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After a Vietnamese supper, the ride down through Portland State University on the Park Blocks was thrilling.
Led by cycling veteran Mikiah Richey, the big boys played follow the leader down hill. Meanwhile college grad and new Development Officer Rispa Vranka ran ahead on foot, and blocked children back from going into traffic.
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!
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. They groaned with fatigue, but sprinted full speed in the end.
