What sets BicyclingHub.com apart from the competition?

Few are as passionate about cycling as we are. At BicyclingHub.com, our goals are to get more people on bikes more often and make cycling a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

We do this by:

Eric Solberg from Castelli USA briefing staff the difference
between Castelli's KISS 3 and Progetto X2 chamois.

Providing customers with extensive product knowledge.  Each season BicyclingHub.com staff meet with product representatives from major cycling clothing manufacturers, including Castelli, Pearl Izumi, Showers Pass and Sheila Moon, to learn about new technology and features and built into the products. This hands-on training (and subsequent extensive testing) ensures we are able to offer extensive details and comparisons between products to our customers and retain our credentials as experts on cycling clothing.

Sharing our trustworthy expertise. All of our customer service representatives ride in the products we sell and are happy to provide customers honest product reviews, top Staff Picks, and and offer recommendations tailored to your specific needs.

Offering exceptional customer service through friendly, fun and reliable attention. Whether you're a dedicated urban commuter, a multi-day bike tour enthusiast, or preparing for your next big race, BicyclingHub.com constantly applies itself to making certain we deliver the same outstanding customer service and prompt delivery that ensures we stand apart from our competitors. We want your ride to be as enjoyable as possible, and we work hard every day to keep you rolling in style.

Regular Blog articles and Facebook updates that keep you in the loop. Wish you had a friend in the bike industry for the latest updates? Now you do! BicyclingHub.com provides our customers not only with access to a large online catalog but also a vibrant Facebook community (over 9,5200 members and growing strong), on-the-go Twitter updates for Daily Deals and exclusive sales, and an active Blog to keep our readers informed on the latest cycling-related news, videos, fun trivia contests and more.

Videos. Sometimes seeing is believing. BicyclingHub.com is staying at the forefront of the cycling apparel market by taking two-dimensional pictures and text and bringing our customers a 3-dimensional experience. Be it specific product features of the Showers Pass VelEau 42 Hydration System, an introduction to who you're choosing when you choose BicyclingHub.com, or the newest cycling jerseys coming out of the Castelli catalog, stay tuned to BicyclingHub.com's YouTube channel.

A Passion for Cycling: Behind-the-Scenes Look with Filmmakers from PDXK Productions

Doug Duguay, owner of BicyclingHub.com, states: "I guarantee that no Internet retailer of cycling clothing knows the product as in depth as we do. For us, training and product knowledge is a priority."

12,000 Riders and 1+ Million Miles in 30 Days: 2011 Commuter Challenge sets new record

With a 68.3% commuter rate, 85 trips to and fro work and 1522.4 miles logged amongst its 7 employees, BicyclingHub.com was delighted to learn we ranked 14th out of 323 businesses in our category in the Bicycle Transportation Alliance's annual Bike Commuter Challenge.

Hosted every September since 1995, workers in Oregon and SW Washington have competed to see who can bike to work more in 30 days. Individuals register on their workplace’s team, log their bike commutes online, and at the end of the month the BTA does the math and honors the winning companies.

Kevin "squishing" Mt. Hood while showing off the cycling love

"[Commuting by] bike is still the best way to travel…Beats sitting in the car, no matter how far or short you've got to travel," BicyclingHub staff member and "professional commuter" Kevin Langton states. "Beats taking the bus, too--and I always get a seat."

Langton can opt to take short route--which is 20 minutes and 4 miles--or, on days it's nice out and/or cares to stretch his legs, he extends his commute to take the scenic way home. That extra hour or two "gives you a little more exercise, or turns it into a training ride for a couple of hours...Fighting into the wind, hills or flat: it's all there for you, any time you want it."

According to the BTA, in 2011, 1452 workplaces and 12,063 riders participated in the Challenge, logging a total 1,372,619 miles biked. More than 2,000 participants identified themselves as new bike commuters, making 2011 a banner year for the program. With new online features to track the miles, form Leagues and issue challenges to would-be competitors, as well as weekly prize drawings and discounts at participating shops, the Commuter Challenge does a great job inspiring and motivating people to go by bike.

Mail delivery by bike: BicyclingHub staff member Adrian Richardson
tests just how much mail hisBlack Star cargo bag can really hold

Zak Kovalcik, a track racer in BicyclingHub's shipping department, lives car-free and commutes year-round. "I've only ever been a bike commuter, so I don't have much to compare it against…but it definitely beats taking the bus," he remarks. "Plus, it's a good way to wake up. When you get to work, you're already energized and ready to go, instead of still being asleep."

As a competitive cyclist, he feels making daily short trips by bike help with training--especially on "days where I'm tired from training and I don't actually want to ride…It helps get me on my bike and spin my legs."

A majority of BicyclingHub.com staff commute by bike year-round, ensuring the products we sell get rigorous testing (especially our Showers Pass rain gear) and impartial reviews. A League-recognized Bicycle Friendly Business, BicyclingHub.com looks forward to participating in the 2012 Bike Commute Challenge and giving their cohorts a run for their money.

