Welcome back CCC racers.  School may be back in session but 4th period is recess and Professor Provisor has added CX to the list of recess activities.

• This Sunday’s event, Carpentersville Woodland School Cyclocross p/b the Main Street Bicycles Sasquatch Squadron, will be held once again (God willing) at 770 Navajo Drive in Carpentersville.
• We don’t want to jinx anything, but the weather has been good all week and we are NOT anticipating yet another venue change. But we also kinda said that last week… so keep your eyes and ears pealed for any last minute updates.
• That being said, looking for a place to clean your bike? CCC Super Fan Jordan Morrell put today this Google Map of self service car wash stations near all the CCC venues. Thanks Jordan!
• Hashtag #CarpenterCX
• Preliminary Staging will be posted here Friday. Please double check your staging.
• Numbers go on your LEFT SIDE, always in the CCC.
• Ladies (and some gentlemen), please make sure to have your hair up or in a braid. If your hair is covering your number One2Go can’t score you.
• Parking: The school has a small lot. We’ve designated two areas that will remain open for tent drop off. Like last year, we ask again that you please do NOT park in these two areas (along the school or in the alley next to the school). See the purple shaded areas on the map. We will have parking volunteers helping to guide folks in the morning. Please be courteous as it is early for them too.
• Otherwise, plenty of street parking surrounding the school – please respect the posted parking signs. If need be, the Sunny Hill School lot is available on Helm Rd.
• Kiddie Cross will be after 1pm. The location will be on the school side. We’ll decide day of depending on where tents are setup.
• We’ll have the Dave’s Slow Food Truck onsite. They’ll have vegetarian friendly options. They’ll arrive between 10 and 11am. There’s a chance they’ll be around for breakfast but, that’ll be a day of decision on their part.
• Sorry the Chubby Spud is still missing in action and we do not know where it is.
• Alcohol is NOT permitted.
• Weather: Temps have dropping, and there’s some rain in the forecast. Please make sure to bring post race gear to keep warm in. That also means plenty of frost and/or dew on the grass in the morning. So bring a spare pair of dry shoes.
• Tent City: Same general spots as last year. We’ve got some good spots marked on the map.  It’s worth the hike up to the sandy area. Otherwise, cozy up because we don’t have a ton of space.
• Course: The course runs Counter Clockwise, essentially reverse direction from last year. The wide-open plains, slippery slopes, verdant forest and sandy (hopefully) beaches return for another year. Our chainsaws, tillers, compactors, shovels, sledge hammers, and leaf blowers came out to play again this year. We’re doing our best to bring difficult but fun features to the CCC while keeping the land owners happy so that we can keep coming back.
• Don’t forget to keep an eye out for sasquatches around the course because, no matter what, we’re always squatchin’ you.

• That’s what we’re talking about! Pulaski Woods CX almost didn’t happen, but everyone made it happen. That was great. You all went above and beyond, and quite frankly that’s pretty much what we’ve come to expect from this little CX community we call home. Oh, and there was some pretty great racing as well. Links to all the results you are looking for are here.
• SnowyMountain Photography and Mike Nauman were out at the races and snapped some rad pics. Not that you guys were showing off or anything.
• Next up, we head to Carpentersville for the Woodland School Cyclocross. We’re not going to say it, and you shouldn’t either. Don’t jinx it. Look for the course preview at 9am on Thursday.
• We’re sure there are some other updates we need to tell you, but we’re exhausted and going to sleep for the next 18 hours.
• And finally… thank you. Everyone. Every last one of you. You know who you are.

UPDATE as of 5:45am Sunday 10/13/2019
Registration is where staging was last week, on the North edge of the driving range. Staging is close to the miniature golf course and hotel. The finish line will be close to where it was last week, near the little pond. Equipment pits are in roughly the same location as last week. Course runs clockwise. PLEASE securely tie down any tents or anything weighing less than a medium size rock, it will be very windy today.

