Just got this in my inbox:

“We recently received a bunch of fines from the UCI. Amongst them was one of yours for 150 CHF (140 USD) for the World Cup in Zolder in 2008. I know this is very late, but they always give us these a year later. Please get a hold of me regarding payment. Thanks”

Fined for what?

Racing so poorly?

Weird that no one said anything to me at the World Cup about it. Or any subsequent races. Or that a USA team manager was not informed so that they could then inform me of my transgression.

I can’t imagine what I could have gotten fined for.

“you are training for cx already?!”

Lets start with this image. Last cyclocross season I got to race the World Cup in Zolder, Belgium.

I was gassed. Throttled. Worthless. I had been riding so poorly and I was exhausted and barely holding on to what mediocre fitness I had left. The day before the world cup, I felt great out on the course for the riders practice. Had that snap in my legs and was excited to start the next day. The morning of; was a different matter entirely.

Evidenced by my tired exhale, vacant gaze and bloodshot eyes.

Today was one of those rides. I was crying trying to finish up the last interval. Literally.

I met some pals for coffee to see them off to the Cascade Creampuff 100 this morning. Matt Hall and John Dorfer + a rad crew are heading down to Oakridge to get destroyed on some vtt trails. Daveeeed + Sacha White and Scott from Vanilla were heading out on a ride from the same coffee shop and I was happy to tag along for the start of their ride. The cyclocross is in full effect. We are building and fitting cyclocross bicycles like crazy. The weather was holding steady, it looked like the sun may actually come out. The summer is in full effect with the bike shop and studio. Rolling. Hard.

I’ve been throttled the last couple months. While everyone else is racing and hanging out and enjoying the summer and time with friends: my mornings are packed with solo training rides, my days with work and my nights with more work.

A few seasons back, after a particularly worthless cyclocross season, I asked my coach at the time: “is it all worth it? all the training and training and riding and effort. All the sacrifices I make… it does not seem like it is translating into progression: I’m still finishing in the same position I have been for the last couple years.”

Yet, I’ve stuck to the plan. For month after month after month the last four years I’ve been dedicated to cyclocross. No track racing, no mountain bike racing. Hardly any racing at all. Till the fall.

Instead of racing, I train. And it is structured. And I ride by myself. A lot.

I‘m conscious I write this stuff out and it comes across on paper like I’m boasting about the hours and hours I train. When I talk about 20+ hour weeks, I think I am writing to express something that someone else can relate to. My PRO pals will scoff: “we all have to ride a lot. stop tre boo hoo ing.” My intimate circle of pals don’t care about putting in as much training (they are far too smart to put this much energy into the bicycle) on the bike on top of a real job and real life. It is just not worth it to most. “If you are not a PRO, why train like a PRO?” I’ve got plenty of pals that I know are putting in big miles, sure. But no one is as focused on the fall. Roadies are not doing so much base-building this time of year. And, the local PROs that will be ripping my legs off all cx season long don’t seem to need structured 5 hour rides all summer long. They can get up off the couch, spin around the block once a week and still ride away from me in a cx race.

So, I train alone.

Because I’m convinced I can progress. Is that the secret trap of cycling? You can always get better, get fitter right? I don’t have the raw talent that the PRO riders have. So I have to compensate by training smart. And training a lot.

And it seems like it is working. The ride today was hard work. On paper I’m riding better than I ever, ever have. Maybe it has taken a few seasons of structure to get my body to adapt and step it up.

Now I’ve got a couple months to put the rest of the pieces together and start winning some races.

And then the sacrifices will feel like they are worth it.

The dude is a maniac. Every moment of every race is a desperate effort with him. The frenetic energy.

“For four laps, I had mud and beer thrown at me. The fifth time it was just too much for me. I didn’t really intend to hit him, and I regret what I’ve done, but I think that as a rider I don’t have to put up with everything.”

Damn right you don’t.

BMC me.

New pricing, new program.

Lowered the price on their frame sets and compete “pre-pack” bicycles.

Complete Pro Machine with Ultegra SL at $3849.00

Would you like to know more?

Molly Cameron
Portland Bicycle Studio
503.841.8006

We are welcoming Scott Peterson back again for more custom insoles. We couldn’t fit everyone in during his last visit! There are still a few openings this Friday and Saturday. For those who don’t know Scott, he is a pioneer in custom cycling footwear. He and his father were among the first to address this area. He has worked with many of the top professional racers in the USA and is Nationally known and respected. He lives in Bend, but will be in Portland this week. If you have foot pain or numbness when cycling, this is worth looking into. If you have any questions, let me know. More info on the Upper Echelon website under “news”.

Scott Peterson says: “We have a few more open slots for Friday and Saturday starting at 9am, taking the last at 4pm. If you know someone who’s interested, please have them contact me at my email address:

We’re doing it for the special rate of $200 per pair of custom cycling orthotics.

We will not be doing bike fits since there are already excellent bike fitters in Portland; this will be for orthotics only.”

This is a once a season Portland Bicycle Studio - Upper Echelon fitness promotional session.

This is a special offer as the footbeds are $200 instead of the standard $450. And you don’t have to travel out to Bend, Oregon to have him build them for you! These are 100% custom for you and your shoes. If you have ever used his “power footbeds”, you understand how great they make your feet feel and the increased power to the pedals that you receive.

You may contact Scott directly at the number above or give me a ring at Portland Bicycle Studio to schedule your appointment - 503.841.8006

Portland Bicycle Studio is the Portland, Oregon source for Ridley bicycles.

Take a glance at this machine.

Let’s talk about cyclocross bikes. I am really excited to take on the Ridley brand this season. The cyclocross bikes are world class. The road range is world class.

A complete full carbon 1192g cyclocross frame set starting at $1500.
A complete race ready sub - 17lb. cross bike at $2600.

The Cyclingnews Ridley 2010 preview has some more details.

Shoot me an email or give me a call, we will talk cyclocross.

Portland Bicycle Studio
503.841.8006