Meet the two Women Currently Heading Up the BicycleAttorney Team Board

“Bike racing can seem very intimidating – no matter the discipline. I recommend finding an ‘ambassador’ – someone who has raced before and can help shepherd you into the experience. And in the absence of someone who can show you the ropes, just remember that every single person out there was at one time new to the sport and each person is probably carrying his or her fair share of worries and concerns.”

Most of you know the Bicycle Attorney Cycling Team, but most of you probably didn’t know this co-ed team is shepherded by two great women. We asked Sarah Eustis and Angharad Porteous a few questions about bikes and bike racing.

How many years have you been racing bikes?
AP: I started racing bikes back in the UK when I was 16. As a youngster, I ran and played golf competitively, but there came a point where I realized these sports weren’t really my jam and I wanted to try something new. My mum bought me an aluminum (!) racing bike and a pair of cleats and took me to the local group ride. Despite being dropped the first time, I was hooked. Within a few months, I was racing a couple of times a week in local road races and time trials.

SE:  I started racing ‘late in life,’ after moving to Oregon when I was 35 years old. I was told about this ‘fun spectator sport’ called cyclocross. So I stopped by a PIR race on sunny, fall day in 2009. There was so much in the way of laughter, heckling, dogs on leashes, kids having fun, grown-ups acting like kids, good food, and beer, that I just knew it was for me. I bought a used ‘cross bike soon after and entered my first race: Barton Park. I was hooked.

What is your favorite discipline of bike racing?
AP: I enjoy road racing the best, as it combines fitness, strategy, and teamwork. It’s hard to beat the feeling of hanging on when the pace hots up, being in a break or battling it out in a sprint. Having said that, I am always filled with excitement when #crossiscoming as these races have such a fun atmosphere where no one seems takes themselves too seriously.

SE: Anything on dirt. I do like the challenge of a road race, though. Different vibe altogether, but fun and a great workout.

What is your favorite regular ride?
AP: The only ride I do regularly do is my daily 10-mile commute from NW Portland to the Nike campus in Beaverton, and back. I’m pretty lucky to have such a fun ride that I get to do every day through the Washington Park Arboretum — plus the “Cured Meats of Fairview” climb kicks my butt every day.

SE: A couple times each spring I do a route that takes me east along the Old Columbia Highway through Troutdale and Springdale, down through the Bull Run Watershed, and then back to PDX along the Springwater Corridor. It’s gorgeous, relatively car-free, and wonderfully hilly. And there are alpacas.

What is your favorite OBRA race?
AP: So many to choose from! I love to climb hills so I would have to say the Ninkrossi CX, St Mary’s Peak, Mount Tabor Series and I loved the new One Horse Road Race this year.

SE: Any ‘cross race that is really wet and muddy. I’m not fast, so when the field is slowed by the less-than-ideal conditions, I do much better. And crashing in mud hurts less.

What is your favorite ride food?
AP: Easy. Chicken strips and a can of Orange Fanta from some middle-of-nowhere gas station on a long ride. Otherwise, I’ll always have a banana or two and a PB sandwich in my back pocket.

SE: Hard-boiled eggs and PB&J. Really long rides: Pepsi & salt and vinegar chips.

How long have you been involved with the Bicycle Attorney team?
AP: I joined the team back in 2014 shortly after moving to Portland from grad school in California. I’d just started work at Nike and one of my colleagues invited me to the team’s Council Crest hill repeats training session. Following the session, we rolled to the pub for beers, so it was quickly apparent I’d found some fellow kindred spirits.

SE: I was invited onto the team in 2010. At that time, there were maybe 4 women on a 60+ person team. We now have nearly 20 women on the team, which is fantastic. I’m so lucky that I can send a text or post to our team forum and immediately have some bad-ass ladies with whom I can ride.

What is your position within the team?
AP: I joined the board in 2016 as the VP and my main responsibility is recruiting new members. We are still looking to grow our women’s racing team, so if there are any relative newbie or experienced racers interested… please feel free to get in touch with me!

SE: I’m currently the president. I was elected VP and served for two years and then elected president last year. I have about 6 more months in the position.

What is your favorite thing about the Bicycle Attorney team?
AP: We are currently an 85-person strong team, most of whom have busy day jobs and just want to have fun racing their bikes. There’s no pressure about achieving results. We are there to support each other over the season whether it’s bringing the team tent to a CX race to some friendly trash talk over beers after a training ride.

SE: People care deeply about riding their bikes but not to the exclusion of relationships. Our team motto really sums up our team experience: “We love to race hard – our team heartbeat is fueled by camaraderie, friendly heckling, and mutual support for racers at all levels in all disciplines.”

I’m a good example: I am in the bottom quartile in terms of winning race results, but the top quartile in terms of enthusiasm and team-centered thinking; and our 85-member team figured that the latter characteristic made for an important presidential quality, which I appreciate.

What advice would you give to any new bike racers reading this?
AP: It’s a steep but fast learning curve! Don’t let yourself feel disheartened as you get started, instead try to see it as a challenge to keep improving week on week. Entering your first race is the biggest hurdle, and takes some serious guts! The OBRA racing community is very supportive and I think I can speak on their behalf when I say that we want to encourage as many newbies as possible to grow our sport. So reach out to fellow racers, team, and officials for advice. There are a number of great newbie friendly races such as PIR, Short Track, and Trophy Cup CX.

SE: Bike racing can seem very intimidating – no matter the discipline. I recommend finding an ‘ambassador’ – someone who has raced before and can help shepherd you into the experience. And in the absence of someone who can show you the ropes, just remember that every single person out there was at one time new to the sport and every person is probably carrying their fair share of worries and concerns. Find joy in the experience – whether it’s the speed, the tactics, or the crashes (dirt, not road), the friendly heckling, or the post-race food and beers – there is joy in it somewhere and you should grab it.