Tacoma Wheelmen's Club
P.O. Box 99555

no” Wa 98499-0555

MAY 1988

Officers

PRESIDENT 752-8636
VICE PRES 752-6028
SECRETARY 565-2742

TREASURER 475-2131
TOURING

GREG & GINA GRENIER 752-4348
NEWSLETTER..TERRY & CANDY MURPHY 848-7597

MAY MEETING FEATURES
MOUNTAIN BIKE

For the May Club Meeting Eric Eaton,
mountain bike racer and recreational
rider, will address the members and

DAF FO D | L CLASS l C i share his experience and enthusiasm.

He will be discussing an upcoming fun

The most important contribution j series of four mountain bike races. you can make to the Tacoma Wheel- There will be categories for men, men's Club is your time. Due to women and different ages. Itisa the generous help of the follow- NORBA sanctioned series. He will ing members we were able to pro- also tellus about the Sunday fun

vide an enjoyable ride for 1400 + ile) ie Heads ever Wea ae ELUNE cyclists: These are 15-20 mile rides. He is

planning to display either a Klein

Tom B. Don B. SCOEE P. Pinnacle or a Titanium Marin. So all Jocko B. Jim D. Carol R. of you mountain bikers, come to the John D. Kathy D. Joan Ss. meeting and join us. Even if you're Nancy D. Tracy D. Diane T. not a mountain biker this should be Kyle F. Sue G. Linda W. a great meeting!

| Carla G. Gina G. Tim W.

: Greg G. Janice G. Jack W.

| IneaG: Joyce G. Dave P.
Rocky H. Fred K. Rosemary R.
Diane L. Harvey L. Stan S.

| 1 steve 1. Edna L. Connie T.

| : Phyllis L. Steve |. Richard W.

| Bob M. Candy M. Karen W. THURSDAY NIGHT RIDES ARE BACK!!!

: Terry M. Bob M. Laurie W. BEGINNING MAY 19th.
Paula N. Dan X. p

Greg Torfin

(

oe

Date Time Miles Start Point Activity Code Leader
Sat 2PM = |50r25 Ruston Way C.1. Short training rides| 1 |Diane Lister
5/7 Shenanigans at the conclusion of 752-8636
the bicycle rodeo Jim Davis759-5616
Sat TAM 1125 UPS N. 11th & Union | Ride to Centralia 3 | Greg Grenier
5/7 for lunch weather stea-| 752-4348
permit. STP training |dy_
Sat 7Am |25/50/ | Marshall Ctr 1009 Ride around Clark Mike Lusby
5/7 62/100 | E. Mc Loughlin County (RACC) 1-892-6258
Vancouver, Wa. Hills galore
Sun 9:30 |40 UPS N 11th & Union Ride to Vashon & Pt 2 | Steve Lay
5/8 AM Defiance. Bring a 759-1816
picnic lunch
Sun noon | 20 Wrights Park Coach Potato Ride 1 | Jim Davis
5/8 | Conservatory 759-5616
Sat 9AM | 30 {So Park Com Ctr. Breakfast Ride 2 | Jack Williams
5/14 50th & S. Tac Way 627-1931
Sat 7aM |25/50/ | Howard Amon Park Inland Empire Lisa Loran
5/14 100 Richland, Wa Century 1-292-1800
Sun TAM | 50K/ Les Gove Park 808 Green River Head- Gil Sneed
5/15 noon | 100K 9th SE Auburn Wa water Century 1-631-7651
Sun 7AM | 110 PSNB Westgate Ride to Auburn for i 3 | Greg Grenier
5/15 N 26th & Pearl Headwater Century stea4 752-4348
Weather permitting | dy
Tues 7PM 1802 S2yae Club meeting Stan Kieszling
yh al ~Tacoma = zs 752-6028
8-12 PSNB Westgate First Thurscay 1 Rocky Hauge
N. 26th & Pearl night ride 752-6257
80/ UPS N 11th & Union Peninsula Metric pre| 2 Kathy Davis
62 Olympic Village ride. Ride now so 475-1839
Gig Harbor you can work on 6-5
4110 N 13th Swap Meet See news— Diane Lister
letter article 752-8636
a5 UPS N 11th & Union Steady Pace 2 Ray Maines
20 78022 5. WE! -S Ene Easy ride 1 Jim Davis
Neighborhood Ctr 759-5616
50/100/] Millersylvania Two County Double 357-8364
140/200K| State Park Metric Century Jim Lazar
Thurs | 6:45 | 8-12 UPS N 11th & Union Thursday Night Ride | 1 Stan Kieszling
5/26 | 752-6028
Sat-— See Newsletter Northwest Tandem Diane Lister
Mon article Rally (pre-reg by 5/10) 752-8636
Sat-— | Call See Newsletter 3 Day car camping Karen Whitney
Mon _| leader article trip 565-2742
Thurs| 6:45 | 8-12 TCC Bus stop TNR 1 Karen Whitney
6/1 565-2742
Sat 6AM 140-— Westgate PSNB STP Training "4a" | Greg Grenier
6/4 160 N 26th & Pearl 752-4348
Sun 72M 20/50/ | Southworth Ferry Peninsula Metric All | Greg Torfin
6/5 100K Terminal Century 537-5863
Tues | 7:30 7103 27th St W. #12} June board meeting Karen Whitney
6/7 PM Tacoma 5652742
!1See next page for the ride codes!! A | \