SPRINT TO THE FINISH BUT KEEP THE MIND RACING

By Guest Columnist Maryanne Caruso, a passionate cyclist and PR pro in search of the perfect balance between riding, working and great skin.

Actor turned bike racer Mark-Paul Gosselaar once said, “I think racing and riding are two different elements of cycling. You either want to or not depending on what you want to get out of it.”

I can relate.

Call it a mid-life crisis; call it Fabian fever, Armstrong adrenaline, Leipheimer lunacy or whatever you want. My love of cycling and possibly a stroke of insanity got the best of me when I decided to participate in New Jersey Bicycle Association’s (NJBA) Cat 4 Women’s Cup Series, which includes Criteriums, Road Races and Time Trials. With Category 4 being the entry field for women, this series is designed to give riders like me the opportunity to identify the types of races you like and may dislike about road racing.

A few races into the 2011 amateur road season and the experiences are proving to be much more of a dose of harsh reality than a rise to glory. Granted, I never expected podium finishes but to Gosselaar’s point you have to dig deep to understand what you want to achieve through racing. The first thing you’ll find out is that while the strength, endurance and speed you’ve built on group rides will serve as a foundation, you’re about to enter a different sphere in the universe of cycling.

So far I crashed out of my first Criterium and tanked the following week in a Time Trial primarily because it never occurred to me that the Eddy Class (no aero equipment) permits an open field. Next was the Tour of Colts Neck, a circuit race with a field of 25 Cat 4 women. No crashes this time and I didn’t come in last but my finish was far from any level of greatness. Nothing like sprinting for 21st place. Awesome! (eye roll)

At this point there was a fine line between continuing the series and burning my race license. Never one to walk away, I have resolved to a mental state of patience, persistence and determination to continue and push me physically through hard training rides and racing. NOTE: mental state. That’s what’s important now.

Being a new racer can be humbling but it will thicken your skin and you’ll need this barrier to help resist thought processes that can break you down. Most experienced racers can attest that your first few seasons are for gaining experience and nurturing the ability to build strategic instincts. As a new racer, you should also be prepared to take what may seem like a failure and turn it into a “what do I need to do differently next time?” lesson. This is also how you build the mental toughness necessary to keep going back for more, which is the only way to become a stronger, faster and more strategic cyclist.

Make sure you give yourself a pat on the back by looking at the big picture and recognizing the hard work you’ve put into making improvements over an extended period of time. A year ago I wasn’t close to riding at the level I’m at right now, let alone attempt racing. I attribute my development to joining Montclair Cyclists, a performance-based team that prides itself it rider development programs. One example is our biannual Time Trial. Our spring event was last week and I shaved two minutes off from the fall. While I know I still have a long way to go and a several bad habits to break (like gear mashing), a personal best is always a good boost of confidence. Savor it.

Most importantly, remember that cycling should be the FUN part of your life no matter how lofty your goals may be. For the time being I am enjoying my attempt at racing and learning a lot about this beautiful sport. Not to mention I’ve made some amazing friends in the process.

I would be irresponsible to end this post without addressing the true risks of bike racing. You’re usually in a close pack holding an aggressive pace with cyclists you don’t normally ride with. If you race enough, there is a good chance you will experience a crash. Often times, this is out of your control. When racing, make vigilance and safety part of your strategy. Health and safety always comes first.

And remember the toughest, most hard-fought moments are the most inspiring and motivating because that’s when you see results.

For more inspirational tales of mental toughness, visit Maryanne's Blog, BlueRubyRider.

Bicycle Commuting: Benefits and Ways to Get Rolling

Part III of a Three-Part Series

In Part I of our series on bicycle commuting, we introduced some real-life commuters across the country and how they got started, what inspires them to keep going, and how they make it work. In Part II, we addressed some of the challenges of bicycle commuting, and how individuals were able to overcome obstacles and roadblocks so that they might travel on two wheels rather than four. In our final installation, we've collected testimonials on some of the benefits one can reap from bicycle commuting, and a few suggested ways to get rolling.

Bicycle Benefits

As previously mentioned in Part II, the key to getting more everyday individuals and families on bikes is to make cycling safe, accessible and convenient. Utilizing a bike for short trips (be it to work, school, the library or supermarket for a carton of milk) equates to improved health, reduction in congestion and heavy traffic volumes, and a noticeable savings in your wallet.

Adrian Ortiz of San Diego, CA summarizes: "I really like riding to work...I’m exercising, I get to enjoy the weather, I have my dog and I get to challenge my body to go up big hills and sprint to the next light. It’s better than the treadmill and I've actually lost weight."

Randy Rocheleau is committed to riding 36 miles round-trip from Albany to Watervliet, NY at least 3 days a week. "The main thing is the physical benefit: I get miles in that way." [When queried, he said he's stopped keeping track.] 3 days a week commuting = 108 miles per week for Rocheleau, plus two days a week doing group rides with the local cycling club and two days a week mountain biking. With that cycling regime, it's no wonder he's able to drop men half his age and enjoy fully-loaded, self-supported bicycle tours with his wife on his Surly Long Haul trucker.

Paul Moore waxes eloquently on the ways bike commuting can be workable AND enjoyable.

