For the 2nd year in a row, the race will be hosted along side the Carpentersville Oktoberfest, which will have a beer garden (which is located right next to the start/finish line), great food vendors, live music, raffles, kid rides (inflatables), and much more. Full details can be found here.

Menu for Carpenter Park…

• Light jazz and donuts from 7am until 9:29 am.
• At 9:30 sharp the main entree is served with racers greeted with a new layout for 2009.
• The Start/Finish will be on Carpenter Blvd (NorthEast Side of the park) .
• Similar features as in past years with creek crossings, the sand pit, a ‘lil sled hill, and a new feature… the “pump section“. BMXr’s will know this better as a rhythm section. Check out Sven Nys flying through one here (0:11).
• Also new this year is a totally free kids race for 5-10 year olds. Register at the Cyclo Kids Course before the 12 noon start time. Note this is NOT a new CCC category but we’re all for it. Parents… you’ll still need to fill out a release form for your kids.
• The weather forecast looks fantastic again… but make sure to bring some warm, dry clothes for after the race so you can put your hand warmers to use.
• Registration will be in the small pavilion in the center of the park near the playground/sandpit. This is the same location as last year.
• There are 319 of you pre-reg’d… that’s the exact same number as Jackson Park!
• The 4A’s are closed and there are 2 spots left in the 4B’s. Just like at past races we’ll have a waitlist for both races to try and give everyone a chance to race.
• Just a reminder, pre-reg’d riders need to pick up their numbers 30 minutes before each race or we will give your number to someone on the waitlsit. Waitlisters… you need to be at registration 30 minutes before your race if you want to get in.
• Another reminder that if you do NOT have a current annual USAC license you need to purchase a one day license for $10. If you purchased an annual license at a previous race and have NOT yet received it in the mail, you need to either bring your receipt (legal pad size of paper) from when you bought the license or show proof from the USAC website. Just because your license # is listed with your previous results does NOT mean you have a current license.
• There are still several of you that have “Pending” listed as your USAC license # in your BikeReg profiles. Please make sure your profile is up to date with your current information.
• Unfortunately we don’t have a course map right now, but as always, course specifics are subject to change. North is the to left, south to the right.

Hey y’all, remember this guy?

The CCC directors want to put together another series t-shirt for 2009 but we want your input… so we’re having a contest.

From now until next Saturday (10/24/09) at midnight anyone can submit a t-shirt design (email it in .jpg, .png, or better yet .eps format to [email protected]). We’ll put all of the designs up for a vote here on the site, and let the riders of the CCC decide which one they want to grace their chests. Please keep it clean and simple, and absolutely no submissions will be accepted after midnight (central time!) on Saturday 10/24/09. The winner will get a copy of their masterpiece, free entry into one of the remaining CCC races, their name plastered all over the CCC website, and lets face it… the adoring admiration of every CCC racer, spectator, heckler, and random passerby.

So let’s see what you’re made of. The clock starts ticking… now!

We’ll have the t-shirts for sale at the Hilton Indian Lakes race and proceeds will benefit the CCC and World Bicycle Relief. We’ll also have the t’s on sale at Woodstock, Montrose, and (if they are any left) at the CCC Banquet in January.

– Thanks again to Beverly Bike Vee-Pak for putting on another great new race in the Dan Ryan Woods. We’ve heard plenty of stories of pain, suffering, and dry-heaving (not due to the free ‘cue!)… so we’ll consider the course and competition a success. BBVP tells us they’re already making plans for next year and we’ll be happy to have them back as part of the CCC. Also big thanks to our USAC officials Nikki Cyp, Steve Feehery, Loch Miwa, Chad Cole, and Dan Labovitch for getting all results up so quickly and accurately. Full results and overall standings were posted by 9:30pm Sunday night!

– Up next this weekend is Carpentersville. Online pre-reg is open until midnight Thursday night here. Thanks to everyone who has consistently pre-reg’d for the first 3 races! As always you can see who your competition is beforehand by following the “Confirmed Riders” link… and there should be plenty of competition again this year. Carpentersville was actually the largest race (by # of riders) in 2008 and with the turnout at Jackson Park this year we can only imagine what will happen this year.

