2022 Montrose Harbor Preview
December 1, 2022
- Spidermonkey and Half Acre cycling clubs are excited to bring Montrose Harbor/Beach back! Please read the info below for some important notes. #MontroseCX
- Preliminary staging will be posted here on Saturday morning. We want everyone to be staged correctly, so please, please, please for the love of all that is good and green check your staging Saturday morning. We can make corrections at that time but it is highly, highly unlikely we’ll be able to do so on Sunday. Thanks!
- Since this is the Midwest Regional Championship AND CCC finale, podiums are a little more complicated than usual. Please help the best announcer a race series could ask for and if you are top three in the race or the overall, report to the podium ASAP following your race.
- The weather looks great with a 30% of awesomeness, but as always, the wind coming off the lake is no joke; please make sure to secure your tents and spheres.
- Here’s your friendly reminder that this is a city park where people who might have no idea what cyclocross is WILL be wandering through on their usual Sunday strolls (the lakefront path now cuts through the course). Yes, we’ll be celebrating the return of cyclocross with drinks** and food and more dranks**, but please be on your best behavior and show the city what a classy bunch we are.
- ** And now let us pause for the annual message from the fun police … it’s Chicago Park District property and alcohol is not allowed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- There will be THREE food truck options this year with Firecake Donuts arriving at 07:00 with donuts/coffee, and Aztec Daves tacos and Gilty Pig coming for lunch, so come hungry.
- Big thanks to our generous sponsors for helping make the Ald. James Cappleman Midwest Regional CX Championship presented by Specialized Chicago possible:
- Speaking of Specialized Chicago, pre-reg riders can head to the Fulton Street location on Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. to get your bib number early. Pin your number from the comfort of your own home! While there, you can pick-up the event poster you already ordered on BikeReg when you registered early. If you didn’t, there might still be some available for purchase at either Specialized location or at series sponsor Tailwind Cycles.
- Simonds Drive is closed to thru-traffic and parking within the barricades is restricted to officials, food trucks, sponsors, porta-potties, and the like. Regular parking will be along Simonds Drive and Montrose Drive either to the north or south, entering and exiting the way you came in.
- Per the Park District, NO PARKING ON THE GRASS OR PATHS, ANYWHERE! We cannot emphasize this point enough and yet still had vehicles break this rule in the past. Please adhere to marshals regarding your vehicle parking and movements.
- Speaking of, a few parking spaces within the barricades (near the finish) are available with a donation on BikeReg to help defray the overall event costs. Entry for this is from the NORTH END of Simonds drive — check in with the nice volunteers and show your receipt. (If you have a trailer please count that as a second space).
- Teams are welcome to drop off equipment at the turn-around on the south-end of Simonds Drive near the staging grid. The driver must remain with the vehicle to expedite unloading and keep traffic flowing, just like at the airport. It’s usually a high-volume operation with everyone coming at the same time so help your teammates.
- Speaking of team tent placement, all are welcome, nay encouraged, to drop/place tents and other large items on Saturday afternoon! There is hired security for overnight watch (though of course SMC, USAC, CPD, et al. cannot take responsibility for what the weather/acts of gods could do to items left overnight, so make sure it’s secured/laid down/tied down). And hey, stick around to lend a helping hand with course setup.
- Speaking of helping hands, Spidermonkey could use a few more hands during the race on Sunday for course marshaling spots required of the new course design and lakefront path interaction. Volunteers get free coffee & lunch! Check the sign-up sheet.
- We understand the desire to pre-ride, especially with so many CCC’ers living nearby. However, we kindly request you DO NOT RIDE the course this week, especially during setup on Saturday, to enable course construction AND to keep it in nice condition for game day. Again, please drop the bike and pick up some course stakes and tape to help — it takes a village!
- Onto the course: We had such great feedback on the course in 2019 we are sticking (mostly) to that same design, featuring the start on pavement. Bonus, the city repaved the road! However, that includes new six-inch curbs, so we will have a ramp transition after the first turn. All this is to say, please stay friendly on the starts, remembering that you can’t win the race there, buy you can surely lose it. Same expanded pit with neutral support provided by Jose from NRS & Events!
- UPDATE: Please stay off the sand shown in the picture below which has been designated a Protected Natural Area by the city and park horticulturalist.
- We can’t wait to see everyone and close out the CX season in style on the lake front in our namesake city. See you all on Sunday!
Categories: Course Preview
2019 Montrose Harbor Resort Pics, Vids, and Race Reports
December 8, 2019
2019 Montrose Harbor Preview
December 5, 2019
- Here we go! The 11th and final event in the 2019 Chicago Cyclocross Cup. Montrose Beach and the USAC MidWest Cyclocross Championships at Montrose Harbor hosted by Spidermonkey Cycling!
- More info and maps are over on the Spidermonkey Cycling website.
- Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes tonight. Preliminary staging will be posted here.
-
Since this is the Midwest Regional CX Championship, and CCC finale, podiums are a little more complicated than usual. Please help the best announcer a race series could ask for and if you are top three in the race or the overall, report to the podium ASAP following your race.