Here's what I love about my commute:

1) "I get lots of guilt-free training time in (I have a six-year-old son, and on weekends, every hour I spend riding is an hour I'm not spending with him). Commuting gives me a chance to ride while he's still sleeping."

2). "I'm simultaneously doing the "right" thing for my body and the environment. And BOTH make me feel GREAT!"

3) "Maybe--just maybe--others will see me and begin to see the bicycle as a viable alternative to their cars. I'm visible proof that one doesn't have to be Lance Armstrong or Superman to commute long distances to work."

4) "I leave my house at 5:30, well before rush hour. I pretty much have the streets and roads to myself. I see some of the same people every ride, and judging from the waves and smiles I get, I know at least some of them recognize me. I think I have become--in some small way--a part of their daily routines."

5) "I get to see the sun rise over the Sierra Nevada every morning and, depending on the time of year, I get to see it set, too. From my bike. On the same day."

6) "My commute, although almost perfectly flat, isn't boring; I pass a broad spectrum of sights, sounds, and smells...from very urban to very rural, then vice-versa coming home. From Starbucks to strawberry fields, Dairy Queens to dairy farms, and Orchard Supply Hardware stores to blossoming orange and almond orchards."

7) "There is no better way to wake up in the morning than riding my bike to work; and there's no better way to shrug off the stress and strains from work than riding my bike home. I can leave school with a million things grating on my mind, and by the time I get home, I've replaced them all with thoughts of a hot shower, some food, and some time well-spent with my wife and son. The days on which I drive just aren't the same."

Chris De Farcut, an avid commuter and part of the cycle club Peloton Charity Shield in Perth, Australia, reflects on his personal journey: "My commute started out as a means to an end, to get fit, and sell a car. Along the way I’ve: lost 6kg (1 stone), got my cholesterol and blood pressure in check (and a resting pulse of 48!), met some great people, formed a cycling club and successfully petitioned local government for all new roads to have wide road shoulders. When I’m having a tough day on the bike, I remind myself of these.

"When I started riding 2 years ago, the distances and experiences I’m having now would have been unthinkable. Riding long distances is no longer hard, or a duty. I enjoy my weekend competitive challenges amongst friends but it is no longer my main driving force. As my fitness and strength have improved, there is now an indefinable sensory connectedness between man and machine. It feels like a moving meditation of is timelessness where you no longer focus on the distance to be traveled. The power of your own body is translated to the fluid motion of the bike. The Japanese have a phrase for it: ‘Jinbai Itai’, Horse & Rider as one."

Ways to Get Rolling
Some tips and practical suggestions to make your efforts to go by bike roll a little smoother.

Whether to Weather the Weather

You know the old Norwegian saying, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing?" Randy Rocheleau suggests you invest in some good rain gear---jackets that offer windblock protection and are both waterproof and breathable, such as the Showers Pass Elite 2.0 also help combat the cold weather. Other favorite cold-weather gear on his list includes Pearl Izumi Amfib tights and Lake winter MTB boots. "Having a technical outfit took away any excuses for not riding," he says. "[What gets me out the door is] my commitment to it. it's like qutting smoking; it's a commitment to yourself. It's no different than stating you were going to go gym 3 days week. Okay, it's Wednesday, I'm riding, so I dress appropriately for the weather."

Take Advantage of the Bicycle Commuter Act

According to the League of American Bicyclists, "The Bicycle Commuter Act is a simple, equitable solution to put cyclists on the same footing as people who receive qualified transportation benefits for taking transit or driving (or parking, actually) their cars to and from work. 

Any employer, if they chose to do so, may provide a reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee in conjunction with their commute to work by bike. Please note, that unlike the other qualified transportation fringe benefits, a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement benefit cannot be funded through employee pre-tax income, nor can an employee receive both the transit and bicycle QTF in the same month." For more information, consult Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision: Frequently Asked Questions.

Make your workplace a Bicycle-Friendly Business

Does your workplace have bike racks or secure bike parking? On-site showers or changing facilities? Provide maps, resources, or otherwise encourage bicycle commuting? If so, they should consider applying to the League's Bicycle-Friendly Business Program. If not: encourage your workplace to apply. The checklist of what's needed and technical assistance and suggestions on how to get there may prove invaluable in increasing productivity, elevated moods and overall health of their employees, while cutting down on expensive parking spots and sick days.

Other suggestions by Momentum Magazine, March-April 2011:

1. Start slow.
Don't try to travel far distances by bike right off the bat. Take a trip to the nearest convenience store or a friend's place and work your way up from there.

2. Bike sharing.
May cities have bike share programs -- such as Montreal, Denver and Minneapolis -- that you can take advantage of for making small trips around the city.

3. Get a lift.

Integrating cycling and public transit systems allow you to place your bike on buses and light rail systems. If you live far away from transit and your final destination, you might also consider putting your bike in the trunk or on a rack, driving part of the way and cycling the rest.

