🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏
From road racing to mountain biking and everything in between, browse the headlines below for coverage of Portland’s competitive racing scene.
What would I do without my friends? Last year and this year, they’ve helped me stage a pseudo but otherwise full-on ‘cross race, so Rhonda and I could get in a serious training effort as we prepare for ‘cross worlds. Yes, life in general is easy with such willing (and clearly none too bright!) pals, … Read more
[Erik Tonkin – more photos here] Local racer and co-owner of Sellwood Cycle Repair, Erik Tonkin has just been named to the U.S. team for the 2006 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. He joins his wife Rhonda Mazza who was recently named to the women’s team. Congrats to the world’s facest ‘cross couple! The big race … Read more
It just wouldn’t be a Euro ‘cross camp without learning some lessons the hard way. Well, on Sunday I paid the price for being too greedy and overconfident. But first, let me offer some background info. This year I came to camp focused on the first 4 races because they would effect team selection for … Read more
Be very careful what you wish for. I prayed for a good old slogger, but somebody upstairs took me a little too literally. After Loenhout’s 1 in 1,000 high-speed ‘crosses (easily the fastest I’ve done), the pendulum swung way back to make Hooglede the 1 in 1,000 slow-speed ‘cross (easily the slowest I’ve done). Consider … Read more
We just got back from the Loenhout GVA, and all our guys in the elite race finished it up. The course was spectacularly short and fast due to the cold (-1C = 30F) and dry conditions today. ‘Twas a 5min. lap, and we did 12 of ‘em, averaging I think over 20mph. There was a … Read more
Portland resident and Sellwood Cycle Repair employee Erik Tonkin is racing his heart out on the World Cup cyclocross circuit. His candid reports reveal how tough the racing is: Oh my god that was hard. Thankfully, even the top guys consider it one of the toughest. The sand is long and deep and then wet … Read more
Oh my god that was hard. Thankfully, even the top guys consider it one of the toughest. The sand is long and deep and then wet and mucky, and the course is short. We did 10 laps, the leaders doing just around 6min. per lap. I’m happy to say that I survived on the lead … Read more
Hey there from Belgium. So, as some know, I was shitty sick just after Nats, and left for Belge in its throes. I have improved but don’t feel like I usually do when I get here. Mostly, the trouble comes from taking over a week off the bike. I tried to train here on Wed … Read more
The Cross Crusade might be over but that’s not the only cross series in town. Veloshop kicked off the season back in September and they’ll bring it to an official close this Sunday (Dec. 18th) at Blue Lake Park. This is the last of three Veloshop races this year and they’ve all been great successes … Read more
Just got word that Shannon Skerritt – Bike Gallery employee and Vanilla Bicycles sponsored cyclocross racer – has rode to victory in the 30-35 Masters race at Cyclocross Nationals! OBRA’s Candi Murray says Shannon is the first-ever Oregonian to win a cyclocross national championship. (see this comment) According to reports, conditions were treacherous. Rain, sleet, … Read more
Erik Tonkin and Rhonda Mazza are the fastest couple in Portland. The husband and wife pair scored great results in the Cycle-Smart International held this morning in Northampton, MA. Erik placed 5th among an elite group of riders and Rhonda rode to an amazing 2nd place behind Canadian powerhouse Lynn Bessette. Way to go guys!
(This content is sponsored by Cyclepath Bike Shop, authorized Mountain Cycle dealer). Whew! It was a tremendous day of racing out at Alpenrose Dairy. 760 racers braved the day making this the largest cyclocross race ever on U.S. soil. Unlike last year, the rain didn’t start ’till right at the end so the course wasn’t … Read more