Molly Cameron » Racing!

Cyclocross World Championships – Koksijde

Molly — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:24:26 +0000

Here I am, in Koksijde, Belgium watching CX Worlds. It has been a quick trip, right to the venue and right down to business. I am helping out with some pictures for a documentary in progress. All business, no pleasure.

Been a few years since I have been to Belgium, it is weird not to be racing. It certainly makes the visit a whole lot easier. Less stressful.

I am running into everyone I know here. Even though there are 40,000+ fans in attendance, it is still pretty easy to find the people you are hoping to bump into.

The Junior, U23 and Elite Women’s races have been amazing to watch and the notorious Belgian super fans are being notoriously Belgian. (these guys are Dutch)

The Elite men’s race begins in an hour and the venue is going to be insane. If a Belgian does not win, there is going to be a riot.

Like usual, everything in Belgium ends up being more complicated than it needs to be. So, internet access has been sporadic.

OMG, the race is about to start!

Come on… seriously?

Molly — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:55:01 +0000

I went out for a spin on the road bike with friends yesterday and got taken down by fluke accident.

A branch or rock, something, got caught up in my front fender on the road bike while riding at speed. Wrapped the fender into the wheel and locked it up. This sent me right over the bars, onto my head. I was not prepared for it in the slightest.

I have not laid on the ground for a couple minutes thinking I might not be able to get up since my skateboarding days. It felt like someone took my legs and twisted them into a painful pretzel. Hyper-extended a knee, bruised up the other leg, re-injured the wrist I broke this summer. My neck is locked up tight.

Holding the handlebars and walking up stairs is laughable. I am fortunate that my Bicycle Studio is partnered up with a great PT clinic in Upper Echelon Fitness so, I do have some resources I may be able to access tomorrow.

Are you f’ing kidding me? How many thousands of miles have I ridden with full fenders? ugh. This is the kind of thing you hear about happening to other people.

I’ve iced and elevated. Both legs are wrapped and compressed. Slept for about 12 hours last night.

I will likely just fly out to Madison for Cyclocross Nationals this Thursday anyways, I’ve got the flight and races paid for, no refunds available, etc.

I’m going to try and spin on the rollers tonight and see how that goes. Tactically, the nationals course does not look particularly technical so, if I can loosen up the legs and move without pain in the next couple days, I will still race.

This is ridiculous. One second you are smiling and laughing in the sun, the next you are on your back.

I am full of furious anger! (aka: crash. move on.)

Molly — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:27:22 +0000

I’ll preface this by saying, I had decided earlier this morning not to write anything about getting crashed out. There are plenty of other cx races to do. And plenty of other opportunities to bump elbows and have Reeb put me into the course tape.

An hour ago, I got an email from a spectator that watched it all go down yesterday. So, I’ll just reprint his email un-edited and post a link to the Cyclocross Magazine article that has all the post-race reactions.

John’s email below describes what happened from an unbiased (not a friend of mine and not my words here) point of view:

“Here’s what I saw yesterday. You can quote me as a 20 year ‘cross racing
veteran.

I watched the Aaron/Molly crash from about 40 feet away.
Molly was 100% right in filing a protest. Aaron was completely at fault and
not only put Molly in danger but also the lapped woman he passed 2 seconds
before. It was obvious to me he was trying to get the woman between himself
and Shannon/Donald/Sean before the right hand corner before pit 2 so that he
could start the long straight without them on his wheel. Molly was clearly
in the lead and it was like a motocross pass where the inside guy uses the
outside one for traction. About 5 seconds after the spot of the crash,
there was the beginning of a long straight where they would have got back
together. With a little bit of patience, everyone would have remained
upright and continued to have fun racing.

Before the crash, there were 5 guys together. After the crash, Aaron was
solo to the finish because the others got gapped with Molly on the ground.
Aaron should have sat up, told the others to ride easy until Molly caught
back up. There were a couple laps to go and 6th was a long ways back.

John McCaffrey”

Again, not my words. I definitely do not think that anyone should have sat up and waited for me post-crash. It just would have been pretty easy not to create a dangerous situation in the first place. Bike races should not be decided by who can run into you the hardest. (though they often are)

I am into full-on aggressive racing but, particularly at these local races with lots of lapped riders, safe and conscious racing. There are hundreds of other racers on the course at the same time as the elite riders. And not all of them are going to feel safe or comfortable getting passed at speed. I pride myself on being as courteous as possible to the lapped traffic while passing and then getting back on with my own race without being a danger or menace to the other riders.

