TWBC Newsletter - September 1995

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bn.

Bicycle Club

P.O. Box 112078-TACOMA, WA 98411
RIDELINE (206) 759-2800

Inside This Issue:

“Tire Tracts” on page
2.
September ride calen-
dar on pages 3-4.

Ride Notes and “Mr.
Roger's Neighborhood”
on page 5.

Cycling Ads on page
6. :
1995-1996 Proposed
TWBC Budget on page
7.

The next TWBC
Board meeting is on
Tuesday, September 5,
1995, at the Skyline
Village Apartments
Recreation Building,
5702 N. 33rd St., Ta-
coma, WA.

The meeting starts at
7:00 p.m. All members
are welcome. Bring
your own food and bev-
erage. Call 759-4464
for directions.

Tacoma Wheelmen’s

TWBC
NEWSLETTER

Founded In 1888

Bicycle Accidents,
Finances, And The
Meaning Of TWBC

by Mat Reitzug, TWBC Vice-President

Our Fall season will be kicked off at our
September 19th general membership meet-
ing. Ralph Wessels will be the star attraction
as he presents us with the results of a six
year analysis of State Patrol collision reports.

He has minced, diced, and spliced this
data to answer almost any question you
may have about bicycle accidents in the
State of Washington. Although not a topic
we often enjoy pondering, the results of this
study will doubtlessly provide us with a
reality check as we take to the road.

Also on the agenda is the presentation of the proposed TWBC budget for the next fiscal year. Make sure to come and provide your opinions as to where our Club finan- cial prowess should be put to use. With respect to our fund raisers, we have had a very successful year. Help us decide where our Club will go in the future.

In addition to these main features, we will
provide soda, cookies, crackers, door prizes,
and an opportunity for you to sign up to lead a
ride or two in October.

Our Club meetings are held at the South
End Community Center, 4851 S. Tacoma
Way, in Tacoma, WA. The meeting starts at
7:00 p.m.

Give me a call at 265-2127 if you have any
questions. Hope to see you there!

Annual TWBC Picnic
September 16, 1995

Wapato Park is once again the location for
the annual Club picnic. Come and enjoy
good food, games, and a chance to see new
and old Club members.

Several Club rides give every member an
opportunity to join a group and cycle to the
park. The rides are listed in the ride calen-
dar on page 3 in this newsletter. Also check

September, 1995

the ride line for rides to the picnic. Of
course, you can ride on your own—all
cycling miles count toward your annual
mileage.

Keep in mind that if you drive your car
there is a $3.00 parking fee.

Picnic start time is 1:00 p.m. Food will be
served around 2-2:30 p.m. Games with
prizes will start about 3:30 p.m., followed by
dessert.

Participation is free to paid-up Club
members. A small fee will be charged for
guests.

Volunteers are welcome. Call Karen:
Forbush at 752-0764, or Jan Brame at 759-
6984 if you can help or need information.

Do not forget to vote on the
1995-1996 TWBC budget at the
general meeting on September
19, 1995!

PAGE 2

The Tacoma Wheelmen's

Bicycle Club

Board Members

PRESIDENT
Dave Tison -272-4571
VICE-PRESIDENT
Mat Reitzug «265-2127
SECRETARY
Dena Wessels - 857-5658
TREASURER
Jan Brame -759-6984
TOURING CAPTAIN
Connie Reitzug -265-2127
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
William Hoehne -759-4464
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Bob Myrick -473-7455
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
Karen Forbush -752-0764
PAST PRESIDENT
Kent Wienker «752-0764

Staff

MEMBERSHIP
Phyllis Lay- 759-1816
PUBLICITY

L.A.B. REPRESENTATIVE

SAFETY & EDUCATION
Jan Wieser - 833-6346
EQUIPMENT MANAGER
Steve Brown 752-4038
RIDE LINE
Connie Reitzug- 265-2127
MAILING
Don Izenman: 565-2720

Annual Committees

DAFFODIL CLASSIC
Joyce Clifford - 759-2393

PENINSULA METRIC
Carla Gramlich -752-4038
BICYCLE SHOW BOOTH
Kent Wienker- 474-9395

S.T.P. COORDINATOR

BANQUET COMMITTEE
Bob Myrick-473-7455
ANNUAL PICNIC
Jan Brame 759-6984
Karen Forbush - 752-0764

Tire Tracts
by Dave Tison, TWBC President

Good news for those of us who commute by bicycle towork at Multicare Medical Center (MMC), aka Tacoma General and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospitals. Bike racks enclosed by chain link fencing with locked gates have been installed in two of the parking garages on the medical center campus. We finally have secure bike parking, which is also out of the weather.

