Black Dog Finale

Jordan - 1st Junior 10-14, Carla - Most Improved Female, Hollywood - Spirit of the Dog

Calm conditions are more challenging at Black Dog than most expect. Without that typical push home from the wind, it is a real mental challenge to stay on top of the big gears required to run a fast time on what feels like fast night. Jordan broke 15mins again, posting a 14:58. I rode a couple secs faster, posting a 14:41. Toftoy was fastest of the night. Results. 7 riders broke 15mins:

1. Toftoy - 14:18

2. Timmer - 14:22 (fixie)

3. Crosby - 14:26 (fixie)

4. Roeser - 14:39

5. Jimmer - 14:41

6. Vetter - 14:48

7. Jordan - 14:58

For the series, Jordan and I both won our respective categories for the 3rd year in succession. Carla also managed to take home most improved female ride with the largest difference between her slowest and fastest times this year. A banner year at the Cullen household!

Here is a history of our average times for the past 3 years:

Jordan

18:21 (2007)

16:31 (2008)

15:01 (2009)

Jimmer

14:55 (2007)

14:50 (2008)

14:48 (2009)

That's it for us on the road for 2009. Moving on to Cyclocross!

Black Dog TT Results

Ride and Glide TT - A Perfect Night

Photo from SkinnySki.com

Conditions were ideal for fast times for the final Ride and Glide TT. 120 racers, starting 2 at a time every 30 secs made for a relatively crowded 13.4mi course. I started near the end, with Dan Berhow as my minute man, and Rick Christensen as my 30 sec man. Great rabbits! I was able to catch both of them, Rick right at the end, and set a new Personal Best time of 29:06. My previous best was 29:25, set way back in 2005. Timmer scorched a 28:34 breaking his old course record of 28:50, on his fixie no less.

Jordan has Some New Teammates on Planet Bike

Planet Bike Press Release.

Jimmer Loves Jamba Juice

Painman loves chocolate chip cookies

Congrats to the 2009 MCF Rider of the Year Winners

Not official yet, but I'm pretty sure this is accurate. Congrats to all the winners.

Category	Winner	Team
Men 1/2	Dave Zimmerman	MBRC/Flanders
Women 1/2	Teresa Moriarty	MBRC/Flanders
Men 3	Mike Bolinske	Loon State Cyclists
Women 3	Laura Krueger	Birchwood
Men 4	Jordan Cullen	MBRC/Flanders
Women 4	Kristy Henderson	Silver Cycling
Master 35+ Open	Mark Mlinar	SPBRC
Masters 50+	Dave Herbert	Silver Cycling
Women 40+	Teresa Moriarty	MBRC/Flanders
Junior Men 15+	Merrill Lutsky	Silver Cycling
Junior Women 15+	Zoe Reker	MNJRC
Junior Men U15	Ryan Shaw	MNJRC

Spunk Lake Road Race Recap

The 7 man breakaway on Tower Road Hill from Skinnyski.com

Pat Lemieux, of Texas Roadhouse Cycling, won the Cat 1/2/3 Spunk Lake Road Race in commanding fashion. He joined a breakaway of 7 riders early in the race, and soloed away to victory with about 20 miles left in the race. He finished about 20 seconds clear of what turned out to be a field sprint.

50 guys lined up for the 90 mile Cat 1/2/3 Spunk Lake Road Race in Avon, MN. With 90 miles in the plan, the pace was very subdued for the first 10 miles, until a couple of opportunists decided to give it a go. First to go away was Mark Byrnes. Followed by Scott Hebel, Jay Henderson, and finally Jim Cullen. The 4 joined forces, and with the field staying in check, they quickly gained time.

Once the gap grew to 2 minutes, riders started attacking the field to try and bridge the gap. Ultimately, it would be 3 riders who make it across. Pat Lemieux, Dave Hackworthy, and Mark Skarpohl.

With 60 miles left to race, it was unlikely that this was the winning move, but Lemieux captained the break, and kept them motivated.

With 20 miles remaining, and the group down to 6 riders (Byrnes dropped), Lemieux decided it was time to fly the coop. It took a couple attempts, but he was able gain a reasonable gap of around 30 seconds.

The tired breakaway group gave chase, but knew the field as coming up from behind. With Lemieux still out front, a small group from the field were the first to reach the breakaway including Tony Olson, Dewey Dickey, Mike Woell, and Adam Bergman.

With Lemieux's dangerous teammate, Bergman, in the chase group, they hesitated a bit in their chase, and what was left of the field joined the chase group.

With Pat in sight, the field was content to keep it close, but not close it down. Unfortunately, they underestimated him a little, and came up 20 seconds short at the finish line. Congrats to Patty Cakes on the win.

