• Most details are over on xXx Racing’s website here: xxxracing.org/relay-cross/
• There’s some pretty good team names again this year: xxxracing.org/relay-cross/whos-registered
• Please remember to use the official hashtag #RelayCross so the entire Internets can see our Chicagoland Relay CX in all its glory.
• There should be plenty of parking in the lot, but if it fills, there is street parking all around the park.
• When warming up, PLEASE do NOT ride on the golf course next door. There will also be a cricket match near the north end of the course; please respect their game and do not ride near the pitchers and bowlers.
• Reg closes tonight and there are still a few spots available at xxxracing.org/relay-cross. Please pre-reg!
• Remember to reg for and donate to the Relay Roulette race – it’s the cheapest 2nd race you’ll ever find ($5!) and every $5 you donate beyond the reg fee will enter you into a raffle for Blackhawks tickets, a full fit session at Get a Grip bikes, and tuneup gift certificates. All proceeds will be donated to a local cycling-related charity chosen by the race winners.
• The course: All new in Warren Park. Please do NOT go to Jackson Park.
• Like last year, the course will be fast and flowy (more laps!), but will provide a lot more opportunity to practice your off-camber skills. Direction = Clockwise.

• Please use #AfterglowCX, very important to remember the “CX”.
• December is the official Chicago Cuttin’ Crew pledge drive for West Town Bikes and Blackstone Bikes youth programs! The idea was born 8 years ago, and the Cuttin’ Crew are proud to bring another round of bike racing in the name of equity to Chicago. This year’s race is back to Douglas Park Golf Course, home of the best 3-hole cyclocross race in the country.
• Online pre-registration is at bikereg.com/afterglow. When registering to race, please consider donating a few extra dollars you are saving on the cheaper reg. There will also be a donation box on-site. Maybe it’s your off season, your first race of the year, or you recently upgraded — in any case, don’t forget that DONATIONS = CALL UPS!
• Day-of registration and number pickup opens at 9am near the start/finish. Bib numbers will go on your RIGHT side, and course runs counterclockwise. Best place to park is on South Sacramento Drive, just on the outside of the course.
• A wheel/equipment pit will be available. Wheels/bike in, wheels/bikes out.
• GRUDGE MATCH/Fatbike/FIXED GEAR CX/Etc Open Category will allow any fun bike you want. Registration fee is per bike, and all riders will need to fill out USAC release forms and require USAC licenses. The Cuttin’ Crew will try to score categories separately, but no guarantees unless you race super fun/slowly/in an awesome costume.
• Podiums will be presented shortly after each race, and the Cuttin’ Crew will have limited edition 2017 Cuttin’ Crew gear for those victorious, including prints of the wonderful flyer! InsaneDeOmnium will be awarded once the Cuttin’ Crew calculates the score after the final race.
• The Cuttin’ Crew asked the weather gods for ideal cyclocross weather, and it’s looking like their prayers will be answered. 40 degrees and snowing!
• With great weather comes great responsibility, and Tailwind Cycles is offering a $25 bike wash and lube! They will have the van on-site, so no worries on muddin’ up your own vehicle. They will load the bikes and bring them to the shop for proper care. Pick up will be at Tailwind, and half of the profits will be donated to West Town Bikes and Blackstone Bikes!
• Thank you for continuing to support the young people of our city — their programs not only provide transportation to/from the races and food and snacks, but also a sense of home and accomplishment. The Cuttin’ Crew is bringing the #flamingoparty, you bring the donations! See you Sunday!
• The course: Yes, the map is labeled 2014, but this is the course at Douglas Park. Please do not got to Humboldt Park.

