Photo: Mary Bates

– Thanks to Rob Curtis and team PSIMET for hosting another edition of the NORGE Ski Jump CX race. Temps were chilly but the racing was hot.

– Next up, the 12th and final stop of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup which is also the Illinois State Championship at Montrose Harbor hosted by Ten27 Cycles. Reg is open on BikeReg but full for a few categories (normal waitlist protocol will be in effect). Look for the normal course preview Thursday morning. But in the meantime, you should get ready for tacos.

– Reg is also open on BikeReg for The Afterglow and the CCC New Year’s Resolution races. Bloomington Cycles’s Miller Chill race in Bloomington is on USAC. There are also a few Wisconsin races in December before USAC National Championships in Madison (Verona) in January. Entry fees for Nationals increase substantially on 12/11/12 so you may want to think about reg’ing soon.

– The CCC’s end of the season awards party (we think the term banquet sounds a bit too formal for CX) will be held at noon on Sunday December 16th at EJ’s Place in Skokie. Overall series winners will be awarded as well as a few extra door prizes. Please purchase you tickets ahead of time on BikeReg here.

– Help support Verdigris Village-CX junior David Lombardo in his travels to EuroCrossCamp over the Christmas holiday by donating here. Also thank you to everyone who donated money to David’s wheel fund at NORGE.

– And finally… just in case you thought you were fast.

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: The Roderick

– Thanks to the South Chicago Wheelmen for hosting yet another double race weekend at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort. The two days couldn’t have been much more different with sun and then rain on Saturday (including this season’s 2nd weather related delay) which created very sloppy conditions in the afternoon, followed by sun and loads of wind on Sunday that dried out the course and made for a very fast (at least with a tailwind) and tacky course. The CCC returns to Indian Lakes in less than 2 months for our UCI New Year’s Resolution races.

– This coming weekend the CCC heads to its 11th and penultimate stop in Mt. Prospect at Melas CX – Basin Racin’. Promoter Chris Henning and the Northbrook Garner Bicycle Club change venues from last year’s YMCA camp for a race a little closer to the city. Look for the usual preview on Thursday. Volunteers are still needed and you can sign up here.

– Congratulations to Village Verdigris-CX riders Mike Scalise (40+), Danny Warner (50+), Maxx Hall (Jr Men 15-18), and Gina Johnson (Women 15-18) for already sewing up the overall series titles in their respective categories. VVCX is also currently leading the Team Overall competition.

– Speaking of Verdigris Village-CX, youngster David Lombardo traveled to Louisville this past weekend to race against the best 17-18 year old CX racers in the country. David finished 7th on Saturday and 14th on Sunday. Nice racing David! Team Mack’s Jacob Schilling also lined up against the big boys. Nice racing Jacob!

– Speaking of UCI level racing, did you hear the CCC is again hosting our UCI C2 New Year’s Resolution races on January 5th & 6th 2013? See all the details on the NYR page here including how to sign up to volunteer and race for super cheap!

– Save the date, Sunday December 16th… we’re finalizing details for the CCC End of Season Awards Party at EJ’s Place in Skokie.

– And finally… GO KARL!

Photo: SnowMountain Photography

– Thanks to Rob Curtis and the entire PSIMET crew for hosting stop 8 of the 2012 CCC at Emricson Park in Woodstock. Some of you may not have liked the hills, but we think we can all agree the changes to the course were the best yet (even without the sandpit).

– Next up, the CCC travels to Bloomingdale for the 2nd and final double weekend (CCC races 9 & 10) of the year at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort (ILR) hosted by the South Chicago Wheelmen. SCW always hosts a great race (or two) and this is not a weekend to miss. Make a weekend of it and book your hotel rooms now. Look for the course preview on Wednesday (since there’s a race on Saturday). Also remember online pre-reg on BikeReg closes Wednesday night for both days, so don’t miss it!

– Speaking of Indian Lakes, UCI level racing returns to Chicagoland January 5th & 6th 2013 with the Chicago Cyclocross Cup New Year’s Resolution. Online pre-reg on BikeReg is now open and all the information you could possibly ever want is on the NYR page of this site and in the Tech Guide. The CCC needs a bunch of volunteers to make this race happen and we need your help. Sign up here first and then contact us at [email protected] for details about extremely ultra super low discounted race entry fees and/or merchandise in exchange for volunteering before reg’ing on BikeReg.

– Speaking of merchandise, we still have a few 2012 series t-shirts and coffee mugs (socks & embro too) for sale on our merch page. If you’ve already order some gear please see us this weekend at ILR to pick up your stuff.