4. Choosing the right ride.
There are many different bikes on the market, each suited to a different purpose and riding style. The best way to enjoy your ride is to invest in a bike that meets your needs. Options include:

* City bikes
* Folding bikes
* E-Bikes
*Cargo bikes

5. Proximity.

Living a bike lifestyle might also mean looking for a place near to where you work, shop and play. Finding a home within 5 kilometers of the places you frequent the most is ideal.

6. Accessories.

Enhance your commute by adding the right equipment to your bike, such as panniers, racks, baskets, clothing that is comfortable and stylish to ride in, lights and ergonomic grips.

Bob Palkon, at AT&T systems worker in Joliet, IL who rides 25 miles each way to his work-issued service truck, sums it up nicely: "I just feel better! Plain and simple! Riding reduces the stress of the day. I don't need as much medicine to keep my blood sugar under control. It is good for me. It doesn't even take too much time away from my family. Realistically it takes away about 1.25 hrs out out my time with them. the 2hrs in the morning is time I would just be sleeping and the additional hour is the difference between the drive and the ride home.

"I think, for me anyway, the reward comes from the accomplishment itself. The idea that riding to work becomes routine, providing all the benefit that come with it freely and without charge."

Bicycle Commuting; or, 101 Reasons to Go by Bike

Part I in a Three-Part Series

How did you get to work today? If it was by bike, foot, or a combination of one or both with public transit), chances are you arrived at your destination a little more alert, a little more energized, and a bit less harried from sitting in rush-hour gridlock. The best part? You can carry this sense of freedom with you whenever you choose.

Photo, left: with his voluminous Black Star Cycling Bag, BicyclingHub.com employee and dedicated bicycle commuter Adrian Richardson can haul just about anything...including 10 lbs. of packages to the post office for prompt delivery!)

"You don't have to bike daily to be a commuter cyclist. If you use a bike every time it makes sense to use a bike, then you're a commuter cyclist," says Sandra Looft of Simply Bike.

"I never feel like I'm going to work in the morning; that's why I ride. I just feel like I'm going out for a bike ride," notes Randy Rocheleau, a commuter and recreational cyclist who resides in Albany, NY. An 18 mile trip each way, he leaves the house at 6AM and enjoys the peaceful and serene moments on the sections of the Mohawk-Hudson bike path he utilizes during his daily commute. "One of the things I notice [bike commuting] is being at one with nature so early in the morning, and seeing the deer, fox, and skullers out on the river."

Morning sunrise on the Hudson River, January 10, 2011. Photo by Randy Rocheleau. Entitled: "This is why I ride my bicycle to work." (Side note: Susy, a friend a his, commented: "Beautiful. You know, you can see it from the car too! " Rocheleau ‎responded: "Not the same... I can't stop every ten feet in a car, well I could, but the others might not like it.")

Patti Randolph, who lives in Houston, Texas, takes the team approach to multi-modal transit. "My husband and I work less than a mile apart. On pretty days, he will take me to my school with my bike in the back of his truck. He drops me and my bike off at my school and I ride my trail bike home - about 5 miles. I try and do this about 3 days a week, if not more. I ride on all city streets, mostly major streets. I love it, and my students enjoy seeing me leave on my bike!"

Fellow educator Paul Moore in Fresno, California teaches at a high school 25 miles from his home in a small town about 15 miles west of the outer edge of the city. Logging 50 miles per day, two or three days per week in winter, and three or four in the warmer months, Moore observes, "The 100-200 miles I commute each week are excellent preparation for my weekend rides, which typically involve climbs in the foothills and mountains to the east."

Photo, left: Paul Moore on the fixed gear he uses mostly for commuting: "cheap, reliable, simple to maintain."

How it started: "I had been getting an occasional ride to work in a colleague's truck--with my bike in the back so I could ride it home later in the day--for several years, when one day, a student asked: 'Mr. Moore? Do you ride your bike all the way from Fresno...BOTH ways?' I replied that, no, I only rode home, because to ride both ways would involve getting up--when? I paused. I was forced to confront the truth: it was only a matter of getting up an hour earlier. Suddenly, I felt inspired. The Chinese say that the longest journey begins with a single step. I set my alarm. I headed out the door in the darkness (with lights, of course) for the first time a few years ago, a feeling of uncertainty threatening to send me back to the comfort of my warm bed. As soon as I turned the corner of my street, however, I knew I was onto something good. More than 100 commutes later, I am positively HOOKED!"

Bob Palkon started bicycle commuting to work in Joliet, IL primarily as "a reaction to when gas prices reached $4.00 a gallon. I have been riding for most of my life. Both for recreation and exercise, and thought it would be a great idea to add the benefit of saving money too. On average, I use about 15 gallons of fuel per week, so that's about $45-50 dollars saved if I ride every day, maybe even more soon. More important than that though is the intangible cost savings. I am diabetic. Exercise is HUGE in fighting this disease! I am able to save of the cost of some medicine that I don't have to take. Health insurance companies don't have to pay for as much treatment either. This might be a stretch, but since riding is environmentally responsible, I am doing my part to save the cost of recovering our planet."

