Please post links to your photos, videos, and race reports here.
Send feedback to the CCC in the comments and/or the ICA here.

– First off… big, big thanks to xXx Racing for putting on another great event. xXx hosted the Relay CX race a few weeks back to get everyone in the CX mood (although the 90 degree temps didn’t really help) and are already putting on another CX race! Make sure to thank anyone and everyone in a red and black kit for making the event happen.

– Remember the parking lot at Jackson Park is metered, but only costs about $9-10 for all day. We don’t want anyone getting a ticket, so you’ve been warned. If the lot right next to the course fills up, there is parking to the west of the course on Hayes Drive.  However, the lot south of Hayes Drive south of the main parking lot is off limits.

– Please note that the CARA 20-mile run will 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.

– 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. But how will you remember to bring pins each week? We suggest visiting one of your favorite local bike shops and purchasing a patch kit… we like the Genuine Innovations large patch kit in the green plastic boxes. Whether you use the patches is up to you, but we like to put a handful of safety pins in the plastic container and always keep it in our race bag. Mother earth thanks you!

– Our friends over at REKLAIM Apparel/ZeroEvents will also be helping the CCC be greener by providing recycling services. The 2010 CCC Series T-shirts will also be printed on organic cotton with soy inks. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite design by midnight on Saturday night. REKLAIM is donating 100% of all profits to our goal of raising $5,000 for WBR by the end of the series.

– Online pre-registration on BikeReg.com (say it with us… Bik Rej… like REGistration) closes tonight at midnight. Entry fees increase $5 on race day. Huge thanks to the 448 of you that have already pre-reg’d. Even huger thanks to the  34 of your that donated to WBR when registering. So far we’ve raised $208. That’s a great start, but not nearly enough, so keep it coming. If you’d like to donate your race winnings to our WBR drive, please see us after your race.

– Series sponsor CarboRocket will be out on Sunday with big coolers of CarboRocket mix and (hopefully) some coffee. Swing by and fill up your bottle, mug, or canteen. Temps are forecasted to be in the upper 60’s with an 80% chance of awesome, but we all need to stay hydrated.

– We’ve had a few questions about the Women Cat 4 field filling up. Due to the course length we can only allow a maximum of 100 riders on course at a time. So if less than 50 juniors show up we can open the remaining spots to cat 4 women.

– Concerning waitlists… we’ll start waitlists for each filled category (Women 4, Cat 4A, & Cat 4B) when registration opens at 7:45am. First come first served. 20 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).

– 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… we’re still not telling, but you will be lined up like any other CCC race, 10 wide in the starting grid. So if you want to be on the 2nd row, you’ll have to get there yourself. Last year’s placings have nothing to do with it. That being said, please do not fight over starting positions… after all this is just bike racing, its a long season, and karma can be a b!@tch.

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

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

– The CCC is supported by many, many amazing series sponsors who will personally be attending (and possibly racing) at Jackson Park. Make sure to swing by and say thank you for their generous support.

– Below is scheduled 2010 Jackson Park course brought to you by the twisted minds of xXx Racing (and the Bonebell.com). Please remember the map below is only an approximation as we may need to make adjustments on race day. Please note the course runs counter-clockwise (so bib #’s go on your left), the location of the 3 barrier sections (one is a double), registration, the starting chute, tent city, and most importantly the finish line. The wheel/bike pit is dual sided and currently right next to the finish line but may be moved to be more in the middle of the entire course (which is >1.9 miles in length). Please see  you friendly USAC official (and say thank you) for the actual location on Sunday.

– And finally… thanks to everyone for coming out and racing Cross! We knew this season had the potential to be even bigger and more importantly better than last year, but if the pre-reg numbers are any indication 2010 is going to be even more gihugimous than anything we could have imagined. So let’s race, cheer, heckle, and have a great time! See you Sunday!

– If you didn’t already notice, the Woodstock and Northbrook races have switched dates. Woodstock will now be on Sunday 11/7 and Northbrook will be on Sunday 11/21. If you pre-reg’d for Woodstock you are still entered in that event, but on the new date. Pre-reg for Northbrook will be opening on BikeReg.com soon.

– Thanks to all those who braved the 70 degree temps and slight breeze and came out to what we hope will be the first of many CCC Kick-Off parties at Iron Cycles. Everyone seemed to have a blast and we had a chance to unveiled something new for 2010. Big thanks to ThinkBig! and Goose Island for supplying the 312, and to Brandon and everyone at Iron Cycles for hosting the event.