– Speaking of stuff (okay that was a bad segue) there are several non-CCC series races happening between now and NYR. Check the Illinois Cycling Association BikeReg page for details (Norge & Afterglow) and USAC (Miller Chill).

– Congratulations to Verdigris-Village CX’s 16 year old (17 CX age) phenom David Lombardo for some great finishes this past weekend (okay really all season long) at the Cincy3 races. David’s 5th and 6th places in Cincy (not to mention his win at the USGP Planet Bike cup) have landed him in 5th place on USAC’s Cyclocross National Calendar standings and should help in his bid to attend this season’s Euro Cross Camp. Fantastic racing David and we wish you (and a few other locals) good luck this weekend at the Louisville USGP.

– Speaking of USGP… so who is going to Masters Worlds and Worlds Worlds?

– And finally… say what?

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: Gene Cassella

– Wow what an exciting weekend… and the weather was crazy too! Thanks to promoters Ted Schweitzer and Jeff Provisor, Verdigris-Villiage Cyclesport, Main St. Bicycles, North Branch Cycling and all the volunteers who made Psycho Cross and Carpentersville a success. Saturday was mostly rain but warm(ish) temperatures with some wood chips and slick mud thrown in for good measure. Oh yeah, the flyover too. If you weren’t there on Sunday we had rain, then clouds, then lots of rain, then some farm animals (including llamas), then sun, then a tornado warning (that cut the Cat 1/2/3 race to just 2 laps after 20 minutes), then rain & wind, then clouds, then a whole lot of rain. So yes, it was an exciting weekend. The Carpentersville race even got some press in the Daily Herald.

– Next Sunday the CCC travels to Barlet, IL for stop 6 of the series at ABD Sunrise Park

– As if the weather wasn’t enough we saw multiple Overall Series Standings lead changes this weekend. The 40+ lead went from Newt Cole to Mike Scalise to Michael Heagney. Eric Drummer just barely held on to the 30+  lead. Liz So and Katie Tomarelli extended their leads in the Women 1/2/3 and Women 3 respectively while Danny Warner and John Craychee put vice grips on their 50+ and 60+ leads. Peter Chrapkowski padded his Single Speed lead and Mike Conroy won on Saturday to take the Cat 3 lead and held on to it on Sunday. Katie Mann took over the lead in the Women 4 with a win on Sunday. Maxx Hall continues his domination of the Junior 15-18 category while teammate Gina Johnson leads the Girls 15-18. In Junior 10-14‘s even after a tough Sunday in the mud Juan Gonzalez continues to lead while Danielle Krebs leads the Girls 10-14 category. In the Cat 1/2/3‘s Scott McLaughlin took back the lead from Brian Conant with a win on Saturday only to lose it back to Conant in Sunday’s abbreviated Carpentersville race. And finally, in the Cat 4A‘s Verdigris-Village CX’s teammates Ken Krebs and BBVP’s Michael Bucholtz continue to battle for the overall lead with Krebs holding on to a slim lead. It should go without saying that while the riders mentioned above are leading the standings we know each of you are pouring your heart and souls into every race, sprinting for your placing whether it is 1st or 91st… and for that we congratulate everyone!

– Haven’t picked up a CCC 2012 series t-shirt yet? Hurry they’re going quick. Unfortunately we’re all out of socks but still have Mad Alchemy embrocation and Contigo coffee mugs.

– After a weekend of atrocious weather that will surely gunk up your gears and seize up your cables we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our fantastic Series Sponsor bicycle shops who can and will keep your bikes rolling for the rest of the series…

Iron Cycles – It goes without saying that the 2012 title sponsor Iron Cycles knows a thing or two about cyclocross bikes. Stop by, bring in your bike for some TLC, and check out the bike wash room.  

Main Street Bicycles – We wouldn’t be surprised if a few of you just left your mud caked bikes on the front door of Main Street Bicycles on the way home from Carpentersville on Sunday. Jeff and guys are just a pedal stroke away from the Fox River Trail system connecting the entire Fox Valley trail system.  

The Pony Shop – Widely regarded as one of the best CX bike shops in the country, Lou and the guys at The Pony Shop have been a part of the Chicago cycling community since 1969. The Pony Shop believes in, rides, wins on, and uses the same products they sell to you.  

 PSIMET – Not a bicycle shop per se, but Rob Curtis builds wheels with the best of them and does not make compromises.

Spin Doctor Cyclewerks – Since 1996 Spin Doctor Cyclewerks has been offering fine bicycles, quality accessories, and expert repairs to the greater Bartlett cycling community. Owner Greg Anderson also knows how to shred the gnar in the 50+ race.  

