• » Don’t put away those cross bikes just yet. Team Mack hosts the 23rd Annual Bill Jensen Memorial Tour de Groundhog on Sunday, Feb. 21, at New Salem State Park near Springfield.
• » Time to unload your bike clutter ... and replace it with newer, shinier clutter. Two bike swaps are coming up: Saturday, Jan. 9, is the 19th Annual Cronometro Bike Swap in Madison. The following Saturday, the Chicago Winter Bike Swap returns to Harper College. Both have good reputations for good deals and fun finds.
• » You never know what you’ll find at the thrift store.
• » ReCycling Pro Development has put together an impressive roster of young talent for its debut season, including state road race champion Seth Meyer.
• » Comma Music joins billboard concern Van Wagner as title sponsor of Comma Van Wagner Racing.
• »  A 34-year-old cyclist in the publishing industry loses a lot of weight and signs with Cervélo TestTeam. Inexplicably, it is not me.
• » “Lance Armstrong inspires thousands to come in third to cancer.”

A quick moment of self-promotion: I’m spending the off-season collaborating with two other photographers to create a photo book celebrating the 2009 Chicago Cyclocross Cup season. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but so far it’s looking very, very neat.

We will be publishing through a print-on-demand service, but if you are willing to pick up your copy from The Pony Shop in Evanston, you can pre-order now and avoid the shipping charges. We’re even providing an IOU to slip under the tree if you’re purchasing it as a gift.

Profits will go to World Bicycle Relief.

Ordering information available here.

• » You asked for it, you got it: Cat 4’s will race 58 miles at Hillsboro-Roubaix. Registration opens Feb. 1. And I’d better not see any of you jokers pulling out after one lap.
• » Exciting news from our friends at Flatlandia: The Leland Kermesse will return in 2010, and Ted Burger promises that it will be “longer and harder than last year.” It’s scheduled for Saturday, April 17, and this time it will be under USAC sanction. The road race made a memorable debut in 2009, and I expect it will be a worthy companion or alternative to Hillsboro-Roubaix.
• » Registration is open for ABD’s Indoor Time Trial Series.
• » Chicago riders had a good weekend in Bend, Ore. Holly Klug (Courage) and Scott McLaughlin (SRAM) won their masters warm-up races, and Kevin Klug (Courage) took 2nd in his. In the main events, McLaughlin got the top local finish. He was as far ahead as 2nd in Saturday’s 40+ national championship before finishing 5th behind some respectable competition.
• » I have a hunch which Midwestern promoter this might be.  Illinois Cycling Association president Steve Hansen (North Branch) responds.
• » Lemont’s Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) will appear at the Michigan Avenue Garmin Store at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29.
• » NY Velocity gives the best interviews in the business. I especially enjoyed Monday’s interview with David Millar (Garmin-Transitions), for three reasons: 1. The passage about rediscovering the joy of bicycle riding. 2. The passage about breaking away into Barcelona. 3. He swears like a proper Scotsman.
• » “This sport has broken my heart and crushed my dreams for possibly the last time.” And speaking of broken hearts and crushed dreams: Something for the time trialist.
• » Today is probably the last day to order a CBR calendar and expect delivery by Christmas. There are three to choose from: road, cyclocross and an updated version of cyclocross.
• » Want something really special for your favorite cyclocross rider? A special Chicago Cyclocross Cup coffee table book will be available for pre-order soon. Stay tuned. It’s available now!

• » For the completist: I have created an updated version of my cyclocross calendar, including photos from the season’s final four races. Available only from CafePress for $17.50. Cheap! (The previous cyclocross version and the road calendar are still available, too.)
• » Set your alarm clocks: Pre-registration for Hillsboro-Roubaix will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1.
• » And mark your calendars: The Tour of Champaign-Urbana returns May 22-23.
• » At Podium Insight, Lyne Lamoureux has an interview with Adam Myerson (Cycle-Smart). The comparison of results-oriented East Coast vs. crazy-oriented Portland is noteworthy in the wake of our own breakthrough cross season.
• » Careful with that door.
• » Through Jan. 15, show a cycling license or a bib number at Human Performance Institute and get 20 percent off gym membership or personal training.
• » Everything I know about Downers Grove I learned from Emo Phillips.

The village council of Downers Grove voted Tuesday to eliminate the $37,000 it spends on the USPRO National Championship weekend, the crown jewel of local racing.

Although the budget’s wording suggests the race will be canceled, I’m told that organizer Special Events Management is seeking sponsorship to plug the gap, and the race may go on. (The Downers Grove budget also calls it a “criterion,” but that is neither here nor there.)

USA Cycling was unaware of the development. Director of communications Andrea Smith says at this point the race remains on the national championship calendar.

SEM estimated that more than 15,000 spectators attended the races in 2009. Although downtown restaurants benefit, locals tell me that some retailers see a drop in business and resent the crowds, and several close up shop for the weekend.

At a July planning workshop, the village council rated the race as “low priority.”

Village manager David Fieldman did not return a request for comment.

In addition to national championships for men, women and elites, Downers Grove traditionally hosts a full slate of amateur races over two days, including a Saturday twilight pro-am. In 2010, however, the women and elite men will have their criterium national championships in Bend, Ore.

SEM manages the Chicago Criterium as well, and that race’s future also will hinge on angel sponsorship without city funding.

Meanwhile, the Daily Herald reports that Arlington Heights is considering not funding its Superweek race, a midweek criterium that made its debut in 2009. Read the comments for a sampling of residents’ attitudes toward bike racing.

• » If it’s winter, it’s time for Goldsprints, an essential component of every serious cyclist’s base training. Johnny Sprockets hosts an 8-event series of fixed-fork roller races starting Thursday, Dec. 10.
• » Julie Popper (Half Acre Cycling) writes up the Chicago cross scene for CX Magazine.
• » The Chicago Tribune changes a life.
• » Enjoy a ride down memory lane with “Concrete Rodeo,” a messenger documentary by Chip Williams, a pro who has been shooting many of the cyclocross races this fall.
• » “Design well. Do good.” Apparel maker Faction Cycling has hung its shingle in Chicago.
• » “‘Just a bike race’? Have you lost your mind?”