Dude Says,

Happy Holidays

Enjoy.

Nice

Box o' kits

Jersey

Bibs, arm warmers and vest

Who's Frame?

I'll bet nobody will guess it.

B-Roy

Dang....

Rain

Yippee....I love the rain....

On a positive note, Marcroft Cycles Team kits will be arriving Friday.

Stuff

Watch this. It's a 20 minute time commitment that's worth it.

Story of Stuff

Nice Weather

What a difference one week makes. Last week, hurricane force winds and buckets of rain. Now we have plenty of sunshine and lots of great roads to ride. You gotta love the Pacific Nothhwest.

BikeHugger Shows the Luv

Andrew Martin at Bikehugger did an little write up on Marcroft Cycles.

Love it!

Stating the Obvious

It's nasty out. Those poor souls racing the USGP this weekend.

Thanks to Damian and Pat for flying the Marcroft Cycles flag for me at the race. You two are much more manly than I.

2008 NAHBS

I'm in. Check the list.

Should be good.

Now Hiring

As most of you have seen, my website is lame. The time has come to build a new one.

If there's anyone out there that would be interested is building a sharp website for me, please speak up. Compensation can be negotiated. Cash, frames, old tubes, eternal gratitude.

Show Time

I rolled up to the OBCA show on Sunday with Cory. They had a killer turn out, 1800 people through the doors. It was shoulder to shoulder people.

Customer Satisfaction

Another satisfied customer

Thanks for the nice right up but not so much for that picture of me...

Update: Fall 2007

Time for a Marcroft Cycles update.

Racing: Damian is getting things together at the Crusades with a 15th place finish in the A's in Astoria. Pat's taken a week off from racing in the B's. He'll be looking to take it a little easier on the first lap next weekend at Barton park. As for me....I'm really enjoying this nice weather with some nice long slow rides on the weekends with a little mountain biking mixed in. I'm also getting into the gym for a little weight lifting and core strengthening. I need to see 1400+watts on the SRM this year to come around the CMG juggernaut

Team: I'm finalizing the roster for team Marcroft Cycles this week. It's going to be awesome! Kit orders will go out next week and I should be sporting shiny fresh duds by January.

Biz: Here's the biggie, I'm going to display at the NAHB in Portland. It's a big deal for Marcroft Cycles, with the chance to really gain some local exposure and a chance to be noticed on a world scale. So I really need to design a booth concept that is classy and showcases who I am and what I'm doing.

If it all goes right 2008 should be a growth year for Marcroft Cycles.

Now check this out

Beauty

Time to ride.

My Demise

White is Right

Damian's bike turned out crisp.


Here's a good read Pez.

Watch This!

Whether you think global warming is for real or not this guy breaks it down to risk managment. Take a few minutes to watch.

How It All Ends - Watch more free videos
Just be happy it's not another sining cat.

D-Nutz

Damian's bike is almost there.

Front triangle is together and the chainstays are fitted. It goes to the painter next week.

New Shoes

In an effort to mix up my winter training, I bought some running shoes. Shin splints and sore legs here I come....yippee.

Cat's Out of the Bag

'Nuff said.

The Bulldog

It didn't take Pat long to start sticking it to the B's field. At the Hood River Cyclocross Classic Pat overcame a terrible starting spot to take the win with apparent ease.
Go!
Now I'm not gonna say it was all the bikes doing but I'm sure it helped.
Let's see how things go during the Cross Crusade.

Smashed

I rode the Monster Peach today with some yahoos from town. I'm wrecked. I wish I was using my SRM today. I'm sure I would have seen a new kJ high.

Made to be Broken

I know I promised not to post any more youtube but it's Beck and damn good. At least the song rules, the video was done be an ameteur.

In Marcroft Cycles news, it looks like Damian Schmitt will be rolling deep on a Marcroft cross frame this season. Awesome!

Hit the Wall

I managed to build 75% of a 50 foot retaining wall this weekend. There's a 2 foot diameter root standing in the way of completing the final 25%. Nothing a little chainsaw work can't fix. I hope I don't lose a toe in the process.

I've given myself this month to get all the house work that I've been putting off for the last 9 months done. Problem is I'm also riding big miles on the weekends. Nothing like 4 hours of saddle time before working in the yard.

Sneak Peak

Here's a look at the ad I'm putting in CX Magazine. It's simple but I'm a simple guy.

