President - Steve Perret LO4-6533
Vice-President - Alan Mobere 759-1527
Secretary - Joan Ready Lister 474-2849
Treasurer ~ Steve Newton, S65=3859
Touring Captain - Jack Williams 627-1931
Racing Captain ~ Gary Singleton 474-3523
Political Captain - Dan Feldhaus SK2-0749
Newsletter - Ruth Weldon §652181

Tacoma Wheelman’s Club Newsletter
634 North Howard, Tacoma, Wa. 98406

FEBRUARY, 1976

The Ferry from Seattle leaves at 6:30, 7:50, and 8:30 AM. The fee for bicycles is 60¢. Registration fee is $2.50 if you want a patch, or you may ride for $1:50 and not get a paten. Lunch will not be provided, but restuarants will be open in Winslow and Lynwood. Or, carry your own lunch.

RACING ~ The Tacoma Wheelman'’s Racing Team is putting together a monthly time
trial series for everyone. ‘The first trials will be held Saturday, Feb. 7th at
10:30 AM at Point Defiance Park Five Mile Drive. Time trials are not competitive.
Watch your bicycling improve throughout the year.

There will be a meeting for racers at Gary Singleton's, 7411 52nd Ave. W
on Monday, Feb. 9th at 7 PM.

REMINDER : Our own First Annual Daffodil Century will be held April 25th in the daffodil valley starting at Orting. Bob Branson is Chairman.

SOUTHWELL’'S
Schwinn Cyclery
$408 SOUTH TACOMA WAY
TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98409
GR 21374
WE SERVICE ALL MAKES

Firewheeler’s Ride, Sun., Jan 11, 1976. The morning was cold and windy
with a threat of rain or rain and snow mixed, but that didn't deter 28 riders
from showing up at Engine House No. 9 for the 3rd Annual Firewheelers Frostbite
Tour of Tacoma.

After a couple rounds of picture taking, we all took off. The racers with Gary and Happy were soon out of sight. ‘The rest of us at amore sensible pace rode past Gallagher's Gulch, through brick paved alleys and then with a quick change of pace, made a terrifying roll down Carr street to the waterfront.

Dodging rocks, glass and debris, we made our way down the Bayshore bike path. At the first railroad tracks, Kathy Elton took a spill and Joan Lister, riding behind her, landed on top of her, Neither was badly hurt but Kathy had a skinned knee and Joan a wrenched neck which Dan Feldhaus quickly snapped pack into place. Good man to have along when someone gets hurt!

This is about the fourth wreck I've seen at railroad tracks on a club ride.
The word from here is to hit the tracks at right angles and keep a firm grip on
the handlebars.

Near the Smelter tunnel entrance, we took a bypass on Waterview street. This is a hill that is guranteed to kill off most bike riders. and pretty well discourage those left. It has actually been proposed as a bike route around the smelter. 1 think I'l] take my chances in the tunnel anytime.

By the time we started around the Five Mile Drive at Point Defiance, it started to rain. Most of the riders had been foresighted enough to carry rain gear which they swiftly donned. The rest got soaked, as it poured down the rest _~ of the ride. I saw Ray Sumner and Eldon Stratton pumping up 4 flat tire near Camp six. The McKinley Ave. loop was dropped and we all returned to Engine House No. 9 where hot wine, coffee and popcorn were served by a roaring fire in an old wood stove. in spite of the lousy weather everyone seemed to have a good time. The credit goes to Win Anderson. Thanks @ lot and do it again Win!

Meetings: Third Wednesday each month.
Places Swasey Library, 7001 6th Ave.
Timer 7:30 PM
Dues: $3.50 per individual

$5.50 per family

$1.00 Initiation fee

“em SemOoRy,
TOTAL uynos CoGE
— “SUeTTTTA yoer .
- : SALES - SERVICE . REPAIRS

Bho Route Gleycle Shop
8638 Gravotty Lake Or, S.W.
Tecoma, WA 99499
S44

Fort Lewis ride, Jan. 25, 1976, Stewart Crook leading. Ten riders, most of
whoom rode out from town, met at Steilacoom City. The morning was rather brisk,
just right for a nice bike ride. :

On arriving at DuPont, someone suggested that we take an extra trip to
Nisqually. I was interested in this as I didn't know how to get to Olympia on a
bicycle without going on the freeway. The route led down a winding dirt and sand
road, not ideal, but perfectly rideable, Then we rode through a golf course and
on to the pavement of the old Pacific Highway, not Old 99, wit the old road that
winds down the hill to Nisqually and through Lacey to Olympia.

On crossing the Nisqually river, T asked an Indian child where Frank's Landing was. She pointed downstream and said it was just around the next bend in the river. Very interesting, I always wanted to know just where it was.

After lunch at the VIP Resturant on the flats, we headed back, On the way up
the hill, Bob Branson found an open end wrench and Stewart Crook found an allen
wrench. which they gleefully waved under my nose. I dont know how they expect me
to find anything when the road is picked clean of everything of any value before
I even get there.

At the Golf Course, Frank Weldon claimed to know another route back. IL followed rather dubiously, and immediately saw that my fears were not unfounded, as we went down a narrow, brush lined, gravel strewn path beside the railroad tracks for about a quarter of a mile. At one point I helped Polly Crook push her bike up a bank and onte the tracks. Then she helped pull mine up, I tried riding between the rails but the bumpity-bump=bump soon got to me.

Then we stopped at the Fort Lewis Museum. This is in the old Fort Lewis
Inn on the Old Pacific Highway. As one would expect, it is devoted to weapons,
uniforms and war gear,

Coming up out of Steilacoom on the way home, I picked up a towel which I gave to Polly as I have at least twenty that I’ve picked up over the last couple of years. This was a good ride and I hope Stewart will lead it again this summer so every club member will learn how to get to Olympia on a bike.

The Daffodil Century is progressing at a great rate. Bob Branson marked the route so well that even “Hawkeye” Weldon didn't get lost. Frank and Bob, Ernie MeAtee, Ruth Klopsch and son Kenny, Bill Daugherty, Eldon Stratton, Jack Williams and Jerry Aker all went on the ride in spite of the terrible weather forecast and enjoyed a ride around one of the area's most scenic routes on @ thoroughly delightful day. They found plenty of good resturants, grocery stores and restroom facilities and very little traffic. All in all, an interesting ride.

General Meeting 1s held the third
Wednesday of each month at the
Swasey Library, 7001 6th Ave. at
7:30 PM. Dues are $3.00 per
individual, $5.50 per family,
with $1.00 initiation fee.
Election of officers for the
coming year will be at the March
meeting so be sure and get out
and vote.

SOUTHWELL'S
Schwinn Cyclery
$408 SOUTH TACOMA WAY

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TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98409 | ae
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GR 2-1374 are

—

Racing - A meeting will be held at Gary Singleton's, 7411 52nd Ave. West, March 8th
at 6:30 PM. concerning the upcoming year’s races, etc. All interested please come.