The Red Barn Cyclocross Classic is one of Minnesota's premier cyclocross events and a rider favorite. The course twists and turns through the tree fields of Erickson Brothers Tree Farm and includes a run-up you won't forget.

Red Barn #5 - October 31st 2009

While the forecast for Saturday is clear, the wet weather and Red Barn's challenging course will make this year's event epic!

This is a Red Barn you don't want to miss.

Red Barn #1 - 2005

The first year was a great success for Red Barn and the 95 riders that showed up got the first glimpse of what Red Barn has become famous for - a twisting and turning course through the tree fields and our signature run-up. The riders loved it and our event has grown ever since!

Doug Swanson (Trek/VW) and Aric Hareland (Salsa) battled it out for top honors with Swanson pulling away for the win. Linda Sone (Hollywood Cycles) rode away with the victory for the women.

Red Barn #2 - 2006

In 2006, 104 competitors took part in the 2nd annual Red Barn CX Classic. The course added a new dynamic with the addition of a fast section through the neighboring Wildwoods Campground.

Bjorn Selandar (Alan Factory) took the victory in the Men’s event with Linda Sone (Hollywood Cycles) repeating in the Women’s event. Linda was the first competitor to win back to back Red Barn titles.

Red Barn #3 - 2007

The 3rd annual Red Barn CX smashed its participant record with 163 riders taking part. The costume contest started to take off and we introduced our now annual bike giveaway.

Doug Swanson (Grand Stay) was able to ride away from the field for a convincing win. This win makes Doug the only male to win twice at Red Barn. On the women’s side, Linda Sone (Ridley Factory) continued her string of dominance and won her 3rd consecutive Red Barn title.

Red Barn #4 - 2008

Red Barn #4 proved to be another record setting year with 190 participants and over 200 race entries. In four short years Red Barn doubled the number of participants – we must be doing something right!

This year's course added some length, winding through the vineyard at Erickson Brothers Tree Farm. Dewey Dickey (Iowa City) broke away from the field and rode away with the men’s race. Linda Sone’s dominance was broken by Jenna Zander (u/a) who took top honors in the women's event.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Race Report

Sara Brokaw
2nd/9 starters
C women
30 min

Lined up with Pipi Longstocking, a cat (I mean Gopher), a Birchwood girl in a dress, Emily “the Motor” Mokelke (who’s been untouchable in the women’s C races this season), Experienced Velo Bella, Gopher Jules, a known Birchwood sprinter, and an Alan rider. This was a flat power-rider's course, but as I rolled around prior to the start, I felt like my rear wheel was stuck in mud (on a mudless course (note to self...limit to 1 beer the night before a cross race!)).

The course was interesting. After the start, the course narrowed and rolled by some pine trees, made a sharp left, a sharp right followed by a left onto a gravel road where one could recover a bit, and then made a sharp left through a campground where it turned back into the Tree Farm. Once back inside the Tree Farm, riders negotiated a double barrier section followed by twisty-turny sections through the trees (but nothing excessively sharp!), a second barrier section, and a few more corners through trees as the course finally made its way toward the descent/runup right before the S/F.

The Motor gunned it from the start, so I grabed her wheel. However, I nearly lost the front end in the first lap on the sharp left turning back into the Tree Farm, bringing back visions of my crashes in the off-camber U-turn at Boom Island. Great. Not that again. A Gap opened up between myself & The Motor soon after the first double barrier section, so I focused on riding my own race, figuring she would not be seen again. Experienced Bella was close, so I worked on keeping my own tempo high. In the early laps I was amused by nearly missing the hard right before the descent/runup section a few times, but thorougly enjoyed riding the crit-like twisty section just prior to it. Amazed at how fast the runup came after the descent & felt smooth in this transition.

After one runup I found The Motor standing at the top of the hill working feverishly on her bike (dropped chain, perhaps). Wow. I tried to make the best of this opportunity by putting the hammer down, but a lap or 2 later she caught me. Since she did not blow by and said that Alan was about 5 seconds back (Alan always comes on strong toward the end of the race), I attacked through the gravel road section and put a few (seemingly milli)seconds on her. However, that Gap was short-lived, and she soon rolled by at her characteristic tempo. Hanging on wasn’t in the cards so I let her go to focus on holding second position. Alan and Birchwood Sprinter were gaining and finally caught me on the last lap in the second barrier section. As I remounted, I heard &%$#@ and knew something did not work as planned for these two, so I put the hammer down & just tried not to make any mistakes through the end of the lap to hang onto 2nd.

Leia Mais…
Thursday, November 02, 2006

2006 Photos

A lot of great photos were taken at this year's race. Below are a few posted by Erik Erickson. You can also check out skinnyski.com for more. A flicker account is rumored to be in the works with over a gig of photos so stay tuned for that.








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