 Higher Gear – Higher Gear is a full-service bike shop with two locations just north of Chicago. Ride into higher gear with us!    

 Velosmith Bicycle Studio – Also on the North Shore, Velosmith works with cyclists of all types who seek comfort, power, speed, and performance from their bike. Their clients love them because they help them raise the bar on their cycling experience by achieving optimal riding comfort and performance. Fancy carbon helps too!  

 Beverly Bike and Ski – Located on Chicago’s South side, Beverly Bike and Ski offers bike (and ski) sales and services since 1921.

– And finally… Congratulations Felix.

– Back again for another year race promoter Ted Schweitzer returns with Verdigris Village CX to host stop #4 of the CCC with their Psycho Cross race in Wauconda at the Golf Farm. The race also has a website at: www.psychocrosschicago.com. Pre-reg closes tonight at midnight on BikeReg.com.

– Speaking of night time… Ted also brings back his night race this year on Friday. The Friday Night Race is not part of the CCC series (so no points to gain or lose), but will surely be fun for those of you looking to get in a little more racing. The course will be lit, but please bring your own lights. Camping spaces are available for $10.00 per person. Online pre-reg is on BikeReg here and additional details can be found here on the PsychoCross website. Just a few of the things happening Friday night…

• Goody bags for all entrants
• Announcing by Verdigris-Village CX Team Boss-Man, Vincenzo Boyer
• Alternative race means you can use any bike, think: tandems, recumbents, fat-tire bikes, Sting Rays, fat-tire recumbents, etc.
• Special prizes for the man, woman, and junior with the brightest lights on their bikes (the most lumens, not the most amount of individual lights)
• New for 2012, racing through a nighttime sand pit
• Disco ball, DJ, smoke machine, and bubble machine for the night creatures
• There is a bar and a restaurant on the premises of The Golf Farm
• The “Bridge of Sighs” flyover returns – complete with Christmas lights – for it’s third showing
• Swag/prizes/ primes from: Uvex (helmets and glasses), Clement Cycling (tires), SockGuy (guess?), Cateye (computers and lights) Profile Design (handlebars and stuff); BaileyWorks (messenger bags), Paceline Products (t-shirts, beer cozies, Chamois Butt’r), Krieg Cycling (seat bags), SRAM (hats and shirts), Gore BikeWear (socks and glove), Knog (lights)  and more
• Dogs welcome
• Discounted rate on rooms at the Holiday Inn Express at: 197 South Rand Road in Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047. (847) 726-7500. Great place to stay if someone if racing Psycho Cross After Dark and then Psycho Cross 2012, and then also racing Carpenter Park in Carpentersville, as the Holiday Inn is roughly between The Golf Farm, where Psycho Cross is being held and Carpentersville.

– Speaking of more CX racings… on Sunday the CCC travels just down the road to Carpentersville. See the preview for Sunday’s race tomorrow. Online pre-reg on BikeReg.com closes for Carpentersville tomorrow (Thursday) at midnight.

– Travel Times: There is often road construction and occasional major traffic backups in the vicinity of Route #12 (Rand Road) and Old McHenry road, as well as other construction in the area: Route #12 (Rand Road) south of Rt. #22 in Lake Zurich, Midlothian Road in Hawthorn Woods, and Lake Cook Road in Deerfield. Please plan accordingly as registration for each race closes 30 minutes prior to the start of each race.

– Per the owner of The Golf Farm, please leave your beer coolers and/or grills at home. This is private land and there is a restaurant/bar, so we have to play by the owner’s rules. The main parking will be on the South side of the course. Limited parking is available next to the restaurant/bar.

– Verdigris Custom Homes’ “Bridge of Sighs” will be riders’ main obstacle for the day. The flyover is 22’ tall, 51’ long, and 11’ wide with 13 steps that lead you to the top.

– The Gold Farm is a full service facility with a bar, restaurant, and of course bathrooms. Please use them all.

– Weather looks full on CX so please dress accordingly and bring a change or changes of warm, dry clothes.

– Masters 50+ pre-registration is a little lite so we have opened up a few more Single Speed slots.

– The Course: There isn’t a terrible amount of terrain to speak of but Ted and the Verdigris Village CX crew have been very creative in designing a fast power course with all the trimmings including grass, sand, dirt, gravel, mulch, twists, turns, straightaways, did we mention sand, and of course the flyover.

– Congratulations to everyone who raced at stop two of the 2012 CCC in Hopkins Park. Thanks also to our hosts North Central Cyclery, Axletree, Half Acre Cycling, and Robots Powered by Love. We understand there are a few results errors and we will have them corrected before the end of the week.