– The race is held in tandem with Carpenter Park’s Oktoberfest and there will again be food, live music, fun for the kids, and more. Look for a full preview on Friday.  Continuing the trend in CCC races this year, Race promoter Jeff Provisor tells us that he, Main St Cycles, and North Branch Cycling have more than a few surprises in store for races this year… and a totally new obstacle never before seen in the CCC… oh, and the sand pit will be back again for sure!

– Just a reminder for all of you Cat 3 Men, Cat 4 Women, and Cat 4 Men… if you want to take any of your points with you to the next highest category you must upgrade BEFORE Carpentersville as set forth in the CCC series rules here.

– Rob Curtis (who rides for Bicycle Heaven) is building, renting, and selling nice carbon CX wheels with tires already glued. Check him out at his separate business site… http://www.psimet.com.

– The MWCCC (midwest collegiate cycling conference) just released the collegiate cross schedule and Purdue’s weekend is 10/31 and 11/1. On 10/31 Purdue is putting on a USAC race along with the collegiate race. There’s no CCC race going on that day and Purdue is hosting a unique Halloween themed race. The flyer can be found here and registration is here. Collegiate riders will need to register for the collegiate races day of, but can pre-reg for the other USAC races online. Please note this is NOT a CCC series race.

– Speaking of Halloween, the St. Charles/Campton race hosted by Bicycle Heaven is the day after Halloween. Hopefully filling up on 3 Muskateers,  Snickers, and Smarties the night before will give you plenty of energy to race on Sunday… but we’d like to see what you’re made of. The CCC will be awarding special callups (after the top 10 in the overall standings) in each race category for the best Halloween costumes. Please keep it clean and safe (for riding a bike), but let’s see if anyone can dare challenge Super Girl for best costume… you’ve got plenty of time to come up with something!

– Looking for a little Saturday warm-up? Burnham Racing is organizing a group (road) ride leaving from Wicker Park this Saturday at 8:30 AM, riding to the Apple Haus in Long Grove. You can see the route here. The ride is 35 miles out and 40 miles back… so bring some money for Apple Fritters and Cider at the turn-around point! A few CX’ers will be on the ride but NOT doing the full distance… CX races aren’t that long!

– And finally… a big, big congrats to Flatlandia on the newest edition to their CX team… Maxwell John Firak!

Hi all,

We were going to post a note about USAC Cyclocross Nationals in Bend, OR (Dec 10-13th) later this month, but a story coming across the wires here notes that registration, at least for the masters, is opening this weekend. According to this page, registration opens at 12:01am EST on 10/10/09… which is 11:01PM Central tonight here in Chicago.

The USAC webpage is not yet updated but schedule info is here. Note that callups are based on registration date/time. Reg fees are a bit more pricey than in the CCC, but hey… its nationals and you’ll be in beautiful Bend, OR.

We’d love to see a few Chicagoland CX’ers head out west and show the rest of the country what we’re made of, so let us know if you plan on racing!

If any of your are up and listening to the radio in the morning, be sure to tune into 1410AM WRMN (Elgin) at 8:15am. The CCC’s own Jeff Provisor (owner of Main Street Bicycles and race promoter for stop #4 in the CCC) will be chatting it up with the DJ’s about the Carpentersville Oktoberfest and (obviously more importantly) the cross race.

For those of you stuck in a cubical, the station also streams live at: www.wrmn1410.com… just click the “listen live button” in the upper right.

In other news, we’re still seeing Dekalb photos filter in, but just had to share this one.

Very, very, very important announcement!

– If you missed our post on Sunday, the CCC schedule is changing starting this week at Dan Ryan Woods. The updated race schedule can also be found on the schedule page. The 40+ & 50+ masters need to be there a little earlier while everyone else starts a little later… but get there early anyway and bring your cowbells!

– We’re happy to announce 3 new sponsors to the CCC series… all of them bike shops.

• Yojimbo’s Garage on Clybourn Ave in the city is back again and supplying CX frames for the free raffle (fill out a raffle ticket at registration at each race).
• MOX Multisport also in the city on Randolph St will be supplying schwag and merchandise prizes for the series.
• Spin Doctor Cyclewerks in Bartlett will be helping out the series with much needed cash to help buy things to put in your way and make you jump over.

The CCC is still looking for series sponsors, so email us at [email protected] if you’d like to be involved.