Ss

iy

MISS Fr
THE oe
BOAT! “<<

Deadline for the Peninsula Metric
pre-registration is May 21st.

Ride the Peninsula Metric and vclunteer to work a checkpoint. We are now sched— uling checkpoint and registration volun- teers for the Peninsula Metric. Most shifts are 2-3 hours long, which still gives you time to get in a ride. Call now to get your preferred time and location. Call Gregg Grenier 752=4348.

JUNE

We will stuff Peninsula Metric packets
after a 6:30 potluck at Greg and Connie
Torfins. 9903 40th Ave E. Phone 537-
5823 for directions or more information.

Sunday, June 5th, is the date for the 6th
Annual Peninsula Metric Century. The ride
can be a 20, 50, or 100 K.

The start and finish will again be located at the Southworth Ferry Terminal, located 6 miles east of Port Orchard. For only a $5.00 registration fee ($3.00 pre-reg.), you receive a map of the routes, snack stops, and an original design patch. Also, a limited quantity of T-shirts commemorating the event will be available at the start/

‘finish point for only $8.00 ($7.00 pre—reg).

Registration forms are available at all
local bicycle shops, or call Greg Torfin
at 537-5823 or Kathy Davis at 475-1839.

iG

THIRD ANNUAL
NORTHWEST TANDEM RALLY
May 28-30, 1988

As hosts for this year's Tandem Rally, we
have a chance to show 350-400 cyclists the
best the Tacoma Wheelmen's Club has to
offer. Three days of rides, meals, and
special programs means a good time for all.

Even if you don't plan to be a participant,
you can experience this exciting event.
Try to schedule a little time to work the
registration table or the checkpoints and
see what a group of 200 tandems looks like!

All volunteers at the rally will receive a
free ticket to the Pete Penseyres/Lon
Haldeman presentation on Saturday night.
You can see and hear tales of their record
setting cross-country tandem ride, and
their other adventures in cycling.

JOIN US! HELP US! EXPERIENCE THE FUN!
Call Laurie Wohlhueter at 1-878-5465 or
Diane Lister at 752-8636 to sign up.

Call Steve at 759-1816 if you're inter-
ested in riding the Tandem Rally routes
with us. These as yet unscheduled rides
will happen on short notice (non-rainy days).
If Steve has your name and number he'll give
you a call.

EASY PACE — Frequent stops to
catch up and regroup. 10-13mph.
MODERATE PACE - Occasional stops
13-16mph.

to catch up & regroup.
STEADY PACE - Limited stops.

Maps will be provided. 15-18mph

M
GO ON A VACATION
ADVENTURE

Remember Jim Davis and Stan Sanders are
planning an 11 day bicycle tour of Oregon
June 29th through July 9th. See the April
newsletter article for details.

There are just a few openings available.
So if you're thinking about a summer tour
give Jim Davis a call at 759-5616.

~ Lost and Found

Found at the Daffodil Classic

Champion Tigergrip cycling gloves with
liner. Call Paula Napier. 475-2131
"Tf you lost IT I found If" serious

callers only. No fishing. Call
Curt at 1-235-4957.

Tacoma Metropolitan Park District is plan-
ning a bicycle rodeo at C.I. Shenanigans
on May 7th. The Wheelmen's Club will be
leading two rides at 2PM. These rides will
be an excellent way to introduce new riders
to the Wheelmen. Please stop by...