– Next up the CCC travels back to the South Side of Chicago for stop 3 in Dan Ryan Woods. Full preview on Thursday.

– If you want even more cycling goodness (and beer), the Illinois Cycling Association (ICA) hosts the 2012 ICA Banquest Saturday night at Goose Island Brewery. Full details and tickets are available here on BikeReg.

– Two quick notes on CX rules and proper etiquette…
1. While racing you are NOT allowed to exchange equipment (wheels, bikes) with anyone (teammates or otherwise) while on course. This violates two USAC rules:

5B1. Wheels or bicycles may only be changed in an official equipment pit
5C4. The exchanging of wheels or bicycles between riders shall be forbidden.

You may have team wheels or bikes that any teammate can use in the equipment pit, but the exchange MUST occur in the equipment pit (i.e. NOT on course).
2. Everyone wants to race CX and to fit everyone in while we have daylight we have to combine a few categories in the same starting times. This setup is not always ideal given varying fitness and skill levels, but it gives everyone a chance to race. Sooo… if another rider in a different category is trying to pass you (or lapping you), please do the respectable thing and let them pass you when it is safe to do so. These riders are NOT affecting your placings. If you are unsure how this works, read this. That being said, when passing another rider (whether they are in your category or not) it is NEVER okay to chop their wheel and cut them off. We realize accidents happen, but if you do such a thing on purpose it is poor sportsmanship and could get you DQ’d or suspended. Everyone on the same page here? Good… now lets race and have fun!!!

– The CCC still has merchandise for you to buy and wear and put on your legs and drink from (Warning! Not all at once).

Series Sponsor time!

 When you’re on the North shore of Chicago there’s only one place to have a great dinner… EJ’s Place in Skokie. Established in 1997 EJ’s menu consists of prime aged steaks and chops, pristine seafood, and traditional Italian specialties. There is an actual EJ and he rides his bike all time. He’s even been know to do a few CX races. More than anything else EJ continues to support the local cycling community, especially Juniors, just as he’s done for many, many years. He also lets us host our end of the season awards party at the restaurant. Thanks EJ!

 One of our new sponsor for 2012 NovaCare Rehabilitation is a full service rehabilitation provider with clinics throughout Chicago and the suburbs. Specializing in physical therapy and sports medicine treating sports injuries, orthopedic injuries and post surgical conditions NovaCare also has specialty services such as bike fits, video gait and running analysis, as well as Active Release Techniques (ART) and Graston. When you visit NovaCare to get fixed, make sure to mention you heard about them from the Chicago Cyclocross Cup!

Back for for another year Mad Alchemy has a full line of all natural body care products hand-made in small batches to ensure the highest quality product available. All the ingredients in Mad Alchemy Embrocation are from the earth, pure and simple. The Women 4 and Cat 4A fields will once again be racing for Mad Alchemy First Lap Hot Leg Sprints where the winner goes home with a tub of delightful Mad Alchemy Embrocation.

And finally… this!

– Stop two of the 2012 CCC takes us to Hopkins Park hosted by North Central Cyclery, Axletree, Half Acre Cycling, and Robots Powered by Love. Driving out to beautiful Dekalb is well worth it for the flyover alone.

– Since the CCC now has a Single Speed category there will be no OUILSSSCXC (Officially Unofficial IL State Single Speed CX Championships).

– The World Famous Half Acre Cycling Bake Sale returns for another year. Both veg and non-veg options will be available for purchase.

– Did we mention the flyover? Yep, its back and the weather looks delightful for CX.

– Driving can sometimes be tricky due to construction along Interstate 88 and this year looks the same, so give yourselves plenty of time to get out to Dekalb.

– AXLETREE and North Central Cyclery will be sponsoring a kid’s race at 1:45PM, during the Cat 1/2/3 race. Short course with short barriers for short legs, and everyone is a winner!

-Lots of additional payouts! Hopkins Park is matching the Women 1/2/3 to the Cat 1/2/3 race and also awarding a separate payout for the Women 3 AND having a separate Women 3 podium. So get your cameras ready there will be plenty podium time. The fine print: In the event a Women Cat 3  finishes in the top five of the W1/2/3 race, she will be awarded the larger the two payouts, but not double payout.

– Speaking of podiums, Women 4 & Juniors podiums  will be held at 2pm to allow the officials enough time to sort out the 3 different categories. Women 1/2/3, Women 3, 50+, 60+, & Single Speed podium will be at 12:15pm. So go get cleaned up, get out of your chamois, pick up some food at the bake sale, and come back for your podiums at the correct times.

