318 Ride - Studs only

Rode the icy trails between downtown Mpls and Excelsior today with the 318 group. Studded tires were a must. Most didn't have them. People were going down left and right. It was comical at times. There were sections of the trail you could have easily ice skated on. The crazy people included Jordan, P-slim, Painman, Red Lantern, Skibby, Thorlson, Dorr, Frye, and myself.

Update: Several ride participants report being stiff, bruised, and sore. But this is no surprise, given the age of some of them.

Pslim's back in town

Pslim is back in town for a couple days from Omaha, and joined us for an great ride on the Mpls trails.

Tis the season to hurt oneself...

An oldie, but a goodie. Merry Christmas everyone.

Sub Zero Flanders Ride

@ Start: -8degF Temp, -28degF Windchill

Jim Flanders, Dave Zimmerman, and Jordan. These guys wore me out today.

Jordan post ride.
Jimmer Post Ride. Got a little nippy comin thru the pass (ala Dumb and Dumber).

A couple more tale telling photos from Cross Natz

Photos compliments of Kristin Wentworth

Jordan's Wilier, Post Race. No wonder it quit working.

Jordan's backside was a lot muddier than his frontside.

Carla washed his skinsuit 5 times to get it clean.

58 RSVP's so far for Jan 25th MCF Party

Click here to send an RSVP to the party.

Click here for the current list of RSVP's.

Click here for the flyer.

Click here for the list of award winners.

US Nationals Podium Boys from Hudson, WI

Jordan Cullen (3rd - Jr13-14), Bjorn Selander (5th - U23)
The rivertown is quite the cycling hotbed.

2008 USA Cyclocross Nationals Junior Male 13-14 Podium

USA Cyclocross Nationals Junior Male 13-14 Podium

Courtesy of Jamie Young

(click photo to enlarge)
(L-R) 5th - Michael Dessau, Boulder, CO; 3rd - Jordan Cullen, Hudson, WI; 1st - Logan Owen, Bremerton, WA; 2nd - Nate Morse, Cohasset, MA; 4th - Curtis White, Delanson, NY

Cross Natz Pics

Hitting the stairs on the first lap
Top of the Stairs
2nd Lap - Getting Muddy

The Snowullens

Carla and Maren played in the snow today, resulting in the snowy version of our family.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

A bittersweet farewell

I did my 81st race of the season today, and my final as a Loon State Cyclist. There were 115 starters in the Masters 40-44 at Cyclocross Nationals in Kansas City. My starting position was about 10th row.

I started easy, as I normally do, letting the more aggressive by, only to pass them 1/2 a lap later when they are totally wasted and going backwards. I continued to move up when on the 2nd lap, my pedal broke off at the axle.

I made my way to the pit, and got a neutral support bike. The only problem was it had flat pedals. To make matters worse, it was way too big, and was rocking on the saddle. I struggled through the course, and entered the pit to get a smaller bike. It fit much better, but without being able to clip-in, my feet just kept slipping off the pedals.

I wanted so badly to just bag it, but trudged on. I felt a sense of duty to LSC to be tenacious and ride proud. I was actually able to pass a couple guys and then I got lapped and pulled with 2 laps to go. I finished 81st (they misplaced me at 3laps down in 92nd, but what's the point of protesting that?).

I've finally reached the off season.

Jordan finishes 3rd at Cross Nationals

Jordan's first US nationals experience was a successful one, finishing 3rd. Click here for Results. Jordan's field started 30 seconds after the 15-16 year olds. Jordan worked his way through most of that field too, finishing 11th overall, 3rd in the 13-14's. The winner of Jordan's race, Logan Owen, won his 4th national junior cross championship in a row (2 in the 10-12's, 2 in the 13-14's.) Sorry, no pictures yet. Check back Monday.

Planet Bike played a huge role in Jordan reaching the podium, by providing him with a set of Edge carbon wheels mounted with Dughast Rhinos. They stuck like glue the entire race.

The conditions were as muddy as they get. So muddy in fact, he had to run part of the last lap because his front chainring was engulfed in mud, and the chain wouldn't engage. At that point, Jordan was in 2nd place and was forced to run with his bike, which actually turned out to be faster that riding anyway.

He grabbed his backup bike from the pit, still in 2nd place. Unfortunately, his backup bike did not have Rhinos, and Jordan struggled in the last technical section of the course. Jordan slid out in the final corner, and a hard charging Nate Morse snuck by for 2nd. Jordan was disappointed at first, but then put in perspective, and was all smiles.

