I started the Cross Crusade in Ranier yesterday.

While not a glorious return, I played damage control. I’ve got no game right now.

It felt so nice to be on the bike again.

Sven is down and out!

Apparently Bart complained that he lost the sprint because he could not get his hands in a proper position to shift.

Go figure.

I must sell my Vanilla team cyclocross frame set.

Should I put the damn thing up on Ebay?

Before you start sending me emails, I’ll be posting photos on my website shortly. (that probably means tomorrow)

I will tell you that is has 2 seasons of race and race travel on it. The paint is plenty dinged up, while still beautiful to my eyes, I would call the overall paint condition as fair. There are a few small dents in the top tube (not structural), and the paint has been worn through on a couple spots on the fork.

55cm top tube – actual. (55.5 effective)
53.5 seat tube – center to center
57.5 seat tube to top of seat collar
6cm of steerer showing out of the top of the headtube.
22.5cm total steerer length on the Alpha Q carbon fork.

This frame was built with True Temper S3 tubing.

Asking: $1999.00

Got to pay for my flight to Europe to race cross this winter.

Sacha asked that I make it very clear what I am selling. I raced the hell out of this bike for 2 seasons. Took it to Europe and packed and unpacked it dozens of times. It was my race machine. I used it as a training bike for much of last winter, it is still totally solid and I’d love to see someone else racing it super hard. A repaint is possible, I think basic paint from Coat starts at $600 (don’t quote me on that)

molly AT portlandbicyclestudio.com

Feel free to ask me anymore questions and I’ll get back to you asap.

I’ve gotten inquiries about any of my used EDGE race wheels. Sorry, they are so strong and badass that I’m going to keep racing on those wheels until I damage them. Which so far, it appears the EDGE rims will never fail me.

Did 4 hours with Brian Vernor this morning.

Got home and found Jon Page on the podium this afternoon in Belgium!

Go Jonathan!

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My wounds are healing up alright. Been riding again the last few days.

At least I am not as bad off as this guy.

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I’m getting off the antibiotics tomorrow! soooooo dope!

I’m motivated to race again. I’ll probably get my legs torn off this Sunday at the local CX Crusade race but, it will be so fun just to be out there! I’ve missed a bunch of racing already!

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Watched the debates last night. Kinda good, kinda boring. McCain came off pretty patronizing. It appears he thinks Obama is a joke, he kept laughing and rolling his eyes at him.

Out of touch? yeah.

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My European race plans are getting locked in. My coach is in Europe right now. About to get crushed by all the juiced up Euros at the World Cup.

Good luck Adam!

People have asked, here is the current list of available FMB cyclocross tyres at the Veloshop:

Price in USD:

Sprint FRENCH NATIONAL COLORS! 32mm 2 @ 130
Sprint DARK BLUE COTON 32mm 4 @ 130
Sprint cotton 34mm 3 @ 120
Sprint cotton 32mm 1 @ 120

SSC WORLD CUP SILK! 32mm 2 @ 300/PAIR ONLY
SSC coton 34mm 2 @ 120
SSC BELGE NATIONAL COLORS! 32mm 4 @ 130
RALPH RALPH custom coton 30mm 1 @ 150

RALPH RALPH custom USED 34mm 2 @ 150/PAIR ONLY

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I’ll find and post some photos or the national colors asap.

My mom passed away 2 years ago around this time of year.

I’ve been thinking about her a lot.

“I’m no longer Christopher… I’m Bodie Lee, Photon warrior.”

Genius.

Like a phoenix from the ashes.

I’m coming around.

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Check out this nastyness, the swelling has gone down soooo much.
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Thanks for all the comments and emails.

Even the doctors agreed, I had it bad. Blame it on stress, travel and shaving your legs. Total fluke infection but, my immune system was stressed out and I was vulnerable. I can joke about it but, I really was totally unable to do anything for myself for a few days. Thanks to those who really helped me out.

Back to training this week I hope!

Now I am anxious. The weather is badass right now, pissing rain in typical NW fashion.

Pretty exciting eh?

This was removing and then repacking new gauze into the incisions a few days ago.

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I am sick of the couch and movies and fevers.

My leg has been packed full of gauze and swollen for the last week and today it comes out! The doc says I can take epsom salt baths and soak the open wounds. Maybe I can start to ride again this Monday. I limped all by myself out to the hospital and back home!

It looks like I have multiple stab wounds cause really, that is just what happened right?

I’ve got to snap some new photos cause the cuts are deep and amazing but, check out Autumn’s photos first.

Seriously?

If we do see Lance at the Antwerpen race this winter it will be at the expense of few dozen other Euro renners.

Something to think about: at the Euro races everyone negotiates start contracts. The big stars like Nys and Boom pulling more money to start a race than you can imagine. With the lesser PRO riders getting as little as a few hundred Euro.

When a big name rider like Lance eats up a small UCI ranked race’s budget the lesser PROs are pitched to the sides, often getting no contract at all.

So in reality, Lance racing cyclocross may actually be hindering the sport less than helping it. By keeping a bunch of lesser talent from starting a few showcase races.

Or, should my line of thinking be that Lance racing these few showcase cross races will turn the heads of USAC policy makers and get cyclocross some funding and recognition? Lance racing Euro cx may somehow validate it in the eyes of the US public and bring it to the national consciousness?

The doctor cutting on me a few days ago asked what type of racing I did. She was being polite and trying to keep my mind off the scalpel.

“I don… I can’t explai… I don’t want to explain it right now…” I winced.

We both laughed but, I admit, it would have been nice to just blurt out “cyclocross” and have her say something like:

“isn’t that what Lance tried doing this year? The one where you run?”

Damn! Not spider bites. I’ve been fighting Folliculitis since Starcrossed.

I got a bad fever and chills on Friday night.

And a few giant abscesses got really infected and swollen. By Sunday I had trouble walking.

So Pete drove me down to the immediate care hospital and the doctor cut holes in my leg, used some nasty pliers to dig around in them, and then packed them full of gauze.

I was a wimp. It hurt like hell!

We’ve got some sweet photos of my writhing under the knife.

The doc was great but, it looks like I’ll be off the bike for another week or more!

Not able to make it out to Ohio this week for the races. And, it is pretty unlikely that I’ll be racing locally either.

What the hell? How much bad luck can one bike racer have?

Well, at least I snagged a couple UCI points with my lackluster last month of racing. I don’t have anything besides the USGP finals on my schedule before nationals and Europe. Not looking so good for the start positions eh?