UPDATE as of 6:30pm Friday 10/11/2019
Sign up here to volunteer this Sunday –> https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/3022800/false#/invitation 

UPDATE as of 4:30pm Friday 10/11/2019
The Forest Preserve has (once again) asked us not to hold this Sunday’s race at Pulaski Woods due to today’s rain and still wet ground. Beverly Bike and Region Racing went through 2 backup venues but we have finally secured a race venue (again) at everyone’s favorite CX race site, Indian Lakes Hotel at 250 W Schick Rd Bloomingdale, IL 60108. Course details, registration location, etc. are forthcoming.

Also, Psimet is taking over as the race director for this event. They will need some help tomorrow (Saturday) with course set-up but even more so on Sunday with final set up, course marshals, tear down, etc. We will post a volunteer sign-up link above as soon as it is available.

To make this race happens this weekend it needs to be a truly collaborative CCC community effort. Please help if you can. Feel free to send all emails to chicagocrosscup@gmail.com as Rob and the Psimet crew will be very busy over the next 36 hours.

• Beverly Bike along with Region Racing present Pulaski Woods as the third stop in our series. The first US National Championships Cyclo-cross Championship were held in these parts back in 1963. See here.
• Please continue to use the hashtag #drwCX.
• Weather: The forecast calls for rain on Friday but then clear the rest of the weekend, plus it’s been dry all week. That being said we’ve had a LOT of rain recently and some parts of the park are still a little soggy. A decision will be was made by the Forest Preserve at noon on Friday as to the fate of the race happening at Pulaski Woods. We obviously don’t want to change venues… again… but check back here Friday afternoon and on Twitter for any important venue and/or location change updates. Yes, Beverly and Region have been looking into a backup location. No, that location is NOT Indian Lakes, although if all else fails we can still head back out to Bloomingdale if need be.
• Preliminary staging will be posted here sometime Friday. Please let us know if you see any errors.
• Keep in mind if you’re viewing the static race venue page we are racing at Pulaksi Woods Lake County Fairgrounds Melas Racin’ Basin Indian Lakes Hotel … NOT Dan Ryan Woods. If you go to Dan Ryan Woods or anywhere else there will NOT be a CX race there.
• We have series rules concerning upgrades. If you have upgraded in the last week please email us ASAP so we can transfer 1/2 your points to the next category for staging and overall standings.
• Venue and Parking: Take caution when driving to the parking lots. There is a tricky turn off of 95th and Wolf Road. Be prepared to stop. The majority of parking is at the bottom of the hill closest to registration (Bullfrog). Plenty of parking, please use it. Don’t park on the grass. Plenty of parking at Indian Lakes, please only park in marked spots though.
• Tent City: your best parking will be at the top of the hill (Pulaski).
  Course space is limited, but we will be taking  full advantage of the hill. Course details TBD.
• Numbers on left. Everyone must check-in at Registration, even women with series long bib numbers. Otherwise you will not be staged or allowed to race.
• Food: Jonathan Vota from Picture Me Smokin BBQ will be on-site with his new catering venture. Big Momma’s Kitchen will be on-site around noon with homecooked soulfood goodness.
• The Chicago Marathon is also being run Sunday morning. See the official site here for info, course maps, and road closures. Please plan your route and timing to the venue accordingly.
• We have heard stories of the Forest Preserve Police being aggressive in writing tickets. Please make sure your car is parked correctly and badging is up to date. No for sale signs.  Please, no glass bottles. 
• The course: Runs counterclockwise. This is a new (if you don’t count the 1960’s) venue for everyone, so please be patient with us and give yourself extra time to arrive and figure out where everything is. Course TBD, check back Saturday… maybe.