A huge congratulations to Jordan on a hard fought battle in some extreme conditions.

This isn't Jordan's Bike, but gives you an idea of how bad it was.

2009 Cat 1/2 Elite Teams

UPDATED BASED ON FEEDBACK ON 12/12/08

Here's what I have learned about the make-up of the 2009 Minnesota Cat 1/2 racing scene. Nothing official here, just what I have heard. I'm sure there are some names missing here. In particular, I don't know anything about Hoigaards or Revolution Cycle and Ski.

Flanders/MBRC:
Scott Flanders
David Zimmerman
Adam Froemming
Chris Doig
Michael Woell
Erik Dahl
Yorgos Arambadjis (sorry Yorgos, my bad, I missed you in the inital post)
Rich Settergren (sorry Rich, my bad, I missed you in the inital post)
Jim Cullen (from Loon State Cyclists)
Jay Woller (from Bicycle Haus)

Grand Performance/SBPRC:
Pete Hanna
Paul Ellis
Dale Sedgewick
Gregg Brandt

Grandstay:
Doug Swanson
Dan Swanson
Andy Minier
Ian Stanford
Micah Moran
Dan Casper
Matt Williams
Lance Beuning
Dave Schueller (from Gopher Wheelmen)
Jens Brabbit (from Grand Performance/SPBRC)

Synergy:
Tim Mulrooney
Aric Hareland
Greg Lavick
Rod Raymond
Matt Muyres (from Hollywood Cycles)
Joe Lewis (from Grand Performance/SPBRC)
Adam Hanson (from Lake Superior Cycling Club)
Jake Boyce (from Lake Superior Cycling Club)

Texas Roadhouse:
Adam Bergman
Pat Lemieux (from Grand Performance/SPBRC)

Nature Valley/Flat City:
Tony Olson
Paul Harrison
Matt Anderson
Josh Roeser
Alex Atherton (from Loon State Cyclists)
Ed Alpasa (from Grand Performance/SPBRC)
Dave Muecke (from Birchwood)
James Lockwood (from Birchwood)

Revolution Cycle and Ski:
Andrew Schlict
Jake Cohen

MCF Awards Party RSVP List

I will maintain an MCF Party RSVP List on the MCF message board. Send RSVP's to j.cullen@sbcglobal.net.

Boys will be boys

So Jordan is outside playing tag today during school, and manages to run into the side of a semi-trailer. He clocked himself good on the left side of his head. Carla is with him right now at the Emergency Room in Hudson waiting for him to be checked out. He may have a slight concussion. Jeez!

Monday Afternoon Winter Cross

Jordan didn't let the snow stop him from his final preparation for Nationals.

After Jordan's workout, I fine tuned his bike for Nationals, including replacing the chain and adding carbon specific brake pads. His Wilier now weighs a scant 16.6lbs, thanks to superlight EDGE wheels from Planet Bike.

MCF Awards/Bowling Party - RVSP Required

It's not until January 25th, but be sure to mark your calendars for the MCF Awards Party.

This years event will be held at the Park Tavern Bowling Center in St. Louis Park. It will include a full Italian Buffet and FREE BOWLING!

Fabulous awards presented to top 3 in each category MCF ROY, CRY, TROY, KOS, and MWCMR.

Award winners attend for free, only $5/person for everyone else.

RSVP Required: j.cullen@sbcglobal.net

Head on crash at Jingle Cross

I was standing right next to where these 2 collided.

Jake Helmbrecht Shows No Fear at Jingle Cross

80 Race Milestone

Jingle Cross Day 1 was my 80th race of 2008. 15 more than 2008. One race to go: Cross Nationals in 2 weeks.

Jordan has done 75 races in 2008. He would have surpassed me, were it not for breaking his wrist and missing most of August, including Jr Road Nationals.

And it's almost time to start training for 2009.

Jingle Cross Juniors Photo Recap

Had a blast at Jingle Cross. Jordan finished 4th today in miserable conditions. He was using new carbon rims, which gave him almost no braking, plus he had a lot of trouble clipping back in after dismounts. The ice just kept building up on the cleats and pedals due the the heavy wet snow. He's happy though. It was a good learning experience to ride in such adverse conditions.

Jordan rocking the white Planet Bike skinsuit and bare legs in freezing temps on Day 1.

Jordan rocking the black Planet Bike skinsuit on Day 2 in snowy, muddy conditions.

