Art in the 503

Portland Art Museum, was a smash hit! 

Not the pedestrian incident kind. Everyone made it safe.

We ate Vietnamese, cruised the PSU campus, and were well received by a full compliment of Portland Art Museum staff. Our Portland Art Museum Docent, Gail stood at the front door looking through the huge glass wall. Shaking with vibrant joy when she saw us.

We are called Bicycles and Ideas for Kids' Empowerment. Everyone from Catering, to Security, knew it was us as we approached.

chess champion imitates art

What does perfect programming look like? 

Seeing the rain wait while cycling youth and their parents depart down hill at the top of Campus, only to arrive to many, many welcoming eyes and hands at the glass front facade of the new Portland Art Museum,  that's pretty good.

After a Vietnamese supper at PHO 503, the ride down through Portland State University on the Park Blocks was thrilling. Rush hour car traffic boiled all around us, but we glided among the elms, perpendicular to the gridlock.

Short waits at cross walks already populated with radical college students, were easy for big eyed little girls on training wheels.

Fast rolling older boys led by CYCLISME cycling veteran junior girl and superior rider,  Mikiah Richey,  led a strict game of follow the leader down the hill.  

On a whole other level, was recent college grad and new b.i.k.e. Development Officer, Rispa Vranka Wafula who ran ahead on foot, protecting, and directing, she was always ready to block children back from falling into the traffic.

Mikiah however, never let anyone get even close. She circled every work of art in the South Park Blocks, sweeping her transfixed followers back up the hill again and again before they rolled near the street.

Meanwhile, a big man in a wheelchair and three parent's on bikes, with two more parents on foot chased and sometimes blocked, Clay and Jefferson Streets in a natural way.

Eating out together, building our team dream together, then rolling out to our beautiful destination, where we were warmly received, 

had us shifting focus from challenges to opportunities. We practiced authenticity, transparency, and empathy, and adopted personalized approaches on the fly.

Please help b.i.k.e. continue to offer this 

"Museum Strategy" visiting more museums around Oregon and Washington,

as a way of building up our resiliency with developmental assets (see here), and bridging the growing opportunity gap (please see here) in modern America this Giving Season , 

by 

DONATING 

to our 501c3 

BICYCLES and IDEAS for KID'S EMPOWERMENT 

Elante loves his new skull cap
given to him
by RCB

(please see here)

Train in the rain.

" Up hill is
Standing Practice.

Downhill is Legspeed Camp."

Such were the words blaring from the radio.

On the road, the cyclists rode in two columns around the fairly flat neighborhoods of Cully and Concordia, but as they trained, in the cold torrential rain, it seemed the land had increasingly more hill to it. Inclines began to require standing, or shifting down. The downhill invited everyone to spin!

Eventually, the team pulled off into THE PARK (see here) to ride at an individual self regulated speed for a while. Then moms got a chance to ride at an adult even tempo for a bit. Practicing the draft.

Soon it was time to form up and roll out onto the street again.

Once out there on the streets of Cully again, the intensity increased. Usually Elante and Cynthia set tempo at the front when the team was traveling in two columns, but others like Matrim and Mattie would come to lead the team through fast downhill lefts or right hand turns.

In the rain, this long sustained focus and tempo demanded it's due price from these intrepid athletes. In the end, they groaned with fatigue, but sprinted full speed down the last straight.

Symbiotic Strategy

Braving cold and rain, Team Zane.

Matrim lapping the field.

Our little cycling team nicknamed "Team Zane,

is forming up at the same moment world cycling communities are enjoying a radical shift toward greater  popularity. 

All over Portland, Coach Sam Balto's BIKE BUS is transforming happy youth into vigorous morning people. Attracting crowds at early morning bike commutes to school, his model is feeding the soul of modern civilization.

Our coaches, see growth and
are quantifying it longitudinally.

Around the world now, parents on cargo bikes, neighbors blocking traffic, and fired up students sing songs and fly down the road. Everywhere they go, they are fostering a leviathan of hope in their community, parading by their fans every week.

One pedal stroke at a time, students are linking civic duty, academic rigor, parental/teacher/community relations, personal fitness, and more, by simply participating in their school's BIKE BUS.