Jim Davis

—
e New Members ~~

Russell Carroll Charles Hanson Tim Hegg Jerome Sproge Allen Dawson Daryll Gollmer Norma Wilson James Dick George Kelley Kathy McBride Larry Frazier Les Uhrich

Cy Davis
Sandy Jacobs
Geoff Smith

G. & A. Clark Jerry Ziegler David Sullivan Robert Mohr James Dilanni Curtis Walling Mimi Brick Brooks Walton Celeste Hebert Barbara Walker Patti Plunkett Theresa Garl

Rupert Kepler

Joseph & Marie Osborne
John & Shirley Morgan
Ken Coffman

Hank Giddings

Kathy & Robert Fish
Karen Hermanson
Margaret & David Allen
Jean Miller

Terese Grohman

Janice & Allen Undem
Bob Black & Family
Vince Blowers

Charles Nicholas

Pat Brown Hickman
Brion. Lundgren

Robert & Nina Monaghan
Dan Izenman Family
Jim & Diane Droege
Karen Hertzog

Carole Storck

Bradley Cullen -—~
P.O. Brown

Barb Pearson

Wendy Fern

Kore Kitt

5

If you would like to learn more about
riding bicycles, the Tacoma Wheelmen
will offer a two day cycling seminar
at South End Neighborhood Center 7802
So "LL on Saturday, May 21st, and will
cover: Cycling Safety

On road repair

Basic bicycle Maneuvers

"Where to ride in Tacoma"

9:30AM to 2:30PM

On Sunday we'll put what we've learned
into practice with a 20 mile ride
starting at 12:00 noon. “™

If you have a friend that you would
like to introduce to Wheelmen's rides,
this would be a great way to do it.

Please RSVP with Jim Davis 759-5616.

HILLS ARE JUST FLAT GROUND ON AN INCLINE “ Does a ride that has 10,000 vertical feet of breathtaking downhill and is 45 miles shorter than the $.T.P. appeal to you? On July 30th a small but deranged group of Tacoma Wheelpersons will participate in the 5th Annual R.A.M.R.O.D. ‘The ride around Mt. Ranier in ONE DAY is a 155 mile counterclockwise loop of Mt Ranier. It starts and finishes in Enumclaw with two major and one semi-major climbs en-route. This is a challenging but not impossible ride that can be accomplished by most fit riders in about 12 hours.

You are invited to join other like minded
Wheelmen on 3 or perhaps 4 preparatory rides
that will feature a comfortable but

steady pace and lots of hills. The

first two rides will travel through N.E. Tacoma and Federal Way, east across So. 272 St. to the West Valley Highway, south on the S.T.P. route to the Spanaway Elementary School checkpoint. Then we will head for Steilacoom and Chambers Creek Road, to the Titlow Pool, up 6th Ave and back to the UPS Fieldhouse. These would also be very good STP tune up rides the 3rd R.A.M.R.O.D.

will be a taste of the real thing as we
will be eating lunch at Paradise Lodge.

Mow your lawn on Saturday, fill your

tixes and waterbottles, pack some junk
food and join us for a pleasant Sunday out-—
ing on May 22nd starting at the UPS Field-—
house at 9:00 AM sharp.

For Sale

For sale: Trek 620 Touring bike - frame
size 22} inches. Set for touring - racks,
fenders, lights, the works! $450.00

ALSO: Cannondale racing bike - 56cm frame.
$400.00 Call Diane or Harvey Lister for
more info. 752-8636

Wanted: Used Mag Trainer. Call
Fred Knox at 572-9145

You will be receiving (or have already received) a copy of the "Puget Sound Cy- clist", a new publication serving the area's recreational cyclist. In this mu- tually beneficial arrangement, the publish— ers give us an ample supply free of charge, and we mail them to our members. Let us know if you'd like to continue receiving ‘this at the club's expense. The board will be reviewing the member's responses in order to make a final decision. :

ae

si HT s&s RUN 1!

During the Daffodil Classic on April 17th, between the 35 and 40 mile markers on the old loop on the Kapowsin Highway, a cyclist was hit by a large brown pick-up truck. The truck was pulling a utility trailer with wooden sides. She was actually struck by the trailer. This occurred

at approximately 1PM. Luckily the cyc-—
list was not seriously injured. However,
her bicycle was destroyed. If anyone wit—
nessed this accident or got the license
number of the vehicle, PLEASE call Lisa
Paulsen. Home 935-6834 Work 625-1040.

Thursday Night
Rides Are Back !!!

Once again it's that time of
year for the Thursday night rides
to begin. These are evening rides
ranging in length from 8-12 miles,
generally with an ice-cream stop.

This year we are making a couple of changes due to the amount of daylight now and the casual pace of these rides. The meeting time is going to be changed to 6:45 p.m. with the rides starting PROMPTLY at 7:00 p.m.