• Major thanks again to the entire Comrades Cycles crew for being flexible and hosting another great Hopkins Park CX, this time at Indian Lakes Hotel. Conditions were wet and soggy and grassy in the morning, but dried out as the day progressed, and the weather was absolutely cross-tastic! Congrats to everyone who raced and continues to make the CCC the Best Amateur CX Series in the Country.
• Results and links are posted on the CCC Overall Series Standings GoogleSheet.
• Still looking for pictures of yourself from the weekend? Check out both SnowyMountain Photography and Mike Nauman for great pics from Sunday. See also the pics post for other rider galleries and videos. Thanks to everyone who populates those posts with #content!
• Next up, the Beverly Bike and Region Racing crews take us to stop #3 of the 2019 CCC at Pulaski Woods in Palos… for the first time ever. Although Palos has a deep history of cyclocross racing, and as Kenny likes to remind us every.single.week. the very first USA National Cyclo-cross Championships were held there in the 1960’s. We’re just as interested as you to find out what the new venue has in store for us.
• Online pre-registration on BikeReg closes per usual at midnight on Thursday. Look for the course preview at 9am on Thursday morning. We’re also going to hold on to the previous #hashtag of #drwcx, just because.
• As of right now there are no plans or expectations to change venues again (despite Internet Twitter rumors). That being said, there is rain in the Friday forecast, so check back here often, watch your inboxes for emails via BikeReg, and follow us on the Twitters for real time updates.
• Does your bike need some love after 2 weekends of mud and wet? We know Tailwind Cycles and The Pony Shop have clean-up specials and we’re pretty sure any other local bike shop would be more than happy to help you out for a few dollars. Get those machines in to your LBS and cleaned up and ready to race again!
• And finally… just a friendly reminder that everyone needs to check-in at every race, even ladies with series long bib numbers. Everyone also needs to check-in AT LEAST 30 minutes before their scheduled race start time, even if you pre-reg’d online. If you just show up to the start line without checking in you will NOT be staged properly and you will not be allowed to race. So please go see those nice folks volunteering at the Reg desk AT LEAST 30 minutes before you race.

Please post links in the comments to your pictures, videos, and race reports.

• Wow, what a day. Thanks to everyone who made it to Caldwell Woods Bunker Hill Indian Lakes Hotel/Resort. xXx Racing made the 11th hour effort to make the race happen and you all made some incredible efforts racing in the mud. So thank you and congrats to everyone!!
• Full and official results are on USACycling.org and all the links you are looking for are on the Overall Series Scoring GoogleSheet, including CrossResults and LapTimes (provided by One2Go). Please bookmark this Sheet for future reference.
• Looking for pictures of yourself on the Internet? Friends of the series SnowMountain Photography were out on Sunday to snap some great shots. Please consider making a purchase or at the very least give them credit if using their photos.
• Next up, the series heads West to Dekalb for Comrade Cycles’ Hopkins Park. Look for the usual course preview details on Thursday.
• Just a reminder to sign your online USAC waiver in BikeReg so you don’t have to fill out a full waiver on race day. We’ll be sending email reminders this week.
• Speaking of emails, please, please, please make sure emails from BikeReg are making it past your spam filters. Just in case we have any last minute announcements again. And always check our homepage or Twitter feed, either directly or over there on the right side of the page for last minute updates.
• And finally… here’s a friendly reminder from our One2GoResults crew… please pin your bib number correctly on the side of your jersey/skinsuit… NOT your back. See examples below. #31 is perfect, the others, not so much. The finish line camera is set up to read the side of your body, not your back. And when things get muddy like these did on Sunday, it becomes even more difficult to read underneath mud on your back. Also, please put any long hair up in a pony tail. The camera can’t read through hair either.

Please post links in the comments to your pictures, videos, and race reports.