Several of us have worked with the MMC transportation coordinator for over a year to get the bike cages installed. The state commuter trip reduction law was the justification for the expense of installing the bike cages. Each cage takes up about two and a half automobile parking spaces, for a total loss of 5 auto parking spaces, while making room for parking twenty or more bikes.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the advantage in terms of
single occupancy vehicle (SOV) trip reduction, as well as space utilization! Does
that mean if we all commuted by bike we could turn three quarters of all the
asphalt parking lots into parks or green spaces? Not realistic, but food for
thought.

If you have had success with improving the bike commuting facilities at your
workplace or elsewhere, please share your experiences with us. If you would
like help in solving bike commuter problems you have encountered please let
us know that too.

There are a number of individuals in the Club who are great resources for bike
commuting, as well as other areas of cycling. That is why we have a Club like
the TWBC, so we can share our cycling experiences to improve bicycling for all
of us!

Editor’s Notes: Our fall Club meeting annually presents the budget proposal for
the next fiscal year for a vote by Club members. Your Board Members try very hard to
make our budget responsible and realistic, but they need to hear constructive
suggestions from you to have the best budget possible. Attend the meeting on
September 19 and vote! If you cannot attend the meeting call a board member with your
ideas. The proposed budget is found on page 7 in this Newsletter. Keep for reference and
bring it to the meeting.

The City of Tacoma’s Transportation Committee has one opening. If you are interested in the city’s transportation issues this is a good place to have an influence. To get an application call the city clerk’s office at 591-5171. If you want to know what the committee does, and what the current projects are, call me at 759-4464.

TWBC NEWSLETTER September, 1995

TWBC Members are encouraged to submit articles, information, and letters to the editor for our newsletter. All
submissions must be signed and written by the signatory, and are subject to editing. Views expressed in this
newsletter belong to individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Tacoma Wheelmen’s
Bicycle Club or any of its members.

Deadline: Deadline for all copy is the third Tuesday of each month for the following month’s newsletter. This is also our regular Club meeting day. Copy can be given to the editor at the meeting or mailed to: William F. Hoehne, 5702 N. 33rd, Apt. 17B, Tacoma, WA 98407. Articles and correspondence can also be sent to the editor via e-mail and fax modem. Send e-mail to Compuserve, User #71570,446, or America Online, WHOEHNE. Send faxes to 206-759-4464 after calling the editor first to ensure the computer is on.

Cycling Ads: Ads must be directly related to bicycling, and will be printed free of charge to Club members. Space limitations may require editing. All ads must be accompanied with name, address, and phone number of person submitting ad. Budget costs for the newsletter preclude publishing ads for non-members. Ads for local bicycle shops will be printed free of charge if the business offers a discount to TWBC Club members. “Local” is defined as within the Puget Sound area. Bicycle shop ads can have a maximum of 6 lines, and each shop can have up to two ads per year. These ads are also subject to editing and space limitations.

Inserts: Inserts for TWBC Club rides and activities must be coordinated with the ride leader or chairperson in terms of format, cost, printer, and distribution. The cost of inserts for bicycle related activities by agencies or businesses outside the Club will be bome by the agency or business. Mailing costs may limit number of inserts. TWBC Internet Address: http://pages.prodigy.com/WA/tacomawheelmensbicycleclub/

TWBC NEWSLETTER September, 1995 Page 2

PAGE 3

TWBC RIDE CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 2 to OCTOBER 1, 1995 Questions about rides or activities? Call the leader!

DATE TIME MILES START POINT ACTIVITY CODE LEADER
Sat 9:00 a.m. 6015 Pacific Avenue Ape Caves near Mt. St. Bob Myrick
9/2 Tacoma, WA Helens (three days). 473-7455
Sat 9:00 a.m: Park & Ride Tony’s in Lakewood Louis Marret
9/2 6th & Skyline for breakfast. 564-8599
Sun 9:00 a.m. McDonald’s Decide To Ride Call The Ride Line
9/3 112th & Pacific 759-2800
Call The Ride Line
759-2800

Tues
O75

Thur 5:45 p.m.
9/7

hur
9/7

Skyline Village Apts. TWEC Board Meeting

Dave Tison

272-4571
5702 N. 33rd, Tacoma. | directions.

