It’s time once again for our autumn classic, the Fall Fling, a four-race omnium series. Riders can do just one race or as many as four, although anyone angling for the overall prizes must do at least three.

The Fling is an excellent way to get in some final licks and take advantage of any lingering summer fitness, and the beginner fields can be excellent initiations for new racers. Or, race up a category and enter the off-season with a taste of what you have to work toward in 2010.

The time trial returns to Maple Park, but the other three courses are new. Saturday’s criterium is a flat, .8-mile loop with very gentle corners. Sunday’s road race looks to be a fairly flat 6-mile square with long lines of sight. The following Sunday we get a rolling, 1.5-mile circuit with two roundabouts to navigate each lap. All three courses are fairly unsheltered, so something tells me any brisk fall breeze could go a long way to shake things up.

ABD will be providing a free lunch to riders and volunteers Sunday, and indoor locker rooms will be available for changing.

Saturday Fall Fling Criterium No. 1 ABR criterium West Chicago, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 1 hour

Sunday Fall Fling Road Race ABR road race Crete, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 2 hours

Sunday, Oct. 4 Fall Fling Criterium No. 2 ABR criterium West Chicago, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 1 hour