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.

Photo: Edmund White

– Thanks again to Beverly Bike-Vee Pak for another great race at Dan Ryan Woods. From the comments section this year’s course may have been BBVP’s best so far. Thanks also to everyone who came out and raced, cheered, biffed the small barriers, snapped photos, heckled, etc.

– We saw several new riders take wins for the first time as well as several old hats taking the top step for another time. We also had several overall series leads change hands. Find full results here and Overall Series Scoring here.

– This coming weekend is the first of the CCC’s two double weekends at Psycho Cross and Carpentersville. Online pre-reg closes on BikeReg.com on Wednesday and Thursday night at midnight respectively.  But before the weekend even gets started you have a chance to race in the dark at Psycho Cross After Dark. Additional details at PsychoCrossChicago.com.

– Upgrades: If you upgrade please send us a note at [email protected] so we can make sure to transfer your points for staging for you. Remember half of your points travel with you to the next category if you do so before Carpentersville. See the Series Rules/FAQ page for more details.

– The course preview for Saturday’s Psycho Cross race will be posted tomorrow (Wednesday). Sunday’s Carpentersville race will be posted at the regular time on Thursday.

 A new sponsor for 2012 Keating Law Offices (IllinoisBicycleLaw.com) is a firm of trial attorneys focused on and successfully handling cases involving bicycle collisions and accidents.  The best offense is a great defense, so please ride smart and safe. But if you are involved in an accident initial consultations are free!

 Bloomington Cycle & Fitness – Bloomington Cycle & Fitness is a family owned and operated bicycle shop in (you guessed it) Bloomington, IL. With a friendly and knowledgeable staff who LOVE to ride bikes the BCF staff would love to help you whether you are looking for a first bike or you ride like a pro. Its still a ways away, but Bloomington Cycle & Fitness is also hosting a CX race on Sunday December 9th. Check out Miller Chill Cyclocross – www.millerchillcx.com

 To Foundry Cycles, a bike is a tool. It’s a tool for carving and smoothing terrain. It’s a tool for honing your body and sharpening your mind.  It’s a tool designed to grind away doubt and reveal the strength underneath. Foundry designs and produces high performance carbon fiber bikes, each built to deliver no less than everything you ask of it.  To find your next Foundry, visit Curt at BikeFix in Oak Park, he will gladly take care of your needs.

 Spidermonkey Cycling is an all-inclusive cycling club based right here in Chicago, Illinois. The Spidermonkeys emphasize completion as much as competition which is another of saying the Monkeys are always having the most fun not matter where they place in a race.  

 – Got Merchandise? Pick up your CCC gear now before we run out.

– And finally… did you see Tipping Point’s billboard?

– This Sunday stop #3 of the CCC heads to Chicago’s South side at Dan Ryan Woods. Hosted by Beverly Bike-Vee Pak.

– Due to a few scoring errors we were unable to distribute the Pactimo Leaders Jerseys at Hopkins Park. If you are in the overall lead of your category and don’t have a jersey (i.e. W123, W4, Jr10-14, & 4A), please see us at registration BEFORE your race so we can get your jersey to you.

– Also Juniors… a word from the Cuttin’ Crew about your medals/ribbons/prizes/awards.

– Food: For all pre-registered racers BBVP will have free Mild Italian Sausage, Bratwurst, of All Natural Vegan Links from the Missing Sausage Link. BBVP is paying for all of this food… so please eat it!

– In addition to BBVP’s tasty free food, the good folks at Brand BBQ will have their food truck on-site in the afternoon with other delicious options.

– Water: BBVP and RR will not be supplying water (saving the world with less plastic). There are two water fountains on site but hydration might be important with the warm weather forecast. CarboRocket will be on site in the morning with coffee and mix.

– Neutral support from Beverly Bike and Ski will be at registration.

– Parking: Parking is free and the best spots are off of the 8500 S Western Ave entrance to the park… follow parking lot to the South.

– The Chicago Marathon is being run on Sunday so please plan your travel times to and from the race accordingly.

– Pre-ordered 2012 CCC series t-shirts as well as socks, coffee mugs, and embro will be available for pick up. Please see us at the microphone.

– Online pre-reg on BikeReg.com closes tonight at midnight. Please remember on site registration closes 30 minutes prior to each race’s start time. Women 1/2/3 pre-reg is currently at 28 riders so BBVP will be matching the women’s payout to the Cat 1/2/3’s for the 500 racer tier.

– 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!