Meanwhile, coach Balto amplifies his recipe for success by speaking at transportation, education, and environmental symposiums, all over the world 

Moreover, Coach Balto has taken to inviting world famous music celebrities, like Justin Timberlake (see here), and Benson Boone (see here) and they came. That's juice!

Meanwhile, Oregon Bicycle Racing enjoys a powerful peloton of hard driving athletes. NW Youth cycling programs are high quality. 

To be a competitive cycling program in the NW, the racing program's coaching staff need to level up to teams filled with National Champions.

Oregon and Washington Racing cycling Teams like EPIC, Horner, Booger, and Cascadia are sophisticated training programs, producing National Caliber athletes.

Circles allow resting without getting dropped,

Born in this modern day, our b.i.k.e. cyclists who usually train in playgrounds, parks, and parking lots, are starting to get an idea now that they are becoming a real cycling team. 

They are learning that cycling teams must train to ride long, elongate high speed intervals, and sprint.  

Our team is starting to realize our exercises make sense as a way
to improve.

Lapping the field is something everyone  says they want to do, but few can. "Pick me!" they say.  Meanwhile, riding in the pack is complained about as " this is too slow."

It's cold. After an hour or so, everyone wants to rest, or make a change. Letting them off the hook for the day leads them to sprint off in every direction. For at least another half hour they ride, but then one of the coaches comes out with a soccer ball and another half hour passes bye.

It's a hilariously dramatic dichotomy that leaves everyone tired and hungry for more of the corned beef brisket soup being heated up, and served with Bulgarian focaccia on the table under the roof. 

There is something special here, but we wonder what if five kids from the world of Bike Bus were to join our team? Who would we be then?

 Our young racers need rain coats, gloves, and tights. Please think of supporting the kids of b.i.k.e. (here)

Art for Speed?

Cycle to Art!

On Saturday, a small contingent set forth to practice riding on the open road.

Meeting deep in the SE FOPO neighborhood at the Atomic Ranch, athletes practiced bench press and lat pulls while improving their winter clothing outfit.    

Upon the call to "roll out!" the intrepid cyclists proceeded commuting to Mt. Scott Community Center where art awaited. (see why here)

Veteran cyclist Mikaya Richey led us on the bikes, and in the gallery. Mikaya is a
student of art and our Docent for the day.

Ignite the heart and train the body. Balance of mind body spirit is any good coaches' quest. 

But to train, you must train in good times and bad times. You must train properly, but in that journey, most train improperly once and a while. Beginners might train wrong until they get it right. A good coach enables the transition.

To grow and learn without injury is a blessing to give thanks for. Grace for yourself to make mistakes, leads to benevolence toward others when they are in their process to growth as well. Building a team gets easier when everyone enjoys the process.

If we work together as a small group, we become a team. In cycling, individuals use leg speed and power to participate. They get into groups and use the draft. We train in groups on the open road to simulate the racing challenges, like weather, and terrain, and EACH OTHER.

Trips to other destinations like Portland Art Museum are coming this winter. To support warm clothes, bikes, and restaurant meals on rides, please donate (here)

Mothers make TEAM work

Team Zane clicks into shape.

Under a roof, in the rain, a cycling family group clearly became a team.

Supported by their attentive coaching staff, they munched snacks, and heard news of their newly won Portland Art Museum tickets by their Development Director, Rispa Wambalaba. (pictured 2nd from right)

Master of prep, and facilitation.

Always in motion behind the team is her father Kennedy, placing cones on the course and picking beautiful tasty apples from the known nearby tree, as this was the school he raised his daughters in.

Support coaches are everywhere in this team's periphery, as many watch their progress and take periodic action on their behalf. Media was organized by Hall of Fame baseball coach, Mike Clopton and his pal Nick Krupke at KPTV 12. 

Volunteerism is rewarded, helmets, safety, and Nurses Talk Tough mentality, is nurtured by
Rick E.  

Mothers lead two columns.

Tech cycling is directed and protected by the Lore of Cyclisme, Tim Tebo Bergmann, Nils Liason Not, Mike Mann, Denzel Fitness, Yalchin Steady, and Sarah Joy.

By the end of the Bus Station Cycling Salon (see here) in the formidable heat of August, the children were engaged in building a cycling team, but after having shared in the televised glory 

Mother Mattie has been here before.