PDX Builders Busy....

And I have nothing to do. How can that be? Most of the builders 35 miles north have more work than they can shake a stick at and I am down to building myself more bikes. There's not a lot of profit in those bike ya know.

How can this be? I'm I not cool enough, do my bikes suck, am I not sexy enough on the bike? Maybe, no way and only in the winter. What can I do to generate some business? Should I turn my blog into a shameless promotion machine? Nah. Perhaps more youtube postings would help?

One thing I could do is a little advertising. That's why I'm putting an ad in CX Magazine. They anticipate distributing 2,500 copies of their first issue and I'll have a half page ad in there. I better up the minutes on my phone because it should be ringing off the hook!

Weekend Rides

Good rides on both Saturday and Sunday. You'd think I was training for something.

Enough Already

I need to get out more but the YouTube has got me.

In Marcroft Cycles news. I'm working on a bike design that will be very cool once complete. Marcroftanium and G.C.P.

Say What?

Not much to say so check this out.

Linked

I didn't even have to ask. Excellent.

Plus One Lap

How I Prep For CycloCross

I give my bike to someone else to race on. It's really a lot easier that way.

Look for Pat Kudszus riding a ti Marcroft this season. He's pretty motivated for results this season. The bike certainly won't be the issue. Good luck!

Header Meaning

I was looking at my blog discription and got to wondering how I'm fairing at all the things that I set out to tackle when I started blogging.
'make it into the world of elite cycling?' Define 'make it.' I got my cat 2 upgrade but since then it's been a strugle to maintain any fitness at that level. I'm still working on that.
'start a custom frame business?' It's started, not thriving. I have built some sweet bikes but it's been a strugle to get the sales generated. It's not a big deal since I'm pretty busy with life in general. Which brings me to my final point of the blog.
'maintain a normal life outside of cycling?' I'd have to say that since dudes arrival in March life has been anything but normal....I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Tomeke

I wish I had a techno song named after me.

I'm not one to get star struck by famous people but I'll have to admit Tom Boonen is someone that I would definatly get an autograph from and try to get a picture with. If it's true that he's going to be at the Tour of Cali, I might have to go for a couple stages.

To the Makers of....

Spiderman 3.

You owe me 2 hours and 12 minutes of my life back.

1994

Beastie Boys
Ill Communication

Best band in the universe.

Seriously...

WTF

I hope this is the last year for cheaters. If you cheat you're going to get caught.

Hellz Yeah!

Crit racing in the rain! I can't wait! Seriously, didn't it rain enough this winter to warrant a rain free two months in the summer.

Anyway, this is where I'll be this afternoon trying to keep the K-Man behind me. Although I hope he's not sporting that helmet cam, all my sexy in frame might over load the processor.

Co-Motion Crit

Le Tour

Team Milram is posting their Edge data for every stage of the tour.

Check it out.

It's dope (not the performance inhancing kind either)

That's Hot

It's sooo warm right now I think I need to wear a DeFeet Un-D-Shirt to keep the swass under control.

It's all of 3 days post Faiview Circuit race....my legs are still hurting.

Here's a couple pictures I shot after we got set up.


More event photos can be found here Bill's Eye Photgraphy

What a great event. I think it will be even larger next year.

Sick!

Here's a shot of Kurt's SS all built up. It should net some wins this year.

Pimped

Marcroft Cycles gets a mention on BikeHugger. Awesome! They're right too, get your orders in for a sweet ass rain bike soon. With only 3 months before the rain hits there's no time to waste.

General Update

Here's a general update on my favorite subject...me.
(Ordered of importance in life)
Dude: He's doing great. I can't believe it's been almost 4 months since he's entered our lives. Here's a recent picture.

K$ (AKA: Mom): She's also doing great. She's back to working part time at two jobs Today's Hair Salon and SCR Management and taking care of Dude. I don't know how she does it.
Racing/Training: Let's just say there is no faking the funk racing at this level. If I'm not on top of my game I'm getting my ass handed to me. There's still plenty of time to get my ducks in a row before the seasons done.
Marcroft Cycles: Ti is in the works. I'm going to get a couple bikes done for display at the Crusades this year. That and I've had multiple inquires recently about rain bikes. It's getting to be that time of year you know.

Peace

Hot Damn!

Greg Oden is coming to Portland and Zach is going to New York. Kevin Pritchard is a saint.

Good Day 'Eh?

