Velocity:
the rate of speed with which something happens; rapidity of action or reaction.
It’s been just a year since I began my “reign of terror” at the helm of Portland Velo and what a year it’s been. The club has experienced some real highs, Monster Cookie, huge Saturday ride turnouts as well as an extremely sad “low”, the loss of our friend and club member, Mr. G.
We’ve proven yet again that no matter what; we’re a club to reckoned with, whether it’s the organization of our rides, our ultra-competitive race team, our variety of routes or just the way we treat each other before, during and after our rides.
Over the past year our club has moved at a very steady and positive “velocity” to arrive at where we are today and here are a few things we’ve accomplished:
- A 30+ member Ride Leader Team complete with team “kits”
- Expanded our “ride library” with over 25 new routes
- Increased club membership by 25%
- Filled two very important positions on our Operations team: Membership co-coordinator and Race team treasurer
- We increased our “club presence” at event rides such as Monster Cookie and Peach Century in dramatic fashion
- We saw attendance at our mid-week rides grow at least 10%
- An on-road safety record that is stellar thanks to everyone
- Unveiled a constantly updated member “slideshow” on our website
There are numerous new things in-store for 2010 including at least two new club sponsors and possibly a third, a new Portland Velo kit design, more group training options pointing to spring and on and on. Also, one huge 2010 goal is to bring back our “club century”…stay tuned for news on this and other possible 2010 club events.
I’ve leaned on numerous members in my first year to help get things done and without them the above items would not of been accomplished. A sincere thanks goes to the following members for not thinking I was crazy with some of the ideas I had and wanted to institute:
· The Portland Velo Operations Team: Mr Lucas, J-Rod, LJ, Traci, Martin, Ty, as well as new members DK and Mr Reg.
· The entire ride leader team with a special thanks to Julie H., Mr Gearing, Mr Stevens, Dan LaVoie, Dana Deardorff, Todd Hubbell and Bob Bigwood.
· Our club supporters: Madison’s and Longbottoms
· And a very special thanks to: Doug and Linda Rennie, Sharon Fekety, Dean and Barb Lee, “V-man” Victor Duong, Marc Altman, Matt D’Elia, and my lovely wife Debra who never tires of hearing me talk about PV, or at least she never acts like she’s tired of hearing about the club.
The past year for me has been a complete pleasure, and I’m very proud to “front” such a cool club full of great people, thanks for the opportunity!
2010 Sponsor announcement:
Portland Velo is very proud to announce Lakeside Bicycles as its newest sponsor for the upcoming 2010 season! Lakeside Bicycles is located at 428 N. State Street in Lake Oswego and is owned by Gordon and Meryl Haber, who are both serious cyclists. Over the past year or so, Lakeside has been kind enough to invite a number of Portland Velo members to their Sunday rides. During this time it became apparent that both entities, Portland Velo and Lakeside Bicycles could benefit from a closer relationship.
Lakeside provides an amazingly high level of customer service both on the retail floor and in the shop, and realizes that every customer holds the same importance to their success, no matter how much money they’re spending. This mentality mirrors the Portland Velo credo of treating each and every rider equally, no matter how experienced or inexperienced they are.
Sponsorships such as this bring an added touch of professionalism to a cycling club as well helping fund and support projects, events and ideas throughout the year.
The following is just a short list of how Lakeside’s sponsorship will benefit Portland Velo members:
· Provide on course mechanics for Portland Velo events
· Lakeside will hold in-store clinics on a variety of cycling topics throughout the year
· Lakeside will provide an “on site” mechanic to perform pre-ride “quick tunes” at numerous Saturday Signature rides
· Lakeside will offer special invitations to members regarding deals on cycling products
And there are many other components to the sponsorship that will be announced over the next few months.
Thanks to Gordon, Meryl and the entire crew at Lakeside Bicycles for their generous and much appreciated support of Portland Velo. I look forward to this being a long-term relationship that both parties find to be mutually beneficial.
KRhea
“on your left”
