I have absolutely no idea whether travel time is something riders consider when picking their races, but it’s exciting to note that the next Illinois Cup race will be within city limits. One can race and be back home for brunch.

I’ll also note that Saturday’s Sherman Park Criterium is an important race to me personally, as it is the race that my team hosts.

It is no easy thing to hold a race in the city, and this is no easy neighborhood in which to do it, but it’s important to XXX Racing-AthletiCo and our values that we continue to race at Sherman Park. Indeed, the fact that both 5’s fields filled weeks ago suggests that we are fulfilling our mission to introduce bike racing to city riders. There’s still plenty of room in other fields, however, and it would mean a lot to me to see you there.

The course is a milelong loop through a historic South Side park. There are no hard corners to speak of, nor any elevation changes, save for a slight rise coming into the final turn. It’s a wide tarmac, and some sprinters find success coming around on the outside rather than taking the short line and risk getting boxed in.

Here’s video of the 2007 Cat 3 sprint, and here’s a promotional video from the 2008 edition.

The most technical part of the course will be the occasional pothole, but those who train on Sheridan Road may not even notice. Lower categories should take heed: Stay cool. In any race, but especially when there is imperfect pavement, havoc can occur when inexperienced riders overcorrect for bumps or cracks. Don’t swerve, don’t panic. Keep your body and arms loose and absorb any bumps.

Elsewhere, Wisconsin has two days of criterium championships in Ripon, there’s a criterium in South Bend, Ind., and RDS Cycling expands to Wisconsin with a new criterium in Burlington. (Registration for that is extremely light, but RDS is always a fun host, and this may be one of your last chances for a small, low-key race before the frenzy of TOAD and Superweek.)

I also expect a handful of riders to head to St. Louis for the Tour de Grove, which is on the National Racing Calendar. If I were a betting man, I’d put a few dollars on hometown hero Brad Huff (Jelly Belly).

Saturday Sherman Park Criterium USAC criterium Chicago Distance from Chicago: 0 Previous wrap-ups: 2007, 2008, 2009

Wisconsin State Criterium Championships USAC criterium Ripon, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 3 hours

EcoFest Criterium USAC criterium South Bend, Ind. Distance from Chicago: 2 hours

Sunday Burlington Cycling Classic USAC criterium Burlington, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 1.5 hours

Wisconsin State Criterium Championships USAC criterium Ripon, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 3 hours