– Look for the Pactimo Series Leader Jerseys in EVERY race. It will take slightly longer to calculate the overall standings after each race so unless the current jersey holder wins their race we’ll announce and award the leaders jersey after final results are posted (i.e. not at the same time as the podiums).

– Remember the Women Cat 4 and the Cat 4A fields are both racing for the Mad Alchemy First Lap Hot Legs Sprints. You will receive instructions on the start line for where the sprint line will be, but we’re told it may be at the bottom of the other side of the flyover… so you have to get up and over the wooden monster first!

– Staging will follow CCC series protocol in the following order: CCC series points, CrossResults.com points, then order of registration. Remember CrossResults.com points are only applied if you pre-reg (and use your correct USAC license #) so get on it. Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes tonight at midnight.

– Waitlists are only on-site on Sunday. Get there early if your want a spot!

– If you pre-order your CCC Merchandise; tshirts, socks. coffee mugs, and embro… sorry but the CCC will NOT have merch at Hopkins Park, however we will be back and distributing all the goods at Dan Ryan Woods.

– The course will follow the same basic route as last year, in a figure-8 pattern afforded by the flyover. Hopkins Park will be making some changes to the “flow” of the course to make a better balance between power and skill. Expect some sections that will be fast if you have the fitness to put down the power through them. The equipment pit will be right-hand entry so as not to require you to cross the course to get to it.

– Congratulations to everyone who raced this weekend in Madison, WI at the the Planet Bike Cup stop of the Trek US Gran Prix of Cyclocross. Full results are here and here.

– Next up the CCC is back in action this SUNDAY 9/30 when North Central Cyclery, Axletree, Half Acre Cycling, and Robots <3 host stop 2 of the CCC at Hopkins Park in Dekalb, IL. The Hopkins Park promoters are bumping up the Women Cat 1/2/3 payouts as well as special payouts and a podium for the Women Cat 3’s. There will also be a kid’s race (hosted North Central Cyclery), the annual bake sale, and much more. Look for more details on Thursday morning in the full course preview or on Robots Powered by Love’s blog.

– For Hopkins Park and going forward in the series if we get to Wednesday morning (Tuesday for Saturday races) and the Women 1/2/3 and/or Masters 50+ fields have NOT filled up on BikeReg we will open up a few additional pre-reg spots for the Single Speed category (and take away a few from the other fields). As a reminder Women 1/2/3 have 30 spots, Masters 50+ 40, 60+ 10, and Single Speed 20 reserved on BikeReg… but the total number of riders allowed on course for the 10:45 start wave is still 100. One race day we will fill any unfilled pre-reg spots up to the 100 rider maximum.

– Not sure how we forgot about this from last season, but we will hold the Women 4 & Juniors podiums at 2pm to allow the officials enough time to sort out the 3 different categories. We’ll also hold the Women 1/2/3, 50+, 60+, & Single Speed podium at 12:15pm for the same reason. So go get cleaned up, get out of your chamois and come back half way through the next race for your podiums.

– Now a few quick words about three more of our series sponsors…

 Back for their 2nd season UVEX Cycling is helping protect the riders of the CCC with helmets and sun glasses. For over 80 years people around the world have relied on UVEX products to protect them – every day and across a broad range of applications. Most of us aren’t quite that old, but its great to know UVEX has been around that long to keep people safe.

Several season ago in mid August we received an email from a guy named Brad from Utah saying he just moved to Chicago and wanted to be a part of the CCC. We told him to show up at Jackson Park and we’d talk, thinking we’d probably never hear from him again. Fast forward 3 years and Brad from Carbo Rocket is still showing up at every CCC race, caffenating the masters and hydrating everyone else, and racing quite well himself… on a steel single speed no less in the 40+ category. We’re glad to have Brad and Carbo Rocket back again for another season because the CCC just wouldn’t be the same without him.

 Since before the beginning of time Sheila Moon has sponsored the CCC with her great women specific cycling clothing. Yes there is actually a Sheila Moon and she’s one of the nicest, most passionate women around… not just in the cycling industry. For the 2012 season Sheila Moon returns to be the exclusive supplier of overall series awards and prizes for all the CCC Women’s categories. Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel is woman-owned and every item is created in artisan sewing factories in San Francisco Oakland California.

– Speaking of clothing… pre-order your CCC Merchandise; tshirts, socks. coffee mugs, and embro. The CCC will NOT have merch at Hopkins Park however, but will be back and distributing all the goods at Dan Ryan Woods.

– This coming Saturday the 29th is Wisconsin’s first ever night CX Race. ET Twilight Cross is a fully lit, full length cross race in East Troy, WI just an hours drive north. No need to bring your own lights, just remember your clear lenses! Prereg on BikeReg, flyer is here.