Guess where I'm off to:

Too Much Data

Me and bike computers have a fickle relationship. Most of the time I hate running one and other times I absolutely have to use one. Guess which phase I'm in now...

Now what do I do with this much information?

No Way

Mt Tabor= another DNF.
I'm going deeper now, into a funk I haven't been in in a while....

Followed by some

Singled Out

Check out Kurt "The Hurt's" new frame.

New Training Regime

After getting smoked at the rehersal RR yesterday, this is what I'll be consuming at an alarming rate over the next few weeks.

and

It should do my fitness wonders.

Not Really Much

I don't have much to blog about today but I figured I better post just to post. Although I'm getting a SS MTB back from the painter tomorrow so I'll post a picture or two when I get it.

Fitness-B-Gone

Here's how you eliminate any good fitness you might have.

Sit yo ass in front of the No-Friend-O. Luckily I only did it for an afternoon so I didn't get sucked in too much.
God damn it, I love me some video games though.

Dopes

Everyone doping or at least admitting that they doped, but only a little or maybe a lot. Even P-Dogg is admitting something.

I told dude that Zabel admitted using EPO in the past. He was pissed. Zabel, really? If he did it then the entire pro peloton is on the juice.


K-Man has been having quite a string of bad luck on the bike. Dog bites, busted tires getting his ass beat by me. The list goes on. Lets hope his luck changes soon....we'll not necessarily the last part.

I'm actually going to race this weekend.

Shocking, I know. Silverton road race is tomorrow. I train out there all the time, although I doubt that will keep me from getting thrashed by all the pros in town getting preped for Mt Hood.

Team Milram/Garmin

As you may or may not know, I work for Garmin and we are a sponsor of Team Milram. All the riders are equiped with Edge 305s. and they are racing the Giro right now. As time and internet access permit they are posting the stages to Motion Based. Good stuff, check it out.

The Odd Rolls Again

There's a nice article about how my good buddy Todd 'The Odd' Duncan is recovering from being run over by a car.

Final Push

It just goes to show you that running IS bad for you.

Lab Rat

Last Saturday I visited Herriott Sports Performance in Seattle to do a little testing. In all it was a good experience, the results where positive and somewhat expected; I'm a stud.

Now I can track my progress with follow up tests.

Basso.

Gee, I didn't see that coming, whatever. At least he was kind enough to leave Disco before the S hit the fan. What an ass. Do you think Riis knew about Ivan working with Funetes when he let him go last year from CSC? Hmmmm. It takes a doper to know a doper.

I better news, LWV alum Tom Peterson won a stage at the Gila this weekend. This is what he had to say about his first win.
"I've been waiting for this one for a while. I kept thinking it was just around the corner," he said. "I mean, I should be winning stuff because I'm fast, but I haven't been. I hope this is the first of many to come."
Classy. I like that kind of attitude.

Deal

I've got two brand new Reynolds Ouzo Pro forks that I need to sell. 1.125" Carbon steerer, non integrated, 43mm rake. Never been on a frame, still in the box. $215 ea.

I will consider some fitness in trade for the forks. I seem to be lacking in that department at the moment.

Pruitt take note, dude is none too happy about the quality and styling of eyewear avaliable to infants. Perhaps he can get dialed in on a pair of 'Baby Raptors'

Mother Ship Has Called

Monday I'm flying back to Kansas to visit the main office. It'll be a short trip, I'll be back Wednesday afternoon. Which is good since I don't think I can really be away from dude for much longer than that.

Besides what is there to do in Kansas? I've heard that the have good BBQ. Lovely...beef, that sounds delicious....gag. I've heard the riding is unique. I think ever bike that is sold comes with areo bars attatched. I'm not even taking my bike anyway. At least everyone I talk to at the facility in Kansas is super cool. Maybe they can clue me into why they like to live there.

Here's a picture of dude. He's growing soooo fast.

Bad Prank

I wouldn't normally post this but it's pretty funny.


Wife Prank Call Back Fires - Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Ouch...

Wednesday Night Worlds

There's a local ride in town that's been in existense since the dawn of time, The Wednesday Night World Championships. Basically a race paced ride that uses routes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Each route will use up exactly all the daylight remaining in the day and will be on roads that are vertually car free.

