SPECTATE
WHAT IS CHICAGO GRIT?
Chicago Grit is a 10-day series of crit races set in and around Chicagoland. Our goal is to be a community event first, and a bike race second. What we mean by this is our hope is to draw in people from the community to enjoy the sport, be inspired, and get connected with the community which so graciously hosts us.
Each day at Chicago Grit is a fresh adventure: carnivals, business expos, food truck feasts, BMX stunts, and more. It’s fun for the entire family – even if you know nothing about bike racing!
WHAT IS A CRIT RACE?
WHAT DOES A DAY AT A CHICAGO GRIT EVENT LOOK LIKE?
There’s nothing quite like Chicago Grit. Most races begin at 11:00 am and conclude around 8:30 pm. From the start of the day to the end of the day there is non-stop action which ramps up as the day progresses. This is because USA Cycling (USAC) sanctioned races are run by category – from Novice to Professional. We begin each day with our Novice categories, then progress upward. That means you’ll see the speed, field sizes, and skill level ramp up as the day progresses.
Our pro races are our final races of the evening (with the exception of our final day of racing). Our pro races are filled with nationally recognized and internationally recognized riders who are incredibly skilled at racing crits. These pros will push the speed so many races average in excess of 30mph.
We hire professional announcers every year who make the entire day truly thrilling. From insider information, to following the action they are the absolute best in the biz.
OUR ANNOUNCERS
TODD BUSTEED
Todd is a professional announcer and voice actor who grew up in Brookfield, Illinois. Todd is extremely knowledgeable in the sport of cycling and the rapport between he and our other announcers is simply electric.
BRAD SOHNER
Brad started his career in cycling the summer he took a job as a stagehand. Brad quickly learned he had a golden voice and a knack for calling races – and the rest is history. Brad now travels all over the world as a professional announcer (including to China, where he is quite famous).
FRANKIE ANDREU
Frankie is a former professional cyclist who gives a nice insider perspective to round out our announcing team.