Want company on your two-wheeled travels about town? Adrian Ortiz prefers the four-legged variety. "I attached a milk crate on the back of my On-Way Raleigh fixed gear so I can bring my 20-pound dog named Ferris to work. I have the ability to bring Ferris to work and thought, 'I hope you’re cool in traffic.' He didn’t respond so I figured he was fine with it.

"I am in sales so I have to have my car during the day. To solve this, I commute about 2-3 times a week. I drive to work, bike home and back to work then step and repeat. I used to be really worried about odor and sweat using wipes, cologne and pollyana’ing in the bathroom at work. It all just felt like I was swirling everything on my body. Then I just told myself that commuting is cool and if someone asked why I smelled, it’s something to talk about. So now I just get to work, cool off and change. Since then I’ve only been asked how I lost so much weight."

It's one thing to venture out on your bike when it's a sunny 72 degrees and your route is designated bike paths and low-volume surface roads. But what about commuting when Mother Nature, poor roadway designs and the convenience of the single-occupancy motor vehicle might tempt us to do otherwise? Stay tuned for Part II of our Bicycle Commuting Series on challenges and overcoming obstacles.

Sue Butler Takes on the World

Back in the U.S. with stitches in her side and a hunger in her belly, Butler talks candidly about riding, racing, and pursuing your dreams

“It was like a punch in the gut. The funny thing was, while sobbing in the ambulance, my first thought was about everyone else. Everyone who supported me to get there and how I let them down. It really wasn't about me. It was somewhat unbelievable. I think I was in shock for a while. I have never crashed so hard that it took me out of a race. So, I was bummed. Pissed…I hate being hurt, but I am also thankful that it wasn't worse. I could have broken my hip or bones and then I would have had a nice extended stay in Sankt Wendel [Germany]. That would have been bad.” ~Sue Butler on the course-altering crash that ended her bid for a 2011 World Cyclocross Champion title

Of course, if Butler were a practical soul, she never would have been there in the first place. Reflecting back on her decision to quit her full-time job as a guidance counselor with the Portland Public Schools in 2005 at age 33 and strike out to become a professional mountain-bike racer, Butler candidly admits, “I was crazy to think I could do it. I had no history of racing. I don’t know what I was thinking…all of a sudden I was going to quit my job and pretend to be a racer? “

There aren’t many instances in life when our significant other reminds us of our advancing years that the conversation ends well. However, in Butler’s case, it proved to be just the push she needed. “My husband [Tim] said, ‘You know what? You’re not getting any younger. You’re fast and you’re good. You won’t know unless you try. You won’t know unless you give it your 100% and see if you can do it. The worst thing is going to happen: you’re going to try it, you’re going to suck, and you’re going back to your job. BIG DEAL.’ At least you know, and you’re not going to sit in that office ten years from now and think, God, I had an opportunity, I could’ve been a professional mountain-bike racer…I didn’t want to have to say WHAT IF. I had this opportunity and I didn’t take it and now I’m miserable. Man, I should’ve done it when I could.”

With that spirit of determined ferocity and ambitious optimism, Butler set out on her chosen path. Temporarily waylaid by a skiing-related knee surgery the following February, a short 5 months later she won the 2006 National Mountain Bike Championships, 35-39 Expert division, in Sonoma, CA. What had seemed like a setback at the time turned out to be a blessing in disguise: “If I had turned pro [that year] I never would have been able to win a national championship at that level. It was such a huge accomplishment after going through all that rehab.” From there, she went on to win the 2006 TransRockies Challenge with Barenaked Cannondale team member Anna Vacca, and began “dabbling” in other endurance-challenging events such as the Salt Lake City U100 (100 mile MTB race), the Canadian Masters World Championships and, of course, cyclocross.

WHY CYCLOCROSS?

When asked to pinpoint her favorite discipline, Butler and fellow racer Wendy Sims agree: “I like riding my MTB the best but I LOVE racing cross. It’s finite; you know how long it’s going to be: 40 minutes of pain. You can suffer for 40 minutes. You can put your body in that discomfort for that long.

“There is some strategy in it; it’s technically challenging enough, but you know it’s going to be over soon. [The course is] a proscribed thing; you go over and over again so you can improve your lines each time you ride it. And you can pre-ride, so you can kind of know what you’re getting yourself into. You’re racing twice in a weekend most of the time, so if you really have a bad race on Saturday, you can do something different and improve it on Sunday. ‘What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently?’ Most of the time [with mountain-bike racing] it’s ‘one and done.’ And if I really screw up a cross a race on Saturday I can try and do something different on Sunday and say, okay, that worked."

Representing Hudz-Subaru for the 2010-2011 cross season, Butler set--and reached--some pretty ambitious goals for herself this year, including podium finishes at the USGP in Portland, Cyclocross Nationals in Bend, and qualifying for 2011 World Championships. Done, done, and done. Plagued with asthma and health issues and unable to compete at Worlds the year prior, she was determined to come back this season more competitive than ever. Despite the unfortunately-timed crash in St. Wendel, Butler is able to take a more macroscopic view of her overall accomplishments. “I knew I was on the right track in Vegas when I made that front group, even though I didn't quite have the fitness to stay there. Then in Madison on the second day, I found myself on the podium at the USGP. As the schedule went, I was unable to be in Louisville and then got sick for the next round in Colorado, but then in Portland on the first day, I accomplished my goal.

