Cyclocross season has been underway here in Chicagoland for a month now. 3 races already under my belt and it’s still Sept; Relaycross, Chicago Cyclocross Cup #1 at Jackson Park and even one U.S Gran Prix race in Wisconsin.
living in the center of the cyclocross universe in North America has its benefits, where else can you race a ChiCrossCup one weekend then drive 2 hrs the next weekend and race a U.S. Gran Prix? Nowhere. And it just gets better every week.
CCC #1 at Jackson Park marked the start of the series and the start of the chase for call-ups and standings. I’m pretty sure last weekend set a record for # of racers at a CX race in North America, 680!
We had about 70 racers start in the Masters 40+ (most classes sold out at 100) No lucky call up for me this year, I just put my head down and pedaled.
Pics by Nick Gajewski
I ended up finishing 7th, exactly the same placing as last year at Jackson Park.
As much fun as it was racing, the most fun of the day was had cheering and heckling Cassidy. She raced the Junior race and did awesome, finished 4th out of the girls. She came to the race wanting and expecting to get heckled and heckled she got. I don’t know who the megaphone girl was but we got her to chase Cassidy along the course shouting, “Hey, Cassidy Utah, you suck!” Cass was laughing so hard she could barely get back on her bike.
Fast forward 1 week and U.S. Gran Prix #1 in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin served up exquisite CX conditions.
I’ve always said I’m a fair weather racer and would shake my head in disbelief when other crossers prayed for rain and mud. I get it now. Mud rules! Ended up getting 4th in the SS class.
ChiCrossCup #2 is on Sunday in DeKalb and the Masters classes need some hecklers. Come out early to heckle and and I’ll reward you with coffee. I’m bringing 5-gallons of coffee and 20 gallons of CarboRocket. last week the coffee was gone by 10:30 and the CarboRocket was gone by Noon. The early bird gets the worm.
CarboRocket 
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