President - Steve Perret LO4-8533

Vice-President - Alan Moberg 584-6490

Secretary - Joan Lister 474-2849 = pe

Treasurer - Steve Newton 048533 565-3 B57

Touring Captain - Jack Williams 627-1931

Racing Captain - Gary Singleton 474-2523 :
Political Captain - Dan Feldhaus SK2-0794

Newsletter - Ruth Weldon 565-2181

Tacoma Wheelman’s Club Newsletter
630 FIR PARK LANE, TACOMA, WA. 98466

JANUARY, 1976

There will be a meeting Thursday, Jan. 8th at Gary Singleton's, 7411 52nd Ave. W. to discuss Jerseys and upcoming races.

We are holding a Daffodil Century, Sunday, April 25th. It is off to a roaring
start with Chairman Bob Branson announcing some key Committee assignments. They
are : Route planning and marking - Jack Williams, Registration - Sue Perret,
Treasurer and L A W Contact - Steve Newton, Communications ~ Lynda Prock, Printing -
Bruce Spong, Publicity - Steve Perret, Patches ~ Jan Wood and Joan Lister and
Sag Wagon - Eldon and Virginia Stratton.
SOUTHWELL'S <
Schwinn Cyclery a A
5408 SOUTH TACOMA WAY
TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98409
GR 2-1374
WE SERVICE ALL MAKES

Horsehead Bay ride, Sunday, Nov. 23. It was raining in Tacoma when we left, but on arriving at the starting point in Olympic Village near Gig Harbor, it was pouring. Ina short time 8 or 9 rather dubious riders had shown up . I think they were fooled by the dry weather at home, the same as I was.

After consultation and the sight of a promising break in the sky, we donned
raingear and plastic bags over our shoes and led by Bob Dahlke, set out in the
downpour. A half mile out, one rider, her raingear evidently inadequate, reported
that she was already soaked and turned back. The rest of us pressed on. A long
downhill run, with stinging raindrops peppering us in the face, reminded me of
our Green River Gorge ride last March 16 when we ran into a heavy snowfall and
ended up covered with snow and riding in an inch or so of the stuff on the
roadway. That was the worst riding condition in the history of bicycling.

Back on the Horsehead Bay road and topping the next hill, Bob Branson had_a— flat. We found a dry spot at a nearby County School and while Bob change is sewup tire, the rest of us stood around munching apples supplied by Dan Feldhaus. Nice man to have along when you're hungry.

On arriving at the thriving metropolis of Horsehead Bay, we met two more club members, Bill Daugherty and Ruth Klopsch, who had decided to brave the rain and go riding. We ate lunch in a shelter at a playground. When I rode onto the cement floor, I slipped and almost took a spill. It was a shuffleboard court and the cement was well waxed! We warned the others as they rode in.

We rode north to near Kopachuck State Park then on back to the parking lot
in Olympic Village. It never did stop raining. There was a steady downpour
all the way, but suprisingly enough no one seemed to mind, and all in all it
was a pretty good ride.

MEETINGS: Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month in the Swasey Library, 7001-6th Ave. at 7:30 PM. Dues are $3.00 per individual, $5.50 per Family. Initiation fee is $1.00. Dues may be mailed to Steve Newton, 630 Fir Park Lane, Tacoma, Wa., 98466, or pay them at any club meeting.

nT OUNTRY Skin
oo” “ ** 9

SALES - SERVICE - REPAIRS
Bike Route Bicycle Shop
9836 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W
Tecoma, WA 98499
504-4353

The 1976 Annual Meeting of the Engine House No. 9 Firewheelers
will be held Sunday, Jan. 11 following the traditional Frostbite
Tour of Tacoma.

This is the third year for the event--making it the oldest regularly-scheduled group bike ride in the United States sponsored by an all-brick tavern built in 1907.

This year’s tour will start at noon and willrun some 50 kilometers (about 30 mi.) thus meeting Firewheeler-sanctioned requirements for a metric “half century." Distances may vary depending on the velocity of the rain. And it will be raining (unless it is snowing, although one year it did both. )

Patches will be available for the first time. Wear pants with
holes in then!

The end of the tour will roughly correspond with the opening of Engine House whereupon adult riders will retire to the meeting and refreshments. (This is the good part.)

NOTE: The Firewheelers is a group of fools so blindly devoted to the virtues of the bicycle that they gladly venture out to let freezing rivulets of rain water trickle down their backs. As an organization, it leaves much to be desired. There are no initiation fees, no dues, no nuthin'. Membership is restricted to persons riding the Frostbite Tour. Members over 21 are eligible to join the annual re-election of Win Anderson as president. The unanimously-elected president then serves the refreshments, mainly consisting of hot mulled wine, under the rules of time- honored tradition.

Unfortunately bureaucracy has come to the Firewheelers. If you plan to ride, please read and sign the following releases

I pledge to obey the rules of the road and agree not to hold
Engine House No. 9 or any of its principals liable for any loss
or injury I may sustain during any Engine House Firewheeler
activity.

Dated. Signed.