Wind, rain, and pacelines.

Joshua is a blueberry dynamo in his full rain suit.

Dark skies, and an early morning rain storm inspired many not to show up, but those who did, had a grand time!

Jaden and Bergmann are on radios and keeping all well.

Balmy air on an inner city route made for perfect  conditions.

Beginners and State Champions alike enjoyed a brisk crossing of town. From River City to the Eastmorland Park sign, Portland's inner-SE side was traversed.

Lara Gifford pulls through to the front.

Riding close together, and pulling through on the lee-ward side, then falling back on the windward side were the orders of the day.

Little Joshua and new commuter Lara, had been practicing in the wind just the day before.

They did a great job of demonstrating their power and prowess in the more advanced ride the next day.

Lara and Joshua on Piedmont Bluff the day before.

Speed, unbridled!

Jason Skelton puts the death blow to the race.

Practice is usually a place to implement some of your skill, then return home before you are so tired you get sick. I often ask:

"What do you want to win? Practices or races?"

They usually answer "races!"

Thinking behind all this, is development comes safely when you practice within your abilities. Inevitably, even the conservative trainer finds themselves out on the edges of pain, and traction speed. As strength improves, skill follows suit.

Reasonably it works within the context of commuters who make race goals and rehearse them on the weekends.

Three off the front, shatter the field.

Recently however, the stakes have risen. Real racing has become one of the practice activities, and a go for broke, devil may care ambeance has permeated the scene. A real race peels your skin back and leaves dust where your heart once was.

Recovery takes days.

Out in northern most Portland's Hayden Meadow, Bob Mionskie showed us a two mile loop. Just two miles is palatteable to anyone. But three times in a row, climbing two hundred foot climbs each time, it bites you like a shark.

"On your mark, get set, GO!" are the mystical words that change everything. Now when you a wheel, the party is over. You are toast.

Everything seems to happen quicker when the racing is real.

Educating Joshua

Joshua Morris in the pack.

Development of bicycle racers at Cyclisme has always included a wholistic list of details. Mind body, and spirit all must be given ample attention in the activities Cyclisme cycling programs offer.

Coach Morris has a willing student.

Cindy and Dell debuted on the tandem.

Children are taught to read and write. Youth are expected to coach and mentor, and adults are led to serve the community in the fullness of their skill set. These supra-cycling elements build the team up in a way that is often vexing to an opposing peloton wondering how to come around our lead out.

The Gerwings watch as Elena pursues cycling.

Early this Sunday, our team event was improved by the attendance of our youngest, and most motivated team member, Joshua Morris. We were having something of a homecoming event featuring the visitation of famous members of yesteryear, The Gerwing Family.

Starting with breakfast at GRAVY, the group enjoyed a mega portion breakfast and laughter. Afterward, the group sauntered down to THE FRESH POT. Joshua got his carbon fibre bike out and rode it up and down the sidewalk. Little Elena Gerwing tried to keep up with Joshua on her tiny wooden stride-a-bike.

Preparing to sprin

She was thrilled to be playing on her bike under the adoring gaze of so many cycling fans. Joshua lent his cycling expertise graciously. Elena was all smiles.

Nurturing plants.

After lattes, it was down to Swan Island for speed work. Joining up with Robin Jacobson and Texas Lawton, the group gained enough strength to take on double digit mileage.
One would think when the paceline began to roll in earnest, little Joshua would drop away, but Joshua is not built that way. He is determined to perform well amongst his teammates everytime. Time and time again he came to the back of the pack and renewed his resolve to pull through to the front.

Finding strength and shaping character, Joshua empowers his teachers when they nurture him.