Sunday, November 27, 2011

Cyclisme is a good concept...





Rolling Saturday from an avante guard grocery tucked in a south most corner of Portland, Cyclisme cyclists set out on a circuit to Reed that finishes with them sprinting an uphill sprint to the East Moreland Park sign.

Lollygagging loafers laugh while energetic erstwhile leaders yell "clear!"

Daddy and The Badger reigned supreme in every contest.

Maya Bergmann has risen to a place of prominence with her pedaling prowess, and found fast friendship sprinting back up with Haley Guettler, and myself off the back of the pack.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Leg Speed and Prizes!




Trail Blazers of a Cycling path,
the winter Boys and Girls Club kids ride b.i.k.e.
to College or the World Champs,
whichever comes first
in a Wednesday Afterschool "ROLLERS 101" programming piece presented by Bicycles and Ideas for Kid's Empowerment.

It's taught by High School age mentors,
who are led by a crack team of professional
Boys and Girls Clubs of America Staff,
who are led by their boss and ours...
Tiiiiim Siiicoocaannn!!!

(say "Tim Sicocan" in a deep amplified voice like an announcer at a Blazer's game)

Tim is the big guy in the top two photos wearing a checkered shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

B&G kids love to choose cycling class as one of their afterschool activities.
One big reason is the Club Manager gets his kids, and he gets b.i.k.e. and the value of cycling in their lives.

Some kids are very loyal to our cycling curriculum and have attended every class since the beginning almost a year ago. Everyone at the club is kind and welcoming!
Much of the club stops in one time or another.



Many understand what we are offering ( like Lauren, performing the splits in a matching backpack and puffy coat en same by Benjamin Bixby designs) Some kids take their cycling development program very seriously.

Many of them are great athletes already and make some of our yoga stretching or calisthetic strengthening drill seem like well... child's play.

Kids try hard, when in the rain they practice cyclocross on small bikes and slippery sidewalks, or when in the sun we practice full speed criteriums on home made off camber parking lot race tracks.

Indoors they are quizzed about products they see in magazines, places they see in videos, and people from stories they are told. With their hands they use tools to remove parts from old bikes, and with their feet they spin pedals fast as they can.

Kids ride on stationary trainers provided by UPPER ECHELON FITNESS to gain aerobic fitness or anaerobic power! Kids ride to make "The Five Minute Club" or to win their place in the fifteen second "Leg Speed Club."

Some how, some way, they are guaranteed to move, in cycling class.

The youngest kids are not necessarily those learning the most either. In fact, the b.i.k.e. Youth Mentors seem to be going through the greatest transition.

Dey Shaun is a natural at doing this sort of elder peer, teaching work, and Danni though shy, lights up the eyes and hearts of all the little girls the moment she walks into the room.
Danni and Dey Shaun (see photo top) made the announcement at assembly, enticing all the bicycle loving kids, to choose our class.


Keegan and Kent of course are models of focus and self discipline.

It is unanimous, Blazer's Boys and Girls Club is fun, and a good way to learn how to deliver "Benevolence, Good Form, Simplicity and Team."

What's up Cyclisme!