• From everything we heard and saw Randall Oaks was a resounding success. Results and links are here but we are still working out a few discrepancies. Hold tight and we’ll have everything fixed in a few days and certainly before next Sunday.
• Next up the CCC heads to Barlett, IL for the always windy sufferfest fantastic ABD Sunrise Park.
• Remember if you want 1/2  your CCC series points to follow you to the next category you MUST upgrade this week before the next race. And by before the next race we mean before Thursday night when online pre-reg closes. Submit your upgrade through USACycling.org and then forward your confirmation email to us at ChicagoCrossCup at gmail.
• Regarding upgrades, there is no glory in being a sandbagger and being that guy/gal no one appreciates being in the race because they are racing below their true achievement level. Remember there are
  rules and the series can and will point out mandatory upgrade candidates to the USAC upgrade coordinator. So if you are a Cat 3 or 4 (man or woman) do the right thing and upgrade when appropriate.
• And finally… just a reminder the comments section of this website is public and while we are not in the business of censorship we reserve the right to reject any comments we wouldn’t read alou to our grandmothers. You can still disagree with someone without being a jerk, so please keep the language clean and civil

UPDATE: The CCC would like to re-address the events that happened during the cat 4/5 race on Sunday. We did not mean to downplay the significance of what happened at all and we’re sorry if it seemed that way. We put the comments at the bottom of the update so it would be the last thing everyone read and stuck in everyone’s mind longer. As a number of people have pointed out to us the events that occurred were actually assault which has absolutely ZERO place in society in general and more specifically at CCC events. Hindsight is always 20/20 and the correct course of action would have been for someone (a racer, race director,  USAC official, anyone) to call the police and file an assault report immediately. We are sorry this did not occur. However, we at the CCC are committed to making cyclocross events in Chicagoland a positive and safe experience and we are dedicated to creating the best racing environment possible for everyone. We are extremely embarrassed such an assault happened at one of our events and would ask that anyone who has questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, etc. reach out to us directly at [email protected].

Photo: Jill Curty Photography

• Oh man that was a tough one! Thanks to BBVP and everyone who made (both days at) Dan Ryan Woods another successful event! John Roberts, the Chief of Police for the Forest Preserve of Cook County was out on Sunday and really enjoyed and supports the event. He had the same feeling last year and was happy to see that the Caldwell Labagh Woods Forest Preserve property was used too. Chief  Roberts is extending an invite for everyone to join the Trail Watch Program. They are having an event at Dan Ryan Woods in November and another on the North side. Dates are not yet posted but check it out here: http://fpdcc.com/trail-watch. Results in all their various formats are consolidated here for you easy viewing enjoyment including lap times from One2Go.
• Speaking of One2Go… they are great and might respond anyway, but there is a reason all of their emails say in big bold text at the very top “PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL“. One2Go are at the races to provide timing services, not approve upgrades, not to provide directions, nor to look up the weather forecast. If you have results issues you need to speak with the USAC officials at the race and if you have series scoring issues, questions, etc… email us, NOT One2Go. Thanks!
• Next up the CCC heads NorthWest to Randall Oaks Park. The venue has moved temporarily down the road but the crew is the same bunch that has hosted Carpenter Park since forever. Look for details at the normal time on Thursday. #randalloakscx
• Speaking of Randall Oaks Park… if you are thinking about upgrading (from Cat 4 to Cat 3 or Cat 3 to Cat 2 [men or women]) Randall Oaks will be your last race to earn points. You’ll then need to upgrade BEFORE ABD Sunrise Park. CCC Series Points are NOT USAC upgrade points. Read the rules here (page 21 & 22) and apply for your upgrade on USACycling.org. After you receive your upgrade confirmation forward it to us here at the series and we’ll transfer your points. PLEASE contact us as soon as possible… and by that we don’t mean the Saturday night before ABD Sunrise Park as we won’t have time crunch the numbers. Thanks and good luck!
• And finally… and we can’t believe we even need to say this any more… but when riders are on course, racing just as hard as anyone else, no one should interfere with anyone else’s race. This includes moving stakes, leaning too far into the course tape, out right standing in the middle of the course, etc. Creative and funny heckling is obviously still allowed and encouraged. 99.99% of all of you know what to do and set great examples, but there is always one bad apple out there that spoils it for everyone. In particular we’d like to address an incident this past weekend where a man by himself in plain clothes was up on the last hill making lewd comments to the ladies racing the Cat 4/5’s and slapping them on the bum as they rode by. To be clear as Belgian mud, this is not only just plain creepy, but unacceptable and inexcusable. Maybe this guy wasn’t a rider or even associated with the CCC, but if he was and we find out who he is, he will be asked not to return. We’re all out there just trying to have fun, right? Let’s keep it civil, clean, and respectful to all riders. K, thanks!

