Anything but idle...

Pursuits!

To the trained eye searching, a barren empty concrete bowl fills with meaning. People surround and enter the bowl in a sacred display of all life in miniature. Social nature finds symbolic reflection in the simplicity of banked walls, an easy rolling flat "apron," and a soft grassy yard called "the infield." Simply riding hard alone in one direction becomes a Pursuit.

One may pursue another racer on the other side of the track who pursues them equally. One may pursue glory in the perfection of their form, or the swiftness of their catch. One may pursue enlightenment in their dance with the temporary. It's Hilarious, and it's exciting.

Cyclisme racers gather at a bar where only we hang out. Jake placed the bars location near the back straightaway, and it was suddenly everybody's bag around the plywood roller foundations folks warmed up on.

Our beloved Tillstrom Family presented a member of the original Mojo Squad of GB Cyclisme that came up to build the Kids of b.i.k.e back in '95, Nils Tillstrom and his father Keith. Nils back home after years of working on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, he finally has a moment in Life to race his bike again. Thursday Night Pursuits was a smart place to start.

We can judge by the company we keep there. One luminary face that thrills me is Oliver "Butch" Martin. A young Black Italian in 1967 knew cycling and red sauce, and he knew racism. When he brought that soul of Harlem (see here), to the USCF as National Team Coach in the 1970s, he brought a style to the top unparalleled in in American Cycling history.

Tonight he stands on the infield speaking Italian to me. Interrupted by Colby Wait Moleneux (fasted TT new kid in Oregon)he suddenly pours all of his attention to the possibility of adjusting a bolt, then turns to me and resumes, "allora, questo giorno e'..." as if he had just cut the line to a fish too small to keep. Smiling, he told me about what time it really was in the Seventies. Working with Muhamed Ali in the Cycling Tennis Camp of late Seventies Harlem, Butch Martin is SOLID.


He brings all power to his people and they beat all people in tonight's 3K Pursuit, but Jake. At Cherry Blossom in the biggest wind yet, Colby destroyed the Northwest's whole peloton with shock and awe.

Those Ali sponsored camps in the 1970's are where Ronnie Vails introduced his little brother Nelson Vails. Ronnie's son Emerson raced with Cyclisme in the 90s. Ronnie hosted a brunch put on by Cyclisme in 1999. Nelson came to camp by Cyclisme in 2002.

Butch's older (now pro) protege, Jacob Rathe mentors Jake Hansen.

Life! And the interconnectedness the Lore provides. Our team's Lore connects to other team's lore and we have history.


Suddenly Dey Shaun Lee is getting a huge advantage on Kent Ross. Kent the new phenom, had only ridden a track bike maybe forty five minutes ago. Dey Shaun's new found sprint ability is founded on years of experience. Looking back concerned, Kent squeezes a little more speed out of his legs. Kent's months of training this winter slowly pulled back the advantage. Boys becoming young men tried as hard as they could, then flopped down on the infield in complete exhaustion.

Captain Hansen awarded all the Juniors "Road I.D." socks for their hard work. Jake earned them earlier in the day acting in Bob Mionskie's new film short coming out soon.

Fresh from teaching kids how easy gardening is out in Parkrose, Sandra Clark used an easy gear to pluck Victory like a rose. She was seemingly caught by the BBC Pursuer, then her easy gear spinning like a sewing machine reeled in the win.

Alpenrose Velodrome is amazing. There, after a long day of life, people come to perform a Play where life is condensed into the bottom of a bowl.