Just a reminder that everyone needs to sign in and get a new number tomorrow… DO NOT race with your number from Saturday or you will not be scored

Photo: Chip Williams

– Back for their 3rd year at the golf course… Steve Feehery, Mike Kelly, and the rest of the South Chicago Wheelmen host this weekend’s double race weekend at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort. Besides a great course and loverly surroundings, some of the other amenities ILR offers include an indoor heated pool (bring your suit), an indoor locker room (change in the warmth and/or take a shower after your race), a spa including steam room, jacuzzi, restaurant, and of course… the Cave Bar.

– As we mentioned on Tuesday, the SCW have secured discounted hotel room rates of $82 per night for up to 4 people. There are still rooms available for this weekend, so call now. For reservations call 630.529.0200 and for general  info visit IndianLakesResort.com. ILR will have a breakfast buffet from 6:30 am to 11 am and an all-you-can-eat lunch/dinner buffet from 11 am til 6:30 pm, both for just $13.95 per person Saturday & Sunday.

– The other CCC (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) will continue where they left off last year (and the year before that) and host the Cave Bash 2011 party in the ILR Cave Bar (in the middle of the hotel… you can’t miss it). The party starts Friday night and (for those who can hang) will continue Saturday night. New Belgium Brewery will also be at the race again selling $3 Fat Tire Ales.

– Being a double weekend you might want to make sure you save some for Sunday since the SCW have put up a $6,600 prize list over the two days, which is quite a bit more than the CCC minimum payout schedule. All categories payout deeper than the standard 5 places… so make sure you pick up your winnings!

– SCW will be raffling a set of Psimet Wheels to benefit their junior development program

– Unfortunately CarboRocket will NOT be on hand w/ free coffee and drink mix, but the Master’s Clubhouse bar/restaurant is steps from the course.

– Tipping Point Photography will be shooting all weekend and will also have Gift Certificates for all your holiday gift giving needs.

– Please see CCC staff to pick up your CCC custom 2011 t-shirts, socks, and embro. We’d love for you to take you stuff home!

– Due to the Saturday race online pre-reg has already closed (we told you on Tuesday). All fields are still open however and you can reg on Saturday and/or Sunday if you missed out.

– Dogs are allowed on ILR and even into the hotel rooms for a one time $50 fee.

– Remember to pick up your Sunday bib number on Sunday. You will have a different number both days for each race and you will NOT be scored on Sunday if you wear your number from Saturday.

– Numbers go on your left both days.

– Lost & Found will be in a bag near registration.

– Given current temps in the 30’s and 40’s Saturday’s sun and 50 degrees looks delightful. However, there’s a chance of rain in the forecast for Sunday. Given the amount of rain we’ve had already this season we wouldn’t be surprised if the heavens open up.

– Registration will be inside next to the pro-shop. We’ll have a bike rack outside (hint: use that instead of the golf bag racks or laying your bike on the ground).

– Podium presentations will take place immediately following each race except the Women 4 and Juniors races. In order to give our USAC officials enough time to correctly tabulate the results we will present the Women 4 and Junior podiums at 1:50pm.

– The ILR staff has asked us to stay off the putting greens. Please don’t make us have to remind you.

– The equipment pit will be staffed by SRAM Neutral Support all weekend long… and not far away from the Start/Finish line.

The Course: We’re racing on a golf course… what more could you ask for? That being said the SCW will include most if not all of the ILR classic sections including the main hill, sand traps, and more than a few fairways, roughs, 2nd roughs, twists, and turns. SCW may has even included some elements of the New Year’s Resolution course. Bacon Alley will surely be back as well. SCW should have the course set up by Friday afternoon if you’d like to pre-ride. The map below is tentative and the course will likely be a bit different by this weekend. Course runs clockwise.

– Big thanks again to Rob Curtis, Dr. Kearns and the entire Enzo’s–Psimet team for hosting Sunday’s PSI-clocross For Life race in Woodstock. The sky’s threatened all day long, but the Cat 4B’s wound up finishing in the sun. We are now deep into the season and the leaders of the overall standings continue to change hands. We are very excited to see this level of competition and look forward to the next few weeks to see what happens.