Fort Steilacoom Park Mountain Biking A Kent Wienker
Entrance. 752-0764
Hwy 18 & S.E. Green Thursday Night Ride = Steve Brown & Carla

Recreation Building Call 759-4464 for

Tues Call The Ride Line Tuesday Ride
9/5 :

Valley Road. East of Flaming Geyser
Auburn.

Lost Lake Camp- Nisqually Valley Ride

9/9 ground, Reservation

Road.

Karen Forbush
752-0764

Bob Myrick
473-7455

9/10

Sat 10:00 a.m. 70 Sequim City Park Hurricane Ridge
9/9

Cle Elum Bakery Mountain Bike

Thorp or Yakima River
John Wayne Trail.

Sun 3:00 p.m. | 30-40 | Fred Meyer Freewheel

9/10 72nd & Pacific

Tues AM

9/12

Thur
9/14

Terry Melvin 472-4994 30+ Call The Ride Line Tuesday Ride Call The Ride Line 759-2800 Fort Steilacoom Park Mountain Biking All Dave Tison Entrance. : 272-4571 Wapato Park Entrance | Picnic Ride Kent Wienker

Sat
9/16

i 2 2 ll 1 2 4 2 2. 2 a

752-0764

Picnic Ride Z Carla Gramlich
752-4038

TWBC NEWSLETTER September, 1995 Page 3

Sat
9/16

11:00 a.m. University of Puget
Sound, N. 11th &

Union.

Sy q
D ioe)
_ sefse|selsa se) sr|se] se] s2se] safsz|

PAGE 4

DATE TIME MILES START POINT ACTIVITY CODE LEADER

Wapato Park TWBC Annual Picnic

Karen Forbush
752-0764

Jan Brame
759-6984

[7
Sun 8:00 a.m. 21,48, | I-5 Exit 99 to Miller- Wolf Haven Century All Terry Maurer
9/17 63,100 | sylvania State Park. 360-956-3321
7
Sun 3:00 p.m. 30-40 | Fred Meyer Freewheel 2 Terry Melvin
9/17 72nd & Pacific 472-4994
Tues AM 30+ Call The Ride Line Tuesday Ride Call The Ride Line
9/19 759-2800

Sat
9/16

Tues South Tacoma Com- TWBC Club Meeting Mat Reitzug
9/19 munity Center, 4851 State bicycle accidents. 265-2127
South Tacoma Way, Budget vote.
Tacoma, WA.

Thur 5:30 p.m. Fort Steilacoom Park Mountain Biking All Kent Wienker
9/21 Entrance. 752-0764
7-9 a.m. Riverfront Park, Tour de Lacs Terry O'Leary
Spokane Falls Blvd., $50 pre-reg. 509-482-2588
Spokane, WA $60 day of.
9:00 a.m. 30 Park at Garcia (Exit 38 | Mountain Bike. 2; Bob Myrick (for info)
off I-90). Ride to event. | Ski Acres Celebrate 473-7455
Trails Festival.

3
3

Sat 10:00 a.m. McDonald’s Decide To Ride Call The Ride Line
9/23 Westgate 759-2800
Sun 10:00 a.m. Meet at Fireman’s Park | Tide Flats Bike Tour 1 Bob Myrick
9/24 to noon. 9th & A St., Tacoma Sponsored & guided 473-7455
Healthy Bay.
Wa
Sun 3:00 p.m. 30-40 | McDonald’s Freewheel 2 Terry Melvin
9/24 Spanaway 472-4994
, | |
Thur 5:30 p.m Dash Point Mountain Biking All Dave Tison
9/28 272-4571
Sat 10:00 a.m Sequim, WA Mountain Bike 4 Bob Myrick
9/30 Olympics 473-7455
| |

be
10}
0

Sun 7:30 to @ Alaska Ferry Terminal | Chuckanut Century Mark Steinberg
9/24 10:00 a.m Bellingham, WA $16.00 360-671-0385

by Citizens For A
Tues AM Call The Ride Line Tuesday Ride Call The Ride Line
9/26 759-2800
Sun 9:30 a.m Kent Park & Ride Seattle for lunch. Bob Myrick
10/1 Hwy 167 & James St.