– The CCC’s newest race in the Dan Ryan Woods takes place this coming Sunday. Beverly Bike-Vee Pak has put together a great course and will have some great food as well. Hopefully the Half Acre crew is recovered from this past weekend’s Dekalb race and shows up so we all have something to drink! ; ) However, please remember to respect the park and its neighbors so we can come back next year.

– Please also remember the Chicago Marathon is happening this weekend. Traffic on the roads is likely to be quite heavy due to detours and such… so please, please give yourselves plenty of time to get to the race… which is on the South Side at Western and 87th. Maps and directions are here.

– Everyone’s favorite new race from last year is back! That’s right, after many, many meetings with the parks district and a boatload of fantastic work by Chris Henning and the Garner Northbrook Cycling Club, the Northbrook venue has finally been approved. The course will be very different from last year, but we’ll at least have the race. Look for more details on the way and online pre-reg to open soon.

Speaking of favorite courses… from everything we’ve heard North Central Cyclery and Half Acre put on a fantastic race in Dekalb’s Hopkins Park this past weekend. Big thanks to everyone who helped put this 2nd year race together that attracted 358 racers! That’s only 40 shy of Jackson Park!

– CCC Overall Standings are posted here. Remember these are overall series standings and NOT placings from one individual race. See how the series is scored here. Team standings will be updated later this week.

– CCC series sponsor CX Magazine is having a race report writing contest. Check it out here.

– Finally… did we mention the race day schedule is changing? Make sure you’re there on time for your race!

Very, very, very important announcement!

The CCC schedule is changing.

Due to the increase in riders this year (>30% from 2008) the CCC Directors and Promoters have decided to split up the morning races to give riders more space and make it easier for the officials to score. The 40+ race will start alone at 9:30am, the 30+ and 50+ races will start together at 10:30am, and the Women 1/2/3 and Men 3+ will start together at 11:30am (the women starting first). This change will also push all other races back 30 minutes… so the Women 4/Juniors will start at 12:30pm, etc. Please let your friends/family/bikes/pets/drinking buddies/in-laws know and plan accordingly. The updated race schedule can also be found on the schedule page.

A few notes on the change:

• Yes, you read correctly… the Women 1/2/3 are starting in front of the Cat 3’s. The top women are just as fast as the top Cat 3’s and its slightly unfair to make them race through the back of the Cat 3 field. Since the Women’s field is smaller the top Cat 3’s shouldn’t have any trouble working their way through the back of the women’s field. Cat 3’s, please DO NOT line up in front of the women on the start line.
• We decided NOT to make the schedule change at Dekalb since its a little further of a drive and we wanted to let all of you masters get your beauty sleep. ; )
• We realize the schedule change make inconvenience some of you, but no field is changing by more than 30 minutes either way. If this truly messes up your day, please let us know and we’ll work something out.

– We have been asked by the local USAC officials to please make sure your bib number is pinned correctly to your jersey. Imagine someone trying to read the number from the side of the race course… if your number is on the wrong side, on the top of your back, upside down, in your jersey pocket, folded into an origami crane, on your stomach (it happened at Jackson Park!), etc you will not be scored properly. The officials will attempt to identify those on the starting line that need to re-pin their numbers, but please be proactive and do it right the first time.

– CX coach and racer Brian Conant really wants you to race at Dekalb. He even went so far as to send us an email yesterday saying… “I am calling Chicago racers out. You’re not a true cross racer if you can not drive 90min. Tobie/Half Acre have a great event in store with lots of extra’s.” So there you have it… be there or be square. If anyone knows CX its Brian, so if he says to be there… you’ll want to be there.

– Just a reminder that pre-reg for Dekalb/Hopkins Park closes this Thursday evening at midnight. Please update your racer profiles and pre-reg!

– Also remember the “Officially Unofficial IL St CX SingleSpeed Championship” will be held at Dekalb. This race technically isn’t a part of the CCC, but its CX… and how could we say no to Half Acre with a name like that? Full details are on the Half Acre site. Please direct all questions to Half Acre.

– There are a few rumors floating around the CCC race day schedule is changing. The CCC directors and promoters are working on a new schedule to accommodate this year’s increase in racers, but to avoid confusion we won’t be changing anything until after Dekalb… so have fun this weekend, race hard, and check back on Sunday for more details about the schedule at Dan Ryan Woods.