The ride leaders are required to have at least 2 cue sheets so we can have a “sweep” to bring up the back of the pack. We hope these changes will add to the enjoy- ment of these evening rides. Hope to see you there!

Your Touring Captains,
Greg & Gina Grenier

Bob Myrick is planning to attend the
beginner track racing classes at the
Marymoor Velodrome. The fee is $40.00
and includes use of a bike and a helmet.
If you're interested in joining him, give
him a call. Home 473-7455 Work 593-8212.

The Thursday after Thanksgiving. it was raining. the Christmas hoopla was in full swing and my hopes of a change in my employment situation were dashed. Out of curiosity. | phoned Daddy Wags in San Diego to see how the tour was shaping up. My next phone call was to Amtrak.

Two weeks later. an odd assortment of people assembled in San Diego. They came from all over the country: Texas. Massachusetts. Illinois. Washington. Montana. Minnesota and all points between. Young. old: thick. thin: strong. weak: insane and truly demented. About 50% were known factors (what keeps calling them back?) the rest. who knows? Rosarito would tell the story.

A week later, we had all sort of hit our stride. such as it was for each of us. We had already lost several riders. others had found the value of hitching a ride in the after- noon. some had discovered that first ones in got beds and hot showers. Some strange things go through your head on atrip such as this. One morning at just about daybreak. as I'm riding along | keep thinking “A century a day keeps the doctor away.” Later in the afternoon | would connive as to how | could hitchhike and no one would find out. An open pickup surely wouldn't do. perhaps a motor home would be safer.

There was a good news, bad news aspect this year. The good news was the incredible unbelievable tail winds. the bad news was the miserable cold weather. It was nice being blown up hills but not so good going to bed with all the clothes you own on. Fortunately | had taken a wool jersey. wool leg warmers and gloves. Ken and Barbie (fictitious names to protect their identity) had packed light (23 pounds between them) and were now suffering. Although their speed was to commended, not having any long pants was most uncomfortable in the evening and early morning hours.

There were more motels than ever before and we only
camped twice. However I’m not sure sleeping eight to a
room which had sleeping accommodations for three is real-
ly a step up, especially if your luck ran out and you were
booked with a heavy snorer.

_Finally we made it to La Paz in the 25 mile-per-hour head
«wind which is always traditional. You finally crest the top of
the hill and see La Paz before you. In exhilaration. you men-
tally have finished the day's 136 mile journey But those last
20 miles are some of the worst you will encounter. It looks
like a downhill coast into town but in reality it’s about a two
mile coast and then 18 miles around the bay at eight miles
an hour into the unrelenting winds.

Two days of playing in La Paz and it’s time for the last leg of the journey. the two short day hop into Cabo San Lucas. Eight of us split from the main group and opted to take the Pacific side versus the Sea of Cortez route. The beauty of this was the hotel at Todos Santos rather than camping at Los Barrilos and an added feature of 30 miles less riding. You didn’t have to twist my arm.

Because we were going to be back in La Paz in five days, it didn’t seem to make much sense to carry all | owned with me. All my camping gear and most everything else stayed at the hotel and away | went. dumb, happy and so much lighter. bound for my favorite basic Mexican hotel at Todos Santos.

Upon arrival there however. | learned the folly of my ways. The quaint little hotel had been bought by a couple from California. Two dollar rooms were now $25, the pidgeon coop had been replaced by a swimming pool and every room had a Serta Perfect Sleeper. The worst part though was that Backroads Bicycle Touring. Inc. had completely booked it up and it was the only hotel in town. Utter panic set in. We hadn't hurried to get there and it was a hard 55 miles to make it in to Cabo. It was the middle of the afternoon, we'd never make it anyway. With no sleeping bags you couldn't even sleep on the beach. | uttered by favorite line. “WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?”

Well | found out what we’re gonna do. We found some fur- nished apartments and rented a couple of those for the night. They were barely adequate for one night. couldn’t im- agine taking a lease any longer than that.

The next day was the grand finale into Cabo San Lucas. Picture taking at the K-0 marker. The official end of the trip.

The time flew by and all too soon it was time to say good- bye to my new found friends and my favorite place in the world. Baja. This land is so poor in material things and worldly riches but so rich with a population of happy smiling people. beautiful scenery and unspoiled landscapes. Maybe the joke’s on us and we are really the poor ones.

Have You ever seen 3,000 cyclists in one

place at one time?

Would you like to?

