July 2025 Top Talk

Relief, Appreciation, Gratitude, Elation and Respect. Those are some of my feelings as I look at Portland Bicycling Club’s 2025 Pioneer Century® in the rearview mirror.

Relief: I’m glad it’s over. It’s a lot of work, a lot of moving parts and invariably. a few little glitches that need a fix.

Appreciation: You, the club members, said you wanted this event and while you didn’t race at me en masse to volunteer, you did step up; and I appreciate all who supported our bicycle club in whatever way you could. Thank you seems insufficient. I’m not going to officially recognize each one by name in this column, but Cindy Bernert-Coppola is providing a list. ✎

Gratitude: I am grateful for you, my cycling friends, who are fun to ride with (play with), but when there’s work to be done, you dig out your work persona and git ‘er done. You brought your skills and abilities and strong, well-toned bodies (from cycling) and made yourselves invaluable. We worked together as club members should for the shared goal of presenting the best bicycle ride of 2025.

Elation: I feel buoyant reminiscing about our successful event, the happy riders, the beautiful routes we shared, and our volunteers who served as the club’s “face” in the best possible way on June 7.

Respect: Again, you volunteers brought your game face on event day! While there was joking around and fun, there was hard work, attentiveness to our guests, the riders, and sacrifice of your own ride (and no doubt several preceding the PIONEER to eke out more time) for the good of the club. I am humbled by you.

And where would we be without our ALL-STARS Cindy Bernert-Coppola and Scott Diamond? Together they formed a mini-dream-team of organization, efficiency, creativity and determination.

Shopping list for 350+ guests? ✅
Fun finish-line feast? ICE CREAM!! ✅
Coveted T-shirt to memorialize Pioneer 2025? ✅
Pickles and pickle juice? A point of contention but… ✅
Wheelchair-bound on event day? NO PROBLEM! ✅

Please take a moment to sit back and appreciate this bit of recognition. A job well done. Success in the form of happy riders. Success in the form of financial benefits for our club. Success in the unification of our club through a common cause and teamwork.

I sincerely thank you all.

Ann Morrow, President

To read the Quick Releases newsletter associated with the July 2025 Top Talk, go to Table of Contents.