Photo: Jill Curty Photography

Photo: SnowyMountain Photography

• Well, that was an interesting 48 hours to relocate an 800 rider CX race and still have a great start to the CCC season. We hope you all had at least as much if not more fun than we did on Sunday at Caldwell LaBagh Woods. Results are up online all over the place, find links here: https://goo.gl/A88B7T
• We hope you enjoyed the quick and live results from from One2Go on LiveLynx Results. The rest of the series will follow the same format, but please remember official results come from the (wait for it) USAC officials. So please see the officials if you have protests of questions.
• The CCC takes this coming weekend off but a good friend of the series up above the Cheddar Curtain tells us… “The Cross-Shooshko Cross Race looks to be a lot of fun this year. Big party in the parking lot, improved course, $5 off pre-registration.” Read all about it on the internets here.
• And then the next weekend (10/4/15) the CCC is back to Hopkins Park in Dekalb, IL. Its a bit farther to get out there, but
  • the course is always rad,
  • the CCC’s first ever flyover was born, raised, and still lives there,
  • Brian Conant also lives just around the corner, and
  • sources tell us we’ll have at least one special guest appearance.
• And finally… while switching venues at the last minute was hectic and stressful to say the least, we think everyone from xXx Racing and their volunteers, to the USAC officials, to One2Go, to the Forest Preserve, to our uber MC Kenny Labbe, to the vendors (hey the porta-potties even showed up at the right place), to SRAM NRS, and especially to you the riders, spectators, fans, and supporters handled it all with aplomb. We’re always so proud of how, in times of need, the Chicagoland CX community comes together to make these little weekend parties happen.
• And finally, finally… many of us are too young to even know that Chicago cyclocross more or less started in LaBagh Woods many, many years ago, so Sunday was a bit nostalgic and a coming home of sorts for some old-timers. But thankfully cameras had already been invented back then and we have photographic evidence. Apparently aero helmets were already en vogue and the only thing larger than the field sizes were the crowds of spectators.
  

  Photo: JP McCarthy

  

  Photo: JP McCarthy

• 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.”

– We’re getting ahead of the curve this year with the 2015 CCC series t-shirts. Look for a link on the store page to pre-order this season’s shirt. We’ll even have ladies cut and long sleeve shirts for 2015.

– Want to get involved with the CCC to make it even better and race for cheap? The CCC is looking for series volunteers. You just need to be able to attend most CCC races and help out for a few hours. Positions vary, inquire within by sending an email to [email protected].

– Our 2015 series sponsor drive is currently active and will close August 31st. If you are interested in being a 2015 CCC series sponsor take a look here and then please let us know now at [email protected].