– This coming weekend the CCC heads West to the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort (ILR) as the South Chicago Wheelmen (SCW) host stops 9 and 10 of the series and the CCC’s 2nd of two double weekends. There’s lots going on at ILR and MsChiCrossCup will even be in attendance. See the SCW’s site for details and stop back here on Thursday for the usual course preview. But until then a few things:

• Discounted room rates for up to 4 people… $82/night (use group code CCC)
• All you can eat buffets for $13.95 at the Masters Clubhouse
• Pool AND hot tub
• Party at ‘The Cave’ bar w/ the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew… $3 Fat Tire Ales… see here
• Roll out of your bed and onto the course
• Psimet wheel raffle to benefit the SCW junior development program
• SRAM neutral support & bike wash
• Did we mention there is a pool and hot tub?

– Please note that due to the Saturday race online pre-reg for ILR closes Wednesday evening. Don’t miss out. Do it now.

– Speaking of ILR, registration is open for the CCC’s New Year’s Resolution which will take place at ILR. All the details you seek are here. We still need a few volunteers to help us put on the event. If you offered to help but didn’t receive an email from us this morning then somehow we lost your original email. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

– Speaking of pre-reg, online reg quietly opened last week for this year’s Afterglow hosted by <a title=”Robots Powered by Love and the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew. Details here.

– Reg is also open for the Norge Ski Hill CX here.

– OMG so many reg sites… tickets will be on sale soon for the CCC’s End of the Season Awards Dinner to be held again at EJ’s Place in Skokie. With so much racing going on from New Year’s to Nationals to Masters CX Worlds we moved the date up to Sunday December 18th (the day after Afterglow) so everyone can make it and not have to miss a race or training ride. Cowbells will be ringing so we hope to see you all there!!

– Just a reminder that you can NOT simply give or take someone else’s bib  number at any race in any category. Yes, the Cat 4B’s are fun, but if you want to race we need to know who YOU are… not who the bib number originally belonged to. We’d be happy to switch you at the reg desk, but our insurance coverage mandates that only the person issued the bib number and who signed the release form can be on the race course. We know that sounds like a bunch of suits talking mumbo-jumbo, but there are rules we all have to play by to stay safe. Thanks for understand… do you smell bacon?

– And finally… Its November and the temps will surely start falling, perhaps with some precipitation… Got Bogs?

– UDPATE: Our friends from Embrocation Cycling Journal were out at Woodstock and put together a great photo essay of the event. See it here.

Photo: Luke Seemann

– Back for his 4th year, rebranded Psi-clocross For Life, and under new management in the form of Rob Curtis and the crew from Psimet the 8th stop in the CCC travels to Emricson Park in Woodstock, IL. Dr. James Kearns is still involved and can help you with all your naprapath needs.

– The race’s original name was the Ed Brophy Memorial Cross for Life race in memory of Ed Brophy who lost his battle with cancer. Look for the cancer charity raffle/fundraiser the same as last year. A portion of the net from the race itself will be donated as in previous years ($8,000 was donated last year).

– Please pay attention when you are racing and entering the park in your car. There are 4 (four) road crossings on the course and while there will be course marshals at each crossing, please look both ways before crossing. Better safe than sorry.

– Speaking of cars, no parking on the grass – anywhere.  There is plenty of parking available throughout Emricson Park, please use it.

– Registration this year will again be in a tent next to the Start/Finish. Preliminary staging order will be posted here.

– A bag of lost and found gear will be in a paper grocery bag near registration.

– CCC staff will have all pre-ordered CCC merchandise available for pick up near the finish line. For those of you who missed out on the first round of socks we have ordered more and they are for sale on the CCC NYR BikeReg page as well as other CCC goodies. The 2nd round of socks will be available for pick up later in the season (hopefully by Montrose, but definitely by the NYR).

– There will still be heated restrooms in the warming hut and one porta potty near the main parking lot next to reg/start/finish for all your “last minute” needs.

– Psimet has the same pizza vendor as last year coming to the race. They will also have water and Gatorade starting at 10:30am. No word yet if the pizza selection will be sausage and pepperoni only.

– Not that any of you actually drink the stuff, but alcohol is prohibited in Woodstock parks, so if you’re going to sneak it in, keep it under wraps. No one wants the CCC to lose a venue because of a silly thing like a can of Old Style. So please be on your best behavior… which also means do NOT leave evidence like a mini keg on the ground next to the trash can… take it home and recycle it!

– The weather forecast looks exceptional… again!

– Remember to change your clocks Saturday night before you go to bed. Going off of day light savings the sun will set in a real hurry after the 4B’s race… so we ask that if you’re just hanging around after the race, please help us tear down the course so we’re not cleaning up in the dark.

