Evanston Criterium, Sunday July 20

I hope some of you are going to come hang out at the Evanston Criterium on Sunday July 20th! It was fun to watch last year.

It's a block or two away from both the EL and the Metra trains (Davis St. stop) and is very bike accessible. There is also a big parking garage right next to the course for racers, volunteers and spectators, complete with a bike valet for the event. Restaurants all along the course will have outdoor seating so you can watch the race!

It's the day after the Crystal Ridge WEMS race so you can do an easy recovery ride in the morning and then come out to watch the pro races in the late afternoon. Cat 4, Cat 3, Masters, etc. races from 9-3, music and kid's race at 3, pro women at 4, and pro 1/2 men at 5:30. The pro guys go so fast on the start/finish stretch of this course you can almost feel the air rattle!! The police department sets up one of those speed machines on the course that says how fast they are going, to keep the crowd entertained.

Last year was the first year - it's part of Super Week - and they did a great job with it. It was really fun to hear people who had never seen a big bike race before - ANY bike race before - say they really enjoyed watching it.

I'd say come and bring your family to the beach if you have kids - but I have to warn you that the beaches here charge admission. On the positive side, there is a beach just a few blocks from the course!