dogs BBQ Inc. who will have a couple different types of soup, turkey legs and BBQ pork. Rob Kelley tells us “I do not like turkey legs and it’s hard to describe how good the one was that they made for me.  The guy built his own smoker!”

– If you don’t like turkey legs there are plenty of food and caffeine vendors along Randall Rd on the way out, so stock up as there isn’t much food close to the park.

– The weather forecast for Sunday looks dry but much chillier than the week has been so far… so dress accordingly.

– The best spectating area will again be near the kids playground equipment… but as always we’ll let you decide. There is however more than enough legal parking for everyone, and spot-a-pots… so please use both.

– Preliminary staging will be posted here.

– The Campton course is very similar to the last three years. Note the position of the staging grid on the NE side of the baseball diamonds. At the start of the race the course goes around the out fields of  the two Northern ball fields before the first hard right turn near the equipment pit. Upon the completion of each lap after passing the finish line and turning left behind the registration pavilion the course turns left back onto the course to continue the laps. Note the equipment pit is a fair distance away from the start, so please pay attention to the time and announcements for staging. As always, the course can change on race day depending on conditions. The course goes anti-clockwise.

– For the 5th year in a row the Carpenter’s Park race, hosted by Main St. Bicycles (owned by CCC director and all-rounder Jeff Provisor) & North Branch Cycling, will be held along side the Carpentersville Oktoberfest as stop #5 of the CCC. The festival will once again have a beer garden (which will of course be located right next to the course). Great food vendors, live music, raffles, kid rides (inflatables), a petting zoo, face painters, and much, much more. Note that Main Street Bicycles and North Branch Cycling have been hosting this race for 8 years – since 2005!

– Remember the previous day the CCC is just up the road in Wauconda at Psycho Cross. See the preview for Saturday’s race here. Online pre-reg on BikeReg.com is already closed for Psycho CX but closes tonight (Thursday) at midnight for Carpentersville.

– Registration should be in the NorthEast corner of the park not far away from the Staging/Start/Finish area. Masters 50+ pre-reg is still a little lite so we have opened up a few more Single Speed spots.

– The weather forecast looks fantastic, again.

– Jeff and the village of Carpentersville have asked that we please keep the beer drinking in the beer garden. It always seems there are a few people out there that can’t find access to the Interwebs, so if you see someone with a can or two of High Life on the other side of the course, please ask them to be respectful of the park, other spectators, and racers. Bacon and Twinkies are allowed and in fact encouraged to roam freely.

– Overflow parking will be East of the park – in the school lots off of Spring St (to the South), and at Cross Container off of Maple (to the North).

– The beer garden (did we mention there is beer) will be located on the NE side of the course. There will be many tasty food options as well… oh if only Kenny’s famous Chubby Spud could be in attendance.

–  $2.00 I.D. wrist band fee to purchase adult beverages in the Beer Garden, proceeds go to the FISH Food Pantry.

– Bring a canned food item for the local food pantry, and the $2.00 I.D. wrist band fee to purchase adult beverages in the Beer Garden will be waived.

– For all you kids who aren’t yet old enough to race in the 10-14 category, Activator Biycle Club returns to host another Free Kiddie Ride held just after 1:30pm. Just bring your bike and a helmet!  Also for the kiddies, a huge inflatable jumpy thing to keep ’em busy & happy for .50 cents a ride.

– Carpentersville Rotary is hosting a Futterung (feeding) at a spot near the beer garden, so look for your treat coupons “fished” out to you during the race to redeem for a tastie treat at the Rotary booth. Now more categories will enjoy the thrill of a “hand out” with out breaking any rules.

– Todd Bustead is back on the mic, adding his flair and excitement for the sport to the cross commentary.

– Womens 1/2/3 payouts will be scaled  just the same as the Cat 1/2/3 race based on pre reg entries. Junior and Cat 4B categories will have prizes as well, so don’t forget to collect!

– The Course: This year’s course will be similar to last year with such class Carpentersville features as creek crossings, one of the CCC’s longer sand pits, and a little nub of a hill which is always great for spectating and taking photos. No sand pit this year as the village keeps mulching it so the sand does not suck anymore. Bigger and better for 2012 the course will again shoot riders through dirt rollers (pump/rhythm section). Take notes from Sven Nys here (0:11).

– You high fived and raced at the CX Relay (also hosted by xXx Racing)… you road tripped and raced at Patriot CX… now its time for the big leagues. This SATURDAY starts off the 9th season of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup, once again in Jackson Park and hosted by xXx Racing. Please show up on Saturday and NOT Sunday.

– Remember the parking lot next to the course is OFF LIMITS and you’ll need to park across the street in the metered lot (it only costs about $9-10 for all day). We don’t want anyone getting a ticket, so you’ve been warned. If that lot fills up, there is parking to the west of the course on Hayes Drive and to the East of Lake Shore Drive.

