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TACOMA WHEELMEN'S CLUB NEWSLETTER
' 634 North.Howard, Tacoma, Wa 98406

CLUB MEETING ~ Third Wednesday of each month at Swasey Library, 7001 6th Avenue at 7:30 PM
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VICE PRESIDENT...oMARK OVERFIELD. 565-1124 Sites bans eS 2 ee

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TOURING CAPTAIN...DOROTHY KEENE...858-8774 o SH

RACING CAPTAIN, .o+GARY SINGLETON..474-3523 ", ; gulf Service Bicyel, F

BICYCLE ACTION...oDAN FELDHAUS..0.752-0794
NEWSLETTER o«0+00e00BRUCE SPONG.0+000472-3201

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Jim Chappet 11903 Pacitic Ave.
Ernie Chappel Tacoma, Wa 98444
owners £33-1325

DAFFODIL CENTURY THANK YOU TO BOB BRANSON! _ Bob Branson did it again! He not only erganized and ran off the greatest Century bicycle Xx our club as ever had, on the greatest scenic route, but also forecast the nicest, sunniest, and warmest day you could ever imagine at this time of year. Sure, we had a third of the club out there manning and servicing check points, driving sag wagons, registering riders, providing food for the workers, etco, but the spark plug behind the whole show was bob; working feveriously and tirelessly, not only on the day of the ride, but many, many weeks before ‘hand. wm Bob is without doubt our club's most valuble member, He has just hinted that he will chair

BOB BRANSON (con't) .
the Daffodil Century ride again next year. Hurrah{ His title should be "CENTURY

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, CUM LAUDE". What else can be said? We all love this great guy. Thank you, thank you, Bob from the very bottom of our hearts? 4 jw

Wouldn't it be nice if the daffodils bloomed two or three times a year? I don’t
think any of us would tire of the scenic Daffodil Century route that Bob Branson has
so carefully planned for the club.

The most unusual band of riders assembled in the Orting City Park on April 3rd. Some were riding only 20 miles, some 50, and word passed around that others wer? already out there attempting the 100. I tried to guess who by the descriptions given me. Steve, Ken, Frank, Mick, someone else, someone so~and~so had never seen before, someone with a helmet, someone with a pack, and I played with names and faces all day long, wishing maybe we'd catch up to them and be able to trade stories about our journeys.

Here comes Paul Bonnar with his great stories about the night before! He gets me laughing like heck, says we ought tour Southern California together, but he’ll be in H Hawaii, there's a sandwich in his pack and he's doing the 50, so he’s riding with me and Jack, Crazy and wild, The three of us rode all day together. I still feel as if I haven't come to the end of the route. Always I will be riding that route with Jack there behind me pointing out the skunk cabbage, showing us where to fill our water bottles with fresh spring water, discussing the final plans for the day of the Century, picnicking along Ohop Lake, laughing at the bottom of Cemetery Hill.

I needn't say that the 50 miles almost wiped me out. But how I laughed when Jack
told me about the time he did 100 around there He remembered exactly where his feet
started to drag, exactly where he stopped for a candy bar, ‘
exactly where he was sure he couldn't go any farther. NC
Eleven hours and forty-five minutes later found him in
Orting City Park and the finish line$

Well, somehow I managed to arrive in Orting City Park about seven hours later - with Paul towing me and Jack pushing me, it seemed. Toward the end I almost dove into a supermarket for a six-pack of beer, then realized my judgment must be impaired and decided against it. Paul AonS~Fris *0%to 8380 fed me some gorp and we were off§ . ae Sat. 9:39 to 5:00

At the beginning of my story, I remember the route Bucsepart waar NON S WV.
being beautiful; toward the end of my story I remember being tired, But I loved that
ride so much. I wanted to bring my bike the day of the Century and slip away for
another ride. "Heck no," says Jack. "6:00 AM is early enough to be out there without
me coming to get you and your bikei"

We sat around on the stone wall for awhile, laughing and swinging our feet, then decided there was nothing more to do in Orting. Paul was off for his summer vi oe vacation from school, but will be back in the fall. BICYCLE CRAFTSMEN OF THE WORLD We spent a lot of time discussing how he should leave a summer wardrobe at his folks' place and a winter CHRISTIAN CYCLE wardrobe up here, travelling back and forth with just WEST 27TH & GRANDVIEW a good magazine to read. I hope when he comes back TACOMA, WA 98466 that he doesn't forget to bring those crazy lavender (206) 564-8644 " .- goeks that match his yellow bicycle's lavender fenders!

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Well, our race was a great success, thanks to the many people that helped, both club members and not. Thanks to all the businesses that donated prizes.

POINT DEFIANCE CLASSIC - We had 17 novice racers and 73 USCF racers. They competed for $800.00 worth of prizes. Racers came from Canada, Oregon and all parts of Wash- ington including Yakima, Spokane and Seattle. Even with the large Cat. I & II pack, there was only one large accident. A breakaway of 5 to 7 racers tried to combine

spokes and 5 went down. This is one of the rare occasions when it didn't pay to be

in a break.

