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Any coming up in Chicago?

Pedal hard my friends,

Keith

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Not sure what you mean by unofficial.  There was a Fondo in Sterling IL yesterday.  Mass start, everyone gets timed.  I'm sure it was ridden as a race by those serious about it.

Do you mean alleycats?

Unsanctioned on the street bicycle races are not as dangerous as unsanctioned on the street car races, but they are still dangerous and should not be undertaken.  Its not just the risk to the bicyclists, its the risk to the pedestrians caused by cars being distracted by the racers and to other cars, again caused by cars being distracted by the racers.   Lots of legitimate racing opportunities exist.  

Having spent plenty of nights around the stockyards, Doty Road and some industrial areas around Montrose I'd say many street races are better organized and safer than any critical mass I've seen, let alone underground bike race.  It helps that they are usually around 2AM when most people are asleep.

Crazy David 84 Furlongs said:

Unsanctioned on the street bicycle races are not as dangerous as unsanctioned on the street car races, but they are still dangerous and should not be undertaken.

Critical masses are races? Crap I've been doing it wrong this whole time

Tricolor said:

Having spent plenty of nights around the stockyards, Doty Road and some industrial areas around Montrose I'd say many street races are better organized and safer than any critical mass I've seen, let alone underground bike race.  It helps that they are usually around 2AM when most people are asleep.

Crazy David 84 Furlongs said:

Unsanctioned on the street bicycle races are not as dangerous as unsanctioned on the street car races, but they are still dangerous and should not be undertaken.

Organized and safer are the words you should have been looking for.

What about "bandit cross"?

I guess the only victims there are the Chicago Public Parks themselves...

I think that the Full Name is the

Secret Sheridan Sunset Senior Sidewalk Super Slam Hulabaloo!  (Sssssssh!)

peter moormann said:

Sheridan Sidewalk Slam?

The Joliet Bike Psychos used to put on a circuit race in LaSalle county.  I did it once, didn't feel it was less safe than any USCF or ABR sanctioned race I did.  Might have had less insurance, but if you're injured it may come down to your person medical insurance if you get hurt anyway.

Are bandit cross races generally tough on Parks?
I'm asking because I'm interested in participating in something along the lines of a bandit cross race, but I'd rather not give cyclists a bad name for tearing up parks.
I would assume that a couple dozen people riding on a combination of park trails and off-road wouldn't have too much of an environmental impact. 

Blatherskate said:

What about "bandit cross"?

I guess the only victims there are the Chicago Public Parks themselves...

It depends on the tires being used, number of people, the number of circuits and above all the weather.  If it's pretty dry and you aren't doing too many loops, the course probably isn't going to get torn up but if the ground is wet then the race is probably going to tear up the grass pretty quickly.

Chase C said:

Are bandit cross races generally tough on Parks?
I'm asking because I'm interested in participating in something along the lines of a bandit cross race, but I'd rather not give cyclists a bad name for tearing up parks.
I would assume that a couple dozen people riding on a combination of park trails and off-road wouldn't have too much of an environmental impact. 

Blatherskate said:

What about "bandit cross"?

I guess the only victims there are the Chicago Public Parks themselves...

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