That said, I don’t see much of a difference between something being unintentional and riding with complete disregard for another rider’s safety.

I’ve never protested any race result before, even with punches thrown at me and riders trying to push me off my bike during a race. While I still disagree with it, I absolutely respect the decision (a warning for dangerous riding) that Chief Referee Terri Camp and the OBRA officials came to after hearing my protest.

I’m not angry anymore… I took it all out on the single speeders.

It just doesn’t matter.

Molly — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:14:57 +0000

A month into it already and the Oregon cyclocross season steps up another notch this weekend with a first year race in Canby on Saturday and the first Cross Crusade race at Alpenrose Velodrome on Sunday.

Alpenrose is guaranteed to be a complete cluster fuck. And you know what? It just doesn’t matter.

For me the Cross Crusade has always been a goal and a highlight to my season. It is serious racing, hard racing and, fun racing. Alpenrose continues to set world records for attendance. Which means there are close to 2000 riders battling for the win out there. Close to and, over 100 riders in most categories. You have a mistake, a flat or a mishap and, pretty much race over. The course has also traditionally been very twisty and single tracky… moving up through a 100 riders on that course will take a bit more time than an hour. I’m just hoping to ride a clean race and not embarrass myself too much.

Anyways, with my form right now, I am just hoping to stay out of peoples way. Don Reeb is on fire, winning a bunch of early season races, Ryan Trebon is racing, Babcock will be there is he can get out of work, Tuckerman will be aggressive if he maintains the early season form he has. Mcgrath should be here, my team mate Brett Luelling will be solid and you can never discount Tonkin, Shannon, Damian Schmitt and a dozen other fast Oregon riders.

If I finish the race on the lead lap, I will declare that a success.

“…because all the really good looking girls, would still go out with the guys from Mohawk because they got all the money!”

It just doesn’t matter if we win or we lose.

Oh, you should come to the Cross Kick-Off party tonight at Portland Bicycle Studio.

There is soooo much pressure and excitement built up for the 1st Cross Crusade and I can’t wait until it is all said and done!

Then I can exhale!

Staying relevant.

Molly — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:32:27 +0000

I flew out to Wisconsin last week to race the USGP of Cyclocross opening weekend. And I got trounced. A few more weeks of racing into shape I think. A few more weeks of utter hurt. Been a long time since I’ve ridden so poorly in the mud. sad face.

Ryan was dominant on Saturday and solid on Sunday behind the Belgian Wellens and a late charging Jonathan Page. I appreciated his comment (about 1:45 in) about “…working hard to keep yourself relevant”.

Watch more video of USGP Planet Bike Cup 2011 on cyclingdirt.org

Bary Wicks comments on the early season head games we play with ourselves: “…people get so amped for the start of cyclocross season… its hard to come into it not at the top of your game…”

Watch more video of USGP Planet Bike Cup 2011 on cyclingdirt.org

Obviously, I was not really stoked about my race Sunday. What are typically my favorite conditions turned into a complete suck fest on the bike for me. No power, no speed and no technique. It was like I had never ridden in mud before!

I am struggling a little bit with not racing at a high level right now. Trying not to let it get to me. I know that my fitness will turn around in a few more weeks but, damn it is hard to watch the racing ride away from me and not even be able to put in a good chase.

What the hell have I been up to:

Watch more video of USGP Planet Bike Cup 2011 on cyclingdirt.org

dolla dolla billz yall.

Molly — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:11:59 +0000

(wrote earlier last week)
Just got done with a solid week/long weekend of racing. Read: hanging on for dear life! I’m getting beat up out there! Hard not to let it get to you that you are riding with zero form, rough technique and mediocre leg speed.

This is what racing into shape feels like apparently.

I worked really, really hard to salvage a 2nd place last Sunday in Hood River. I finished behind my team mate Brett who was dominant. Must ruminate on how awesome my team is racing right now soon too.

…CrossVegas, went well enough. Had one speed, pedaled steady and did not lose positions throughout the race. That event is a bit of a cluster-F. You race into the top-20, that is cool, you just finish on the same lap? Well, that is pretty cool too.

