opvmo-717nod

It's time to put aside all the serious aspects of bicycling and talk about the real reason we all ride our bikes: .FUN! The pure ecstacy that comes when the person, the bike, the road, and nature become one.

The trip nine of us made from Tacoma to San Francisco was one of the most en-
joyable vacations of our lives. I've boated, motorcycled, driven, and biked, but
bicycling the Oregon and California coast was far and away the most enjoyable exper-
ience of all.

The major element on every trip is the people, and each of us added to everyone else's enjoyment. Lisa and Nancy were the bubbling and vivacious champagne. Richard's mechanical ability and calm leadership were invaluable. Randy's willingness to help everyone with the project of the moment made everyone glad to see him. Ken and Mary were the perfect campmates and dedicated purists that inspired us to better bicycling. Always up at the crack of dawn and ready to tackle any obstacle. No sag wagon for Ken! .

The Dog Bite Duo, Ruth and Karen, were a study in calm competence. Ruth's days
in the van made us all look forward to the evening meal. .Even though she suffered a
dog bite on the heel that must have hurt with every turn of the pedal, she bicycled
the whole distance. When her turn to drive the van came, she was as reluctant as
anyone else.

Independent, self-reliant Karen actually managed the miracle of keeping Hawk-

Eye on the right road all the time, even
in San Francisco.

SOUTHWELL’S The weather was perfect, with a

10 to 20 mile tailwind all the way. The

Schwinn Cyclery scenery along the Oregon and California =
coast is the most spectacular in all of
Poe 5408 SOUTH TACOMA WAY North America, and the gastronomical ad-
\TEATS TACOMA, WASHINGTON 98409 ventures along the way defy anyone's
uuWwa GR 2-1374 belief. When one bicycles 80 to 90-miles

a day, eating healthful, nutritious food is of paramount importance. So at every opportunity, we replenished our energy with things like strawberry cream pie a la mode, Shaklee protein bars, peanut butter and jelly burritos, and gallons of A & Wf root beer, floats. (Afternoon Delight was redefined).

Finally, San Francisco. Ken, Mary, and Richard had to leave early, leaving the rest of us to experience the unparalleled joys of six people sharing one motel room, kitchen- ette, and bathroom. fortunately, we were all good friends and the intimacy of the motel room heightened the enjoyment of our friendship.

It is always difficult to pick out a most enjoyable day, but the most votes go to the Napa Valley winery tour. The wine making process is of course ultra-modern chemical engineering, but the tour stresses all of the time-honored traditions. Each cellar has its rows of 200 year old, 30-foot diameter casks. The whole tour was quite enjoyable, taking 8 hours to complete the 30 mile,loop. Towards evening, my bicycle developed a little problem with the headset and became very difficult to steer. Strangely enough, it seemed all right the next morning. Well, some mechanical problems just go away,

their cause never determined.
There are countless other humorous incidents to relate, such as the cyclo-cross
tour to Fisherman's Wharf, the wet-T-shirt contest, a pedal-boat race in Golden Gate

Park, and the Frank Weldon School of San Francisco hill climbing (don't shift!). I
left Tacoma with 9 apprehensive bicyclists, and returned with 9 enthusiastic, seasoned,
road-wise bikies! All eagerly awaiting next year's adventure. : Bae

(continued)

(BLCYCLING WITH FRANK) cont:

d When Nancy returned to work, she exploded a pair of panty-hose by flexing a muscle. We'll tell about these and other escapades at the post-meeting meeting at the (loverleaf on October 18th. (Complete with pictures!

bth 1s, ak kewood, 582-5538

Good equipment should
fee! as if it’s not even
there. And that means
not feeling it in your
waliet
either.

19 SPEEDS — POTOW€
SALES’ SERVICE SS PARTS

10 AM - 6 PM
MONDAY THRU SATURDAY
564-1921

4; Quality : CLUB NMIEETINGS
gt éauioment
Gant discount prices.

Dr] third Wednesday of each month at
Swasey Library
7001 6th Avenue 7:30 P.M. +

CONDOLENCES TO NANCY
AND KIRK. WAKE AND
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR
THE WHITE TORNADO
TANDEM WILL BE HELD
OCTOBER 18TH AT THE
CLOVERLEAF TAVERN.
AMEN.

EF ingleTon _ wohl ke
SPONSORS
TWC Racing Team