The Red Barn cyclocross race is ON for 2008! November 1st, 2008 at the Erikson Brothers Tree Farm, registration opens at 10am. Featuring a kid’s race, costume contest and goody bags for all racers - see the flyer for full details and registration form.
2008 Red Barn CX Flyer w/reg form
The race also has its own weblog with even more event information, including this year’s course map.
With temperatures in the 30s, 40mph winds and periods of snow, it was the very definition of an epic road race. Waves were combined and delayed until 11:30 when the course had melted enough for a safe run, and 135 racers lined up for the start. This was the first time GW has used a chip timing system, and it seemed to go really well. Thanks to all of the organizers and volunteers who helped get the racing season off to a flying start.
Click the link for the full results list!
Read the rest of this entry »
Consensus is that it’s high time to start up the Tuesday night club rides. Meet up at County Cycles at 6pm to start - complete info is on the Club Rides page.
6th place for the Singlespeed category… out of a field of … 6
I’m in Oregon with my girls visiting my dad and stepmom for a week,
and as it turns out, my dad’s cario rehab guy is also a cyclist. He
(Chris) generously lined up a bike for me to ride so i could get in on
some real Oregon cyclocross action. It’s Wintercross, 3rd race in the
Psychocross Series on Dec. 9, and their second-to-last race of the
year. This at a time when the high temp in Minneapolis is 11F, and
there’s a foot of snow on the ground.
The borrowed bike was a singlespeed Surly Karate Monkey from Chris’
teammate Mike. It’s a nice bike, a light CX-style setup with
flat/riser bars and a steering damper. The gearing was in the
neighborhood of 32/18, though i didn’t count it myself. A little low
for the course perhaps, but it would have been fine if the lungs and
legs were in better form. I still managed to drop the chain a couple
of times, i never did figure out why it kept loosening up with 2 chain
tensioners.
The course was a long lap, 1.5 miles, winding through a summer camp.
We went through a triple barrier, then across the horse pasture and
down a sharp drop through a sand pit and across a creek within the
first 1/4 lap. The creek soaked me from the knees down every time, and
was followed by a good long stretch of singletrack. There was a nice
log barrier about 2′ off the ground in there, and a double barrier
past the conestoga wagon-styled bunkhouses into the back loop. There
was a stair runup in there somewhere, and a couple of short but
slippery runups that were rideable with the right momentum. A good mix
of bike handling and fitness skills, a really well-done course.
The race was the Bs and Singlespeeds, 12 racers in all, evenly split,
45 minutes. I started right in the mix, and that lasted about 1/2 lap
before i had the first chain drop and fell to last place. I was
spinning like mad to stay with the pack on straights, and held my own
through the technical parts, but didn’t have the fitness to maintain.
I passed a geared rider after losing 2 places on the chain drop, but
he dropped out later, leaving me to DFL. I was pretty much on my own
after that, but kept on keepin’ on, and didn’t get lapped. 5 laps in
all over the 45 minutes.
It was a good time, and even though it was 35F, it was a damp and cold
35. My feet were numb after a couple of laps. I’d finish a lap with
feet just starting to feel something before the next dunking. Thanks
to my dad and stepmom Sandy for race support, which mainly consisted
of keeping the girls entertained for a couple of hours (no small feat)
and warm clothes afterwards, and to Chris and Mike for the loaner
bike.
Here’s the link to the full results:
http://app.obra.org/results/event/9656
–
Bill Connell
St. Paul, MN
From: Sara Brokaw
Date: Nov 26, 2007 9:09 AM
Rolled down to the Sunshine State (Iowa) with my better half for one
last weekend of psychocross racing. Arrived late thurs evening, so
headed out for the first arctic ride of the season in the very bright
sunshine of the middle midwest…2.5 hrs with a starting temp of 31
degrees F, return 34 degrees F…rode by a dam, some fossils, saw a
bald eagle & some chickens on some perfect rolling io-way-an roads.
No real get up & go which seems to have left at Milaca, but it was
nice to be out riding around in some new terrain.
