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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

Time for a Change

Loon State will be sporting a new look for 2009, the 20th anniversary of the team.

One Mad Devil

Here it is Ray. Bad luck had this Devil mad as hell.

A Tough Cross Weekend for Jordan

Jordan scored the whole shot in the Rum River C Race.

Jordan had big plans to test himself this weekend in the B race at Red Barn and Rum River. Test himself he did. At both races, he dropped his chain bad enough to force him to switch to his backup bike. He also crashed pretty hard at Red Barn.

Due to his problems at Red Barn, he finished 28th out of 46 in the B race. That bad experience had him opting for the C race at Rum River. He scored a great hole shot, only to have chain drop problems again. After 2 laps, and 2 bike swaps, he was at the back of the field, and I suggested he stop, and opt for the B race. He was more than happy with that idea.

The B race went much better. His start wasn't great, but he picked his way through to the top 10 or so. After some mods, the chain drop problems were gone, but his back gave out late in the race, and he drifted back a few spots to 12th. He still beat his old man though. A most excellent learning experience.

A huge thanks to Jared Roy for loaning Jordan his bike at Rum River, and then fixing his chain. Jordan said the bike fit perfect, and the wheels are way sweet.

Rum River CX Results

C Race:

B Race:

A Race:

That's Jimmer?

Photo Credit: Sean Burns

I survived 9 laps of near suffocation at Red Barn.

Chug-a-lug

13.5 seconds

$2477.67

Equates to:
A) The average value a racer's bike exceeds the value of his car.
B) The cost of Smithers ambulance ride on Sunday.
C) The amount MN racers would be willing to donate to get Greg McCrea to start wearing bibshorts?
D) The amount the Cullen's have spent on Race Entry Fees in 2008.

Answer: D

138 races
Jimmer: $1542.55
Jordan: $935.12
Total: $2477.67

And there are still 10 more races.

If anyone should be bitching about race fees, it should be us. And we aren't complaining. $20 is a bargain, $25 is the norm, $30 seems excessive, but isn't, given the right circumstances.

Jordan is upgrading to the B race

Two wins, a second, and two thirds in the C race this cross season for Jordan, and he is ready to move up full time to the B race.

Jordan had a tough race today. A crash on the first lap heavily bent in his left shift lever, causing him problems with controlling the bike. He only rides the hoods, partly due to his freshly healed wrist, and also because his wrists hit his bars when he's in the drops.

After losing a ton of spots due to his crash, he regained his composure, and moved back up through the field. He closed to within about 15 seconds of eventual winner Caleb Goltz, but then he ran out of steam, and finished an impressive second.

Kudos to Synergy for putting on a great race, with by far the best shwag this cross season.

Doug Swanson won convincingly today. Jordan hopes to reach his level someday.

Green Acres Cyclocross Race Results

Cat 4/Juniors

M45+/Women 1/2/3

Cat 3

Cat 1/2, M35+

Smithers Down

Smithers kindly offered up the La Speciale Category for the back end of the Green Acres M35+ 1/2/3 Race. The friendly gesture drew a few into the field who might otherwise passed, especially given the cold, windy, and muddy conditions.

Sadly, on the 4th lap, Smithers crashed hard about 50ft shy of the double barriers at the bottom of a fast hill. He was pulling away from me at the time, so I wasn't in position to witness how it happened. Based on his position relative to his bike, it looks like he went somehow over the bars, or slid out very hard.

I rolled up to him, and he was laying in the fetal position, and unresponsive. I stopped, and checked his condition. His eyes were open, but glazed over. He didn't respond to any of my questions. After about 30 seconds, he rolled onto his back and muttered something like "What the?". After a minute or two, he was able to sit up by himself, just as more help arrived. I decided I had done what I could, and rejoined the race.

Both Ped and Scotty Rob stopped racing to tend to Smithers, and help go with him to the hospital. What great friends.

At the time of his crash, Smithers was leading the La Speciale category. Get well soon bud.

Jordan Continues His Winning Ways

Jordan had another great race at the Afton Alps Cyclocross Race. He won the C race with 63 racers, including even tougher competition than last week in Hudson. The field included Junior MTB phenom Jack Hinkens, who won the Wirth Classic C race. Also competing was John Gorrilla, who won the C race at Twine Ball.

The start of the C race resulted in a pile-up in the first turn when some of the lead riders went straight instead of turning. Jordan was lucky, and got through clean. No serious injuries, but sadly a couple racers were not able to rejoin the race.

Jordan gained separation with Adam Koble, who had a very successful first road season. Jordan got a gap, and looked to win easily, but Adam closed it down coming into the final barrier. Jordan pushed hard, and just held off the impressive sprint of Koble. Congrats Jordo.

Click here for race photos.

63 Starters in the C race. This shot was right before the pile up at the start.

Jordan pushing it in the turn

Hitting the tough run-up.

Painman leads the first lap of the Cat 3 race.

Suffering over the barrier, just one short lap later.

Sone went off course too, but recovered nicely for the win.
She had ice cream with us a Selma's post race.

Pmax leads the A race.

Pat turned 21 yesterday. He paid a heavy price for partying hard.
He had trouble early, but came on strong late in the race.

Sunday, January 25th, 2009, 5:00-7:30PM, Save the Date

The annual MCF Awards banquet will be held at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park on the evening of Sunday, January 25th, 2009 from 5:00-7:30. It will be a fun and casual evening, including an Italian buffet dinner, and free bowling (we will occupy the entire 20 lane bowling center).

Awards for the top 3 in each ROY category, top 3 in each CRY category, top 3 in MWCMR, as well as TROY will be formally presented during the party.

More details will follow in the coming weeks.