CCC Wednesday Race Simulation Ride
Chicago Cycling Club's Wednesday hammer fest: 35-40 miles at 22-32 mph from Lincoln and California — race simulation for advanced Chicago road cyclists.
The vibe
Race legs, no mercy
Wednesday evening at Lincoln and California is not a casual spin. The CCC’s midweek ride is a 35-40 mile race simulation covering the full 22-32 mph range — one of the fastest regular group rides in Chicago. This is where criterium racers and masters competitors sharpen their legs between weekends, and where casual riders quickly learn the difference between “I like cycling” and “I race cycling.”
The ride rolls at 5:30 PM, so arrive at least 10 minutes ahead. Being dropped is a real possibility if you’re not regularly riding at these speeds. That said, the CCC community is not unfriendly — there’s a shared respect for anyone willing to show up and suffer through it. Over a season, this ride will genuinely make you faster.
If you’re flirting with local criterium racing or just want to know where your fitness ceiling actually is, Wednesday nights are your lab. Bring a race-day attitude, a reliable road bike, and legs that are ready to hurt.