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 BIKE BUS.

Spreading the word at transportation, education, and environmental symposiums all over the world Balto amplifies his recipe for success.

Moreover, he has taken to inviting music celebrities known all over the world, like Justin Timberlake (see here), and Benson Boone (see here)

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 the modern, 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?

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.

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.