Last Friday’s physical implosion kept me away from states, so had
basically no expectations when I lined up (with BWARC in rodent kit)
with a gaggle of ladies for the Womens intermediate race (40 min).
Decent start, but by the time we hit the climb on the course I knew
there was nothing more than tempo riding happening. With a bunch of
locals (h-wood/velobella/ridley/ND) making the trip down there,
cheering sections were everywhere on the course which made it fun.
Nothing could really match the cheering of Dan & Rich, however. I
believe it was Dan at ine point who yelled, “put on a clinic through
the barriers!” Threw the arms up across the finish line because it
felt like the right thing to do for a 13th place out of 15 starters
(two racers were DQ’d for some reason). Nice riding by Lynne with I
believe a 12/20 in her beginner race!
We had a fun afternoon watching 4 of our local women have a go at some
superfasties from River City cycles (Portland OR) in the UCI race.
I’m aiming to partcipiate in this race next year. Chris Horner & Todd
Wells turned out for the mens UCI race where Bjorn Selander picked up
a nice 3rd.
Found some $3.50 pints o’ guinness Saturday night celebration, but it
turned out to be celebration of the completion of the season as there
was no racing, only spectating (and yelling!) for me on
Sunday…physically finished. Hoping next year to do a few things
differently to avoid such physical implosion…stretched the season 2
weeks longer this year compared to last, so I think a few changes will
make J-cross a possibility next year. Picked up some schwag which
covered probably 3/4 of the entry fees.
Thanks to DanW for getting the cx clinics rolling early in the season
& to my fellow rodent psychocross racers for fun times at the clinics
& races….good times.
Thanks for reading!
Sara
I finished 34/95 in the B1 race, 23 for the Cat 4 field
This was my first race in 3 weeks, and my first after a bout of
pneumonia last month. I felt well-recovered, but a little unsure of
how i’d feel, having ridden only once in that 3 weeks, and not at all
hard. As it turns out, i was fine. My lungs weren’t any worse
afterward than any other average ‘cross race; ie., not happy, but not
on fire like when i got sick.
There were a couple of interesting changeups for this race. First and
biggest was the re-arrangement of race waves. I’ve been doing
30-minute C races, but this time the C race was only the cat 4 women
and juniors. I was in the B1 race, 35 minutes, with only cat 4 men and
singlespeeders. This was interesting because i was riding with a few
cat 4s who have been doing mostly B races. Between the extra
competition and being a little cautious pacing myself, i finished
lower than usual as of late, but i’m still happy with it. A nice side
benefit was being able to cheer for people i’d otherwise be racing
against.
The second difference was the course itself, which was a lot different
than the last couple of years. The hilltop usually used for the big
finish line was consumed by giant dirt piles, so course wound around
the park very differently; twistier and more technical, and without
some of the sheer pain (hill climb) and fitness (1 less straightaway)
sections from previous versions. This was probably good for me
overall, given my condition going into the race.
I got a respectable start, in the mid-20s as we came around the loops
for the finish line. I lost a couple of places most laps on the long
runup, but otherwise held steady through the typical reshuffling
through the first 2 laps. The next pass of the finish line showed 4 to
go, which is my longest cx race of the year for me by lap count, but i
was able to pace it ok. By the last 2 laps i found myself leapfrogging
with 2 other riders and getting increasingly annoyed with their
hesitation and sloppy technique around barriers and a couple of the
course sections. Not that i’m a prime example of buttery smoothness,
but i was almost taken out a couple of times when i was trying to
pass. I can’t complain too much as they obviously had a fitness edge,
re-passing me on the straights. I finally had enough though and caught
them both for good 1/2-way through the bell lap and getting almost
within grasp of the next group.
I was really impressed by the strength and speed of the SS racers this
time out. There were 11 of them ahead of me, 3 in the top 5 for the
race. I don’t know if they’re just that good, or if the course was
particularly well-suited to it, but i think i gotta try me some of the
singlespeed racing action.
I didn’t get to hang out for the festivities because my girls were
along to cheer and it was a little cold for them, but it was a lot of
fun to have them to a race. Thanks to my fellow rodents for the
support and another really fun ‘cross season.
