Sorry this is a short one, but we’ve been busy putting on races and racing ourselves. If you’ve got vids you’d like to share with everyone… email us.

Moto pacing behind a dirt bike? Full story here.

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A few local media articles about CX and specifically about the CCC.

Cyclocross is one crazy, muddy bike race Chicago Tribune article by xXx Racings’ Luke Seeman (thanks Luke!)

Follow up articles in the Trib:
10 Things to Know About Cyclocross
How Cyclocross Races Work
What You Need to Get Started in Cyclocross
And the seminal… How to be a Good Cyclocross Spectator

Another CX interview on the BoneBell of CCC Series Director Jason Knauff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We don’t have all day long to find the gagillion pictures and videos we know you all took at Jackson Park. Please post links in the comments below.

Here’s a few to get you started!
Vids after the jump…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niccyp/sets/72157622422188744/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neverdrownout/sets/72157622296884149/

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

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

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

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

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

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

– CCC Directors and Promoters

FEEDBACK NEEDED

Did you race Jackson Park?  Your feedback is needed to continue to bring you this great series. Please join our newsletter distribution list by sending your name and email address to C[email protected] or [email protected]. On Monday, September 21 we will be sending out a quick Jackson Park post event evaluation survey and would appreciate your feedback.

Thanks!
Your CCC Promoters and Directors

The Men 4A field has filled up and is now closed!

Please note you will not be allowed to register for the Men 4A event on race day.

‘Nough said… see you all on Sunday!

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Just another reminder that online registration for Jackson Park closes tonight at midnight.

– Just another reminder that online pre-reg for Jackson Park closes tonight at midnight. Thanks for the more than 225 of you that have already pre-reg’d… you’ll make things run a lot smoother on Sunday. The 4As are almost full (75 rider max), but there is still plenty of room in all other fields. If you haven’t pre-reg’d… what are you waiting for? Do it now!

– Please note, you can always see who’s pre-registered for each race by going to the ‘Confirmed Rider‘ link at the top of each race’s main BikeReg page. If you’re wondering if a race is still open, see how many riders are pre-registered (number at the bottom of each field) and then check the field limit column on the main reg page. When a race is full, its full.

– If for some reason you really don’t like pre-registering, remember there is an additional $5 late fee for day-of registration. Save time and money… register now. Tell all of your friends who don’t have computers.

– Number pick up and day-of registration will open at 8:30am for all races in the series… that gives the masters 30+ and 40+ 1.5 hours to get their numbers and warm up. However, if you are racing later in the day, please let the earlier fields register first so they can get ready. Thanks!

– There will be no call ups at Jackson Park since no one yet has any series points. Top 10 category call ups will begin at Dekalb/Hopkins Park.

– Results will be posted as quickly as possible after each race and there will then be a 15 minute protest period. If results need to be changed due to a protest they will be fixed and reposted. However, after results are posted and considered final they will NOT be changed. If you need to leave and can’t wait around for final results, then make sure you have someone else checking for you. We will NOT change results after they are considered final on race day, so please do NOT email us next Tuesday (or Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, etc…) asking for your placing to be changed.

– And finally… please be respectful of your fellow competitors, the park, spectators, and random people walking by trying to figure out what the “H E Double Hockey” stick we’re all doing out there. Use the trash cans, porta-potties, and designated parking spots. We’re all out there to have a little fun, so don’t do anything silly that would prevent us from coming back next year.  Thanks!!!

– Don’t forget that online pre-registration closes at Midnight Thursday night for Jackson Park. You can still register at the race on race day, but its much, much easier for everyone if you reg ahead of time. If you’re registering day-of, you will likely have to wait in line while you watch guys and gals who pre-reg’d grab their number(s) and go. Also remember cash is preferred on race day, we’ll take personal checks, but absolutely NO credit cards. Thanks!

– Also at Jackson Park… xXx Racing team shop Get a Grip is providing nice raffle prizes to the tune of ONE bike fit ($325 value) and ONE deluxe bike tune-up ($150 value). Raffle tix will be $2 each or $5 for 3 with all money going directly to World Bicycle Relief. Win some great service while helping out a worthy cause.

– Another reminder for Juniors… you race entry fee is free, but if you do NOT have an annual USAC license you will still need to purchase a One-Day license for $10.

– In other online registration news, you can now register for the IIT Swap and  Hop clinic here. Space is limited. Please note the date change to October 31st.

– We’re very excited to welcome three new and returning sponsors to the CCC. Kenda, Mad Alchemy Embrocation, & Sheila Moon Clothing will be supplying schwag to the series. What’s embrocation? Find out more here. More sponsors are still in the works, and we’re always looking for additional sponsors to help with the CCC.

– The CCC has a standard payout schedule. You can see it here. However, some promoters are able to source more prizes and money, so make sure to check after your race to see if you won anything. Here’s a hint… ask the promoter, not the officials.

– Team Names: Please note the registration system we’ll be using this year will display the team name on your USAC annual license… not necessarily what you enter in BikeReg or on your day-of registration waiver. So if you’re switching teams from Road to CX, please make sure to make the switch in your USAC profile here. Also, please be aware that USAC has both Team AND Club designation and some of you have not designated a team name (which can be different from your club name). If you don’t have a team name we will use your club name. The overall team classification will based on the team name in your USAC profile (one-day license riders will not count).

– We’ve been getting a bunch of questions from you newbies as to what categories to race… here’s a primer.

Masters categories are for 30+, 40+, and 50+ riders of any category… so there are some Cat 1/2/3’s in there as well cat 4’s. The Cat 1/2’s might be winning these races and they are held earlier in the day, but the field sizes are smaller and the courses are just as much fun… even if you aren’t the winner.

Cat 4B is for true beginners, guys (and gals) riding mountain bikes or converted road bikes, foam-core helmets with spandex covers, and US Postal Team jerseys (we love you guys!).

The Cat 4As are for new or somewhat experienced Cat 4 riders, those other riders that are maybe just not ready yet to move up to Cat 3, or guys who show up in Super Girl outfits.

If you’re brand new to the sport (awesome, thanks for racing!), it makes sense to start off in one of the Cat 4 fields. Note however that points are NOT transferable from the 4Bs to the 4As, or from age group to category races… so if you plan on going for the overall you’ll need to stay in the same category. That being said, if you’re in the 4Bs and winning every race… you should probably move up to the 4As for a better challenge and to let some of the other new riders try and win. ; )

Also, some of you studs might want to race the 4As AND the 4B, but we have limited field sizes in the 4’s, so if the fields look like they’re going to fill up, please try to stick to just one race to give everyone a chance to participate.

With the season starter this weekend we may have additional updates later this week, so make sure to add ChiCrossCup.com to you RSS reader or check back often.