Nordic Cross Pre-game

Anyone interested in Nordic Cross Pre-Gaming at Elmwood Park c/w bonfire and beverages on my back yard? I have stuff to burn!

Minnesota Cyclocross Championships Report

So I ended up heading to Twin Cities (a.k.a. IKEA) for the memorial day long weekend with my team. There were others heading out to US for the weekend and Pembina border crossing had probably 300 cars lined up to cross the border once we got there. We chose to pull a U-turn and use the Lancaster border crossing and after my usual 3rd degree by the friendly TSA official, we headed towards the MPLS-St. Paul. Our hotel was tactically located by the MOA and IKEA and we spent the Friday running around shopping. On Friday evening we went to pick-up the numbers at the Angry Catfish Bicycle + Coffee Of course we were early and were kindly advised to grab our dinner at the awesome neighborhood pub called Buster's on 28th. I highly recommend to visit both places during your next visit in Minneapolis. Buster's has some 34 different kinds of beer on tap and bottled stuff on top of that...nuf said?

Saturday morning dawned with a decent snow storm. Here in Winnipeg that would count as a nice summer day. I think it was good 10-15 cm of wet snow . I had a hearty breakfast at the International Pancake House or IHOP. This was truly a breakfast of champions. Had to run back to Columbia store at MOA to get some more winter clothing and those guys seemed to be happy to see us suckers knocking on their door at 10 AM.

This was probably my first race since...I don't know...2005, that I actually got to the race well in time. It did not look too good because it was just a muddy singletrack snaking through the snow. There were guys warming-up on trainers, prepping their pit wheels and bikes and so on. No one was impressed by my awesome black shiny carbon wheels. I felt almost as awkward as in -98 or -01 when I headed to way too deep waters to race.

So it was time. It was time to head to the start and it was to be call-up. I tried to do some jumping and look like I knew what I was about to get myself into. The fast guys got called up first, and I got called-up as the 34th rider. I think I was in 5th row. The commissaire didn't waste any time and blew the whistle to send us off...And WTF! guys are running straight from the gun? OK...shoulder my bike and switch to gallop through the snow. Madness ensues and at the end of that I find myself on maybe 20th spot. After the start, it was riding nicely in line because there were no spots to pass. The leaders got away on the first lap and the race was pretty much over for the guys who missed the top-5 by the end of the lap 1. After that it was a good ride taking things easy and enjoying the winter weather. I ended up finishing at 15th spot and I guess that was OK. It was all good though. I'll come back next year.

We hit the IKEA after the race and loaded our truck with particle board. The next morning I woke up with the nasty flu and I still had to drive 600km back home. The return across the border was much easier that there was no line-up on 59 crossing.

I think I'll do Minnesota Cyclocross Championships next year ass well.

Minnesota CX Champs on Kare11

See...I'm not the only nut job out there!

The weather looks like a bike race

Picture says more than 1000 words. It's still 4 hours...so 10 cm until the start.



Posted with iPhone.

Minnesota 'cross Championships

Throat getting sore, feeling bit tired and even feverish...there must be a race tomorrow. Final preparation at Mall of America and other retail settings went according to plan though.

Weather forecast is calling for snow and high of 36 F. Should be good times. Now to filling my tummy with greasy food and beer. This place Buster's on 28th is a pretty cool neighborhood pub. 28 different brews on tap and good greasy food. Kwak on tap is more of a sign for me...




To chase this one, you might consider this...




Täältä tähän.

Posted with iPhone.

CXMB Provincials Re-cap

I was driving to Windsor Park on Saturday thinking, "grass crit or something else, grass crit or something gnarlier, grass crit or something mean...". Well...it wasn't a Wildwood style grass crit, but I wasn't 100% certain of that before the second race on Sunday. I was hoping for snow, but in hindsight, it was good that it was a nice dry +15 degree day.

Citizen's race had disappointing turn out with only six riders. Citizen's didn't seem to have too much trouble negotiating the obstacles on the course. Kids race skipped the tough stuff alltogether so that went all smooth and there were some pretty fierce battles between the riders during that race. Masters +40/Women/U17 start showed the true face of the course throwing riders off their bikes, over the handlebars and generally beat riders and bikes up. Don "The Punisher" Sawatzky put the hammer down from the gun and the race was for second spot. Don even had time to cut his calve en route to victory and was sent to hospital for stitches. (mental note: add stitching supplies to medical kit). That guy is f*** 50! I think he should book his holiday next year so that he could do some masters racing in Europe. Last race was about to hit somewhat worn course but that didn't seem to slow things down much. Craig took the lead from the start being trailed by JP and Tristan. Tristan had given in to the temptation of shiftiness and was running gears. Craig started fading away a bit and Tristan launched his attack from 15 seconds behind passing JP and Craig and never looking back. The dark lords Craig and JP were battling it out for a while but at the end Craig pulled away. Less carnage during the last race so that was good.

And then my favorite photo of the event.

Tomek doing who knows what...photo stolen off Olympia Club Blog.

Next weekend. Minnesota Cross Champs in Minneapolis and mindless shopping at Mall of America and Ikea. Should be good times...I hope not to get lapped. Grand Forks guys are organizing some races too so if it works out OK, might stop there on my way home for a quick boot.

CX Provincials 2010/2011 Update

Five more sleeps to go!

The final prizing will be confirmed later this week...maybe as late as on Sunday. You never know what kind of primes etc. spectators come up with.