– Don’t forget to vote for your favorite t-shirt design by this Saturday night (at midnight the voting poll turns into a pumpkin)!

– We’ve received a few questions concerning wait-lists for the Cat 4 races… here’s how it all goes down… 20 minutes prior to the start of each race category, sign-in for pre-registered riders will close. At that point, any unclaimed start spots will be given away in order of waitlist sign-up order to those waiting to race. Racers must be present at registration in order to be given a bib number.  If you are not there we’ll give the bib # to the next person waiting in line. We wish we could let everyone race, but we (and USAC) have limits to how many racers we can realistically allow on the course at one time. Starting last out of 100+ racers is no fun, even in the 4B’s.

– Our inbox has also been peppered with questions about how call-ups will be handled at Jackson Park. We will make call-ups for 10 pre-reg’d riders in each category, but the call-up order will NOT be based on order of pre-registration nor your place in last year’s overall standings. The fastest riders will have just as much of a chance to earn a call up as the slowest riders (assuming they are pre-reg’d). However, after the first ten spots everyone else is on their own, just like at any other CCC race.

– We’ve also received a few questions from riders new to the sport on which category to race in. Here’s a primer from last year, but always feel free to email us and ask. But please remember you must race within your category and age group. We check all licenses before races, so if you’re reg’d in the wrong race you will not be allowed to start.

– Why didn’t I get scored in the race? We and the USAC officials get this question all the time. So let’s start with the basics… we absolutely need everyone to pin their numbers correctly for each race. How do I know if my number is pinned on correctly? Funny you should ask! Imagine someone trying to read your 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 last year!), etc, etc, 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. Here’s an example of a wonderfully pinned number… and here’s one that should have been pinned lower on the rider’s side.

– New for 2010 the CCC institution that is Super Girl now has a sidekick and is please to announce The Sister Sprocket Flying Pig Award which will be awarded to the Cat 4B rider at every race who successfully manages to suppress fear, pain, and embarrassment and hurl his (or her) suffering sack of human clay through the chaos of his earthly existence to temporarily defy universal gravitation and take flight into a fleeting state of Grace. That’s the long way of saying the CCC’s newest icon Sister Sprocket will present a spirit award  in the shape of a flying pig to the most worthy 4B rider (not based on placings) on the CCC podiums as the last award of the day. Look for Sister Sprocket as she cheers on the 4A’s and 4B’s at each race.

– Look for a Jackson Park course preview on Thursday. There are already more riders pre-reg’d than last year!

– And finally… each promoter sets up their course in a certain way on purpose. The direction, contents, physical composition, and boundaries of each course are NOT subject to interpretation by anyone (racing or otherwise) during the day. You all were great about this last year, but just remember you cannot alter the course in any way, shape, or manner during the day. This includes adding water, sand, sticks, stones, and even the occasional golf ball… as well as removing or rearranging course markers, stakes, tape, sand, sticks, stones, and yes… even the occasional golf ball. Heckle Hill, Bacon Alley, small sand pits, and other famous specific course locations can always get a little nutty… but let’s please keep it safe, fun, and fair to everyone. Now’s let’s go race!

– P.S. Don’t forget WI has the ‘No Good Double Cross‘ on Saturday if you’re looking for a good pre-JP warm up… or a reason to snap a derailleur hanger right before the IL season officially starts. Also the Planet Bike Cup is the weekend after JP (and before Dekalb). We purposely do not hold a CCC race on this weekend so you all can see what a national level, UCI race is like. If you can go, even just to watch, we highly suggest it!

Not a race, but we’re sure there are plenty of memories to be shared

The 2010 t-shirt entries are in and its again time for you, the riders of the CCC to vote for your favorite! Thanks to everyone who submitted designs (including the 12 year old junior!)… but as we all know, just like in a race, only one design can win.

See the designs below or follow this link to the Picasa page.

Please review the 15 14 designs carefully and pick your favorite… and obviously the one you’d want to wear. Then vote below or in the side bar to the right –>. Please only vote once (yes, just like last year if you figured out a way to get around the super-secure interwebs security we want you to do the right thing and still only vote once). Polls will be open until midnight next Saturday (9/18/10) and we’ll announce the winner at Jackson Park.

UPDATE: The Bluebirds design has been removed at the behest of the creator. If you voted for the Bluebirds please attempt to vote again.