UPDATE AS OF 9/27/2019 at 6pm

• This week the CCC returns to Caldwell Woods Bunker Hill Indian Lakes Hotel hosted by xXx Racing-Athletico. The address is 250 W Schick Rd, Bloomingdale, IL 60108. Huuuge thanks to xXx Racing for working together at the 11th hour to pull this race together to start off our season right.
• You read that right… Due to recent heavy rains, and a forecast wet weekend the Cook County Forest Preserve has required xXx Racing to move the course from our planned Caldwell Woods location to the Bunker Hill grove, just half a mile northwest along the North Branch Trail. To access the new location, DO NOT park at Caldwell Woods, Bunker Hill has a large dedicated parking lot accessible from Caldwell Ave or Harts Road.
• IMPORTANT DRIVING DIRECTIONS: If approaching from the south or east, allow extra time for travel due to road closures at the Devon/Central/Caldwell/Lehigh/Metra intersection.
• Live results by One2Go_Results will be here: http://www.livelynxresults.com/  Watch races scored in real time!
• Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes tonight.
• On site number pick up and Day-Of Registration will be in picnic pavilion near start finish line the lower level Wright Room at ILR. Look for signs or asking someone who looks like they know what they’re doing.
• Remember reg closes 30 minutes before the schedule start time of each category for everyone, even if you pre-registered on BikeReg you need to pick up your number before 30 minutes before you race.
• Please do not fold or crumple your numbers. If you do you risk not being scored. Numbers on your LEFT side (not your back!).
• Remember women categories (except Single Speed) will receive cloth numbers that you will keep the entire season. Please don’t lose them! You’ll still need to check-in at every race though.
• Speaking of checking in, due to a new partnership between USAC and BikeReg, if you checked the box for the online waiver when you registered on BikeReg and entered your initials, you won’t have to sign a physical piece of paper. You will need to check in with the reg desk and pick up your bib number though. This process is new for everyone and should be more efficient, but please bear with us as we work through any hiccups.
• Unfortunately, One Day license riders (because of lawyers) will still need to sign a waiver regardless of whether you initialed the online waiver.
• Staging for all categories will be by CrossResults.com ranking as detailed on our FAQ page.
• See here for preliminary staging on Friday Saturday. Also, please check the discrepancies page. If you name is on this page you need to either edit your BikeReg registration (and profile), renew you annual USAC license, etc.
• Results will be posted as soon as possible on the CCC’s 4 sided results board and for all pre-reg’d riders with correct/valid email address in their BikeReg rider profiles results will be emailed to you shortly after you finish. Also, One2Go will have its LiveLynx site updated in real time. Full results will be posted on USAC online Sunday night and series standings will be updated shortly afterward.
• Porta-potties will be located in the parking lot near registration somewhere, TBD. Note that the old restaurant/pro shop/locker room area of the hotel is completely closed right now. There are inside bathrooms up the stairs from registration in the lobby of the hotel. xXx Racing is transferring porta potties from Caldwell to Indian Lakes.  If it is indeed super muddy, please use the porta potties more than the indoor facilities.
• Parking: Parking is plentiful. Please only park in marked spots.
• Teams can set up tents anywhere. Being a (re)new(ed) venue and still working out the course, we’re not yet sure where though. It tends to be windy at ILR so please make sure to stake down your tents well.
• Double sided equipment pits staffed by SRAM NRS.
• Food: There are no restaurants or food options at Indian Lakes, but Superdawg delivers via Grubhub, Doordash, or Ubereats. Google Maps is very handy to find things.
• Alcohol: IS permitted at Bunker Hill.  If you bring your own, DO NOT bring glass bottles, Please be discreet, cans or box wine responsibly only please.
• Remember we are at Indian Lakes Hotel. NOT Bunker Hill, NOT Caldwell Woods, and NOT LaBagh Woods.
• Please continue to use the hashtag #CaldwellCX so everyone at home or in other parts of the country can follow along. You can also use #ILRCX.
• Weather: There is a good deal of rain in the forecast Friday, Saturday, and Sunday… so the ground will be “soggy”. Please plan accordingly.
• The course: As you can imagine with a last minute location change, xXx Racing is still working out the course details, so no course map right now. xXx Racing and the series will do our best to produce a course that is up to CCC standards, but please bear with us.