• Here we go! The 11th and final event in the 2017 Chicago Cyclocross Cup and the 2017 Illinois State CX Championships at Montrose Harbor hosted by Ten27 Cycling Club and Spidermonkey Cycling!
• Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes tonight. Preliminary staging will be posted here.
• In order to win a USAC State Champion jersey you must be:
  • A USAC annual license holder
  • An Illinois resident per your driver’s license or state issued ID (or passport)
  • A citizen of these great United States of America
• The Masters 45+/55+ starting wave is closed and has gone on a waitlist. We will follow the waitlist protocol described at the bottom of the this page. Remember we cannot charge your credit card at the venue so please bring money. Waitlisted riders who prereg online and make it into a race will still be staged by their CrossResults.com points. Riders registering Day Of will be staged at the back of the pack. So make sure to pre-reg for the Waitlist if your category is closed.
• A reminder from One2Go to please, please, please pin your number properly (see the image below) and put any long hair up in pony tails. If One2Go can’t see your bib number you won’t be scored properly. 
• Also, since this is the State Championship our USAC officials will be pulling riders out of contention early at the finish line. If you are told you are being finished early, please exit the course, you will be scored appropriately. Thanks!
• The weather looks positively lovely compared to last year but be mindful that the wind off the lake is no joke, so please secure your tents.
• The Big Star food truck will be serving tacos and other food between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Heritage General Store van will be on site with hot coffee.
• Speaking of Heritage, their new(ish) bar Larry’s, located inside Lawrence House nearby to the venue, is offering an after/bike wash party. Bike washes will be on the back patio while you drink hot beverages inside or out by the fire.
• Here’s your friendly reminder that Montrose Harbor is a public city park where people who might have no idea what cyclocross is might be wandering through. Yes we’ll be celebrating another great season of cyclocross with drinks and food and more dranks, but please be on your best behavior and show the city what a classy bunch we are.
• Please pay a visit and give some love to our venue sponsors:
  • The Autobarn of Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park 
  • Chicago Chiropractic
  • Watchfire Sign
  • Holland Design Group
  • E.J.’s Place
• In addition to the usual cash prize payouts, E.J.’s Place has graciously supported the event with $200 dining cards, which will be awarded to the newly crowned Illinois State Champion in each of the following races. Thus, you will be able to celebrate your State Championship win in style and thank loved ones who have supported your training and racing throughout the ‘cross season.
  • Men Cat 1/2/3
  • Women Cat 1/2
  • Men Masters 35+
  • Men Masters 45+
  • Men Masters 55+
• As in the past few years we are closing Simonds Drive to thru traffic in order to allow the course to cross the road. What is different this year is that parking inside the barriers will be restricted to officials, sponsors and only those who choose to purchase a spot (no equipment drop off permitted inside the barriers). This is offered in order to help offset the increasing costs associated with this venue and closing the street. Any vehicle/trailer left without a parking pass will be relocated. Please don’t make us have to do that.
• Parking spaces within the barriers (near the finish) are available for $50 per vehicle on BikeReg. This includes those with a trailer, so if you want to sleep in or are a big deal operation please consider purchasing a spot to make your life easier and help defray venue costs. Spaces can be purchased in the merchandise section of the registration page on BikeReg. List your license plate number(s) when ordering. We will use that for entry. Enter only from Montrose Ave at the south end of Simonds Drive.
• Equipment drop-off will ONLY be allowed before the turn-around on the south end of Simonds Drive near the staging grid, and the driver must remain with the vehicle to expedite unloading and keep traffic flowing, just like the airport.
• Please do not say “But I know Dean Okun!” That trick won’t work.  =)
• Regular parking will be along Simonds Drive and Montrose Drive, entering and exiting the way you came in. Per the Park District, NO PARKING ON THE GRASS, ANYWHERE! Please adhere to volunteer requests regarding your vehicle parking and movement.
• The course will largely be the same as in the past few years, although reversing the direction from last year. The sand section at the southern end of the venue was mysteriously removed sometime this summer. But fear not, there will be plenty of sand to go around, including more runs to the north of the ‘Daniels Concession’ building.
• The Junior 9-14 and Women Cat 4/5‘s will have a cut-off to bypass this sand section, as well as a part of Cricket Hill.
• Please be considerate while the course is being constructed on Saturday. In general, avoid riding on the course areas this week to keep it in good condition for the race, and especially for when the Park District looks at it on Monday morning.