“It was good to be back. So, although the season didn't really go 'as planned,' with a sinus infection taking me out for a few weeks, it was good. Something to build on and improve for next year. As for my proudest moment, I have to say that making that podium in Wisconsin with my family all there was pretty cool. My mom is pretty cute about all this. And my 15 year old niece was impressed. That is hard to do. But podium in Portland in front of the home crowd was almost as sweet.”

HOW TO RIDE LIKE A PRO

Winning races as diverse as the High Cascade 100 MTB Race, short track and cross country OBRA Championships, and 40 minute ‘cross suffer-fests, you’d think Butler must have been born the uber-fast and furious pro with a VO2 Max that rivals Lance Armstrong’s. Not so, says Butler. “It’s taken years on some of those trails to be able to clear; it didn’t start overnight. I remember walking thing that I don’t even think about now. [Being teased] ‘I remember when you couldn’t hop a log’; in Forest Park I could not get over a little 6” bridge—I didn’t know how to get my bike over it. “

What were the tools that unlocked it for her?

“Determination. I want to be able to do it. And I know it’s possible. You see other people do it. And I think that’s important: knowing it’s possible. All those sections that I can ride now: After the first time I did them, I’ve never NOT done them again. Because you know what? Now I can. But it took riding someone behind that did it fine and then you know it’s possible and you can do it yourself. So I always ride with people that are better than me. That’s how I got faster; that’s how I got better technically.

"Doing the BC Bike Race improved my skills amazingly technically-wise because the trails up there were difficult and it was scary and there were things I would not have ridden on a joyride; but racing, you don’t have a choice. And I think racing has made me a better rider and a better athlete because it puts you in a position where you don’t have a choice.”

When asked whether not having a choice might put a rider in a potentially dangerous position with un-alterable consequences, Butler pauses for a moment before responding: “Adrenaline is an amazing thing; yes and no. But I think it allows us to accomplish things we don’t think we’re capable of…You know, you’ve got to ride within your skill abilities …I have the fear of riding over skinnies and little bridges—I’m freaked out by it. Well, singletrack’s only that wide. Well, I can ride that, why can’t I ride [this]? I mean, it’s stupid. I should be able to ride it. And guess what? If I was racing, and you want to beat the people behind you, and you have a partner in front of you riding it, then are you going to walk it? NO! You’re going to ride it. It’s amazing the things you can ride when you’re following someone that’s good and skilled. It’s pretty inspiring.”

On overcoming fear:

“Even for me I have to get past that [fear of crashing] because 99% of the time you’re going to be fine. So you really can’t focus on that slight, slight, slight chance that something bad is going to happen. You don’t want to live your life out of that fear; fear is one of those emotions that will paralyze you forever and it will not let you continue to let you do what you love. “ Showing off the well-earned battle scars along her elbow after opening up her arm three times in one season, she continues. “Yeah, it’s ugly and it reminds me of those crashes…and makes you laugh too. I don’t even think about it now. I LOVE going downhill on my MTB; I LOVE rocks and just rooty stuff.”

Her best advice: “Practice makes perfect; hone those skills, so you can be confident in going down something. If you’re going to be scared you’re going to be walking a lot. I HATE walking my bike. My objective is to get better and get over those things b/c I really don’t want to walk my bike…I love riding it, and I love the challenge of it! I think that’s why I keep doing it.” Another skill set that’s served Butler well in both the cross-country mountain bike and cyclocross arenas? Her ability to re-set and go. “You’ve got to be able to do that [re-set] and not let things like that stay in your head and totally plague you. Because you won’t do well [otherwise].

“I remember the first year I went to Worlds, at the USGP Portland 2007. The race was horrible; bad; not a good day. I was plagued with mechanicals, it was muddy…shaking and freezing cold. I was so determined to do well. Bad bad bad…I was sitting in the Tahoe shaking crying sobbing –okay it’s a race why am I crying”? -- It was so emotional because I was ready to kill it and I didn’t. I was like, 'There goes my chance to go to Worlds and I really screwed it up.’ It wasn’t my fault; I couldn’t have done anything differently. But I reset, went to Kansas got 6th at nationals and ended up going to Worlds. You have to always be determined; you should never give up you shouldn’t write off your chances.”

A “Late Bloomer”

With a race career and backstory this impressive, and elite-level results no one can argue with, it’s dismaying to learn Butler’s biggest barrier isn’t a 2 foot log in the middle of the trail or a brutal run-up so muddy cyclists are losing their cleats in the brine, but her age. A self-described “late bloomer” to the pro circuit, the chase for sponsorships and professional opportunities has been a difficult quest. Racing first for local bike shop River City Bicycles, Barenaked Cannondale and then Monave Cannondale, Hudz-Subaru picked her up for the 2010-2011 cross season but the future remains unwritten and unknown. “Since I didn’t start racing until so late I still feel I have several good years left in me. There’s something about young development, new and up-and-coming, blah blah blah…But even when I had my first good season, it was impossible. It’s been really hard as someone who’s started late in life to get sponsors. So it’s frustrating.”

