Recovery, training, coaching, and custom bikes; all under one roof
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on March 3rd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
a recent "In Studio" event.
(Photos © J. Maus)
A hub of bicycle-related businesses on Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd in Northeast Portland has become a one-stop shop for performance-minded cyclists.
On Monday evening, the Portland Bicycle Studio opened its doors to the community for an up-close look at high-end helmets and bikes -- but the event also gave attendees a chance to see how several business owners have come together to offer an impressive list of services that cater to Portland's vast crop of bike loving, performance-minded athletes.
The anchor of this bike hub is the Portland Athletic Center of Excellence (PACE), a top-notch facility for physical therapy, massage, and training. PACE serves athletes of all stripes (including dancers from the Portland Ballet and NBA stars) and they've got several staff members with impressive resumes in the bike world.
Massage therapist Kurt Marion is a former pro road racer who is now sought after by the likes of Lance Armstrong's coach Chris Carmichael. When the director of Lance's current squad, Team Radioshack, needed a soigneur, Marion got the call. Thankfully, for local bike racers, he turned it down.
owner of Upper Echelon Fitness.
Oregon native Russell Cree owns Upper Echelon Fitness. A former bike racer, Cree was director Sportif of the Broadmark Capital Elite cycling team when they won the Elite Road Championship in 2005. Cree is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and his practice focuses on physiology, coaching, and bike fitting for cyclists and triathletes.
It's a short walk through a hallway from the PACE patient area to a large workout space Cree says was converted from a parking garage. There are all manner of exercise equipment against the walls, one of which features a huge logo of local track racing team, Brihop. In the depths of winter, group indoor riding classes are held here. The centerpiece of the indoor riding sessions is an Inside Ride Super Trainer. Manufactured just a few miles outside Portland in North Plains, the Inside Ride is a bicycle treadmill that can mimic the toughest climbs in the world.
On the other side of the PACE offices, Cree runs his Upper Echelon Fitness business in a space he shares with Portland Bicycle Studio.
Portland Bicycle Studio is a venture started by Molly Cameron, a local professional cyclocross racer and owner of Veloshop bike shop in downtown Portland. With Veloshop running smoothly on its own, Cameron now devotes herself full-time to this new endeavor. At Portland Bicycle Studio, Cameron is sort of a match-maker for people with discriminating tastes in bicycles. "I'm an advocate for my clients," she explained to me on Monday night.
To serve her clients, Cameron taps into her deep knowledge of high-end bikes, gear, and how the human body can most make most efficient use of them. Along with bike fitting expertise, Cameron acts as a trusted advisor for people who want a custom bike, but aren't sure which bike is right for them. At her studio, Cameron can go over the options, perform a professional fit, and then communicate with the bike builder and take care of the entire ordering process from measurements to delivery.
Earlier this week, Cameron delivered a bike to a client from one of her favorite builders, Nick Crumpton. Crumpton -- who holds more medals from the North American Handmade Bicycle Show than anyone in the world -- is one of the few custom builders who works with carbon fiber. The bike, which cost $10,000, was the most expensive Cameron has ever sold.
At the event Monday night, Cameron was busy talking to a packed room full of friends and prospective clients. The impetus for the event was to see the latest from Belgian-based helmet maker Lazer and high-end road, time-trial and cyclocross bike maker Ridley.
Local track racer Zak Kovalcik models a time trial helmet from Lazer.
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The Ridley time trial bike. The less you see, the faster it is.
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The gear was stunning. Lazer has been making helmets since 1916 and they've outfitted world champions and now they're looking toward the urban commuter market. Ridley is also an exciting bike brand, offering very well-made, drool-inducing bikes.
But for me, the most exciting thing I saw at the event was yet another collaboration of bicycle businesses sure to find their place among Portland's burgeoning bike economy.
-- Portland Bicycle Studio
-- Upper Echelon Fitness
-- Portland Athletic Center of Excellence
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March 3rd, 2010 16:34
Jonathan, I don't like the phrasing of your first sentence. There are lots of people who I'd call "serious cyclists" but are on the utility/transportation side of cycling. People on that side are unlikely to find these businesses very useful. If I had my druthers, I'd replace "serious cyclists" with "bike racers and athletes."
March 3rd, 2010 16:38
I hear you Malex,
I changed the wording a bit. It's important to realize that this place doesn't serve only racers. There are people who care about going fast and riding as well as they can just for their own personal interests.. not to compete.
I hope my new wording works better in clarifying that and in addressing your concern. Thanks for the feedback.
March 3rd, 2010 16:40
All better now! Thanks Jonathan!
March 3rd, 2010 16:54
I think you posted a wrong picture of Molly Cameron.
March 3rd, 2010 17:43
I attended. I meander around town on my (cough) retro Raleigh, and wear a five-dollar Legacy Emanuel helmet. These types of event are inspirational for me -- they not only provide opportunities to connect with both local and national bike-y sorts and try on very nice helmets, but also remind me of the myriad resources we have in our community. And they make me want to hop on my bike more often and save my pennies for training and fittings someday. Thanks to Molly, Russell, Lazer and Ridley for the event, and thanks, Jonathan, for covering it.
March 3rd, 2010 19:15
If you're looking for more evidence of a bike hub for this area, the Bike Farm is right around the corner from this stuff at 305 NE Wygant.
http://www.bikefarm.org
March 3rd, 2010 20:57
Commuter, that is Molly Cameron. Identitfies as 'she'.
March 3rd, 2010 21:06
Ah my apologies
March 3rd, 2010 22:44
Molly still races with the guys.
6 of one....half dozen of the other.
March 4th, 2010 08:20
middle,
Why make a comment like that? Molly identifies as a she, can't you let that be?
March 4th, 2010 09:32
Comment #10, well said.
March 4th, 2010 11:07
Whew! I wuz not da only one who had to look twice and google. He said. "She" said. Saaaaaaaaaaaaay no mo'.
March 4th, 2010 13:04
Thanks, Jonathan - I ride the #6 a lot, and while taking the bus past this place, I was totally wondering what the heck it was. When I bike through the area, I take Rodney, so I never see it from the bike. I'll have to stop by and check it out!
March 4th, 2010 16:46
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Cameron
March 18th, 2010 10:08
[...] Click for the Bikeportland.org article here. [...]