Molly Cameron

It has been a long week.

This time of year is a bit of a slowing down period. Kinda reset the clock and start again. I'm building on last years success (racing and veloshop) and feel so much more stable on the bike and in the shop.

The Veloshop is just getting busier. We are back to our usual workload. Loads of bikework. Quality bikework.

Still having a hard time making time to get everything done though, I did put in 15 hours of riding this week. Went to the gym once too. I may go again once I get my XC training bike together tonight. Gonna teach myself how to bleed XTR disc brakes. (thanks Chris Disteffano, I'm finally putting some more of those parts to good use.)

Bingen Fernandez taught me some excellent weight training routines and on the bike strength workouts a couple years ago. I'm feeling super motivated this spring to build up and really improve on my weaknesses and develop my strengths. Get faster, get faster. Still casually trying to look for a coach. If I could build up to do track nationals and then jump right into cross season flying it would be amazing. It is ambitious but, do able.

It gets silly writing about training, it does not feel too exciting.

I'm waiting to hear back from Ritchey about XC racing bikes this summer. I'm pretty loyal to the folks that are taking care of me and I'd like to ride a bike that is OEM spec with Ritchey components, giving them more exposure in the NW. Think full suspension. Scott or Lapierre.

I started paying myself this week. Yep, I don't think I even make minimum wage but, I'll be setting money aside for my rent and food.

We are expecting over 4 inches of rain this week in Portland. yay.

Night ride.

So awesome. Who is down for consistent Monday night, night rides? Tommy and I found the 2 foot deep mud hole in the trail. I wish we had a photo of that. Needless to say I was left entirely covered in mud. Thick sticky mud.

Doh!

At least it is not rocking the baby. heh-heh. Now, it would be really funny if that happened while rocking the baby...

Hey, Erik ended up at a Middle Earth convention in Belgium! Oh wait...

Oh man, I am in the shit talking mood. Brian pointed me toward the 60+ comment stong Paul Shooooning bashing session on Ryan Trebons blog. I'm staying away from that one. Though I do remember a few posts ago that stuff was finding its way onto my comments. I did not really understand what was going on.

If only all that creative talent could be used for the forces of good.

Ohhh, my head...

Well, had my first drink of the year, last year. I finished off Pete's Vodka giblets. We danced all night and went to bed at 2am. I got up at 2 pm. Ugh. My head f'ing hurts. I slept for 12 hours.

Hopped on my bike and did 2 hours in the rain. Came home, cleaned my house and made some dinner.

Got my first flat of the year in SE Portland on the way back in. Had a cyclist and a car stop at the same time and shout, "hey Molly, need anything?"

Websites are so exciting sometimes are'nt they?

Do I have to start training tomorrow?

If you are interested in a Forest Park night ride, meet at the Veloshop at 6pm, Monday.

Looked at prices of apartament sublets in Belgium...

What the shit?!

Can you believe it? Filip Meirhaeghe is back on a Belgian racing squad! He rode for Landbouwkrediet before, it makes sense that a team director or coach that you have known previously would take you back.

All these riders getting second chances. I would probably want one too but, the Meirhaeghe thing was such a scandal, such a high priority doping scandal. Like David Millar. Both World Champions. Crazy. Has it already been 16 months? Geez.

Oh, found this bit of Filip info. Seems he won a little road race in California that I once got 4th in. Can someone give me some clarity on this. Was he stripped of his XC world champ win and all the XC wins previously? Or ANY of his previous XC wins? Anyone? Anyone? Bueler?

Taking New Years day off, enjoying the lovely company of Pete and an Americano.

I got really freaked out about racing this morning. I was all pumped to do a few hours on the mountain bike, but then it turned rainy and I decide to just get le coffee and ride tomorrow. I was reading stuff from this years euro cross camp and then I was looking over this year's domestic cross season. I got that really guilty feeling you get when you skip training. Maybe you don't, I do. I've gotta beat this rain and seasonal depression crap and put in a few hours a day. Everday. (this is my little daily affirmation I'll be reading to myself to get pumped.)

I was going through results, I gotta get fast. Faster than I have been riding. I've got to be riding like Shannon to achieve the little goals I have set for myself next season.

The flood.

It is raining like crazy the last few days.

Had a chiropractic appointment this morning and got my ribs and back adjusted. (after Pete pretty much guilt tripped me into seeing the doctor) Looks like I fractured my rib the night before nationals afterall! It is not getting better quick. It has been 3 weeks since I hurt it and will likely be 3 more before it really heals up. Hurts like hell and now I have this big lump on my rib where it is healing up. Serious, it hurts to sleep, breathe, laugh, whatever.