-
Speaking of this being an important race, to keep the finishes clear for epic battles, our hard-working USAC officials may finish riders early if they are deemed out of contention and within the 80% time gap to the race leader. Listen for Kenny and look for the officials to know if you are being finished early; you will still be placed in the results.
- A reminder from One2Go to please, please, please pin your number properly (see the image below) and put any long hair up in pony tails. If One2Go can’t see your bib number you won’t be scored properly.
-
The weather looks positively great (oh crap, what did we just do?!) but be warned, the wind coming off the lake is no joke; please make sure to secure your tents.
- Lots going on and its winter, so no Kiddie Cross this year.
-
Here’s your friendly reminder that Montrose Beach is a city park where people who might have no idea what cyclocross is might be wandering through on their usual Sunday strolls. Yes, we’ll be celebrating another great season of cyclocross with drinks** and food and more dranks**, but please be on your best behavior and show the city what a classy bunch we are.
-
Speaking of food, there will be FOUR food truck options this year with Firecake Donuts, Big Mama’s Urban Soul Food, Aztec Daves tacos and Five Squared pizza so come hungry.
-
** And now let us pause for the annual message from the fun police… the park is a Chicago Park District property and alcohol is NOT allowed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
-
Thanks to our generous sponsors for helping make the Midwest Regional Championship presented by Ald. James Cappleman possible:
- Speaking of Rapha Chicago, pre-reg riders should head there on Saturday to get your bib number early and enjoy free refreshments while talking smack with that person just ahead of/behind you on the overall — as well as getting 25% off almost the entire store. Please RSVP to let them know you are coming for food planning. And it should go without saying, make sure you put that bib number somewhere safe (i.e. pin it the night before like a pro). If you lose your number between Saturday night and Sunday we may not have an extra number for you.
- Simonds Drive is closed to thru-traffic and parking within the barricades is restricted to officials, food trucks, Evanston Subaru, porta-pottie deliveries and the like. Regular parking will be along Simonds Drive and Montrose Drive either to the north or south, entering and exiting the way you came in. Per the Park District, NO PARKING ON THE GRASS, ANYWHERE! Please adhere to volunteer requests regarding your vehicle parking and movement
-
Speaking of parking, VIP parking spaces within the barricades (near the finish) are again available on BikeReg to help defray costs. Entry is from the NORTH END of Simonds drive — check in with the nice volunteers and show your receipt. (If you have a trailer please count that as a second space).
-
Teams are welcome to drop off equipment at the turn-around on the south-end of Simonds Drive near the staging grid. The driver must remain with the vehicle to expedite unloading and keep traffic flowing, just like at the airport. It’s usually a high-volume operation with everyone coming at the same time so help your teammates.
-
Speaking of equipment, team tents can go in many of the traditional areas, and with the start/finish change you are welcome to line the finish stretch, but only on the WEST (grass) side. No tents on the roadway. Also, please keep the area behind (east) of the sponsor/reg tents open as well for podium, et al. (red area).
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Speaking of team tent placement, all are welcome, nay encouraged, to drop/place tents and other large items on Saturday afternoon! There is hired security for overnight watch (though of course SMC, USAC, CPD, et al. cannot take responsibility for what the weather/acts of gods could do to items left overnight, so make sure it’s secured/laid down/tied down). And hey, stick around to lend a helping hand with course setup.
-
Speaking of helping hands, Spidermonkey could use a few more hands during the race on Sunday for additional course marshaling spots required of the new course design. Volunteers get free lunch! Check the sign-up sheet.
-
We understand the desire to pre-ride, especially with so many CCC’ers living nearby. However, we kindly request you DO NOT RIDE the course this week, especially on Saturday, to enable course construction AND to keep it in nice condition for game day. Again, drop the bike and pick up some course stakes and tape to help — it takes a village!
-
Course: NEW START AND FINISH ON THE ROADWAY! Wooooot, we so fancy. We expect the weather to be dry but let’s keep those crit elbows in for that first turn and the transition onto the grass. You can’t win the race in turn one, but you can lose it. Also a new EXPANDED pit. (But still, please remove your equipment expeditiously after your race.)
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As is tradition with Montrose, the course alternates the direction each year, going clockwise (i.e. sand first, Cricket Hill second). Note: The Junior 9-14 will have a cut-off section to bypass some of Cricket Hill and possibly some sand.
Categories: Course Preview
2018 Montrose Harbor Resort Pics, Vids, and Race Reports
December 2, 2018
2018 Montrose Harbor Preview
November 29, 2018
- Here we go! The 11th and final event in the 2018 Chicago Cyclocross Cup and the 2018 Illinois State CX Championships Presented by Rapha at Montrose Harbor hosted by Spidermonkey Cycling and Ten27 Cycling Club!
- Online pre-reg on BikeReg closes tonight. Preliminary staging will be posted here.
- In order to win a USAC State Champion jersey you must be:
- A USAC annual license holder
- An Illinois resident per your driver’s license or state issued ID (or passport)
- A citizen of these great United States of America
- The Masters 45+/55+ starting wave is closed and has gone on a waitlist. We will follow the waitlist protocol described at the bottom of the this page. Remember we cannot charge your credit card at the venue so please bring money. Waitlisted riders who prereg online and make it into a race will still be staged by their CrossResults.com points. Riders registering Day Of will be staged at the back of the pack. So make sure to pre-reg for the Waitlist if your category is closed.