Hope everyone is having a relaxing Thursday, but tomorrow it’s time to burn off those calories by blasting around Chicago’s Big Marsh Bike Park. Bring friends & family and make an afternoon of it! The weather is going to be perfect.

• Date: Tomorrow! Friday, November 24th 2017
• Address: 11599 S Stony Island Ave. Chicago, IL 60617
• Parking: Parking in the primary lot will be tight. Please pack in cars as closely as possible. Make sure to not block the fire lane (curbs marked with yellow paint). Auxiliary parking is located 1/8th mile north on the east side of Stony Island Ave.
• Registration: Located in the white, Big Marsh trailer near the parking lot.
• Bib numbers on your left.
• Water: There is no running water on-site. Please pack accordingly and bring plenty of water for you, family, team-mates, and pets. We will have portable restrooms on-site, with a hand sanitizer station.
• Map: Review the course map before arrival to understand the layout. We ask that everyone use the gravel pedestrian path to access Start/Finish, Podiums, Staging, and “The Bridge”. Please do not walk down the asphalt road, this is part of the course. A course preview video can be viewed here.
• Staging: Located on the asphalt road, west of “The Bridge / Plaza”. Call-ups are based (1) Non-perishable food donation, (2) Order of registration. Preliminary staging is posted here.
• Food Donations: Donate a bag of non-perishable food items and receive a premium staging position. Food items should be dropped-off in the white, Big Marsh registration trailer. All donations will be delivered locally to St. Kevin’s Catholic Church.
• Food Consumption: The crew from Let’s Roast Bikes will be on-site grilling up some meats and veggie-friendly options. They will also be raffling off some stuff, so stop by and give them a high-five.
• Results: Note, this race is not part of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series, thus will not affect your CCC Series Standings. Although, this IS one of your last opportunities to improve your CrossResults ranking prior to Montrose!
• Tear-Down: After the conclusion of the Open 4/5 race we would love some help picking up stakes, tape, and fencing before the sun sets. Everything needs to be moved back to the “Plaza” area for loading into the trailer. Huge thanks in advance!
• Finally – remember, Big Marsh is a Chicago Public Park so it’s open daily to the public. If you enjoy racing down there, we plan to host our 2nd Annual Short Track Mountain Bike Race Series June/July/August 2018, plus a whole lot more! Follow the Friends of Big Marsh on Facebook and Instagram. And, if you are interested in helping with future events or trail build days, consider volunteering with the Friends of Big Marsh, a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and developing the site.
• Course: SRAM Stairs, REI Run-up, Clif BARriers, oh my!!! As always the final course may be different on race day.