Moving forward, I’m sitting in Waunakee, Wisconsin awaiting my ride to pick me up and take me out to day 2 of the USGP of Cyclocross in Sun Prairie. Yesterday went ok. Definitely not feeling speedy but again managed not to get lapped and raced well enough. No crashy crashes or anything. It was wet but drying up as the race went on. F A S T and bumpy.

There is a lot to write about the race, the course, the actual racing and hanging out with friends. Lots of them! So many friendly faces out here in Wisconsin. The Curtes brothers, the My Wife inc. crew, the promoters, and all of the mid-west area teams and posses. The heckling on the run/ride up was world-class. Bart Wellens and all the Euros are here in force.

Plenty of fast guys that don’t know how to drive their bicycles yesterday. I’m all for bumping elbows but, geez. Knocking people over does not make you fast. Just makes you annoying.

Today looks to be a complete mudder.

The real question is: do I wear my long sleeve white skinsuit or, my long sleeve white skinsuit?

Lazer Vision Eyewear preview!

Molly — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:55:58 +0000

You may get to see this at Interbike! And, if you are not going to Interbike check it out, my rep brought by a bunch of Lazer Vision eyewear. It is good looking gear. Some single lens styles and a few exchangeable lens styles. And, thankfully my personal favorite: BALLER WHITE WITH CLEAR LENSES. Cause I always wear glasses when I race CX.

I just do.

And, hell yes they fit into your Lazer helmet! PRO style!

Zanconato custom cyclocross chainrings.

Molly — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:00:32 +0000

These just landed. They are beautiful. I’ll write more once I get them installed onto my cyclocross bike.

Custom made, custom machined and designed. So much attention to detail.

To fit Campagnolo CT, Campagnolo ST, 110 mm, and 130 mm Bolt Cirlces!

Available combinations:
Campagnolo CT – 36/42, 36/44, 38/44, 38/ 46
Campagnolo ST – 39/44, 39/46
110 mm BCD – 36/42, 36/44, 38/44, 38/ 46
130 mm BCD – 38/44, 38/46

CNC machined in Utah from 7075-T6 Aluminum
Hard anodized and PTFE coated for ultra-long wear
Designed as close to OEM specifications for incredible ease of assembly
Outers are pinned and ramped for smooth shifting under load
Shift areas on outer are spread out for more pick-up points
Inners are available with standard holes or threading for use with custom bolt kit

Shoot me an email if you are interested in ordering up a set! Availability will be limited and, these were well worth the wait!

Raced a bike for the first time in months last weekend!

Molly — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:19:00 +0000

And it went about as well as I expected. I had one speed. Kinda fast but, not particularly very, very fast.

Last week I wrapped up my final big block of training miles for cx season. And this week was a “rest” week. Putting that in quotes cause I did very little resting. c’est la vie, ma vida loca, etc, etc.

There was so much amazing that happened this week, and I am just now catching a breather and able to sit down and write a little bit out.

CHECK OUT MY NEW KIT!! Press release coming right up!! Just in time for CX Vegas!!

Some more links to photos from the first GPMC race of the year:

Whoa. Looks like Flickr just automatically puts them up on the site. Weird. I had just listed text-links for you to click on… well, that is rad.

Anyways, a million things to do: write up a press release, change the sponsors on my website, do some crunches.

CX Vegas is next Wednesday and it is going to hurt, like really really really hurt. I’ve got no speed in these legs yet.

Make sure to plan on coming out to dinner after the race with me! 11pm next Wednesday in Vegas! More details TBA!

Put it on, it works fine. You shift with your brain.

Molly — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:00:35 +0000

Jesus. Can Parlee do no wrong? Dropping amazing bomb after amazing bomb!

This is completely unreal. Yet, it is very, very real.

I’ve been riding Shimano Di2 for 3 years. It is flawless and proven. Wins races, gets power washed daily, crashed, beaten up and ridden into the ground. Still works perfectly. I don’t have 10 bikes and an endless supply of replacement parts like a PRO team. I’ve got a couple of groups and I’ve been racing on one of the Di2 groups from the start. Through snow, ice, Belgian sand, Japanese mud, Las Vegas’ summer heat. No bullshit, it works.

How do you better such a solid platform? Oh right, improve the User Interface. Or just blow the UI apart and re-think it.

…and with this development, Skynet is just that much closer to dominating us. Well shit, at least our new electronic overlords will have precise bicycle shifting.

Hats off to Parlee and Prolly.

(haters will hate. I bet there are still some of you out there moaning about the development of the clipless pedal)