- A reminder from One2Go to please, please, please pin your number properly (see the image below) and put any long hair up in pony tails. If One2Go can’t see your bib number you won’t be scored properly.
- Also, since this is the State Championship our USAC officials will be pulling riders out of contention early at the finish line. If you are told you are being finished early, please exit the course, you will be scored appropriately. Thanks!
- The weather looks great but be mindful that the wind off the lake is no joke, so please secure your tents.
- George Armstrong will be at the event taking rider portraits. Have a look at his work from the Intelligentsia Cup this summer.
- Here’s your friendly reminder that Montrose Harbor is a public city park where people who might have no idea what cyclocross is might be wandering through. Yes we’ll be celebrating another great season of cyclocross with drinks and food and more dranks, but please be on your best behavior and show the city what a classy bunch we are.
- Thanks to our generous sponsors for helping make the Illinois State Cyclocross Championships presented by Rapha Chicago possible:
- Speaking of Rapha Chicago, pre-reg riders should head there on Saturday to get your bib number early and enjoy free refreshments while talking smack with that person just ahead of you on the overall — as well as getting 25% off purchases (which may be necessary depending on the weather!). Please RSVP to let them know you are coming for food planning. And it should go without saying, make sure you put bib number somewhere safe. If you lose your number between Saturday night and Sunday we may not have a extra number for you.
- Speaking of food, there will be THREE food truck options this year with Big Mama’s soul food, Aztec Daves tacos and the Chicago Pizza Boss, so come hungry.
- And come thirsty as Heritage General Store will be on site early with COFFEETS and then adding BOOZE at 11:00 a.m. with Larry’s at Lawrence House hosting a beer/cocktail garden, including beers, pre-made cocktails and Malort/Fernet bumps!!! (Oh my.)
- And now let us pause for a message from the fun police … ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO HAND-UPS OR DRINKING/BRINGING ALCOHOL OUTSIDE OF THE BEER GARDEN AREA. It is placed next to the course on Simonds Drive for your viewing pleasure, but we CANNOT have any alcohol outside of the designated area. We knowwwwwww it will be SO TEMPTING to hand a Malört shot to that teammate passing by who is begging you for it, but RULES IS RULEZ. Seriously, Spidermonkey and Heritage had to jump through many hoops to make this happen (including one on fire) and we want to be able to do this in years to come. Please, help us help you.
- Speaking of alcohol, the park is a Chicago Park District property and alcohol is by default not allowed.
- Simonds Drive is closed to thru-traffic and parking within the barricades is restricted to officials, food trucks, Autobarn Volvos/VWs, porta-pottie deliveries and the like. Regular parking will be along Simonds Drive and Montrose Drive, entering and exiting the way you came in. Per the Park District, NO PARKING ON THE GRASS, ANYWHERE! Please adhere to volunteer requests regarding your vehicle parking and movement.
- Speaking of parking, parking spaces within the barricades (near the finish) are again available on BikeReg to help defray increased permit costs. Entry is from either side on Simonds drive — check in with the nice volunteers and show your receipt. (If you have a trailer please count that as a second space).
- Equipment drop-off on Sunday will ONLY be allowed before the turn-around on the south-end of Simonds Drive near the staging grid, and the driver must remain with the vehicle to expedite unloading and keep traffic flowing, just like at the airport It’s usually a high-volume operation at the same time so help your teammates.
- In addition teams are welcome, nay encouraged, to drop tents and other large items on Saturday afternoon! There is hired security for overnight watch (though of course SMC, et al. cannot take responsibility for what things like the weather could do to items left overnight so make sure it’s secured/tied down). And hey, stick around to lend a helping hand with course setup!
- New this year, CCC racer Maria Larkin is hosting Doggocross to support Team PAWS! What is Doggocross? It’s a 3-lap time trial with you and your doggo. The fastest team will be crowned the official 2018 Doggocross champions and will receive some PAWS goodies. Starting at 10:00 a.m., it’s $5 per attempt and you can try as many times as you like. PAWS volunteers will also be on hand to take your donations if your doggo is not available to assist you to glory. Or you can donate directly to Maria’s page.
- Kiddie Cross at 2:15pm weather permitting.
- We understand the desire to pre-ride, especially with so many CCC’ers living nearby. However, we kindly request you DO NOT RIDE the course this week, especially on Saturday, to enable course construction AND to keep it in nice condition for game day. Again, drop the bike and pick up some course stakes and tape to help — it takes a village!
- Once again the course is a similar footprint to previous years, but as has become custom, the direction will be reversed (now clockwise), so Cricket Hill comes before the sand dunes. However, Spidermonkey has included a fun tough short long sand trough before the hill to whet your appetites.
- The Junior 9-14 and Men & Women’s Cat 4/5‘s will have a cut-off section to bypass some sand sections. Please be considerate while the course is being constructed on Saturday.
Categories: Course Preview