Pair that with another national trend: the lack of junior and U23 development programs, sponsorships, equal prize dollars and race opportunities for women—and it’s an uphill battle. Having raced throughout the U.S., Butler comments on the lack of equal participation she sees in the sport: “I don’t think a lot of women are encouraged, and I think a lot of women don’t know that the opportunity exists to race your mountain bike. There’s probably a lot of mountain-bikers out there that have no idea there’s mountain-bike races. I didn’t know that; I had no idea. I think woman are really competitive and I think they can handle pain better, too….[But] women are more practical. They’re not going justify spending money on themselves to race, whereas men are like, ‘whatever; I’m going to go do that race.’ Women are more sensible that way."

Another good reason? Women in their late 20s and mid 30s are starting families, and a different set of priorities come into play. While men can choose to still race, women who are pregnant, nursing or performing childcare duties unfortunately takes some women out of field—at least for a time period.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

At age 38, Butler is competing—and winning—against elite women 10+ years her junior, and can honestly tell you she’s in the best shape of her life. Ironically, in part due to the aforementioned encouragement, funding and priority discrepancies when it comes to the junior development and U23 teams for women, she “I couldn’t have raced as a U23; I couldn’t have afforded it. Unless you have racing in your family; or you have somebody in your life that’s willing to do that for you, how are you going to do it? There’s probably a lot of talent in this country we’re never going to know about because guess what? We’re never going to tap into it. And it IS expensive. We have to be honest about that.”

Despite prior health setbacks, bad crashes and sponsorship issues, Butler remains an optimistic ball of positive energy, radiating her passion for bicycling to everyone she comes into contact with. More than anything, she wants cyclists to eradicate “I can’t” from their vocabularies. “It IS something they can do. They do have the fitness and the ability. We have a tendency to say, 'Oh, I’m not good enough to do that.' Oh no, you are, you definitely are—you just have to want to do it and you have to do it.

"I started really late in life compared to most people but it doesn’t mean you can’t be competitive. It’s hard work, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen…You don’t know it unless you try. I think people have this concept that they’re not good enough. NO, YOU ARE. And unless you go do it, you’re not going to know how you stack up against the rest of the country.”

Hunger in Her Belly

What’s going to keep Butler hungry for more in the upcoming season? “I haven't gotten to where I want to be. Racing in Europe this past year was like a step back. I need to master the starts and have better races over there. And although I did podium at nationals, it wasn't a clean race. Wasn't my best race. I want to have more races next year that I walk away from and say, YES! I gave it my all and got the best result I could have. I didn't have as many of those as I would like to have. I have to fix the little mistakes and there is still lots of room for improvement. I am already looking forward to it.”

“I love riding my bike, “she says simply. “That’s basically what it boils down to. What ever I’m doing, I’m going to make sure I do it 100%

"Everything in bicycling is about evolution:" an interview with Eddy Merckx

Eddy Merckx, five-time winner of the Tour de France and often regarded one of the greatest living cycling legends of all time, was on-hand at Interbike 2010 to debut his new line of 2011 high-end road frames and shake hands of adoring fans from across the globe. BicyclingHub.com staff member Jennifer Clunie met up with him in Las Vegas to discuss some of the most memorable moments of his cycling career, and how we might improve conditions for cyclists in America.

According to the Cycling Hall of Fame, "His record of 525 victories, including 445 as a professional, is untouchable." Nicknamed “The Cannibal” for his insatiable appetite for victories (as well as his ability to destroy rivals), Merckx has won a record 34 Tour de France stage wins, including 6 stages in 1969 and 1972, and 8 stages in 1970 and 1974. Winning each of cycling’s five monuments (Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour of Lombardy) more than twice, for a record of nineteen victories, he also holds the distinction of winning the Giro d'Italia five times and the Vuelta a Espana once for a total of eleven Grand Tour victories.

JC: What was one of your most rewarding experiences in your professional cycling career?

EM: "I think for me I best remember the Tour de France 1969 because it had been 30 years since a Belgian guy won the Tour. So for me it was a kid's dream becoming reality."

JC: What stood out most in '69?

EM: "It was the stage from Luchon to Mourenx and in the break was the yellow jersey 140 KM and I was the leader in the Tour de France and they arrived 8 minutes behind me…7:52 I think."

JC: And what was one most challenging experiences or difficult moments in your career? Something that pushed you beyond the limits?

EM: "In 1977 the stage over Alp d' Huez because I was sick…some food infection….the hardest moment."

JC: How did you overcome that?

EM: "You overcome that because when you're at the Alp d'Huez, the day after you still have a stage to do. You recover at night and that's it."

JC: You still have a job to get done?

EM: "Yeah, it's part of the job."