Anyway, today's ride had a first for me. While cresting a hill, I'm 3 wheels back, #2 rider hits the deck. I plow into him and over the bars I go. I land on my hands and nothing else hits the ground. Total damage to me, cut on my finger. Of course I'm too awesome to be riding in gloves so I thank my lucky stars that it's only one cut and not road rash all over my palms. Other guy...broken bars, banged up saddle, ripped jersey and some road rash on his back.

Let's hope that's the only crash of the year.

Fastest Builder

Who is the fastest on their own creation....I think I might be.

John Slawta is pretty quick. I rode with him in Ashland last June on the Mountian Lakes Challenge. He was gasing it pretty hard up Green Springs Hwy. I will say that it was the first climb of a 100+ miler for me. He only did 50ish and didn't drop me.

Sacha is pretty good with the cyclocross. I'm never in shape at that time of year, but if I did race it would be in th A's.

Ira Ryan does crazy long races. The longest I've ridden on one day is 155 miles. In any 'normal' road race i think I'd have him covered.

Mike D still rides when he's not up to his eyeballs in orders so that's not even fair.

Maybe we should have an exhibition race to decide it. Or maybe I should just sell some more bikes and not worry about who's fastest.

Hipster Bingo

Best played in downtown PDX or any Cross Crusade after party.

PoC

Piece of Cake...not really. I did manage to finish somewhere in the top half. Nothing like coming to a complete stop 300 meters before the finish line. They really should move the finish for that race.

Did I mention I might be going to the Sea Monkey. I'll find out next week. They always need help in the Garmin booth and since I'm the only cat 2 in the company it makes sense for me to be involed with the product line....right?

One Down

One more to go.

Ice Breakah was today and it was a family deal as Kristin and Noah were in tow. Dude is pretty portable and Kristin needed to get out of the house for a bit. As far as the race it's self went...Rubicon TTT off the front. Oh well, they basically get paid to race their bikes.

Tomorrow will be a whole lot of fun as Piece of Cake will be on the agenda. That race stinks...no hills, not even an overpass. Rumor has it Donald will be there sporting those tri-spokes he loves so much. That'll make the race much more relaxing I'm sure, nothing like announcing to the entire field what you plan on doing. Of course, lately, there seems to be nothing anyone can do about it anyway.

Marcroft Cycles T-Shirt

I'm going to order up some t-shirts to use as promotional tools. I'll be able to schwag out all the local shops and give me something to wear that isn't 6 years old.

Sleep Deprived Racing

Today was Banana Belt #3. When I showed up everyone was congratulating me on the arrival of the dude. I really didn't do much of the work to get him here but what the heck I'll take some of the glory. Thanks everyone.

The race went a little something like this. Pain, this isn't so bad, pain, not so bad, pain, not so bad....anyway you get the picture. I finished with the main bunch and thought about getting into position to sprint but thought otherwise. Some day soon I'm going to full on sprint in a 1,2 race. I think I can hold my own. BTW Zach won...barring a DQ'd.

Per request, here's another picture of dude.

Take That Suckas!

To all the degative Nellies out there that said 'As soon as the baby comes your riding days are done.' I give you this....4 days post birth and I'm heading out for a ride.

The Future of US Cycling

Introducing Noah Reed Marcroft. 8lb 1oz of fury. Bringing the pain in 2022.
Mom and baby are doing fantastic.

Thanks for reading

Not Yet...

So K$ is ready for the dude to arrive, as she's starting to get a tad uncomfortable. I say a 'tad' because as we're doing last minute mods to the dude’s room she's still moving the crib, rearranging drawers and such without much difficulty. Not to mention she's still working and the due date is the 8th.

As for my readiness....I'm taking a 'we'll deal with it as it comes stance.'

Whoa Now!

For some reason the rumor is floating around that JZA of RaceOregon is me. It's not. Tell your friends.

The site sure is getting people worked up though. It's going to make racing this year just a little more exciting.

O Money

So Omer put his name out there in a big way today. Nothing like spending 140km off the front to make your sponsors happy.

Way to go ace, I knew you had it in you. Just think, you were only 40kms from a custom bike from yours truly.

First Race Ever??

You'd think so by how wicked nervous I am. It's silly how shaky I am this morning, I'm trying to get my mind off this race by designing some bikes but it's not working. My head keeps coming back to this race and it's not even that important of an event.