The Spanaway Checkpoint in the STP route

will be open Fri & Sat June 24 & 25th. You're welcome to come participate. are needed to help set-up, distribute food and drink, be available to help cyc- lists and clean up. Call Sue Given at 565-0535 (or leave a very brief message at 383-4351) to sign up for the shift of

your choice.

People

sie

( orial Weekend.

To Hel'en Back
'88

Pea July 1, 2, and 3rd
WHERE: Start and end in
Woodland, WA (30 miles north
of Portland on I-5)

HOW: A 3-day fully-
supported ride with overnight
accommodations, meals, rest
stops, bus ride up to see the Mt.
St. Helens crater and Spirit
Lake on the second day.

WHY: A fund-raising event to
join in with the American

To Hel'en Beyond

'88
WHEN: July 2nd
WHERE: Starts and ends at the

th the : Cispus Center
Cancer Society's fight against HOW: A 200 mile 1-day fully
cancer supported marathon ride

WHAT: A unique cycling
experience over the St Helens
landscape. Day 1--60 or 110
miles of moderate terrain. Day
3--90 miles of initially moun-
tainous terrain (that's where the
Hel'en Back comes from)
WHO: YOU!

WHY: A fund-raising event to join in with the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer WHAT: A unique cycling experience over the St Helens landscape. 200 rugged, splendid miles around the volcano WHO: YOU! Send for more information on To Hel'en Beyond ‘88 2011 Main St. Vancouver WA 98660

Send for more
information on
To Hel'en Back '88
2011 Main St.
Vancouver WA 98660

Karen Whitney and a few other Tacoma Wheelmen are going "Car" Camping on Mem— We are going to Yakima and “staying at Sportsman State Park. We will leave Friday and return Monday. will ride from the campground and do "day" rides approx 50 miles per day + or - a few. Call Karen Whitney for details, information and "sign up" 565-2742 .

:

Your chance to buy, sell & trade!! Hosted
by Diane & Harvey Lister, 4110 N 13th.

Due to a scheduling conflict the day of
the Swap Meet has been changed to Saturday,
May 21 beginning at 6:30PM. Bring a con-
tribution for a potluck supper, your shop-
ping list, and your spare parts, pieces,
bikes, etc.

Several tables will be available, but
additional card tables would help.

Everyone always leaves the swap meet happy,
so don't miss this opportunity!

Hard To Believe

(™ The El Paso Times reported in its October 7, 1987, issue
that a private detective in Johnson City, Tenn., had been
found guilty of spitting on a bicyclist. The judge offered to
waive the $100 fine if the detective would replace a “kill
bikers” bumper sticker on his pickup with “a more positive
message.”

—BICYCLE USA News

New Bike Helmets

by Randy Swart

A number of new and interesting helmets appeared at the New York Bicycle Show in February, and they should be on dealers’ shelves for the summer season. Virtually all of the new helmets conform to the ANSI or Snell helmet standards. Some of these are new models from manufacturers who had never before produced helmets which would pass.

The big innovations of the season are the Giro and Echo helmets, which are made of expanded polystyrene (EPS— picnic cooler foam) without a hard shell. The Giro looks like a liner from Bell’s V1 and has a Lycra cover. The Echo has a harder layer of EPS outside bonded to a softer EPS layer inside and comes in two different shapes. Both are very light and will appeal more to racers than commuters and tourists, who generally have no trouble with the 16 oz. weight of a normal helmet. Although lab test results were not available for either helmet, both are reported to meet the ANSI standard, so they should provide decent protec- tion. Watch out for solvents, though. Gasoline or spray chain lube can melt EPS in an instant.

At the show, Bell introduced its new Aero buckle, a nice looking plastic piece with squared-off panels which fit together. Those who tried, however, found they could yank the buckle apart without unsnapping it. Worse, the locking tongue can be bent with a heavy thumb, and it tends to stay that way, making the buckle unusable. Bell has also introduced several helmets designed to meet only the ANSI standard, a marked drop in design from the older Biker, Tourlite, V1, and Mark I models. When production costs are virtually identical and Bell already has the design to produce a helmet with a higher level of protection, it is hard to see the need for a “low end” product which meets a lesser safety standard.

Other new ANSI standard helmets were shown by Pro- Tec (their first), Lazer, Monarch, Kiwi, Vetta, All-Ameri- can, and Rhode Gear. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) is obtaining samples of all, and should have ride tests and laboratory crash tests completed : by early fall. For more information write WABA at 1332 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005.

Racey
Btke HAT

Flower
POT

© 1985 Donna Sakson, Richard Stein