(pauses, then continues) "The hardest moment--maybe even harder--was the hour record in Mexico in 1972. The hour record, because you long to beat the hour record and after 40 minutes you think you can't make it. You're not putting any more into the legs, things like that. And 40 min to 50 min--boy--it's really hard, hard, hard. Suffering, suffering, and suffering again. Then when 50 minutes you see a hand--the hour record. And then 9, 8, 7…then you beat the hour record and it's surely a great moment. The most suffering hour in my career."

JC: Your son Axel has decided to follow in your footsteps, as best he can, into the pro cycling circuit and has done extremely well. What do you think as a father about him following your footsteps?

EM: "For him it would be very hard, no? But because it's his choice that I tell him, you know, that I was happy my parents had me ride so I cannot say 'you cannot ride.' You have to do what you like to do. But I think he was doing a pretty good career. Because he was a Merckx it was not easy for him. All the riders--especially in the young categories--when you go to the start they'll say, 'Merckx is there. Try to be for him.' They don't say, 'Win the race, but be for Merckx. Beat Merckx.' So for him, it was a lot of pressure, too. but he likes it."

JC: How did you start your son cycling? Family rides?

EM: "He was playing soccer and then sometime in the winter when they have the competition he goes with me on the track in Ghent and rides the bike in Ghent."

JC: How old was he at this time?

EM: "He was 10, 11 years old. but before he also biked with me to school or race bikes."

JC: So he began on the track and said, "I want to be like dad"?

EM: "Yeah. I think the track is a very good school for cycling. I would say it's the best school for cycling."

JC: Bradley Wiggins would agree with you on that. :) When people ask, "How can you possibly win so many different areas of your sport: criteriums, roubaixs, one-day stage races, multi-day events like the Tour?...

EM: "My parents made me." [laugher]

"I think you need talent, but also I worked very hard. And in the big races, yeah, you ride to make a name. And then in the small races the organizers pay you, and also the people coming to watch the criteriums pay for watching the criteriums. I think it's not professional if you only ride so they pay for saying you're winning. So I try to win. That's why I was winning so much. Because in the big races I ride to make a name, and the small races b/c I was paid to do these races."

JC: One of your famous quotes in regards to advice for training and getting fast was: "Ride lots."

EM: "First of all, you need talent. And then you also never have to think that you've arrived. As difficult as it is to arrive to the top, it's more difficult to stay at the top. So I think because that you're on top you cannot think have nowhere to train; you have to train harder because you have more competitors and on the end the other riders going to try--it's tough to win--so you don't lose the race."

JC: Do you think that people should target specific training goals (i.e., if you're a track rider, focus on track, if you're a crit rider, focus on crits) or they should adopt more of your perspective?

EM: "You have to do everything, I think, to be a complete rider. Riders focus more now on circuit races and also stage races but it must be possible to do both; if everybody does the same, you can do it. But now the Tour has become so big most of the riders focus on the Tour de France; but there's only one winner in the Tour de France. It's more pressure on the riders now because more newspapers, more TV channels…it's even harder. Also the material's different--but it's still the hardest sport."

JC: Speaking of materials, tell me about the Eddy Merckx bikes. And if I buy one, am I going to ride as fast as you?

EM: (without hesitation) "No, I don't think so. You cannot ride as fast as me. (shared laughter) Maybe you can be faster--maybe you have more talent than me. I'm not the godfather."

JC: How does that tie into your vision for the future of cycling, your brand and your products?

EM: "Everything is evolution. if you think that my bike that won the world championship in 1964 in Sallanches: the weight was 11 kilo 150. And now the bikes are 6 kilo 800; you cannot go under. so you can understand that they make change; also, the materials change. I think the big change is the click [clipless] pedals and also the changes in the brakes because driving is much easier…In my time, you have to sit down on the seat, change, and then go back, so it's completely different. But for everybody it's the same--so it changes nothing in the result."

JC: Where do you see the future of cycling going, both in the professional circuit and in terms of everyday riding?

EM: "Oh, I think you ride every day. Look at the basketball player; he also plays 2-3 times a week so he can be happy and he can be healthy and he recovers. he lives the sport then; it's the life. You train him that. You recover; you train. So If you get hurt; if you crash; it's possible."

JC: How do you think we can get here in America the same kind of mode shares that we throughout Europe? For example, Amsterdam has a 40% mode share of trips by bike; Denmark is close to 36%.

EM: "It's the work of the people who make the cities; when you make the roads, you have to provide the bike roads [bike lanes] so the people can go safely to work; so the kids can go safely to the school. that's why Netherlands is such an example; because they were put in a long time ago. Also, bikes were the way to go from one point to another point--circulation. In the beginning it was only the cars--big roads, fast; now, the roads become smaller because too many cars, pollution, accidents, things like that. So the speed is reduced. So before you could go as fast as you wanted on the highway; now it's limited . I think it's important that people in government, when they decide to build new roads, that they also think to make bike roads for the kids, also for the people who go to work.

"You don't stay in the queues [of cars]--you can can pass; the psychology; and it's good for your health. I think cycling is the most healthy sport for somebody who gets into a sport because if you go run, you have problems with your knees and things like that: the bike puts the weight of your body on the bike..."

JC: So we need to have complete streets on our roadways here in the US?

EM: Yes.