– Masters Cat 1/2/3 racer & super promoter Jim Nowak, Athletes By Design, and Prairie Path Cycles return yet again with their classic ABD Sunrise Park course in Bartlett, IL. In our opinion what makes CX and specifically the CCC so great is the diversity in our courses. Jim always sets the bar a little higher each year with his course designs and this year is no different. The “6 pack” may be gone but you can always expect a surprise or two out of Sunrise Park. And of course the original Heckle Hill will be back in all its glory.

– The Bartlett venue has the trickiest parking situation of all the CCC races. Parking is actually a good ways away at the Sycamore Trails School. See the map below. Please park at the school and follow the signs on the path to the course and registration. Its probably a good idea to ride your bike, but per USAC regulations you must wear your helmet at all times when on your bike at a race. You can’t finish the race if you don’t start because you brains are spilled all over the sidewalk… so please keep it safe and don’t make us ask you twice… better yet once. See page 52 here.

– Please remember registration closes 30 minutes prior to each race start time.  Also, please allow the 40+ racers to get their numbers first thing in the morning so they can warm up for their race. Thanks!

– Online reg via BikeReg.com closes tonight at midnight. Preliminary staging will be posted here on Friday.

– ABD has again increased payouts across the board.

– Sunrise Park is notoriously windy… so if you plan on setting up a tent, bring metal stakes or weights. Sunday’s forecast calls for upper 60’s and relatively lite winds, but please dress and pack accordingly.

– Sunrise Park is smack in the middle of a housing community. Please respect the neighbors at times while at the race… this includes not peeing in places you shouldn’t (ABD has Spot-A-Pots), using foul language, and anything that would make it so we can’t come back next year. You all are always great about this, so please keep it PG.

– Since the park is in the middle of a residential area there are no food or beverage establishments in the immediate vicinity. However ABD will have local food vendor Sandwichville be serving up wraps, pulled pork, and maybe beef sandwiches.

– Series sponsor NovaCare Rehabilitation will have physical therapists at the race from around 10:00 – 12:00 providing complimentary injury screens and stretching. Just stop by the NovaCare tent. Also see them for information on bike fit services or a complimentary energy bar or post-race snack.

– The course: Sunrise Park is one of the CCC’s longest courses at nearly 2.5 miles. All categories will still be racing the same amount of time as all other CCC races though, but you’ll obviously be completing fewer laps… so pay attention to the lap counters. Since the start chute and Finish line are on the interior of the course… please be careful when crossing the course as racers will likely be coming at you from both directions. The course runs anti-clockwise again this year. Registration will be just NorthEast of the Finish line. The wheel/bike pit is double entry and SouthWest of the finish line. The starting grid will be just to the NorthEast of the finish line next to registration. As always, numbers will go on your left.

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.

– For the 5th year in a row the Carpenter’s Park race, hosted by Main St. Bicycles (owned by CCC director and all-rounder Jeff Provisor) & North Branch Cycling, will be held along side the Carpentersville Oktoberfest as stop #5 of the CCC. The festival will once again have a beer garden (which will of course be located right next to the course). Great food vendors, live music, raffles, kid rides (inflatables), a petting zoo, face painters, and much, much more. Note that Main Street Bicycles and North Branch Cycling have been hosting this race for 8 years – since 2005!

– Remember the previous day the CCC is just up the road in Wauconda at Psycho Cross. See the preview for Saturday’s race here. Online pre-reg on BikeReg.com is already closed for Psycho CX but closes tonight (Thursday) at midnight for Carpentersville.

– Registration should be in the NorthEast corner of the park not far away from the Staging/Start/Finish area. Masters 50+ pre-reg is still a little lite so we have opened up a few more Single Speed spots.

– The weather forecast looks fantastic, again.

– Jeff and the village of Carpentersville have asked that we please keep the beer drinking in the beer garden. It always seems there are a few people out there that can’t find access to the Interwebs, so if you see someone with a can or two of High Life on the other side of the course, please ask them to be respectful of the park, other spectators, and racers. Bacon and Twinkies are allowed and in fact encouraged to roam freely.

– Overflow parking will be East of the park – in the school lots off of Spring St (to the South), and at Cross Container off of Maple (to the North).

– The beer garden (did we mention there is beer) will be located on the NE side of the course. There will be many tasty food options as well… oh if only Kenny’s famous Chubby Spud could be in attendance.

–  $2.00 I.D. wrist band fee to purchase adult beverages in the Beer Garden, proceeds go to the FISH Food Pantry.

– Bring a canned food item for the local food pantry, and the $2.00 I.D. wrist band fee to purchase adult beverages in the Beer Garden will be waived.

– For all you kids who aren’t yet old enough to race in the 10-14 category, Activator Biycle Club returns to host another Free Kiddie Ride held just after 1:30pm. Just bring your bike and a helmet!  Also for the kiddies, a huge inflatable jumpy thing to keep ’em busy & happy for .50 cents a ride.

– Carpentersville Rotary is hosting a Futterung (feeding) at a spot near the beer garden, so look for your treat coupons “fished” out to you during the race to redeem for a tastie treat at the Rotary booth. Now more categories will enjoy the thrill of a “hand out” with out breaking any rules.

– Todd Bustead is back on the mic, adding his flair and excitement for the sport to the cross commentary.

– Womens 1/2/3 payouts will be scaled  just the same as the Cat 1/2/3 race based on pre reg entries. Junior and Cat 4B categories will have prizes as well, so don’t forget to collect!

– The Course: This year’s course will be similar to last year with such class Carpentersville features as creek crossings, one of the CCC’s longer sand pits, and a little nub of a hill which is always great for spectating and taking photos. No sand pit this year as the village keeps mulching it so the sand does not suck anymore. Bigger and better for 2012 the course will again shoot riders through dirt rollers (pump/rhythm section). Take notes from Sven Nys here (0:11).

– 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.

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.