Remember to click the yellow “Vote” button when done to save your vote. Anyone can vote, but if you get all of your friends, shop owners, quasi-random strangers, long lost aunties, and pet greyhounds to vote… they have to buy a t-shirt and wear it too!

We’ll have the shirts for sale on series sponsor website REKLAIM Apparel for $15 and the first batch should be ready for delivery (or pick up) around the time of Elvis Cross (Dan Ryan Woods). Our friends at REKLAIM have been gracious enough to not only print the shirts for us, but also donate a majority all of their profits to the CCC’s year end donation to World Bicycle Relief to help us reach our season long goal of raising $5,000. So buy a shirt… heck buy 5… as it all goes to a great cause!

Good luck to all of the contestants, and Happy Voting!

– The CCC Kick Off Party is this Saturday 9/11/10 at 4pm at Iron Cycles! If you’re on Facebook, please RSVP here. Music, food, drinks, and some special giveaways and deals will be waiting for you. Support the series sponsors as well as Team Iron Cycles sponsors and maybe get yourself some new race wheels or other schwag!

– More new series sponsors continue to pour in… please help us welcome two more!
– Carbo Rocket – Staying hydrated is key, especially when you start racing CX in August!
– Enzo’s Cycling Products – Keep your button happy.

– Just a friendly reminder that Cyclocross racing age is calculated as of 12/31/2011… not 12/31/2010 like on the road. For example, if someone was born November 13, 1996… as of today, that rider is 13. As of December 31, 2010 they are 14 but as of December 31, 2011 they are 15. So even though right now this rider is 13 years old, their cross age is 15. Juniors, please make sure you are racing in the correct age group! This rule also applies to the masters, but to their benefit since a 38/39 year old can race 40+ or a 48/49 year old can race 50+. Of course then you have to race against these guys. Good luck!

– Also for juniors… Paul Swinand’s “beginning cycling training” for CX starts this Friday in Evanston. Check out the Facebook page here.

– Concerning rules, guidelines, regulations, and such… now might be a good time to review the CCC overall series standings rules on the ‘Series Rules and FAQs‘ page. It is your responsibility to make sure you are signed up for the correct race, and as we mentioned a while back we’ll let you know if you really need to upgrade (especially out of the 4A’s or 4B’s), but don’t be afraid to send us an email if you are unsure. However, actual upgrades are handled by USAC (not the CCC).

– Pre-reg for all CCC races (except Northbrook… coming soon!) is now open on BikeReg.com. Jackson Park is already starting to fill up. While registering, please consider making a donation to World Bicycle Relief to help us reach our goal of donating $5,000 by the end of the series. That’s enough to purchase one nice new Blue Norcross SL for yourself… or 37 WBR bikes that will equip almost an entire school with simple, sustainable mobility. Think about it. Update: Planet Bike has just pledged $5k to WBR as well… let’s make sure we match our friends from Madison!

– Speaking of, pre-reg for Jingle Cross just over the border in Iowa Thanksgiving weekend is now open.

– Our friends up North in WI are putting their races on BikeReg.com as well. See all the WI reg pages here. Besides the USGP Planet Bike Cup there are 2 other races that sound fun at the No Good Double Cross which will have a working bar for those of legal age (and apparently if you race fast you win a prize) and the Cross the Domes (which The Pony Shop has $5 IL toll vouchers for).

– But if you’re heading up North on that Saturday just make sure to save some energy for our own CCC Hopkins Park/Dekalb race hosted by North Central Cyclery & Half Acre Cycling. Tobie at NCC and the good folks at Half Acre always host a great event, and rumor has it there will be a special surprise awaiting everyone who makes the trek out to Dekalb. Half Acre is also hosting a Women’s Cyclocross Clinic on Saturday 9/11/10 (the morning of the CCC Kick-Off party).

– A new CX racer pointed out that the old links to the VeloNews.com series of CX how-to videos was broken. Thankfully VN kept the videos and just moved them here. We found these videos invaluable when we first started out racing and hope you will too. Have a watch and then go practice in your local park.

– Ever wonder why your comments take a while to show up here on the CCC site? Become a registered user and your comments will be displayed almost immediately.

– And finally… Don’t forget about this year’s CCC t-shirt design contest. Entries are due this Thursday… so sharpen up your pencil’s and Photoshop skills.