• Cyclocross returns to Wheeling, Illinois hosted by the Northbrook Cycling Club. The Wheeling Heritage Park CX will be held at 333 W. Dundee Road. Extensive Park renovations were completed in 2014, adding athletic fields, walking/riding paths, a pavilion with a band shell, and lots of parking. They even managed to fit in a cyclocross course for one fine November day.
• Note Again, the venue has changed from last year’s location at Melas Park. DO NOT GO TO MELAS.
• Heritage Park hosted the Wheeling CycloCross Grand Prix in 2004, stop #3 in the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series in its first year. Nine categorized races were crammed into a 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. race day schedule. No start grids, pits, neutral service, announcers, etc. The Northbrook Bicycle Club and Wheeling Park District take us back to those simpler times, but now with all the amenities you’ve come to expect and enjoy.
• Situated blocks from Wheeling’s famous restaurant row, the Chicago Executive Airport, the Des Plaines River Trail, Metra’s North Central Service (Sorry, for scouting only. The line doesn’t run on Sundays). Bring your appetites, planes, helicopters, gliders, canoes, cars, and/or bikes. The park is very accessible.
• The Wheeling Park District will be hosting a Pizza and Chili Garden with Beer too. Pizza is delivered from a famous, local pizzeria, and chili with optional toppings provided is by the Chevy Chase Country Club for the CCC. Hot cocoa, coffee, and soft drinks too.
• Sorry drones are not allowed due to proximity to the airport. You’ll be racing in restricted air space, at least your lungs may feel that way. The aerial views will have to come from the top of the anti-basin we’ll call “Heritage Hill”.
• Warming Up: The park paths will be open. Please be mindful of others in the park and yield to any pedestrians / other park users. The buildings on site are open to warm up from the weather. The recreation center situated between the two larger parking lots has facilities available for use. Please do not bring bikes into the buildings.
• Speaking of warm, temps are forecasted for the upper 20’s and low 30’s on Sunday, so please dress and pack appropriately.
• No alcohol per park rules except for purchase in the designated Pavilion Garden. Please be respectful of the park and behave so we can come back again next year.
• Parking: The lots are huge. Please use them and stay off the grass and trails with any cars or trucks. Please use the two large east and west lots and leave the angled center lot open for rec center patrons.
• Pavilion grass. Please refrain from setting up any tents in the pavilion lawn. There is an irrigation system that could be compromised by any overcooked stakes. Suggested tent spaces are on the map below.
• Volunteers needed: Robert Paetsch is looking for a few volunteers to help with course set up, marshalling, and repair. Please email your interest and sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b45aca6292-wheeling. Volunteers race for free and have lunch provided.
• Weather – Its going to be cold. Please bundle up and plan accordingly.
• Preliminary staging will be posted here.
• The course: Flatlandia’s ace course designer Ted Burger is back to inflict help find the best layout and lines in this unique space. The first third of the course is flat, but transitions to off camber as the course traverses the outdoor pool embankment over to the featured hill. There will be a short course option for the Women Cat 4/5 and Junior 9-14 races. Course runs anti-clockwise. Please note the location of course crossing and how to get from the East side of the course and staging grid to the west side of the course and equipment pits. This is a new venue for everyone, so please work with us and the Northbrook Cycling Club. 

A new venue to the series this year Pheasant Run Resort (#PRRcx) is hosted by no strangers to the local year round cycling scene, the South Chicago Wheelmen, one of the region’s and country’s oldest cycling clubs. Please bear with us and the SCW as we figure out the new layout. As always, any constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated. A few notes for the weekend.

• This event is NOT at Indian Lakes where it has been for the last several years. It is now at Pheasant Run Resort located at 4051 E Main St. Saint Charles, IL 60174.
• The SCW have extended online pre-reg on BikeReg until this evening, so no excuses if you miss the cutoff.
• Preliminary staging for Saturday only will be posted here Friday morning.
• Saturday Results will affect Sunday staging. Preliminary Sunday staging will be posted here early Sunday morning. Please pay attention.
• Registration will be in Gallery Hall.
• New bib numbers each day. Please do NOT where your Saturday number on Sunday.
• Vending / concessions will also be in Gallery Hall.
• NO grills please, PRR has a restaurant and there are several others (ahem, Culver’s!) nearby. PRR has also asked us not to bring outside food or drink to the course or into the hotel. We’re not sure if they have gluten free organic free-range tofurkey energy bars, at the concession stand, so please be discreet if you’re bringing something. PRR has also asked for no coolers, but we obviously need Gatorade and Recover drinks.
• NO walking or riding on putting greens or tee boxes. This is standard at any golf course CX event.
• NO warming up on fairways.
• After your race, if you’re staying at the hotel, please please please do NOT wash your bike in your room (duh). The forecast is dry, but if needed a hose will be set up on the West side of Gallery Hall. Bring your own rags/towels.
• For guests staying overnight, checkout is at 11am on Sunday. Late checkout is available for an extra $25.
• Parking will be limited, satellite parking will be west across the street by Target (Kautz Road).
• The SCW will be raffling off a set of Rolf wheels to benefit a cyclist who suffers from a brain disability. Rolf primo, disc or cantilever compatible, clinchers. $5.00 per ticket, 5 tickets for $20.00. Drawing held Sunday after the 1/2/3 race.
• Don’t forget the Ultimate PB&J Women’s Event Saturday afternoon in the Ultimate Pro Bikes tent.
• There will be even less daylight left than last week after the last race ends, so please plan accordingly. Also if you can, please help the South Chicago Wheelmen and the Northbrook Cycling Club tear down the course so they aren’t doing it all in the dark.
• Sorry, no kids races this weekend.
• The Course: Still a work in progress but should follow approximately the track below. The start and finish are both on pavement.