‘ RESULTS ~ Jr. Novice Novice - (59 points possible) lst - Ken Klopsch (IWC) 1 - Steve Curry (TWC)-52 pts 6-Tod ledek (TWC) -25 2nd ~ Chad Dunaway (TWC) : 2 - Jerry Jones -29 pts 7-Steve Jewels (TWC)-18 3rd - Jon Miller (TWC) 3 Dioge ones Oropers es 28 pts ?-Stewart curry (PWC

CAT III & IV (62 points possible)
ist = Fred Wert - 53 pts
2nd - James Birflid - 39 pts
3rd - David Mendenhall- 37 pts
4th - David Maurmann - 34 pts
6th ~ Weldon Burk(TWC)- 16 pts

caT I & Ir (65 points possible) ist ~- Terry Baker - 35 pts 2nd - Richard Meehan- 33 pts 3rd ~- Larry Smith = 33 pts - Happy Payne (TWC) Steve Miller (TWC) ~ Phil Yost (TWC) 2880 4 On Sale oa 3 RMS a ALANINE am eA CT i TR IRCCS Ot sad SN SA ire onc de ce On tre ES eich The race was done on a points gystem, with each race having points, and the top ten places receiving points. This is one of the first races I had been able to watch

from a ‘spectators view, and it was fun to watch. The profits from the race will be used for the transportation costs to some of

the races in the Northwest. For further details, or if you wish to participate ina particular race, call me at least one week ahead and we will fit you in$

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THURSDAY NIGHT RIDES ~ These rides ate: short, easy rides, usually from 5 to 10 miles,
They will start in different areas of Tacoma, Bring change for ice cream & goodies!
A schedule will be included in the June newsletter. .For the May rides, information

will be available at the general meeting on May 18 ~- or call Dorothy Keene (8588774).

DUES - Are your dues due? If there is a name label on this newsletter, to the left of your name is a date. This is the month that your membership dues should be renewed. If you are not a current, paid up member, please pay your dues so that we can continue to send out this newsletter. The JUNE news- letter will be that last one mailed out to * non-current member.

Parts & Repair For All Makes Of Bikes

® 5408 SOUTH TACOMA WAY
TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98409

UPS SATURDAY RIDES
Mick and Mary Ann will lead these rides, planned for beginners but onen to all:

May 5 Meet at the UPS Fieldhouse parking lot for a tour of
9 AM the North End on Kla~How- Ya

May 12 UPS Fieldhouse to Steilacoom - bring a picnic lunch
9 AM

For more information call Mary Ann Wilson at 383-4220 or Mick Cole, 572-5260.

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pi DAFFODIL CENTURY RELIVED

"Don't schedule the ride for the opening day of fishing season. You'll be swamped wit two million half-crazed and drumken slobs just aching to run down as many cyclists as possible." This, as well as numerous remarks about how we were sure to run out of patches unless we ordered at least a thousand, was typical of the dozens of bits of "helpful" advice that people were so eager to give me in the months and weeks preceding the fourth anual running (er, bicycling) of the Daffodil Century. :

But don't get the wrong idea. The help I received was invaluable and vital to the success of the ride. Bob Branson's carefully kept notes ani helpful advice made the organization and execution of the century much easier than I had ever hoped. Frank's undying support and willingness to help out with anything that needed to be done reduced the work that I had to do considerably. Sue Fowler's beautiful patch lit up weary faces and received compliments throughout the day. Special thanks go to everybody who came out on the day of the ride to man checkpoints, do registrations, and make sure that everything went smoothly. The ride was successful because of you, and your efficient and courteous help was appreciated by everybody who rode the century.

Lastly, I'd like to congratulate and thank everybody who rode the course.
The 339 registered riders were the ones who made the Daffodil Century successful
for the fourth straight year.

Carol Rushton

SOUTHWELL’S
Schwinn Cyclery

S C Hi N i ®TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98409
GR 2-1374

It couldn't have been better] -About 350 bikies from all over the state for our DAFFODIL CENTURY, soaking up the rays and taking in all of the beautiful

scenerye
friends and renewed acquaintances.

Yep, all the riders are out of hibernation now, and we greeted old

Several tandems tackled the hills, including the Stevensons' triplet with

baby Laura in tow in a trailer that Bill made.

Ray Street, Jr. must have been

riding with his guardian angel, as he was rear-ended by a van coming down

Cemetery Hill and came out unscathed.
was Mike Pederson, the only rider to circle the course three times]

The TWC racer who was walking very slowly

And the

Jack Williams Finders Keepers Award goes to Virginia Stratton, who found a pair of stereo speakers on the course .e. 5 miles apart!

A celobration of the day followed as we compared sumtans over pizza and suds. Bell helmets off to Carol Rushton for a superb job of organizing the Daffodil!

FOR THE THUNDERTHIGHS:
on Sunday, May 6th.

and goes to the Mt. Baker ski resort and back.
Call 734-9669 for questions. @,

proposed section of the Seattle-to-Portland ride.

The Mt. Baker Bicycle Club is putting on a toughie The climb starts at 7 AM at Bellingham City Hall, 210 Lottie St,

The round trip is 115 miles.

On our last tandem ride to Winlock, Frank and I tried out a

It leaves Centralia, parallels

the freeway, entirely by-passes Chehalis, and has a gentler climb to Napavine.

" This will probably become part of the route,

10 SPEEDS —~ roro%*
SALES SERVICES PARTS

10 AM - 6 PM
MONDAY THRU SATURDAY
564-1921

ani

third Wednesday of each month at
Swasey Library

7OUL 6th Avenue 7:30 Pelle

At the April general meeting, Carol Rushton
was unanimously elected as our new club
secretary. Please try to attend the May
meeting! We will be voting on a proposal to
inelude the Bicycle Paper (a newspaper of
cycling activity in the Northwest) as part of
membership in the club. We will also elect a
new Bleycle Action Chairman. The guest
speaker, Josh Lehman, will share his experiences
in some of his travels around the world.

abt

3rd Wednesday of May: MAY 16th