2008 Jingle Cross Day 1 Juniors Podium (L-R):

2nd - Thompson Remo (16), 1st - Jordan Cullen (13), 3rd - Sean Hyser (17)

2008 Jingle Cross Day 2 Juniors Podium (L-R):
2nd-Sean Hyser (17), 1st - David Block (17), 3rd - Thompson Remo (16)

Jordan wins at Jingle Cross

Jordan rode a great race today and won the Juniors 18&Under race at day 1 of Jingle Cross. I'll post pics later.

Does my butt look big in this?

Jordan's Planet Bike clothing arrived today. He got a red, a black, and a white skinsuit. He prefers the white. Like always, he's sporting his trademark facial expression, instead of just smiling like a normal person.

A few Pet Peeves at Work

If you call a meeting over lunch. You are expected to feed me.

If you cancel a meeting within 5 minutes before it starts, I'll find you and hurt you.

If you cancel a lunch meeting, where I was expecting to be fed, on the day of the meeting, I'll find you and your family, and hurt everyone.

Sending a "Reply to All" e-mail stating "Stop replying to all" in response to an e-mail message string where people keep replying to all, should be grounds for termination.

MCF Awards. Did I Spell Your Name Correctly?

Check the MCF Awards List to be sure I spelled your name correctly. e-mail me with any corrections.

Jordan on Planet Bike for Jingle Cross and Natz

Jordan's outstanding performance at the WI State Cyclocross Championships this past weekend put him on the radar for the nationally prominent cyclocross team of Planet Bike.

He was graciously released for the remainder of 2008 by Loon State Cyclists, to allow him to race for Planet Bike at the UCI Jingle Cross and Cyclocross Nationals.

Jordan will still be proudly sporting the Flanders/MBRC uniform for the 2009 road season.

Jordan's Dad will continue to represent the Yellow and Blue of LSC at Jingle Cross and Cross Nationals.

WI State Cyclocross Champion

Jordan earned his 5th 2008 WI State Championship Jersey this weekend, this time in Juniors 10-14 cyclocross. Congrats Jordan.

State Champion - NOT

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Jordan managed to finish 3rd overall out of 100 riders in the "C" race at the MN State Cyclocross Championships. That made him the official NOT MN State Champion in the Juniors 10-14, given that we live in Wisconsin. Our State Championships are this coming weekend near Milwaukee, WI.

Huge props to Hollywood for the best cross race of the season.

A New Chapter

Another Minnesota Racing season is over, my 13th. I have raced 434 races during those 13 seasons, all for Loon State Cyclists/Bicycle Chain.

Given Jordan's progression in the past 2 years, he and I decided it was time to consider a change that would allow him to continue to grow and learn as a cyclist.

In 2009, we will both be riding for MBRC/Flanders. It was a tough decision for me to make the change. It will provide me with a better opportunity to move up to regular racing in the Cat 1/2's, as well as provide a great learning environment for Jordan.

That being said, the 2008 cyclocross season is not quite over yet. Jordan and I will be flying the LSC colors at WI State next weekend, as well as Jingle Cross, and Cross Nationals.

I look forward to seeing all the LSC faithful at Donimator's year end party to celebrate another successful season for Loon State.

MN State Cross Results

Race 1 (2 pages)

Race 2

Cat 3:


Race 4:

Finally, a respectable result in Cross

Jordan and I both opted for the B race at Lake Rebecca. Cold, windy, and muddy. I started slow, but moved up throughout the race. I ended up 6th overall, and 5th in the Cat 3's. It was definitely a course well suited to strong TT roadies. Lots of longish fast sections, and only 2 single barriers. I also had no trouble riding up the steep run-up this year, which was a life saver for me.


Jordan had another bad experience in the B race. He opted not to wear sunglasses, and got a lot of mud in his eyes. To top it off, the mud kept clogging up his cleats, forcing him to ride unclipped for a while at the top of the run-up each lap. He finished 17th overall, 11th in the Cat 3's. His day will come.

Congrats to Mark Mlinar who soloed away to win the B race.

Congrats 2008 CRY Winners

Congratulations CRY Winners. Not official yet, but pretty sure about these.

2008 Men Cat 1/2 MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year

Pat Lemieux

2008 Women Open MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Linda Sone

2008 Masters 35+ MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Dewey Dickey

2008 Masters 45+ MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Greg Goblirsch

2008 Men Cat 3 MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
David Block

2008 Men Cat 4 MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Nick Vetter

2008 Women Cat 4 MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Kris Brazil

2008 Juniors 15-18 MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Zach Stilwell

2008 Juniors 10-14 MCF Cyclocross Rider of the Year
Jordan Cullen