– Please note that the CARA 20-mile run will again 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. False alarm, the CARA run is on Sunday. Please still be careful on the bike path.

– 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. Mother earth thanks you!

– Online pre-registration on BikeReg.com (say it with us… Bik Rej… like REGistration) closed last night at midnight. Entry fees increase $5 on race day. Huge thanks to the 662 of you (most # of CCC pre-reg’s ever, beating last year’s JP number of 628) that have already pre-reg’d. If you show up early in the morning, please let the 40+ racers pick up their bib numbers first since they start promptly at 8:45am. Also thanks to the 7 of your that donated to WBR when registering. If you’d like to donate your race winnings to our WBR drive, please see us after your race.

– Don’t forget Activator Cycle Club will be hosting a kiddie fun ride around 1:40pm for the under 10 crowd.

– Series sponsor CarboRocket will be out on Saturday with big coolers of CarboRocket mix and coffee (in the morning). Swing by and fill up your bottle, mug, or canteen. Temps are forecast to be in the lower 70’s with an 100% chance of awesome, but we all need to stay hydrated.

– Food. There are NOT a lot of food options in the immediate vicinity of the park, so please bring your own… or better yet ask a food truck to stop by.

– Again year we are running 100 rider field limits in all categories. In combined fields (Women 1/2/3, Masters 50+/60+, Single Speed and Women 4 & Juniors) that means only 100 riders are allowed on course at one time. We will likely hitting 100 riders in both of these fields, and xXx will be maintaining waitlists for all fields. Both Cat 4 fields are already filled, the Cat 3’s are nearly 90, and 40+ & 30+ are in the lower 70’s. That’s a lot of people to keep track of so please help us in every way possible (i.e. don’t lose your bib #, show up on time, etc)!

– Concerning waitlists… we’ll start waitlists for each filled category (SS, Juniors, Cat 4A, Cat 4B) when registration opens at 7:30am. First come first served. 30 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… you both can be DQ’d by USAC and no one wants that!).

– 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… as mentioned previously we will be staging by straight CrossResults.com points and order of registration for all categories. See our thorough discussion of the topic in our post here and our standard staging procedure here. Remember CCC staging grids are 8 lanes wide. Preliminary staging info will be posted here as soon as we wrangle all the data and make sure everyone reg’d for the correct category.

– Concerning reg’ing for the correct category… no, you may not race Cat 3 if you are a Cat 4… and vice versa. Also, your CX age for the 2012 season is your age on 12/31/2013. Juniors (and their parents) please take note of this rule. Juniors 10-14 riders may race up in age with the Junior 15-18’s… but not the other way around.

– Concerning the 80% rule… we ask the USAC officials to leave as many riders in the race for as long as possible. However, pulling riders is still at their discretion in line with USAC rules. If you are told you are being pulled (always near the start/finish)… please exit the course immediately. You will still be scored and given a laps down designation.

– If you decided not to finish the race on your own volition, please let a USAC official know so you can be marked as DNF. This makes scoring the entire race a lot easier. Note that DNF’s count against your CrossResults.com score, so hang in there and finish your race!

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

– We are also awarding Pactimo Series Leader Jerseys to ALL CATEGORIES. Determining the series leader at the first race is easy (the winner of the race, duh) and we’ll present the jersey on the podium. So if you won, please be present. You may even get a kiss from a podium girl.

– Juniors, remember the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew will also have extras for you.

– In addition to all of that we once again have Mad Alchemy First Lap Hot Leg primes for the Women Cat 4’s and Cat 4A’s. First rider across the line at a pre-determined spot on the first lap wins a tub of Mad Alchemy embrocation.

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

– The CCC is supported by many, many, many generous series sponsors (34 in all so far!), many of whom will personally be attending and racing at Jackson Park. If you see one, please make sure to stop and say thank you for their continued support. Our little series would NOT be possible without them.

– We will have all CCC merchandise pre-orders available for pick up on Saturday. T-shirts, Socks, embro, coffee mugs. We will also have a limited supply of merch for purchase

– Below is the tentative 2012 Jackson Park course brought to you by the great minds of xXx Racing. The course is essentially the same as the CX Relay race but will obviously have a different start and staging grid. The staging grid will be next to the parking lot. Please remember the map below is only an approximation as we may need to make adjustments on race day. The course runs clockwise. The wheel/bike pit is dual sided and currently SW of finish line.

– And finally… thanks to everyone for coming out and racing the Chicago Cyclocross Cup… again! 2009 was a banner year… 2010 was enormous and great, 2011 was even more nuts… and we’re guessing 2012 will definitely be our biggest, best, and fastest #YearOfSpeed yet. So let’s race, cheer, heckle, and have a great time! See you SATURDAY!