I probably shouldn't have looked at the pre-registered athletes. Doug O is signed up which means he'll probably have Evan in tow. I've heard that the entire CMG squad will be there hell bent on smacking everyone around. We'll have at least 5 guys which means we'll need to be represted in every break or we get to bring it back. Today will be a bunch of suffering followed be another healthy dose of suffering. I can't believe I wanted this.

At least I'm not in Omer's shoes...first race of the year being to biggest race of the year for the squad. Ouch.

Piece of Pie

The OBRA road season is starting up this weekend. I think I'm ready for it...I don't know. I'm sure I' have more fitness than last year but I'm not sure. My wieght is about that same as it was 12 months ago but I can't seem to recall. I am positive of one thing, I really want to race. It's been too long of an 'off-season.'

Marcroft Cycles is chill'n. Ready to take orders. Any orders for bikes. If you need a bike let me know. My books are empty. I can fit you right in.....Actually it might be a good thing I'm not booked up with orders. With the dude coming soon, I don't think anyone is interested in a sleep deprived frame.

1980...

Like everyone else, I had a Big Wheel that I ripped around the neighborhood on. I also did a little racing on it. I won the Low Rider Rally two years in a row. I was five years old and it was my first taste of competition, leg powered competition at that!

I knew there were some photos of the race floating around my parents house and wouldn't you know it they found 'em. Check it out, 1980.


That's me in the blonde hair, #32 jersey and black big wheel. It even had rear wheel farings on it. I remember being super nervous before that heat race. I thought everyone was way bigger than me....story of my life really.


The start of a heat race. I'm second in from the right. That's my old man behind me. He looks pretty stoked about the start I got.


Little Brian wasn't aware of the proper finishline pose. Both hands in the air, pointing to the heavens.

2007 Race Bike

I got my new bike together yesterday and rode it today. Owning a frame shop means never getting to many mile on one bike.

It's made from Columbus Spirit steel. I have my wheels for training on it right now but it'll have carbons on it soon enough. I'm going to leave it set-up for racing only. It should be under the UCI weight limit. I'll get a scale on it soon.

2007 OBRA Digits

I received my OBRA membership in the mail today. After racing for 4 years with the same lame ass number, 565, I got a new number with my upgrade. 118. Funny because that's my goal wieght for the year too.

Rain Bike

Here are some pictures of a rain bike I did. Of course the fenders are off and the cross tires are on. I guess it's a multi-purpose bike too.

Been Known to Shred

I started off, back in the day, racing mountian bikes. It's been about 10 years since I've got a new frame, well that's about to change. Check it out, it's not quite done but pretty close. I'm going to pair this frame with a 100mm White Bros fork or a 100mm Fox fork. It should be a plush ride.



BTW, it's fricking cold out.

Count Down...

So the clock is counting down, only a month before the season starts and less than 2 months before 'the dude' arrives. Let's just say I'm less than prepared for either one.

My fitness is starting to come around but since this will be my first year in the 2's I have very little idea of what to expect. Sure it's going to hurt and be difficult, but by how much? All I can do is continue with my coaches plan and go out and race when the time comes.

As far as prepping for the babies arrival, we are set as far as physical belongings. It's the mental prep that I'm falling behind on. I'm a little freaked out about being responible for another life. Babies are so fragile in body and mind, how am I going to keep from hurting either one? At least I'm not doing this alone. I'm so grateful to have Kristin, she's going to make a great mother. With luck, she'll be able to mask any of my short comings as a father.

Quit Taunting...

I've been riding a lot lately, in the rain, in the cold, in the cold rain, and it sucks. Saturday was no different, cold and rainy. I was hanging out waiting for the 10:00 ride to start and my phone beeps at me, I got a text message. Cool, so off comes one pair of gloves, then the other pair. I undo my rain cape, fish around in my pockets to find my phone. Who is it....ODogg, he says, "Weather's great in Cali, have a good ride." Bastard! I don't want to hear it. Whatever, sure he get's nice weather to ride in but he also get's his ass beat on a regular basis by Levi. Who wants that? Not me...welll maybe for just a week or two.

Anyway, I have just the thing to beat the nasty NW winter weather. Here's some shoots of a rain bike I just got back from the powder-coater.





We got the bike built up last week in time to ride in the rain this weekend. I'll get some shots on the finished product soon.

Live and Direct

After some doing Marcroft Cycles has a web presence. Of course it's not the best, but it's a start. I have some tweaks I need to do to give the site a sharper look and of course get a better gallery added.