–
Bill Connell
St. Paul, MN
From: Sara Brokaw
Date: Nov 14, 2007 10:22 AM
Not sure if this ever went out..sorry if you somehow got it 2x….
On a nice sunny fall day, I toed the line with rodent Lee Penn, BWARC,
2xridley, ND Linda, Bella, and B-wood Amber for a separate start in
the womens field. 4-5th up the runup, watching B-wood fishtail upon
the entrance ot the gravel road section. Bella rolled by as we set
off in pursuit of the Lindas. B-wood (who’s wheel I’m on) makes a
mistake in a turn and a gap opens up between Bella, Lindas, & myself.
WE continue in our pursuit of the front of the race & the second
Ridley rejoins flying through the double barrier section. By lap 2 we
had a nice group of three drilling it on the gravel sections. A few
more laps of working somewhat together punctuated at one point by my
own mistake in the sharp rocky left where I bushwhack through some
brush in order to rejoin the singletrack. I regain contact with
B-wood & Ridley and notice I’m faster after the real runup before the
rr bridge. Eventu! ally I end up on the front of this section &
drill the bridge/gravel section leaving only b-wood as a companion.
We work together a bit.. She’s faster on the runup/rideup section
(she’s running, I”m riding), but I’m able to regain any ground lost
there on the rocket fast descent. I get stuck behind a guy on the
railroad section and she opens up a gap on the gravel, but I keep her
in sight. Our race ends (lapped by the leaders who just finished)
before I have a chance to close the gap (5th/8), but its questionable
on whether I could’ve done this on the last lap.
In the end, this was the most fun “race” I’ve had this far in Cx…
It was nice to actually “be there” able to really mix it up the whole
race for the first time, sort of a goal of this season. This race was
a sharp contrast to my race at Milaca, my first foray into a B race
last year where I saw the womens field for 1/2 a lap and was pretty
much lapped by everyone (except for a guy on a single speed with a
mechanical). Nice to see the improvement.
Nice riding by Lee who finished her first B race and we believe too
CRY in the womens C category. Nice representation of rodents in the
Cs with the Gaines bros, Lynne, Lee, and Sue, with Rich & Dan joining
in for good times in the Bs.
IF you’re looking for something to do on Saturday, dress in layers &
come out to the State race where we should have rodent representation
in 3/4 races (Check MCF.net schedule for details).
Thanks for reading.
Sara
From: Lee Penn
Date: Nov 12, 2007 5:01 PM
Good afternoon rodents!
Rum River - what a race. I think this was my hardest race of the
season, to be honest. I had been traveling earlier in the week, and I
had some asthma. I felt pretty good and pretty strong but not really
100%.
Going into the very last race of the CRY competition, I was in third
position with 111 points after six races. The two women in front of
me were June and Kris, both with 121 points totalled from their seven
best races. So, I knew I needed to do well in this race in order to
win CRY for the C2s….If one or both of them had beaten me, I needed
at least a third place finish in order to win CRY.
Ok - so, now I’m a little nervous. I’ve had the best luck - no
mechanicals - only minor crashes - no problems to speak of in my six c
races (although it really is strange how I seem to gain new bruises
after every race no matter whether I crash or not). So, I’m kind of
nervous that I’m going to have some kind of a problem that will mean I
will DNF or DFL or something like that.
I rode with Sara to Milaca (thanks for the ride Sara!), and then she
and I pre-rode the course together. It was a long and fast course
with a funky bridge with widely spaced boards, a section of very soft
sandy gravel, quite a bit of single track, some grassy sections, and
two run-ups.
I ended up riding the course four times (seems to be my magic number)
before lining up for the c-race. For the first time, the officials
decided to start the women separately. Most of the C2s wanted the
separate start… Some of the C2s did not (I was in this category).
I’m not sure what motivated that decision…. As a result, the faster
of the women had to contend with passing the slower of the men and
juniors.
