Our racing club for 1978 is going to be sponsored by Singleton Cycle and Kucharik Bicycle Clothing. Kucharik, located in Southern California, has been making bicycle clothing since 1934 and is now one of the largest bicycle clothing manufacturers in the U.S. Singleton Cycle is a bicycle store in Tacoma.

The racing part of our club will benefit greatly from the sponsorship. planning to race and obtain a U.S.C.F. license in 1978, please call Gary for information Our racing club is fast becoming one of the best clubs in the

If you are

about your benefits.
Pacific Northwest.

Racing and Training

Dec 10 11:00 Cyclo Cross - Bellevue
Dec 11 12:00 Time Trial or Training Ride
Dec 17 11:00 Cyclo Cross - Bellevue
Dec 18 12:00 Time Trial or Training Ride

) 5 Dec 26 ----- Ride anywhere, on the new bike
2 Jannat oie a mxevina things you got for Christmas
ur a@Pull line of cycle clothing Jan 7 1:00 Cyclo Cross or Training Ride

Bclenent Jan 8 12:00 Time Trial
gCitelli ioxuthiy ssecials

averythwne at iow prices

Low

47470590

All of our racing events have points which are added up at the end of each month. Riders are ranked according to, the number of points they have. The top ten receive gift certificates from Singleton Cycle. ‘

Starting in January, the "hard-core" racers will begin their training..-usually,
most riders begin training in February.

Gary Singleton needs help with the
Daffodil Race which is coming up soon.
Please call him if you would like to
help.

t >
ee
FEO

Eddy Merckx, one of the world's best racers, has won the Tour de France four consecutive

times, winning his last one in 1973 at age 28. This year, 15 million people watched the Tour de France in person.

was 2,500 miles long in 25 days.
At rest, Eddy's heart beat is 40 to 48 times a minute. Eddy earns $500,000.00 per year

in sponsorship. He trains around 20,000 miles a year.
RACING FACT will appear each month in the "Newsletter".

This year, the Tourn,

Small facts about bicycle racing.

THE ICE ON VASHON
as told by Mick Cole:

Was anyone really going to be there? It was so cold! In spite of the temperatures in the lower 20's, five others arrived at Ferry Landing the morning of November 20th---Jack, Steve, Phyllis, Charlie and Paul, the ride leader. The cold didn't prevent Steve and Phyllis from repairing two broken spokes while waiting for the Ferry.

Those pictures of us sitting out on the ferry deck on a warm summer afternoon are a
distant memory now. Paul and his little band of hard-cores huddled in the Ferry lounge,
shaking and warming their hands on the styrofoam cups containing that infamous, undrinkable
coffee. .

Signs of the previous week's early-season snowfall became visible as they climbed the 2.8 miles uphill, a familiar warm-up exercise to all the Tacoma Wheelmen's seasoned riders. Coming down, the brakes were pressed frequently so as to avoid freezing faces in the bitter

cold!

walked by his master, questioned Mick's supreme right to the edge of the road. A short barking session, and Mick ended it by running over the animal's hind paw! Jack heardathe: yelp from a half-mile back and caught up touMick to see what:

40-6 MON thr THURS 56-1921

The Spinnaker Restaurant is certainly the
finest on the Island. The grofip.of: cyclists ar- ‘
rived at 10:45 and had to settie. for breakfast, as the luncheon menu wasn't yet posted.
Blueberry pancakes with whipped.cream and gallons of wonderful hot coffee sounds like. the
best fortification for that island!,

The fabled West Wind blows across the far side of the siedands »>foreing the North, South
and East back to the mainlandsain icy streaks. How he must have laughed when a band of six
foolish cyclists tried to cross. his..glazed tracks! Down went Paul first. "You shouldn't
be following so---" down went Mick; then Charlie, following 5’ feet behind him. Too late
to be careful. r d

Jack came along, walking his bike. He thought something like that woul? happen! Steve and Phyllis didn't need any more broken spokes, either.