After the appointment I got back on my bike and headed up into the park and there was flooding everywhere! Lots of erosion too. People were out doing emergency clean up and repair to the little streams and ditches that have now become rivers. I was pedaling up the trail and passed a jogger who turned out to be one of Veloshop's sponsors: Jim from Broadway bagels. It was pleasant to run into each other on such a crappy day and we split off after a little chat.

Took Pete out to dinner and a hot tub last night. We went to The Farm on Burnside. I figured she did not each there too often but, turns out she knows like half the staff, they all wave and smile when she walks in. hehheh. While we are waiting for tables I notice Jay Graves (owner of the Bike Gallery) come in with a pal. I should have gone up and introduced myself but, I was feeling shy and on a really good date. Contrary to popular opinion, I don't really hate on the Bike Gallery, or any other bike shop in town.

I was talking with one of the mechanics from River City Bicycles and he mentioned that "everyone hates on River City bicycles" and I was thinking how I feel like everyone hates on the Veloshop and I realised that every bike mechanic, shop owner, or manager probably feels like everyone hates on the bike shop they work at. Our profession is really bizzare. Our customers are so damn picky and sensitive and demanding. Seems like a lot of the kids who come into my shop think I am running a scam on them or judging them or something. I wonder if part of it is because I am so young, like people cannot handle taking my word cause I must not seem like I have been around the bike industry for that long. Or maybe it is just because you just truly can find everything cheaper on the internet.

I had a customer (and old friend) call me up about a pair of Assos gloves that were coming apart in the fingers. "No way, sew that shit up." my reply when he asked if he could warranty them. Not that it was stupid for him to ask but, Assos is NOT going to send me a new pair of gloves and I would just take some thread and stich that shit up. All of the bike shops in town do not have "Walmart" or "REI" type money where we can just blindly take returns and exchanges. And most of our distributors are just as small as we are. Often, our distributors are smaller than we are.

Lost my train of thought there... maybe the point was (subliminal message to follow) come into Veloshop and spend your money. I'm broke, the shop is broke, gotta make rent, pay the bills, blah blah blah.The winter is keeping us busy but, not well funded.

I met with Sacha last week, first time we had talked since Nationals. We hung out for a couple hours and had an awesome conversation. Really awesome. We talked about racing this fall and next season. About his bike company, and my shop. We talked about gender and politics.

I cannot express how good it feels to ride for someone (note: an actual individual, NOT a person working for a bigger company.) that I believe in. There are trade offs riding with a smaller business (less funding and support, etc), they are worth it. We talked about how in 3 years one won't remember getting those free socks from whatever company and how I will remember the fall of 2005 for the rest of my life. Riding for Sacha means something. Not that I am cool or special or even a great bike rider but, that I am worthy of representing his business and bicycles.

When I turn the tables and think about having employees it is a similar deal. I am so damn picky about the quality of work the Veloshop does that I will only accept really high standards and professionalism. Of the large handfull of volunteers and coworkers I have had in the last 4 years only a couple met my standards, and so far only Keely has surpassed them. It makes me proud to have her working with me.

Word.

I think Sacha feels similarly. He wrote a really sweet blurb about me on his website. Made my day. I also got in a photo in Velonews, made my day too. Y'know that Rhonda, Shannon and I are the only Vanilla team cross racers? That is some heavy company. Three or four years ago if you asked me who my favorite local racers were, I would have said: Rhonda Mazza, Alice Pennington, Shannon Skerrit and Kent Johnston (I'm serious, I have a thing for Kent. The first few races I saw him at he showed real class. Plus, he uses the euro leg embrocations which is admirable.) So winding up racing with all of them is like a dream come true.

The Brian Ellin is back in town from an extended east coast family-holiday trip. He got 4th place in some Virginia cross race on a borrowed bike. We've got to get him off of those GT triple triangle bikes he keeps ripping the derailleur hangers off of and let him have a solid cross season and finish a local race for once! He did however purchase a new Gary Fischer 29er last night from the Bike Gallery. It is pretty awesome. We are going to go ride tommorow morning.

Well, I'm off for now, I'll be updating this thing at least weekly.

Oh, Eric Tonkin posted a couple race reports to the OBRA list. They are really, really good. Worth a read. Tonkin is the "real deal" regardless what he thinks.

I even stopped shaving and let my leg hair start growing out, I think it will make me faster...

Time off.

Mmmm. Sleeping in. Staying up late. So nice.

The shop is slowly creeping along. Keeping me busy but, not busy enough to keep me there past closing.

