Masters Cat 1/2/3 racer & super promoter Jim Nowak, Athletes By Design, and Prairie Path Cycles return yet again with their classic ABD Sunrise Park course in Bartlett, IL. In our opinion what makes CX and specifically the CCC so great is the diversity in our courses. Jim always sets the bar a little higher each year with his course designs and this year is no different. The “6 pack” may be gone but you can always expect a surprise or two out of Sunrise Park. And of course the original Heckle Hill will be back in all its glory.

– The Bartlett venue has the trickiest parking situation of all the CCC races. Parking is actually a good ways away at the Sycamore Trails School. See the map below. Please park at the school and follow the signs on the path to the course and registration. Its probably a good idea to ride your bike, but per USAC regulations you must wear your helmet at all times when on your bike at a race. You can’t finish the race if you don’t start because you brains are spilled all over the sidewalk… so please keep it safe and don’t make us ask you twice… better yet once. See page 52 here.

– Please remember registration closes 30 minutes prior to each race start time.  Also, please allow the 40+ racers to get their numbers first thing in the morning so they can warm up for their race. Thanks!

Online reg via BikeReg.com closes tonight at midnight. Preliminary staging will be posted here on Friday.

– ABD has again increased payouts across the board.

– Sunrise Park is notoriously windy… so if you plan on setting up a tent, bring metal stakes or weights. Sunday’s forecast calls for upper 60’s and relatively lite winds, but please dress and pack accordingly.

– Sunrise Park is smack in the middle of a housing community. Please respect the neighbors at times while at the race… this includes not peeing in places you shouldn’t (ABD has Spot-A-Pots), using foul language, and anything that would make it so we can’t come back next year. You all are always great about this, so please keep it PG.

– Since the park is in the middle of a residential area there are no food or beverage establishments in the immediate vicinity. However ABD will have local food vendor Sandwichville be serving up wraps, pulled pork, and maybe beef sandwiches.

– Series sponsor NovaCare Rehabilitation will have physical therapists at the race from around 10:00 – 12:00 providing complimentary injury screens and stretching. Just stop by the NovaCare tent. Also see them for information on bike fit services or a complimentary energy bar or post-race snack.

– The course: Sunrise Park is one of the CCC’s longest courses at nearly 2.5 miles. All categories will still be racing the same amount of time as all other CCC races though, but you’ll obviously be completing fewer laps… so pay attention to the lap counters. Since the start chute and Finish line are on the interior of the course… please be careful when crossing the course as racers will likely be coming at you from both directions. The course runs anti-clockwise again this year. Registration will be just NorthEast of the Finish line. The wheel/bike pit is double entry and SouthWest of the finish line. The starting grid will be just to the NorthEast of the finish line next to registration. As always, numbers will go on your left.