Jerry Powell

The 15th came and has gone. The OBRA/MAC Cycling Committee conference did

everything it set out to do. The panel discussion and Q&A session revealed

how spotty the information base is in the Oregon peloton, and that there's

interest in the peloton in improving it.



That finding, by itself, is validation of the conference. There are eighty

or so participants that by Saturday evening had a better technical grasp of

racing and training than they did the day before.



That's completely due to the collegiality and dedication shown by coaches

Houshang Amiri, Jerry Davis, Erik Moen, Kendra Wenzil, Joe Haley, Phil

Claud and Michael Sylvester. These folks really put it out there for all

of us.



No less important to the outcome of the day were the panelists who led us

toward ways, little ones and big ones, to improve our sport. Splinter

Wrenn, Dave Campbell, Candi Murray, David Beede, John Benenate, and Phil

Sanders discussed in panel and in question and answer the role(s) of clubs,

schools, and race organizers in bringing in and developing riders to assure

the future of our sport.



The banquet was packed, Michael Adamson showed us what we sometimes look

like to the rest of the world, no one left hungry.



So thanks once more to Houshang Amiri, Jerry Davis, Erik Moen, Kendra

Wenzil, Joe Haley, Phil Claud, Michael Sylvester, Splinter Wrenn, Dave

Campbell, Candi Murray, David Beede, John Benenate, Phil Sanders, and

Michael Adamson. They wre the ones who made the event memorable.



For those who missed it, it was an opportunity that I hope will be

available from now on. That is, the opportunity to share some basic (and

sometimes detailed) ways to improve ourselves, and to improve our sport.



Jerry