The race Veloshop put on last weekend was a tiny success. A truly hardcore group of people stayed around to race in pretty silly conditions. The galeforce headwinds were awesome. The elite race got to taste snow and ice. Not sure if we broke even or not. It was a good experience to put on a kinda crappy race as opposed to our last 2 awesome races.

I think this is the link to a blurb of the interview I did for that radio station last week. or not... I gotta figure this out... Oh! Here it is!

It took me 4 hours to get the OBRA truck and trailer back to Alpenrose Velodrome. I thought I was going to die. Seriously. The entire freeway was iced over and there were accidents every ten feet! The sheer weight of the OBRA beast must have been the only thing that kept me steady.

So all this time off is making me antsy to ride. But I am forcing at least a solid 2 weeks off. I am staring at my "Cyclists training bible" and the OBRA, NORBA, and UCI 2006 race calendars. Talking to a couple coaches too.

Been putting the feelers out there to find sponsorship for this coming season. I've got a grand goal of getting enough cash money to fund all of the travelling expenses and if I am riding well in the fall I'll stowaway on a steamer bound for Europe. I'm not half bad at the track too, I am certainly not the best but, I am toying with going to track nationals in October and doing the points, scratch and 10mile races. Did you know I am a cat 1 on the track? Wierd. I did a double take when I looked at my license recently. With that said, I am sure Walrod could just zoom up on the scooter, hop on anybody's bike, and spank my ass any day.

Gonna go on a bike ride with the boss at somepoint and drink espresso and talk about racing stuff.

Pete and I watched Brokeback mountain (she calls it "Bareback mtn.") last night with some friends of hers. (my upstairs neighbor+the girlfriend of another semi-famous bike racer) We, again, were cracking up the whole time. So classy. We got there late and were stuck in the very front row just laughing our asses off and making snide comments the whole time.

The odd thing was the entire audience was lesbians. They are all living thier gay cowboy fantasies through softcore Jake Gylenhall rough me up boyporn. Us included. I really was shocked by the amount of dykes in the audience.

Well, I am officially 4 hours late for work.

Oh! Yours truly is in a couple of photos in a couple of cool publications. Go get the latest issue of Velonews (not on newstands yet) or buy the FixedGearFever 2006 calendar.

I've got more to write. Specifically about the really supportive cycling scene in Oregon.

Oh! Shannon and I are in the top 5 Oregon best all round riders:

Senior Men
1 Doyle, Sean DeSalvo 1229
2 Skerritt, Shannon vanilla 1223
3 Trebon, Ryan Kona 1214
4 Wicks, Barry Kona 1177
5 Cameron, Molly Vanilla 1170

That is awesome. I feel like I worked pretty hard this year. I'm not sure the ranking system is quite precise but, hey I'll take what they give me.

Thanks a million to Brian Vernor for the photos today! It was awesome seeing you out at the races. Beat that flu!

The morning of the ex-es.

Xs? Exes? X's?Xses? I dunno...

Geez, this is the morning of my ex lovers. People I have not seen in months and years are just pouring in the coffee shop! I can't get away from them! I guess that would be near impossible, seeing as I have done it to half of Portland...

At least I don't feel as yucky as used to when I would run into them. Y'know, like love and hate put in a blender, a little confusion added in for flavor. When I like someone, I like them really hard and when it ends, it really hurts. Well, most of them like babies and, I'm not a fan. I read a Chris Horner interview a couple days ago, did'nt he have a girlfriend and a kid and then it kinda fell apart because he wanted to pursue his racing? Babies will do that. Tear a perfectly healthy relationship asunder. Make you cross the finish line with a pacifier in your mouth or rocking the cradle.

Or not. Okay, okay, I'll give props to all the working class moms and dads out there. Especially the bike racing (and bicycle making) ones. It is hard enough racing bikes, harder still to manage time for a family, I would'nt know, I barely have the time to date one person!

Speaking of which I had a double date last night, we watched The chronicles of Narnia. Mediocre. Pete and I were cracking up the whole time. And the religious kids in the theatre were hilarious. People were praying after the movie and the entire row in front of us was like a bible study group or something.

There was heated bible discussion. I'm always amazed when I am at a coffee shop and hear a great heated discussion going on and then I realise that they are discussing scripture. I'm like, "dudes!" c'mon, it is like arguing about comic book heroes. I mean, Wolverine totally could have survived that. It is all make beleive, and it is soooo old.

Oh well, people are weak and need something to give thier lives meaning.

I guess for me it is cycling, and that is just about as silly as the Xmen. Or the bible. Hey, the Batman movie was really entertaining by the way. Oh god. Go see Grizzly man or anything else by Werner Herzog.

Now.

Nationals photos:

Trying to figure this Flickr thing out.

Photos.