(see here) of their young coach, Oregon Ironman and National Champion, Zane Moore, their  lights really went on.  

They wanted more. They wanted more championship.

Digging in after Zane went off to college, they began to race each other, and form up cycling team formations. 

First, "Two Columns" was the call for action. 

Before the moms got on their bicycles, the children were diligent and glorious in their efforts, but hilariously chaotic. Training safely on grass on the last warm day of summer, they emulated a comedy skit from the Monty Python Show of the 1970's.

Reaching their parental limit, agonizing in supportive observation, mothers took to bicycles, and formed up two columns.  Suddenly, the troupe looked like a squad.  Movement was orderly and exciting. 

Big brothers' names were called out to attack and lap the field. Little sister chased, always under the watchful eye of mothers, friends, and coaches.

Bicycles and Ideas for Kids' Empowerment offer snacks, bikes, helmets and more, free of charge to their participants. b.i.k.e. is a 501c3 Please support our effort this giving season (here)
 

Imagine a Land...

Where HEROISM, and GRACE, like that on display at the alley by the intersection of Church Street and West Division formed a more perfect union.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."              Abraham Lincoln

Caring for a community, is the work of unsung heroes. When the Robb Family was called by their elder brother Andra, they came.  Andra operates a small landscaping company called Dra's 5 Star Yard Care. 

Improvement has been the news of the month as Dra acquired his home and one down the block at auction in a last minute bid.

Happy and relieved, many members of the community were ready to celebrate the community leader's success.

Celebration was is in the air.

Now, on this day, everyone on the Division end of the Church street alley would feel the excitement too. It was a party. Well, a work party.

Led by the Robb Family, workers rolled up their sleeves to improve the yards of their neighbors. 

Pot holes in the alley were filled with sand from Maske's Organic Gardening.

Upon request, furniture and garbage was loaded into DP Dumpster Containers, and in no time the container was filled.

Lunch was served to everyone who walked by.

Kindness and strength were the Robb family personified, and on display at the service of their neighbors along their little alley way in Decatur, Illinois. 

Phoenix Rising

When one fights the good fight, life just shows them the way.

Team Major Taylor Pole Position

Perhaps while minding their own business, one gets the call. This sort of call, when answered, takes one to a great adventure. 

Steve Ballinger is just this sort of hero.  He believes in cycling, and uses his gifts to help others.

Racing the "Lil 5" Photo by Tiny Washington

Steve Ballinger is a true son of Illinois. His great, great, great grandfather James was farming, and manufacturing candles when Lincoln was still running around in bare feet. (see here)

Ballinger started racing his bicycle in Illinois when he was a youth. Later he went on to race in the Little 500 at Indiana University. He was thrilled to be called by Courtney Bishop (click on photo to full size and see Bishop on the right) of the Major Taylor Scholarship Foundation to go to college, and race for Team Major Taylor.

Back in Lincoln Land

While at Indiana University, Mr. Ballinger had a great team experience.  The unity and community of the Major Taylor Scholarship environment was tight knit.

An IU administrator named Tim Stockton, (on the left in picture at top) was a powerful influence on the young Ballinger. 

"Stockton was a rock of gentle kindness and wisdom," Ballinger said. "He was always calm. I've never seen him lose his cool once."

Steve went to on to marry and have two sons, and work in optometry, tech, and even oil. But the path took a toll on his mental health. He went through some tough times.

A divorce, and a stint of homelessness were just part of the saga. Bicycling was repeatedly the buoyant life saver, and emotional regulator.

Train Station

"It's cheaper than therapy! Ballinger laments when asked about the cost of his gravel bike.

When Ballinger heard Bicycles and Ideas for Kids' Empowerment was developing a sanctuary for cycling intellectuals in Decatur Illinois, he thought maybe this space was for him.

When this caller called out of the blue, and invited him to come work for no pay, and stay in a dilapidated old building, so he could give all of himself to build a grass roots cycling academy in Illinois, Steve Ballinger was unafraid, and on the first AMTRAK train smokin!

Now he chases the ground details for upcoming renditions of Lincoln Land, a 200k farm road cycling event, as well as the creation of  a Church Street Cycling Program, a Grass track, and the annual precursor to Lincoln Land:

Pick up the Block  Saturday, September 13th, 2025.