So, the men and juniors go off before us. We waited about 45 seconds
before our start. As usual, I had a terrible start, compounded by a
dropped chain upon my approach to the first barrier (has never
happened to me). I ran up the run-up and then fixed my chain before
hopping onto my bike and ending up in something like 8th position,
maybe worse. Crud! This is NOT good. After the bridge, there is a
small descent into the soft, sandy, gravelly section, in which I was
almost taken out by another rider - she had some priceless verbage to
go with her wild swerving trajectory…. After she regained control
of her bike and I knew I could pass her without crashing, I laid it
out and pushed my pace hard. I quickly overtook two or three women.
At this point, leading into the first bit of single track, I think I
was in fourth position. Actually, that might have been after the full
first lap. Right, the laps of red just sort of melt together, making
it difficult to exactly remember what happened during each lap.
Anyway, June, Kris, and grey t-shirt were ahead of me leading into the
single track. I just held my position as I don’t have loads of
experience in this section while both Kris and June have single track
experience. On the grassy section, I pushed the pace hard, gaining on
them at the barrier and the barrier/run-up. June, Kris, and GreyT
were riding very strongly, and I was wheezing. Crud!
End of what I think was the third lap - the laps really do kind of run
together when you’re red-lining and wheezing - I passed June on the
barrier/run-up leading to the bridge section - I seem to like
attacking on run-ups, to be honest.
Then, the descent - I could see Kris in orange and GreyT ahead.
Fourth (or fifth?) lap - I passed GreyT after the bridge… I pass
Kris on the sandy gravelly road. She passed me on the double strip of
gravelly road. I decided to stay right with her on the single track
(she’s better than me on the single track) - carefully following her
every line and matching her pace (I think that was a really smart move
on my part!). Then, on the grass, right at the first barrier, I
passed her for good. Last lap, I kept my pace high and attempted to
pretend that I was not asthmatic (it was nothing like Red Barn,
actually). I focused on making NO errors. Finish had me outsprinting
Bruce, which was satisfying….
This race FELT harder than the other six races I had finished. It was
so rewarding to suffer so but end with success! I was tired at the
end, but lined up for the b-race anyway. Heck, I had paid my five
bux! Although I did go get some food, I didn’t do what I had planned
- spinning about until the start. Instead, I got kind of cold and so
on while chatting with people and just being generally pleased with
the world that I had really raced hard to an excellent result! And, I
knew I had won CRY/C2 - what a trip!
So, I’m lined up for the b-race, and I have a terrible start…. Sound
familiar? I have GOT to learn this start thing. Sara tells me that
you just have to hurt hurt hurt… Ok. Note to self - ignore the
fact that your bod apparently prefers to have a little bit of a warmup
prior to total all out redlining…. Right - back to the race. My
goal for this race was simple - finish. Everytime I remounted, I got
a hard knot in my left calf - people talk about cramps, but I never
had experienced the pain described. Yeah, now I get that. Note to
self - spinning between races is super important! As I was riding, I
saw that I was actually catching up to a couple of people in front of
me - my MO, I guess (crappy start followed by increased pace and
improved race position). But… that was just until the last three
laps. I did decide to pull out of the path of the lead group… and I
was FREAKIN’ TIRED!!!! I saw Charlie walking with his bike - I
offered him my bike (hoping he would say - SURE!!! Thanks!!! Nope -
he didn’t. Dangit, I really did have to finish that race). With two
laps to go, I just had nothing left. So, I just went for the finish.
On my last go up the second run-up, I ran half and then just walked
the second half. I didn’t even pedal on the road after the descent.
And, I signed “D” “F” “L” upon finishing. Indeed, I was 54th out of
54 finishers (or so the official told me). And, Michael - THANK YOU
for the handups during the B-race!!!!! You did a great job.
All in all, an immensely satisfying pair of races followed by a pair
of Summits that really just put the icing on my very very
sweeeeeeeeeeeeet CRY cake!
All rodents racing seemed to have strong races.
Yeah - I’m totally addicted to CX! More please!
Lee
Click below to get the full results for the 2007 Red Barn CX Classic