MN State Championship Track Timed Events

Perfect, right on the black line

Ghost giving Jordan split times

The weather cooperated, and the State Timed events were held Sunday. Lots of fast times posted. Jordan hadn't raced on the track since the State Pursuit Champs in 2007. Together, we set 3 personal bests times. Jordan's went head to head with Hollywood in the 4K pursuit, winning by 4 seconds.

• Jordan rode a 1:18.95 Kilo (old best= 1:33)
• Jordan rode a 5:13.31 4K Pursuit (old best = 6:20)
• Jimmer rode a 5:06.61 4K Pursuit (oldbest = 5:08)

MN State Pursuit Champs - Results

Jordan Wins his First Race as a Cat 3

Zim and Jordan rode the last lap together, finishing about 30secs shy of the 10-man break, and well clear of the field.

Jordan rode to victory at the Big Marine Lake Road Race, in his first race as a cat 3. The Cat 1/2's and Cat 3's were combined last minute for a field of 42 racers. 5 laps on a relatively flat 12 mile circuit. Strong winds were a factor.

It was my first time racing with Jordan this season. I played worker bee for my Flanders team and stayed up front for the first 3 laps, attacking several times, and following when teammates were away. Jordan played it smart, and sat in. At one point, I was in a move with Skarphol, and he was pulling so hard, I couldn't even come through.

By the 4th lap, my matches were all used up, and I sat up. On that 4th lap, a small group got away with Skarphol, and Woell bridged across with a couple others, bringing the total in the break to 10. Coming into the last lap, Scott Flanders drilled it with Zim and Jordan on his wheel, and launched them off the front of the field. They caught and dropped Alex Meyer who was attempting to bridge solo.

Coming into the finish, Dewey attacked hard on the rise coming into the last turn, and Tony Olson grabbed his wheel. Woell tried to close with Timmer and Bentzler on his wheel, but it was too late. Tony easily passed Dewey for the win. Dewey 2nd, and Timmer wining the sprint for 3rd.

About 30 seconds later, Zim and Jordan crossed together, with the field following about a minute later. Scott Flanders won the field sprint for 13th.

Since every rider in the 10-man break was a Cat 1 or 2, Jordan was the 1st Cat 3 across the line, giving him the victory. Well done Jordan.

Jordan's Progression at Black Dog

Distance = 6.78mi
20:39 - 19.7mph - Fastest Time in 2006 - Stock
17:46 - 22.9mph - Fastest Time in 2007 - Aero
16:16 - 25.0mph - Fastest Time in 2008 - Aero
14:56 - 27.2mph - Fastest Time in 2009 - Aero

Hudson Start Observer Article on Jordan and Bjorn

http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/35382/

Jordan Breaks the 15 Minute Barrier at Black Dog

The machine he used to break the 15 min barrier. HED Wheels were the Key.

Jordan posted an impressive 14:56 last night at Black Dog, finally breaking the 15 minute barrier. He flirted within a couple seconds of the elusive goal 4 different times this season. He has found some great form coming off Junior Nationals. Congrats Jordan. All your hard work is paying big dividends right now.

One Fast Car - HED Wheels Rule

Infinity M45 pimped with HED Wheels

Black Dog #8 Results

Ccick the pic to view photos of the results.

Black Dog #8

Season's not over yet - 3 more road races

Saturday, Aug 15 - Big Marine Road Race

Saturday, Aug 22 - Spunk Lake Road Race (Same course as 2008 State Road Race)

Sunday, Aug 30 - State Road Race

Jordan and I will be at all 3.

Double TT Weekend

Got back from Oregon just in time to travel to Burlington, WI for 2 TT's on the same course. Saturday was the WI State TT. Sunday was the ABR Double Bong TT. 2 laps over light rollers just short of 40K. Juniors did 1 lap for 20K.

Saturday was a wet one. Pouring rain and thunderstorms all morning. Gusty winds too. Jordan ripped a 26:43 for the fastest 20K time overall by almost a minute. Well done. I didn't expect much with my lack of racing over the last 3 weeks, and managed a 56:50 for 4th in the masters 40-44.
WI State TT 20K Results
WI State TT 40K Results

Sunday was an entirely different story. Hot and very windy. Jordan managed a 29:01 for another overall victory in the 20K. I suffered through a 58:07 for 2nd in Masters 40+.
Double Bong Results

The girls came down with us and we went to Chicago Saturday afternoon. We also visited the UW Madison campus on Sunday. We're all tired.

Riding the Beartooth Pass

Jordan and I rode up the Beartooth Pass from Red Lodge Montana. Amazing ride. The first 12 miles ascend straight up the valley. The final 12 miles follow switchbacks up the side of a mountain. 50 miles round trip with 4000ft of vertical. We got caught in a thunderstorm on the switchbacks which was scary and cool at the same time. Hearing the thunder echo through the canyon was daunting.