Gapers Block Criterium Races

This five-day series gives newer racers a low-cost, low-tech, nearby opportunity to try out criterium events and gain valuable experience, skills, and confidence before the season opens.

Series: Online registration is for the 5-day series of races only. One day registration is day-of on-site only. Your registration fee here covers the cost of five days of racing. (While the field limit is 50, pre-registration is capped at 40 per field to allow space for day-of registrants.)

Licensing: All riders pre-registering MUST have a USA Cycling annual license, available at the USAC website. Non-license-holders may register day-of, but will pay a $10/day additional day-of license fee.

Day-of: If you prefer to register for individual races day-of, at least 10 spaces will be available in each field each day. Fees will be $20/day for men and $10/day for women. If you do not hold a USAC license, there will be an additional $10/day licensing fee. Cash or check only.

Riding multiple fields: Riders will not be allowed to pre-register for more than one field. Any multiple entries will be canceled and refunded. Riders wishing to participate in more than one race a day may pay the day-of fee and register the day of the race for their second field.

Rules: This event is held under USAC permit, all USAC rules apply. All riders must wear an approved helmet at all times while at the race venue. No alcohol is allowed in the park.

Results: This is a low-tech training criterium series. Results will list top finishers (we aim to have 10-deep placings, but it is not always possible) and all other riders will be scored as DNP, "did not place."

Directions: Get your warm-up by riding down! Follow the Bike Route signs from the Lake Front Path. Or, if you must take a car... If you follow online directions you'll get off the I-90 skyway at 92nd, the first exit after/before the toll, and pay $3 each way every day. Instead, we recommend exit the Dan Ryan !-94 at 63rd (exit 58B), go east on 63rd, south on King, and take South Chicago Ave. Left on 95th which leads into the park. Stay right at the T with Crilly. You can park along Crilly before the Ave G stop sign.

Racing will be South on S Ave G, left turn onto E 100th Dr, continue left onto Crilly Dr, then left back to Ave G.

Weather considerations: Events will be starting rain or shine.


Where does the money go? Half Acre Cycling believes that racing should be affordable and we have worked hard to make this series the least expensive racing in the region. Still, we know it's not cheap. Our main costs include permitting fees (City of Chicago, Chicago Parks District, and USAC), USAC licensing fees (how we get insurance for the event), paying our officials, and paying our paramedic. A key reason this series is so affordable is because we've chosen not to pay for cash payouts or prizes and our volunteers are absorbing more of the work. If you would like to help out, please let us know. Or, if your club is interested in hosting a more affordable, accessible event, we'd be happy to share how we've done this with you.

SPECIAL THANKS to Chicago Parks District, Alderman Pope, District 4 police, Illinois Cycling Association.