– Last year there was construction on Rt 47 through Huntley, so please plan your travel times accordingly. Dr. Kearn’s best bet directions are to exit I90 on Randall Road (North), left (West) on Algonquin Rd, right (North) on Route 47 into the town of Woodstock. A left on Lake Ave and another left on South St should lead you right to Emricson Park (on your right). If you have a better route please post it in the comments below.

– Rob Curtis informs us there are enough changes from last year that he highly recommends people pre-ride.  “There is one section in particular where racers have a wide choice of lines to take and they will want to see what that’s like before racing.” If you can’t read between the lines, that also means you need to be at the venue early enough to be able to pre-ride and be back at staging before call ups are started.

– There are some sections on the far West side of the course that are very far away from everything else but CX rules still apply. If you suffer a mechanical you must go forward on the course and you cannot cut across the park. The wheel/bike pit will be at the top of the hill near the road crossing.

– The Course: The Woodstock course is very spread out, tracing any parts of the outline of Emricson Park. For 2011 Psimet bring back a few classic sections (and removes the sand).  However, with so much delicious terrain (read: hills) it will still be a suffer-fest. The course is run clock-wise (and as always in CX numbers go on the left). The last 1/2 mile or so should again provide the most excitement for spectators, Heckle Hill, barriers, lots off-camber sections, twists, and turns, and yes… HILLS! As always, the course map below is subject to change on race day.

Photo: Tipping Point

– Thanks to Rob Kelley and all the folks at Bicycle Heaven for hosting another great Campton Cross. The weather might have turned slightly ugly perfect for CX racing late in the day, and last minute softball games caused major course modifications, but we all adapted and had a great time. Rob Kelley tells us the Pink Panther won the best costume contest.

– Note the women’s races are UCI and Cat 3/4. If you are a Cat 2 woman you will either need a UCI license or race Masters or Cat 2/3.

– We could still use a few extra volunteers for course set up, marshaling, etc… so if you (or a spouse, significant other, teammate, etc) can help out for at least a 4 hour shift and you’d like to race for a deeply discount rate please contact us at [email protected].

– If you’d like to be involved with host housing for out of state pro’s (and non-pro’s alike) please get in touch with Nikki Cyp.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Eric Goodwin (773) 495-6373, [email protected]

October 28, 2011

CHICAGO CYCLOCROSS CUP UNVEILS NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
Two-day UCI 2.0 event will draw international-caliber talent to Chicagoland;
High demand expected for amateur racing slots

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cyclocross Cup is proud to announce the official launch of the New Year’s Resolution, an ambitious international-caliber cyclocross competition that will take place on December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2012 at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, Ill.

Having been awarded Union Cycliste International (UCI) 2.0 status and situated one week before the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championship in nearby Madison, Wis., the New Year’s Resolution will draw elite cyclocross talent from across the country to Chicagoland this holiday season.  Organizers are also pleased to announce that during the two-day event, 18 amateur fields will have the opportunity to compete on the same course used by the professional UCI competitors.  Attendance in this fall’s Chicago Cyclocross Cup has risen to an all-time high and amateur starting spots at the New Year’s Resolution are expected to fill quickly.

“In the Chicago Cyclocross Cup, we believe we have a truly unique ‘cross culture here in Chicago,” said series Director Jason Knauff. “Staging an event of this caliber around a festive time like New Year’s Eve will take the atmosphere we’re famous for and turn it up a notch.  Introducing this level of competition to the local scene is also going to have a positive effect for our local racers and we’re hoping to set up the elite competitors for success at National Championships and Masters Worlds.”

Registration for the New Year’s Resolution opens on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:00 ET (9:00 AM CT) on BikeReg.com.  The event is governed by USA Cycling and valid licenses are required for all races. Competitors should visit ChiCrossCup.com/NYR or BikeReg.com for details. Rooms at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort are available by calling (630) 529-0200 or visiting indianlakesresort.com. Group discount rates are available using code “CYC”.

Photo: Jason Knauff

– One of the original CCC races, Campton Cross returns for another year hosted by race promoter Rob Kelley and Bicycle Heaven. Being held the day before Halloween and ‘cross being the spectacle that it is, we’re looking forward to all the costumes you all bring to the party. Just remember to make sure you can still ride you bicycle (safely) and wear a helmet.

– Payouts have be increased $1000 spread out across the board, including to the Cat 4B’s. Note however that registration still closes down 30 minutes prior to each race.