Avoid--*>ep cambers if you ride on the ice. But the ice added a new dimension to

the riding experience of all! in:

----I don't know if I ever want to go back to that island, even if the club does have several
commuter tickets left. Mick and I talked all summer about going to Dockton to camp some
available Friday night. I'm still trying out my new tent to be sure I like it, you see,
now that it's too old to return anyhow.

Melody and Laird had both told us what a nice campsite there was on Maury Island, and

we even picked it out on the map!
Well, guess what? "No overnight camping on Maury Island",

“) 9% sc 47 cet sy ay we discovered as we arrived there at dusk. Too late to get off the island, and two flat tires on the way down the isthmus. Oh heck. We spread out our tablecloth in the dark and

realized there wasn't a candle in the pack. Bike lights

CHRISTIAN CYCLE aren't quite the same--- We ate for a while, deciding what to

(206) 564-8644. the woods, 1 saw a beautiful old hemiock tree with branches
(continued)

Ccont:)
spread out across the ground. We rolled our bikes in, laid them down

flat and dragged them up under the bushy tree where no one could see

us. ‘The bikes were necessary anchors, as we were also on the side of 2 ; Vie a steep hill. Wrap your toes around the cross bar, let the pedal p Sle be XY sink into the dirt, and one can sleep fairly comfortably. Mick snored weg * A off, but I sat with my spectacles on all night, keeping watch. If mre Cet Aled NS

you could have heard the animals and prowlers that I couldn't see! = Parts & Repsie For all Mahos Of Bikes That sun sure looked pretty coming up! x a

The. ranger must have wondered where we came from at 6:00 A.M. COR OE with our bikes all loaded, and sitting out there having a picnic . SOS eS

breakfast. . s emnecenass [ 588-2245 |
Two more flats before we figured out that Mick's brake pad was er

maladjusted. With a boot or something - I don't know, because I'd eabiiasrliaileh is

Vashon.
My next vision is getting back across Tacoma in that awful heat. 90 degrees, remember?
Mick's portrayal of the little houseboat stuck in the ice, covered with snow, smoking

a chimney, sounds perfectly lovely to me.

The talks on bicycle maintenance will con- tinue, with Ben Codiby giving a short lecture.

third Wednesday of each month at _ At our December General meeting, also, Swasey Library | ‘ elections for 1978 club officers will be held. 7001 6th Avenue 7:30 PoMs? The floor will be open for any further nomina-

tions prior to the election. Wednesday, Dec.21.

The January Ge Meeting will also be our

DUES Are your dues due? If there is a ; -23 name label on this newsletter, to the left Gall; Beantald, <2 aa

of your name is a date. This is the month

that your membership dues should be renewed. ; KAKI RRA KK ERE REE WE KERR RK IK [Tf you are not a current, paid up member, THERE ARE TWO CLUB JERSEYS LEFT please pay your dues so that we can continue CALL GARY, 474-6590

to send out this "Newsletter". Dues can be FHI III AIK RAR IRA RRR EKER ERE

to the Tacoma Wheelmen's Address. BICYCLE REPAIR CLASSES

Bicycle repair classes begin the second Tuesday
of January at Frank Weldon's house. They will
continue the second and fourth Tuesdays of each
month at Frank's house: 4401 60th Ave. West
Tacoma (Fircrest)

one's, 531-1325

Will just a few people decide for you how things come out, or are you going to have a voice also? Please fill out the ballot on the last page and return to Gary Singleton.

_ ane ae cneeee nd

We will be handing out awards at our banquet in January and need
the Club's help in choosing the winners. Please, let's everybody
vote and return the ballot to:

Gary Singleton

5410 East C Street

Tacoma, Washington 98404

Person with the worst luck on a bicycle

first choice

rt er eR ECERN

second choice

—

Ace mechanic on club rides

first choice

ne en EE,

second choice

Leader of the best ride of the year

first choice

second choice

Most improved racer

first choice

ee

second choice

ram

Most improved tourer

second choice
ee ee ee

Most cheerful face around

first choice

EDEN CO ce ae

second choice

es