From the Archives: Los Portales Grand Prix, 1993...

I give you two, yes 2, mediocre photos (or worse) for the price of one this month. Both are from the Los Portales Grand Prix of 1993, and clearly show that, once I embraced the digital era there was no going back to film, if for no other reason than to take great quantities of shots and quickly delete those not up to standards. Neither photo possesses even a smidgen of quality - pretty much devoid of both action and interest. But, I use them here to highlight a certain characteristic of the local race scene. Community. In the wake of the passing of Chris Contreras, community is a term we have heard frequently lately and, of course, refers to the bond created around a common interest within an otherwise diverse group of individuals. The people shown in these two photos are people I knew / know due to our shared passion for bikes and racing. That cycling has created another strand of complexity in the tapestry of my life is without question. It is a strand on which rivalries and friendships are founded, it is a strand that led, and continues to lead, to exploration and adventure, a strand which allows me to continue pushing the bounds of what is possible. The tapestries of our lives would be far less vivid if not for the local community of cyclists we have chosen to immerse ourselves within. I am thankful to you all, for enriching my life in many small ways each time we ride.

Willie (I once knew your last name) i think he may have

crashed and broke a collarbone in this race

supporting your friends by hanging around to watch - Luis, Enrique, Gisele, Roberto, et al