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The following is a compilation of the news floating around the Minnesota cycling scene of the past week. If you have any more news, ideas or tips please feel free to email us at bikethrow [at] gmail [dot] com.

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As alluded to earlier in the 36th Bike Throw podcast, the dates for the Hamel Time Trial and the Hopkins Criterium have been switched. This is due to the realization that the Hopkins Raspberry Festival is on July 13th and not on the originally scheduled July 6th. Thankfully, the Velo Bellas of the Twin Cities are fantastic women and were able to pull off a switch allowing for the tradition Raspberry Festival Criterium to continue.

This is great news to all of us in the Minnesota racing community as both events, the Hamel Time Trial and Hopkins Criterium are very popular. This also means that the Hopkins Crit is the day after the newly created ROY event, The Sprinters Classic, promoted by Loon State.

July 6th= Velo Bella Hamel Time Trial

July 13th= Hopkins Criterium

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Next Tuesday is the start of the State Fair Criterium presented by Freewheel Bicycle and Category 6 Racing Squad. The team has been working hard on putting together this event and has published a map of the event and some basic rules for participants.

The most important rules are that riders don’t warm up on the course, or elsewhere in the Fairgrounds other than the Designated Area off of Randall Avenue. Riders from the Tour of 10k Lakes will note that Randall Avenue was the site of the 180degree turn. Lastly, the folks from Cat6 are stressing the importance of individuals to park in the proper parking lot on race day. The lot is only accessible off of Underwood Ave, just north of Dan Patch Ave. This is located half way up machinery hill right across the street from the Deep Fried Bacon Snickers on a Stick booth.

The Cat6 team issued the following press release:

The fine fellows of Category 6 Racing Squad had our final planning meeting for the State Fair Criterium presented by Freewheel Bike. The first race is this Tuesday. The race runs 3 consecutive Tuesdays (June 3rd, 10th, and 17th). The race is really coming together and I know that we will blow the doors of the racing community with something fresh and fun, true to Category 6 Racing Squad style. Some of the highlights that differentiate our race are:

• the devil will be there (matt moore)
• the specialized angel will be there (unknown hot girl)
• the Big hair superfan will be there (Morgan)
• Ninja Primes will be a part of the race (un-announced primes)
• Ninja Primes will be signaled by Little D in a Ninja outfit playing a heavy metal guitar riff as the winner crosses the line.
• Series winner will ceremoniously put on the dark Green sport coat with gold buttons as the coveted prize (think: Augusta golf tourney)
• 72 growlers of beer have been secured for prime laps over the 3 nights. Thats one growler of beer every ten minutes of racing.
• 3rd place every night will take home $5 off Goldn Plump Chicken!
• 2nd place every night will take home a pair of water bottles and a free coffee at the new Freewheel Bike Station.
• 1st place each night for each category will take home an Easton EC90 SLX carbon road fork (that’s right 15 Easton EC90 SLx forks)
• William Eddy has agreed to do photography for each night. We plan to make sure that plenty of race photos and ceremony photos are distributed on the web.

Also, as an official sideshow-sponsor of the State Fair Criterium Series, btdc will be listing the names, teams and individuals that violate race rules and make it difficult to hold events in the future. Also, they are giving away CARBON FORKS. That is pretty amazing, if you ask me. Please don’t screw this up for everyone else.

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The Fixed Gear Classic is coming along nicely for the track racing community. Tons of riders have signed up and the following press release was issued today:

Minneapolis (May 21, 2008) — The MN Fixed Gear Classic velodrome races will be held Saturday, June 7 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.

Premier track cyclists from around the world will be participating in this two-day event, competing for a purse of nearly $5,000. The MN Fixed Gear Classic is a prelude to the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival and the Nature Valley Grand Prix, held June 11-15 in various cities across central Minnesota.

To date, an international field of elite and professional cyclists are confirmed to compete in the MN Fixed Gear Classic including riders from Argentina, Canada, Italy and all over the US. The field is one of the most decorated groups ever to compete at the NSC Velodrome and includes World Junior, Elite and Masters Champions, Pan-American Games Medalists, Olympic team members and numerous National Champions. The highlight of the field will be the legendary Roberto Chiappa, 41-time Italian National Champion, former World Champion and member of the Italian Olympic Team. Local heroes, Brian Crosby and Taylor Olson, will test their strength against the world’s best track cyclists.

Fourteen styles of individual and team racing will take place at the velodrome, providing a unique spectator experience. Race styles include time trials, sprint races and distance or scratch races. Sprint races such as the Chariot race are mad dashes for the finish line. Strong legs and high-speed pedaling make the difference in these events. Other races award points to racers that cross the finish line first, second or third in designated “sprint laps” throughout the race.

Most events will be scored as part of an omnium (points totaled for the races each participant completes) for the two-day event. The person with the most points wins the overall event. Cash prizes will be awarded for points accumulated during the MN Fixed Gear Classic. This “Best Overall Rider” competition recognizes the racer with the best combination of speed and endurance.

The Hoigaard’s Tour de Kid’s Cycling Clinic, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 7 and will feature fun activities and provide kids the option of test riding the velodrome on special kid-sized track bikes. The Hoigaard’s Kids Bicycling Clinic is free and open to kids ages 12 and under. Helmets and a waiver signed by a parent are required. Participation in the clinic requires pre-registration at www.hoigaards.com.

The National Sports Center will also be the destination for the MS150 a huge, two-day recreational ride with more than 3,500 participants arriving upon completion of the MS150 ride on Sunday, June 8.

The MN Fixed Gear Classic and the Great River Energy Bicycle Festival featuring the Nature Valley Grand Prix are free and open to the public. They are the only professional sporting events in Minnesota for which no ticket is required.

Note: Events and schedules are subject to change. Rain date is scheduled for the evening of Monday, June 9.

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There may or may not be a fundraiser for the Hoigaards Cycling Team this coming Saturday.