– The CCC continues to be blessed with plenty of wonderful series sponsors. Please help us welcome the two most recent additions.
– Blue Competition Cycles – There was a need for a company that could design and build the same world class framesets that were capable of giving elite athlete a competitive advantage and offer those same, identical frames to the amateur athlete or serious enthusiast. That’s how Blue Competition Cycles got its start.
– Verdigris Custom Homes – “Old World Excellence, Modern Technology, Mindfully Green”

photo by Liz Farina Markel

– Well that was a lot of fun! xXx Racing put on another great event with the Relay CX race. There are too many to post here, but check out the pix and vids. Results are here. A quick video is here. A quick Google search finds even more.

– Online pre-reg is now open on BikeReg.com for all CCC races (except Carpentersville and Northbrook… they’ll be up soon). If you’d rather wait, bookmark this address for all CCC races on the calendar. While you’re pre-reg’ing, please consider making a donation to World Bicycle Relief. Last year the riders of the CCC donated over $3,400 to this worthy cause, but this year we’re challenging you to hit the $5,000 mark. Let’s see what you can do!

– Concerning call-ups at Jackson Park… they will have nothing to do with the order of pre-registration… but you must pre-reg to qualify. Got questions… well, you’ll just have to wait 3 weeks to find out!

– Don’t forget 2010 series t-shirt design submissions are due by Midnight Thursday September 9th (just make sure it says Chicago Cyclocross Cup somewhere in the design). Voting begins the next morning and ends the following week… just in time for Jackson Park. We’ve only received one design so far… so your chances are currently very good.

– We recently received a big ‘old box full of mellow, medium, and Uber Secret embrocation from our good friends and series sponsor Mad Alchemy. MAE creator and brewer Pete Smith wants us to be creative with awarding these goodies, so in the Category 4A races we’ll be introducing the Mad Alchemy “First Lap Hot Legs Sprints”… think criterium primes, but always on the first lap, and not at the finish line. We’ll announce sometime before the race (probably on the start line) where the sprint line will be, but you can expect it to probably be at the top of a run up, at the end of a sand-pit, or somewhere else fun and exciting. Don’t worry, we won’t make you stop and apply a layer… that is of course unless you’re into that sort of thing.

– Check out the upgrade the ICA webmaster recently made to www.IllinoisCycling.org… you can now find great pictures from last year’s series on the homepage. The webmaster also has a little picture project he needs help with. Check it out here or email him at [email protected] for details.

– And finally… Don’t forget about the CCC Kick Off Party on Saturday September 11 at 4pm at Iron Cycles (3136 West Montrose Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60618, 773-539-4766 ). We’ll get the shop to put up an event RSVP on their FaceBook page soon, but feel free to let us know if you’re going to attend.

Just a friendly reminder that online pre-registration for all races (except Carpentersville & Northbrook) is opening in 3… 2… 1… now! Bookmark this BikeReg.com address for all CCC races:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/?et=120

While you’re pre-reg’ing, please consider making a donation to World Bicycle Relief. Last year the riders of the CCC donated over $3,000 to this worthy cause, but this year we’re challenging you to hit the $5,000 mark. Let’s see what you can do!

Call-ups at Jackson Park have nothing to do with the order of pre-registration… but you must pre-reg to qualify. We’ll see you all in 3 weeks back in Jackson Park!

If you’re new to ChiCross here’s how it works… Post links to your Flickr, Picasa, SmugMug, YouTube, Vimeo, etc galleries for this race. We’ll have dedicated posts after each CCC race as well for you to share your handy work.

The CCC directors recognize that our racing population is infinitely more creative and talented than we are… so we’re once again putting the 2010 series t-shirt design in your hands…

From now until Thursday September (9/9/10) at midnight anyone can submit a t-shirt design (email it in .jpg, .png, or better yet vector format to [email protected]). Just make sure it says Chicago Cyclocross Cup somewhere in the design. We’ll again put all of the designs up for a vote here on the site (the next day 9/10/10), and let the riders of the CCC decide which one they want/like the most. Please keep it clean and simple, and absolutely no submissions will be accepted after midnight (central time!) on Thursday 9/9/10.

Like last year, the winner will receive the following:

1. A copy of their masterpiece in any size they like,
2. Free entry into one of CCC races,
3. Their name all over the CCC website, and
4. Heckles… lots and lots of heckles.

Once a design has been chosen the t-shirts will be put up for sale on series sponsor site REKLAIM Apparel, made of sustainable materials, and all proceeds will benefit the CCC and World Bicycle Relief.

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