Beverly Hills Cycling Classic/Bikes & Brews Survival Guide

CHICAGO, IL – A mid-summer event consistently gaining popularity in the Beverly-Morgan Park neighborhood is the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic and the "Bikes & Brews" festival that comes with it. This year, center stage moves to another section of the neighborhood and added features could make the 16th version of the local event the best yet.

"This area will be even better," Marc Colbert, organizer of the Intelligentsia Cup, said of the new course that's centered around St. Barnabas Church and School. In years past, the festival-area for the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic had been centered around the Beacon School and Ridge Historical Society in the southern part of the neighborhood.

"The hill at Beacon (107th Street and Longwood Drive) limited us a little with space," Colbert said. "I think there's a lot more usable space around St. Barnabas."

This year, six races are planned between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with a festival featuring beer and food trucks lasting until 10 p.m.

READ MORE: Festival Area For Bikes & Brews Moves To St. Barnabas Parking Lot

The large event is put on through a collaboration between the Beverly Area Planning Association and Intelligentsia Cup, which is part of the Prairie State Cycling Series. The cycling series puts on the race portion of the event while BAPA organizes the festival that surrounds it.

In addition to a new course this year there will also be new races. Two junior-level races have been added to the lineup of events. Colbert says the young cyclists who will display their talents are among the best in the world in their age groups.

But the pro men, pro women and masters category races scheduled later in the evening should bring out the "fast, fast speeds," Colbert said.

Much of the allure of race day in Beverly is when residents feel the swift breeze that comes by every few minutes when the bulk of racers ride by their area.

Colbert said Intelligentsia Cup organizers and cyclists "love being in Beverly."

"The racers like it because the course is on a bluff. It really is an up and down course that's riders enjoy more than a flat course," Colbert said. "And besides, everything about Beverly is terrific."

Here's a look at the 2018 event as it approaches.

Beverly Hills Cycling Classic

When & Where

The 2018 Beverly Hills Cycling Classic/Bikes & Brews Festival will run from 4-10 p.m. on Friday, July 20 centered in the area around St. Barnabas Church and School in Beverly.

Getting There

Attendees are encouraged to walk, use public transportation or bike. Volunteers from Mercy Home/Walsh Campus will be hosting a bike valet in the festival area.

Parking Restrictions

Parking will not be allowed on the race route (shown below) beginning at 3 p.m. on race day. Because of safety requirements, cars left on the race route after that time will be towed to 103rd and Doty, not relocated. Streets will be reopened and parking will be allowed once all the races are completed.

About The Race

The Beverly Hills Cycling Classic, as is now tradition, is the first race of ten in the Intelligentsia Cup, which holds one race every day in a different part of Chicagoland as part of the Prairie State Cycling Series. The Intelligentsia Cup follows with races on consecutive days in Lake Bluff, Elgin, Joliet, South Chicago, West Dundee, Niles, Elmhurst and Glen Ellyn. The final of the ten events is centered around West Fulton Street in Chicago near the national headquarters for Intelligentsia Coffee.

Each race category will have an overall winner of the Intelligentsia Cup, which will be the rider who accumulates the most points across all 10 races. But the winners of each leg also carry some bragging rights.

"Anytime you win one stage it's a big deal," Colbert said. "If you win the race you are in against 40 or 50 other riders, you always feel proud of that."

The New Course

Take a look at the map below to see the new course layout. It's a 1.54 kilometer criterium course that goes through Beverly's residential historic district.

Spectators around the race course are encouraged to cheer on the riders as they whizz by at speeds of more than 30 miles per hour.

Race Schedule

4:15 p.m.: Juniors (age 9 through 14)

4:40 p.m.: Juniors (age 15 to 18)

5:10 p.m.: Men’s category 2 and 3

5:55 p.m.: William Blaire Masters 35+ categories 1, 2 and 3

6:40 p.m.: Pro Women, categories 1, 2 and 3

7:35 p.m.: Pro Men, categories 1 and 2

Around The Neighborhood

Neighbors around the race route are encouraged to view the races and cheer on the riders. Many people along the old race route invited friends to their homes and even hosted front-yard parties.

'Bikes & Brews' Festival

The new location for the popular Bikes & Brews festival is the St. Barnabas parish parking lot, 10100 S. Longwood Drive. Festival hours are 4-10 p.m.

Breweries

Beer will be available for attendees aged 21 and older from the following breweries:

• Lagunitas Brewing Company
• Open Outcry Brewing Company
• Horse Thief Hollow
• Blue Island Brewing Company
• Argus Brewery

Food Trucks

Food and treats will be available from:

• Original Rainbow Cone
• Franconello
• Misericordia cupcake truck
• Reilly’s Daughter
• Calabria Imports
• Home Run Inn Pizza
• Cilantro Taco Grill

Family Fun

Also in the festival area will be a "Kids Zone" featuring a gaming truck, face painting, crafts and more, and a bike valet service courtesy of volunteers from the Mercy Home/Walsh Campus.

Live Music

The Leadfoot Band will perform following the races, beginning at about 8:30 p.m.

Presenting Sponsor

The presenting sponsor of this year's festival is Beverly Bike and Ski, 9121 S. Western Ave. According to BAPA, the shop has been serving the community since 1921 and has been a lead partner in sponsoring the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic since the beginning of the event’s history.

Other Sponsors

• Mike Haggerty Buick – GMC – Volkswagen
• Beverly Bank & Trust
• 19th Ward Youth Foundation
• CIBC
• Smith Village
• Marquette Bank
• AT&T
• The Beverly Review
• State Farm/John Harrell agent
• Xpress Tax Appeal
• Lagunitas
• Horse Thief Hollow
• Open Outcry Brewing Company
• Blue Island Brewing Company
• Argus Brewery

Win A Bike

Once again, Beverly Bike and Ski has donated a brand new Giant Cypress bike to be raffled off this summer. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10 and available at Beverly Bike and Ski as well as at the Bikes and Brews Festival.

Volunteers Needed

People are needed on every block to help out as course marshals and at the festival on race day. Sign up here, here or call 773-233-3100. Volunteers will receive a Love Where You Live t-shirt.

Top photo courtesy of Prairie States Cycling Series / Intelligentsia Cup