– Thanks to everyone who came out to race, crash, spectate, cheer, heckle, be handsome, and give podium kisses this past Saturday in CCC’s season opener in Chicago’s Jackson Park. As always thanks to xXx Racing for hosting another a great event. Thanks also to the Cuttin’ Crew for the extra Junior prizes and to Activator Cycling Club for hosting the kiddie fun ride. Full results are posted here, overall series standings here, and lots of pictures here. If you lost your house keys or a watch, we have them. Please contact us and we’ll get them back to you.

– The CCC takes a week off this coming weekend but will be back in action on Sunday 9/30 at Hopkins Park in Dekalb where North Central Cyclery, Axletree, Half Acre Cycling, and Robots <3 will host stop 2 of the series.

– Speaking of Sunday… please make sure you’re paying attention to what we write here… We heard of at least one of your who showed up to Jackson Park on Sunday only to find a few hay bails and used Gu wrappers.

– Speaking of paying attention… please, please, please only enter the course when the USAC officials give the okay. The officials will allow you to pre-ride the course after the leaders of the previous race have finished, but only when it is safe to do so and will not affect the outcome of the race still finishing up. If you catch someone still racing never, ever, ever, ever ride in front of them!!! Several Women 1/2/3 racers’ results at #JPCX were affected by non-racers riding in front of them across the finish line (also a no-no) and the leaders of the 30+ race were affected (mid-race no less) by someone who entered the course when they were NOT supposed to. We won’t mention any names since you know who you are, but thank you to the 650+ other racers who followed the rules and did the right thing.

– Speaking of doing the right thing… our USAC officials do a great fantastic job of not pulling riders and letting lapped riders remain in the race (its not easy to score like that). However, if  the leaders of any race during your starting wave lap you (you’ll know who they are because they’re going faster than you), don’t be a goof ball and try to race next to or in front of them. You are already lapped and won’t be able to make up that lap before the end of the race… so please do not affect the outcome of anyone’s race by being a knucklehead.  Again, if you did this at #JPCX you know who you are. Sorry for all the finger wagging, now on the to fun stuff.

– Speaking of knuckleheads… we know many of you are heading off Fabulous Las Vegas this week for Interbike & CrossVegas. Have fun, don’t stay out too late, and make it home safe!

– Speaking of home… while the CCC takes the weekend off, we know many of you will be heading just up the road to Madison, WI for the Planet Bike Cup stop of the Trek US Gran Prix of Cyclocross. This is a great event and we encourage everyone who can make the trip to head up North and see what a big-time Pro CX race is like. If you can’t be there in person several websites around the intertubes will likely have live feeds.

– If you want to show off your Chicago pride head on over to our Merchandise page and pick yourself up a tshirt, some socks or even a coffee mug and embro.

– And finally… our USAC officials have asked us to share the following with you:

RIDERS – HELP US HELP YOU… Please note and share with your teammates the location to pin your bib numbers at our races. They should go in the middle of your SIDE. The lower part of the bib # should be pinned starting at the front most part of your side jersey panel. Too high and the sun reflection makes them hard to read. If in doubt, ASK US! Thanks!!!!

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

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

– Please note that the CARA 20-mile run will again be taking place along the Lakefront Path on Sunday morning. xXx and the CCC urge all CX’ers riding down to Jackson Park for the race to exercise due caution and courtesy when traveling along that route. False alarm, the CARA run is on Sunday. Please still be careful on the bike path.

– The CCC is trying to be green… take a look under the floor mats of your car, dig into to seat cushins and bring your own safety pins to properly attach your bib number. Mother earth thanks you!

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

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

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

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

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

– Concerning waitlists… we’ll start waitlists for each filled category (SS, Juniors, Cat 4A, Cat 4B) when registration opens at 7:30am. First come first served. 30 minutes before each race is scheduled to start (yes, even if we’re running a little behind we will still close reg at the scheduled time) we’ll close out the race and reassign bib numbers to those on the waiting list. If you are pre-reg’d and show up after this time your bib will already have been reassigned and you will NOT be allowed to race. Period. If you are racing more than once and would like to give your number up to someone else so they have a chance to enjoy the thrill of heckles and whatever else goes on, thank you, and we certainly can accommodate that. Just make your way to registration as soon as possible and the reg staff will switch you in start list (just don’t give your number to the other guy/gal… you both can be DQ’d by USAC and no one wants that!).

– Please remember to register for the correct category/age group. We cannot allow you to race outside your cat/age group and the reg staff will be checking licenses thoroughly all day long. If you have a question, please ask us or a USAC official.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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