The Experience: "A Party with a Bike Race"

Each day features family-friendly events with amateur races in the morning and elite/pro races in the evening.

Spectators can enjoy thrilling racing action often described as "Nascar on a bike". Community festivals accompany the races, offering beer gardens, food trucks, live music, and local business expos. Many events also include kids' races and community rides.

See It In Person

Chicago Grit provides an action-packed experience with highly competitive racing in a welcoming and exciting atmosphere. Racing typically runs from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm.

Chicago Grit: Best Cycling Day of My Life

Volunteers are needed at suburban race locations

If you love racing and want to see it continue, please consider volunteering! Race volunteers are needed in:

Elgin
Fulton Market
Glen Ellyn
Lake Bluff
Lombard
Mundelein
Northbrook

Local Volunteers needed to host top cyclists from around the country and around the world who will be competing in the Intelligentsia Cup. This unique opportunity offers you the chance to get to know the country’s top riders and get a peek behind the scenes of the racing lifestyle. Lifelong friendships are often formed.

Volunteer to host an athlete

Hosting riders in individual homes is a huge factor in recruiting teams. Invite your neighbors too. They can help by providing housing so that entire teams can stay in the same geographical area (ideal situation). Please pass this information on to your friends, family and co-workers.

Volunteer Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Chicago Grit different from other criterium races?

Chicago Grit is the largest road racing series in America, featuring 10 days of racing across incredible Chicagoland communities that have fully embraced cycling culture. These aren't typical parking lot crits - they're all-day community events with epic block parties, carnivals, beer gardens, live music, and local business expos alongside the racing action.

Why should I come as a spectator if I'm not a cyclist?

Criterium racing is like "Nascar on a bike" - the short courses with tight corners and high-speed peloton action create non-stop excitement that's thrilling to watch. Beyond the racing, Chicago Grit is fundamentally a community festival with food trucks, live music, kids' activities, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the day.

What's the typical schedule for a Chicago Grit race day?

Each day features amateur races in the morning and elite/pro races in the evening, giving the community plenty of opportunities to experience different levels of racing. The full day includes community festivities, so you can arrive early to enjoy the neighborhood atmosphere and stay late for the main event.

Are there activities for kids at Chicago Grit?

Absolutely! Chicago Grit features family-friendly events including kids' races and community rides. This is a true community celebration, so there are plenty of activities beyond the competitive racing to keep families entertained throughout the day.

How long are the races and what should I expect on the course?

Criterium races run on short courses - typically under 1 mile - which means riders will lap the same circuit multiple times throughout the race. This creates the intense, high-speed action you'll want to watch repeatedly as the peloton tackles tight corners and battles for position lap after lap.

What can I bring or do while spectating?

Plan to experience the full Chicago Grit community festival atmosphere - there will be beer gardens, food trucks, live music, and local vendor expos throughout the day. Check the event website for the latest details on what each race location will feature and arrive early to explore the community and find your ideal spectating spot along the course.

When does Chicago Grit typically take place?

Chicago Grit is an annual 10-day criterium series that typically runs in the middle to end of July. Check the event website for specific dates and locations for the current year.

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Chicago Grit

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