– Congrats on all of the CCC racers who traveled behind the Cheddar Curtain this past weekend for the Planet Bike Cup. Looks like the weather and racing were fantastic! Results are  here. Congratulations to all those Chicago area racers who placed well over the weekend including xXx’s Julia Daher who won both women 3/4 races, and Verdigris’ David Lombardo who won Sunday’s Junior boy’s 10-14 race! Please post pix and vids on our earlier post here.

– The CCC still needs officials to help run and score races. Interested in being an official? Please email the IL Technical director and let him know you want to help out. In related news, there may also be a class for road moto refs soon. Please let the IL Technical director know if you are interested.

– That should be all for now… but we’ll likely have more Dekalb and series updates later this week!

– Please remember to update your BikeReg rider profile here with your current USAC annual license. If we don’t have your license number you may not be properly scored in the overall standings. If your license is pending and in the mail, input the license number anyway. If you don’t remember what your license number is, you can look it up on the USAC site here. If you never plan on buying an annual license (shame on you) please input “ONE DAY”, but please DO NOT put “Pending” in the field. We match all riders to their USAC annual license numbers to help with scoring.

– Pre-reg is open for Bicycle Heaven’s St. Charles/Campton race. See all CCC races here.

– Two of our sponsor shops made it on CX Magazine’s list of best CX shops!

– Need another or new set of tires? VeloNews does a good review of lots of rubber.

– Want to see what each course looks like before you race on it? We suggest showing up early (hey, you can watch other races too!) and pre-ride the course in between races. There’s usually a small gap in time between when the previous race ends and the next race begins. The best way to know when you are allowed on the course is to hang out at the finish line as a race is finishing. The officials will let you know when you are allowed on the course. However, be aware that your are NOT allowed on the course to pre-ride while another race is in progress, and you MUST wait until an official tells you it is okay to enter the course. All riders finish on lead lap, so as the winners cross the finish line the officials should allow you to get on course. Need more time and want to get in a little more riding while you see the course? Just ride on the outside of the course tape next to the course. This will give you a good idea of what the terrain is like without actually being on the course. Just be careful when the course doubles back on itself that you don’t actually enter the course.

– On a similar note, if you are pre-riding, never ever ever ever pass a rider who is still racing and do not ride through the finish chute. The finish line will always be on a flat, straight section of the course so you shouldn’t have to pre-ride this section anyway. Plus, riding across the finish line may confuse the officials who may think you are finishing the previous race.

Jackson Park starters… the largest CCC race ever!
30+ = 27
40+ = 55
Men 3 = 61
50+ = 24
Women 1/2/3 = 13
Women 4 = 27
Juniors = 14
Men 1/2/3 = 33
Men 4A = 76
Men 4B = 76
Total = 406

Thanks again to everyone who came out to race, cheer, and be a part of the fun!

What can we say??? Wow!
Today was the largest Chicago Cross Cup race… ever.

406 of you crazy crossers toed the line today and it was amazing. At one point during my own race, I thought I was in the middle of a Texas high school football pep-rally with all the cheering, cowbells, honking horns (thanks Newt), whistles, more cheering, more cowbells, a “DJ”… and the list goes on and on. xXx Racing was even cooking up brats and funnel cakes. I think the best line heard all day was from Pony Shop owner and 30+ racer Lou Kuhn who took time during his race to exclaim… “Its no fair we have to wait 9 months to have this much fun!”

We know we have a few kinks to work out, especially with the scoring, as it seems we’re a victim of our own success and have grown into a monster. Please be patient as we figure these things out. If you have any constructive criticism or ideas you think will help with any aspect of the races… please send them our way. We’re always looking for help too, so please contact us at [email protected] if you’d like to lend a hand!

Final results and CCC overall standings will be posted as soon as possible this week (hopefully tomorrow). Results are posted for all fields except the 40+, Men 3, 50+, and Women 1/2/3. Just a reminder you can always find the link the overall standings here and how the Cup is scored here. We know some of your team names, etc are missing or may not be updated from the road season. As the USAC database is updated this info will be updated.

Thanks again to everyone who came out to race, cheer, and have a great cross time.
Good luck to all of your heading up behind the Cheddar curtain to race the USGP in Madison next weekend.

The CCC will be back in 2 weeks in Dekalb for the Hopkins Park race hosted by North Central Cyclery and Half Acre Cycling. As always, pre-reg’ing is suggested.

– CCC Directors and Promoters