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Bicycling Mon Mar 25 2013
Half Acre Cycling Celebrates 5 Years of Gapers Block Crits
By Annette Stahelin
It's March, which in the Chicago cycling community means it's about time to see how we've all fared over a winter of joyless indoor biking and finally get to test our mettle against one another in the first criterium race series of the season! Now in its fifth year, Half Acre Cycling's Gapers Block Crits is a week-long race series held at the beautiful and little-known (to Northsiders) Calumet Park! Fun fact about Calumet Park: it's home to the Lake Shore Model Train exhibit -- check it out on the Wednesday of the series when it's open to the public!
Half Acre Cycling has been throwing this race series to provide an entry point for beginner bike racers looking to get their feet wet -- offering four days of racing at affordable prices in a low-key racing environment. A criterium offers spectators the ability to watch racers each time they come around the typical 1-mile or less closed circuit, with excitement growing as racers near the final lap.
The first race starts at 6:10pm each day, with the last starting at 7:30pm. Online registration is closed; walk-up registration is $20 per day for men and $10 per day for women. And even if you're not riding, you can watch and cheer racers on for free!
Annette Stahelin is a member of Half Acre Cycling; Gapers Block is a team sponsor.
