Six months after we first turned the pedals in anger in Kenosha, the road season wraps up over the next two weekends with the Fall Fling, a four-race omnium series. Riders can do just one race or as many as four, unless they have their sights on the overall prizes, in which case they must do at least three.

Many of us have moved on to the winter pastime of cross, and others have moved on to the winter pastime of beer, football and the couch. For everyone else, the Fling is an excellent way to get in some final licks and take advantage of any lingering fitness, and the beginner fields can be excellent initiations for new racers.

Saturday’s road race is the same course used in previous years. The 8.1-mile rectangle has rollers on each side but nothing that should break up any groups. There’s a long, straight descent into the finish will yield some fast sprints. The biggest factor may be the wind, which can be heavy on these exposed roads. Be ready to echelon in the crosswinds.

The 3’s will race with the 1/2’s but will be scored separately. I expect the field will break up significantly and that success will go to the 3’s who can best hitch their wagons to the stars of ABD/Geargrinder.

The Sunday crits will be in a Wood Dale business park: Hansen Court, Gerry Drive and Aec Drive this weekend, Mittel Drive, Pond Drive and Wheat Lane the next.

Saturday
Fall Fling Road Race
Westlake Village, Ill.
Distance from Chicago: 1.5 hours

Sunday
Fall Fling Criterium No. 1
ABR criterium
Wood Dale, Ill.
Distance from Chicago: .5 hours

Sunday, Oct. 5
Fall Fling Criterium No. 2
ABR criterium
Wood Dale, Ill.
Distance from Chicago: .5 hours