Phil: Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
Mrs. Lancaster: I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.

In 1992 the downtown square of Woodstock, IL was used to film the movie Groundhog Day. That filming location is 0.8 miles from the starting grid of this Sunday’s race. Rob Curtis and the PSIMET crew have decided to carry some of the themes of the movie into the race this year. If you’re interested in looking over the filming locations for the movie there is a great map for self-guided tours here: woodstockgroundhog.org/pages/tour.html

• Remember to use #psiCX on Twitter and Instagram.
• PSIMET is repeating the condensed course from last year. It is on the ridge/sled hill area on the North-Eastern section of the park. The only road crossing will be closed. These two factors increase rider safety and will help make viewing for everyone a whole lot more fun.
• With this in mind there will be some logistical obstacles for all in attendance. There is plenty of parking throughout the park but parking that is close to the reg tent is in short supply. We have therefore designated 2 gear drop off areas for teams hauling their encampment supplies as well as riders with an entourage of bicycles that need to get into the pits. We ask that you use these areas for drop off then park farther away to help others do the same.
• As with all previous years there is NO PARKING ON THE GRASS. This is probably one of the strictest rules the park and city have for the facility.
• This park has “always” had a “no alcohol” policy. So when you bring in lots of cups for your soda and lemonade PSIMET asks that you pack out what you bring in. It helps PSIMET make sure the park doesn’t think we have a drinking problem if there aren’t a lot of juice boxes laying around.
• The Chicago Pizza Boss food truck will once again be in attendance. You know the lines can be long and it’s a long trip for them – might not be a bad idea to have a backup just in case. There is a restaurant within 1 mile of the course that offers a full vegetarian and vegan menu for carryout. See below for info.
• Equipment Pits will be nearly full UCI size with stalls. There is NO water or washing facilities at the race though so if conditions look to be getting worse then please plan your own support accordingly. Just know that you have a full sized pit to utilize.
• The weather forecast is for more wet stuff. Please plan your clothing pre, during, and post accordingly. Mambo Car Wash is right down the street.
• Daylight savings time ends the morning of the race this year so don’t forget to move you clocks back – otherwise you’ll be an extra hour early for your race. There are worse things that can happen though. You’re welcome.
• There won’t be much if any daylight left after the last race ends, so please plan accordingly. Also if you can, please help PSIMET and the South Chicago Wheelmen tear down the course so they aren’t doing it all in the dark.
• Preliminary staging will be here.
• Payouts for Single Speed women will match the payout structure for Single Speed men. As with all PSIMET events – Women’s payouts are always $1 more.
• Kids Race will be held at 2:15pm just West of the pits. The Kids race will be hosted by Parker Curtis with help from his older brother and the rest of the PSIMET Juniors squad.
• As a first Psimet is attempting to run a “long” course and a “short” course. The Women Cat 4/5 & Junior 9-14 and the Men Cat 4/5 will race on the short course while everyone else will race the long course. This is being done to help the less experienced riders race more laps and to help the officials/scoring with timing. There are 2 difference section that will make up the “long” course. Please be aware of these sections when pre-riding. Also, if you are pre-riding while the SS/Jr 15-18 or Cat 4’s are finishing up, please make sure you are NOT inadvertently riding in front of people still racing. Thanks!
• The following are food venues within a mile or two of the course:

• Woodstock Public House – 101 N Johnson St, Woodstock, IL 60098 publichouseofwoodstock.com (815) 337-6060 Sunday 8:30am-9pm
• Expressly Leslie Vegetarian Specialties – 110 S Johnson St, Woodstock, IL 60098  (815) 338-2833 Sunday 10am -5pm
• The Double Yolk Café – 117 E Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098 thedoubleyolkcafe.com (815) 338-0180 Sunday: 7am-2:30pm *** Where Groundhog Day was filmed ***
• Ethereal Confections – 113 S Benton St, Woodstock, IL 60098 etherealconfections.com (815) 687-0320 Sunday: 7am-10pm
• La Placita – 108 Cass St, Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 337-2303 – Sunday 10am-9pm
• Main St Pour House – 214 Main St, Woodstock, IL 60098 mainstpourhouse.com (815) 527-7210
• The Sugar Circle – 203 Main St, Woodstock, IL 60098 thesugarcircle.com (815) 337-3333 Sunday:7-11am
• Mia Passione – 228 Main St, Woodstock, IL 60098 miapassionerestaurant.com (708) 607-0000 Sunday:4-9
• D.C. Cobbs – 226 Main St, Woodstock, IL 60098 dccobbs.net (815) 206-5580 Sunday: 11-1am
• The Cabin – 223 N Benton St, Woodstock, IL 60098 thecabintavern.com (815) 337-2013
• Benton Street Tap – 219 N Benton St, Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 338-6767 Sunday: 6am-1am
• Liquid Blues Limited  – 126 N Benton St # 2, Woodstock, IL 60098 liquidbluesbar.com (815) 337-7254
• Drive from the city too long? Locally Best Western of Woodstock has some rooms available for $99/night as does the Quality Inn ($74-$80) and the newer Cherry Tree Inn Bed and Breakfast ($149-$189)
• If you finish up early the Woodstock Opera House is putting on a Shrek Musical at 2pm. Tickets are $15-$25. 125 W Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098 woodstockoperahouse.com (815) 337-1395
• The course:

• #CamptonCX is back, brought to you by Training Bible Cycling, Bicycle Heaven, and the CCC. It is one of the original ChiCrossCup races and the best Halloween party on two wheels.
• The course will be back to it’s original direction and with a couple of fun little additions at Anderson Park in Campton Township (5N180 Brown Rd, Campton Hills, IL 60175).
• Preliminary staging will be posted here on Friday: https://goo.gl/mQkuaE
• There will be a food vendor on site selling brats (from Reams!), vegetarian chili, all beef hot dogs, sausage/egg/cheese croissants, muffins, fruit, pop and water.
• The Costume Contest is on!!
  • Rule #1, you have to race in your costume.
  • Rule #2 is that there are no more rules.
• There is plenty of parking on site. Please do not ride or drive on the grass surrounding the course. We hate having to kick our CX sisters and brothers off of the grass, and would doubly hate to have to use our potato launcher.
• There is a bike path just north of the park that is great for a warm up.
• The course: Running anti-clockwise with many of the classic rad Campton features and a new route through the woods. As always the final route could be different on Sunday.

• #ABDcx The standard preview page here.
• Preliminary staging will be posted here.
• If you upgraded this week and want 1/2 your CCC series points to follow you to the next category, please contact us at ChicagoCrossCup at gmail by Friday. We will NOT automatically transfer your points.
• Parking on Foster Ave is allowed but on NORTH side only. There should be “No Parking” signs along the park (south) side. If not, please respect this. Also Parking is allowed on Struckman Blvd (better option), or at Sycamore Trails School (preferred).
• ABD will be awarding a Women Single Speed payout the same as the Men Single Speed.
• Payouts will be held until Pheasant Run. Any payouts not claimed after Pheasant Run will be donated to Bartlett Park District Foundation.
• North of the Border will be serving Mexican and American w/ veggie options.
• Kiddie race is at 2pm!
• No alcohol.  Sorry Park rules.
• The Course: Very similar to last year. As always the course can change between now and Sunday.