HAC Skyway Classic Series

Calumet Park, Chicago, IL

Saturday, April 25th – Sunday, April 26th, 2025

We are continuing our weekend schedule with multiple opportunities for Cat 3, 4, and 5 racing. New this year, we will be using American Bicycle Racing (ABR) as our sanctioning organization keeping in line with our team values of gender inclusive and affordable racing!

Don’t fret, we are not straying too far from our roots. Skyway will still be focused on giving new racers plenty of experience in a safe and positive environment. This year there will be a 1 hour crit clinic prior to kicking off racing so folks can familiarize themselves with the course and have opportunities to engage with experienced racers.

This two-day series gives newer racers a low-cost, low-tech, nearby opportunity to try out criterium racing and gain valuable experience, skills, and confidence on safe roads in a low pressure environment. Also its a great way for seasoned racers to stay extra sharp between early season races. Not to mention, the fabulous prizes and primes that await!

Registration: Online pre-registration is here on BikeReg. Day of Registration will close 15 minutes before each race. (*While the field limit is 65, pre-registration is capped at 55 per field to allow space for day-of registrants.) There are no Masters or Juniors categories. All racers must be at least racing age 16 years old (your age on 12/31/2026) to race Skyway.

Licensing:  All riders must have an American Bicycle Racing (ABR) license in order to race.  A one-day license is included in the cost of your registration fees. If you prefer to obtain an annual license for $30, you can obtain your ABR annual license here. If you have an current annual license, email us a copy of your ABR annual license confirmation to receive a discount code prior to registration (hello@halfacrecycling.org). If you decide after racing that you would like to pay the difference for an annual license, we can help you set that up in person at registration.

Riding multiple fields: Riders can register for multiple races in a day. A discount is applied when pre-registering for multiple races.

A few words about inclusivity: Half Acre Cycling respects trans and non-binary athletes and their human right to participate in sport. Women’s categories include trans women, femme, and non-binary riders. Men’s categories have been renamed “Open” and include cisgender men, trans men, non-binary riders, and anyone else who wants to ride. We believe you are who you say you are. Half Acre Cycling has no space for hate, hate/exclusive speech, or any other form of harassment or discrimination at our events, and will not be tolerated. If you have any concerns or requests on how we can ensure Half Acre Cycling lives up to the promise of inclusive and inviting events, please find our race director, Pete Pavek, on-site or email hello@halfacrecycling.org.

Results: This is a low-tech training criterium series.  Results will list top finishers (we aim to have 10-deep placings, but it is not always possible) and all other riders will be scored as the last place to have been scored.  For example, if we are only able to score 9 deep, all other riders will take 10th place.

Prizes: Podiums will be announced after each race. All prizes are donated from our gracious sponsors, varying from items such as socks, water bottles, tires, etc. No cash is awarded.

Rules: All ABR rules apply.  All riders must wear an approved helmet at all times while on bicycle at the race venue.  No alcohol is allowed in the park.  NO bike shoes allowed in the field house. Change only in the locker rooms not the restrooms.

Directions: Get your warm-up by riding down!  Follow the Bike Route signs from the Lake Front Path.  Or, if you must take a car… If you follow online directions you’ll get off the I-90 Skyway at 92nd, the first exit after/before the toll, and pay at least $4 each way every day.  Instead, we recommend: exit the Dan Ryan I-94 at 63rd (exit 58B), go east on 63rd, south on King, and take South Chicago Ave.  Left on 95th which leads into the park.  Stay right at the T with Crilly. OR better yet, take Lake Shore Drive and follow along the new 2 mile extension to Ewing which leads straight to the park! You can park along Crilly before the Ave G stop sign.

Racing will be the loop following S Ave G south, left turn onto E 100th Dr, continuing left onto Crilly Dr, then left back to Ave G.

Weather considerations: Events will be starting rain or shine.

Where does the money go?  Half Acre Cycling believes that racing should be affordable and we have worked hard to make this series the least expensive racing in the region. Still, we know it’s not cheap. Our main costs include permitting fees (City of Chicago, Chicago Parks District, and ABR), ABR license and insurance fees, paying our officials, and paying our paramedic. A key reason this series is so affordable is because we’ve chosen not to pay for cash payouts or prizes and our volunteers are absorbing most of the work. If you would like to help out, please let us know. Or, if your club is interested in hosting a more affordable, accessible event, we’d be happy to share with you how we’ve done this.

Special note regarding non-binary categories: We understand that the lack of dedicated non-binary categories is an issue across the cycling community. We welcome non-binary racers at this event in the gender field that feels more appropriate to you, Open or Women. BikeReg allows you to self-select gender, and we will not question your ABR license gender since they do not allow for non-binary gender in their licensing process. Once again, you are who you say you are.

SPECIAL THANKS to Chicago Parks District, 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico, District 4 police, American Bicycle Racing, and our sponsors … AND TO ALL YOU RACERS WHO COME THROW DOWN EVERY DAY!