– And finally… as promised we finished calculating all the staging differences with our new staging methodology (individual event links below). In the linked GoogleSheets we show 4 different way of staging, CrossResults ranking only, CCC points only, CCC first row/CXR all others, CCC first 2 row/CXR all others. Look at the ‘Diff’ columns, specifically column “V”. A lower negative number means you would be staged better with the new system, a higher positive number means you would be staged worse. Since for every move up there is a move down the average difference across all races is zero, but… below is a histogram showing the average difference moves up/down by 8 place increments (i.e. one staging row) using the old vs. new methodology (as a % of all pre-reg’d racers) across all events. For the entire series ~40% of riders’ staging position would not change (i.e. 0 difference) while ~27% would move up no more than 8 spots and ~23% would move down no more than 8 spots. For those keeping score at home that means on average ~89% of all racers would be staged no more than +/-8 places in either direction. The other ~11% of riders would be staged by more than +/-1 rows difference (>+/-16 difference), and those riders being staged worse (i.e. large positive differences) are those without CrossResults rankings (i.e. 9999) and CCC points (think Cat 4’s and 5’s). The CCC believes these data further validate our decision to change the staging methodology for 2015 and hopefully go at least a little ways to assuage any fears some of you may have that you will be staged back in the cheap seats. However we are always open to new ideas too, and if you have a better way of staging roughly 700 riders every week that is fair to as many riders as possible we’d love to hear from you. And as always, we are only human and make mistakes all the time, so please always, always double check the preliminary staging sheets we publish online after pre-reg closes and let us know if you see a mistake. Note also that unless you have enough CCC points to be staged on the front row you MUST PRE-REGISTER to be staged by CrossResults.com rankings.

1. Hopkins Park
2. Dan Ryan Woods
3. Carpenter Park
4. ABD Sunrise Park
5. Campton CX
6. Indian Lakes – Saturday
7. Indian Lakes – Sunday
8. Psi-Clocross
9. Melas CX
10. Montrose Harbor

– For anyone counting, there are roughly 8 weeks until the CCC starts in Caldwell Woods, hosted by xXx Racing. So get your bikes in working order now(!) by visit your favorite local bike shop… but enjoy the rest of the summer weather while we still have it. #cxiscoming

– But before the CCC officially starts, the good folks over at Half Acre Cycling are having a Women’s CX clinic. The details: Go faster. Attack that barrier. Clear that obstacle. Have more fun. Cycle-Smart Solutions for Cycling and Half Acre Cycling are committed to helping Chicago area women achieve their racing goals. Focusing on intermediate/advanced skills, this clinic is designed for Cat 3s (and those planning to make that upgrade soon) as well as experienced Cat 1 and 2 racers. Half Acre is also very pleased that their clinic will take place at Big Marsh Chicago.  Big Marsh Chicago is on its way to being the premier bike park and eco-recreation area in the Midwest. For more information see the event page register: https://www.bikereg.com/hacwomenscxclinic. Topics include: explosive starts, dismounts and mounts, barrier work, bunny-hopping obstacles, cornering at speed, off-camber cornering, race strategy, training, and race preparation. Your coaches: Shaun Adamson (Cycle-Smart) and Kelli Richter (Vision Quest Coaching) .

– Also, because CX all.the.time… Half Acre Cycling is pleased to present the inaugural CX Eliminator: an elimination-style cyclo-cross race.
1) Race starts with a non-elimination round, one or more heats of eight racers who complete one 3km lap to determine heat placement for the first elimination round.
2) Next comes the elimination rounds, heats of eight racers again complete a 3km lap. The top four finishers move to the next round, while the bottom four are eliminated from competition.
3) And finally the championship round, the final eight racers will complete the lap, head­-to-­head, with the top three racers earning podium spots.
Check out the HACCXE website for all the details: http://cx-eliminator.blogspot.com/p/about.html.

– Not to be outdone, xXx Racing will again be hosting their Relay Cross back in Jackson Park on Sunday August 23rd. Loads of fund at this event and another great way to ease into the season. So grab a partner and get ready to high-five.

– Sadly, Psimet has informed us that Norge CX will not be back this season. So enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend to the fullest, eat lots of turkey, or tofurkey if that’s your thing, and get ready for the State Championship at Montrose the following weekend.

– And finally… as if we had to remind anyone, its still hot, and muggy, and hot, and did we mention hot(?) here in Chicago. So while out training either on the road or the trails (please go outside and stay off Zwift), make sure to stay hydrated and take breaks so as not to overheat. Heat stroke is a real thing and we want to see you all in the staging grids this Autumn.