– Rob Kelley will be the decider of the winner of the costume contest. You must race to win and based on the prize, hopefully you are of legal adult beverage imbibing age.

– Campton is one of the “further away from Chicago” venues, so give yourselves plenty of time to get there.

– Campton’s food vendor will be T-Dogs BBQ Inc. who will have a couple different types of soup, turkey legs and BBQ pork. Rob Kelley tells us “I do not like turkey legs and it’s hard to describe how good the one was that they made for me.  The guy built his own smoker!”

– If you don’t like turkey legs there are plenty of food and caffeine vendors along Randall Rd on the way out, so stock up as there isn’t much food close to the park.

– The weather forecast for Sunday looks like chilly by delightful.

– The best spectating area will again be near the kids playground equipment… but as always we’ll let you decide. There is however more than enough legal parking for everyone, and spot-a-pots… so please use both.

– A bag of lost and found jackets, gloves, sweatpants, cowbells, and glasses will be near registration.

– Due to the new staging procedure we unfortunately will not be making special call-ups for anyone in costume. However, if a majority of riders decide on the start line certain costumes are in fact worthy of a call up we will be happy to oblige. Note that Cat 4B’s are NOT subject to staging procedures beyond the top 10 in the CCC Overall… so we will make call ups for riders in costumes for the 4B’s!

– Preliminary staging will be posted here.

– The Campton course is very similar to the last two years although changed slightly to accommodate the staging grid. Note the position of the staging grid on the NE side of the baseball diamonds. At the start of the race the course goes around the out fields of  the two Eastern ball fields before the first hard left turn near the walking path. Upon the completion of each lap after passing the finish line and going behind registration the course turns right at the Eastern edge of the ball fields to continue the laps. Note the equipment pit is a fair distance away from the start, so please pay attention to the time and announcements for staging. As always, the course can change on race day depending on conditions. The course goes anti-clockwise.

Photo: Tipping Point

– Thanks Jim Nowak and ABD for another great Sunrise Park race. Sunshine and 60 degrees always makes for a great day, as does lots of grass, 180’s, a six pack, and of course… the original Heckle Hill. We saw numerous breakout performances (again) as riders are obviously coming into CX form and fighting for every last series point. We can’t believe we’re “only”  half way through the CCC series but there’s still plenty of racing to do this year.

– Speaking of more racing, online pre-reg is now open on BikeReg.com for Ted’s Excellent Dbl Track Adventure. Hosted by the Northbrook Bicycle Club and Flatlandia Cycling this race takes the place of the old Northbrook course. TEDTA will be held at the YMCA Camp Duncan just up the road from the Psycho CX course.

– Speaking of end of the season, online pre-reg should be open not later than next week for the CCC’s New Year’s Resolution race. Watch for plenty of details soon!

– But back to more near term events, this Sunday the CCC heads just West of St. Charles/Geneva for round 7 at Campton Cross. Promoter Rob Kelley and Bicycle Heaven host their 7th annual event, which was one of the original CCC races way back in 2004. Being the day before Halloween costumes are of course optional mandatory, and from the playlist requests we’ve been getting, we can’t wait to see what you all have up your collective sleeves. Look for the course preview at the regular time on Thursday.

– Just a reminder that series sponsor MNO Sport Chiropractic is offering a CCC discount:

$50 account credit to any/all CCC riders who schedule and bring in their race number.  The account credit can be used toward chiropractic services regardless if the patient has insurance or not.  The credit is only redeemable once regardless of how many races you participate in. MNO is also offering a one-time $10 discount towards an hour massage for CCC racers and staff.  Mention this deal when calling to schedule your appointment.

– All CCC embro, shirts, & socks are in and available for pick up at races (either at the Spidermonkey 312 tent or from CCC staff). All items are pre-sale only. Shirts are sold out (except for XL) but we have plenty of Mad Alchemy Pome d’Émbre embro. Due to popular demand we put in another order with SockGuy for socks yesterday… so watch for details about when and where they will be available for purchase.

– Speaking of custom, we still need volunteers to help put on this year’s CCC New Year’s Resolution race. If you’d like to help out and race for an extremely discount rate please contact us at [email protected].

– And finally… Our apologies to all the women, masters, and juniors racers on the last minute scheduling changes over the last few weeks. The CCC has been growing what seems like exponentially over the last few years and we’re experiencing the inevitable and associated growing pains along the way. Thanks for your patience and for working with us to find the best solution for everyone involved. Your continued constructive criticism and comments are helpful more than you know.