Women in Chicago: Come race this Saturday

I hope this isn't an inappropriate post for this forum, but I wanted to extend a special invitation to women in the Chicago area to come race or watch the Sherman Park Criterium this Saturday. It's a safe, non-technical course, perfect for beginners. Women's racing is very important to XXX Racing, and we'd love to see as many people out there as possible, even if it's just to watch or ask questions.

Here's the description I posted to Chicago Bike Racing:

Saturday's Sherman Park Criterium takes place in one of Chicago's great parks, a hidden treasure of the South Side with a gymnasium designed by Daniel Burnham. The famous Olmsted brothers had bicycle races in mind when they designed the park. Apparently technical crits were not in vogue in 1905 as there's not a single hard corner on the course. This makes it a perfect, manageable course for beginning cyclists.

Primes have improved over last year. In fact, I have it on good authority that a certain cycling Web site is donating cash primes for the lower categories.

The neighborhood around Sherman Park, well, let's concede it's not the North Shore. It's still a safe, beautiful venue. Residents may not be accustomed to bicycle racing, but most are curious and accommodating. Just don't be surprised if some need reminders not stroll down the course. (XXX Racing-AthletiCo will be throwing all available resources toward marshaling, but keep your head up and be alert.)

Your second race is $5 cheaper. Masters riders could potentially get in 90 minutes of racing for about the same price as the 20 minutes they got at Downers or Elk Grove.

And don't miss the children's races at 1 p.m. Watch as kids tear off from the start line not quite realizing how far a mile is. Ten minutes later they will limp across the finish, coughing up lungs and collapsing in the grass. Good times!

Note also that the women's 1/2/3 race will include a special dedication for XXX Racing-AthletiCo's teammate Beth Kobeszka, who lost her life racing in July.