Cycles, Oktoberfest share the day in Carpentersville

With Chicago weather being anything but predictable, about 500 Cyclocross racers have braced themselves for snow, rain, wind and heat during the 12-race Chicago Cyclocross Cup, which runs from late September through early December.

On Sunday at Carpentesrville's Carpenter Park it was heat and sunshine they were battling as music blared around them from Oktoberfest.

Nicole Fox and Dan Czeslawski sat with their 2-month-old son Curtis and their friend Mike Weger under a 9-foot umbrella to watch some of the races, which ran from 8:45 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.

The group rang cow bells and yelled encouragement at the racers from their shaded seats, enjoying a beautiful afternoon and Curtis' first race.

“It's great, we can see everything, Fox said.

The course for the race wound across Carpenter Park giving everyone attending the chance to become spectators if they wanted a break from the beer garden or food tent. Children's activities and live performances rounded out the festivities.

Christie Delort of West Dundee was there with her husband and three children. Though the event is in its third year, this is the first time the Delorts have come.

“It's small enough and good for this age group, Delort said. Her children are 2, 4 and 6 years old.

Live music by a local band called FMR played pop/punk/rock covers and a senior dancing ensemble, the Dundee Silver Foxes, performed three numbers. Jack Ness added to the true Oktoberfest theme playing German polkas and waltzes on accordion, trumpet and piano.

Chicago Cyclocross Cup had its first event in Carpentersville in 2004. It is the third year when Oktoberfest coincided with the bike race.

“It allows not only people in the community to come but for the racers to bring their families, said Robert Sliwinski, one of the Chicago Cup directors.

The Carpentersville event is the most developed out of the 12 Cup races, according to Sliwinski.

With little opportunity for natural topography in mostly flat Carpenter Park, Jeff Provisor, owner of Main Street Bicycles in Carpentersville, designed the course as a technical one. Tight turns, switches from asphalt to sand to grass, obstacles to jump over and a sloping hill to ride along test racers skill and endurance.

Competitors try to place in the top 30 for points to add to their Cup total but Tess Anderson, 10, raced on Sunday for cupcakes. Her mom promised two cupcakes if she finished the race and one if she got pulled out early for being lapped. After finishing one of the 2-mile loops before being pulled out, Anderson was ready for her one cupcake prize.