0
7\

473-7455
15 Starbuck’s Mountaineer’s Salmon

Bake.
Fircrest. $8.00.

Carla Gramlich
752-4038

Proctor

Sun Noon
10/1

TWBC NEWSLETTER September, 1995 Page 4

PAGE 5

Ride Code Definitions: (See column six in ride calendar): 1: Easy pace—frequent stops to catch-up and re-group. 10-13 mph.
2. Moderate pace—occasional stops to catch-up and re-group. 13-16 mph. 3. Steady pace—limited stops. Cue sheets or map
provided. 13-16 mph. 4. Fast pace—very limited stops. Cue sheets or map provided. 16+mph. Maps provided for all rides
over 35 miles.

For More Information About Rides, Call The Ride Line At 759-2800. (To record
your message on the ride line without waiting for the other messages to play, press the *
button on a touch tone phone.)

Wear A Helmet, And Carry Repair Items And First Aid Supplies On Your Ride!

September Ride Notes:

Capitol Punishment: Labor Day weekend will be a hallmark in Phat Tire Biking in the Northwest. The 1st Annual
24 hours of Capitol Punishment mountain bike race will be held on a 12 mile course in Capitol Forest, west of Olympia.
Teams of 4 or 5 riders will race in relay style from noon Saturday to noon Sunday!

This race is based on the format of the popular 24 hours of Canaan, a 24 hour team race in Canaan, West Virginia, which was first held several years ago. This team endurance race format has proven to be so popular that there is a 24 hour race at Moab, Utah, as well as the Capitol Forest race this year. Crazy? Probably. Fun? Definitely!

Capitol Punishment is being organized by Eamon Stanley, head mechanic at NW Mt. Bikes. If you would like to help out for a few hours, please contact me. A good time will be had by all, well, almost all. (Dave Tison 272-4571)

Poker Run Fun Ride: The Single Track Mind Cycling Club will be holding its first annual Poker Run Fun Ride at Elphendahl Pass Staging Area in the Tahuya State Forest near Belfair on Sunday, September 10th. There will be a marked course which riders follow at their own pace. This is a recreational ride, not a race. Riders will receive cards at the various checkpoints, and, at the end of the ride, the best poker hands will receive prizes.

Entry fees are $15.00 for individuals and $25.00 for families. Schwag (prizes, free stuff) will also be given out for == things like oldest and youngest riders, etc. For more information contact Mike Curley at 566-0359.

October Ride Notes:

9th Annual Methow Valley Mt. Bike Festival: This Festival will be held in Winthrop, WA on October 6-9. Friday evening there will be a Fat Tire Criterium through the streets of Winthrop. Sounds like road rash city to me!

Saturday morning riders will be bussed up into the mountains for their choice of two rides of varying difficulty,
both of which will have lunch provided. In the afternoon there will be a kid’s rodeo and a downhill race. A dinner and
dance will be on Saturday evening. Sunday is race day. A kid’s race will be followed by a cross country race.

This is a beautiful area and a great event for us phat tire fun hogs! If you would like more information contact me, Dave Tison, at 272-4571, or the Methow Valley Sports Trail Association at 509-996-3287.

Ride Report: A Visit To Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood by Steve Brown

The day after STP we found ourselves in Corvallis, Oregon. I was continuing my research on how Corvallis came to be the most bicycle friendly community in the Northwest, taking over where Tacoma left off one hundred years ago. This was to become our lucky day, even though we mistook a county office for a city building. The county information person enthusiastically called up the City of Corvallis Transportation Division Manager, Steve Rogers.

Mr. Rogers (Steve) was available to provide us with information about how Corvallis became the city with the largest percentage of bicycle commuters in the Northwest. Being a bicycle commuter and transit user, not to mention Transportation Division Manager, he had an extensive background from which to speak.

Corvallis has an extensive set of marked bicycle shoulder and bicycle paths. Traffic lights are set up to register the presence of bicycles so the light will change to green. Numerous destinations within the city are more easily and quickly

(Continued on page 6)

TWEC says “welcome” and “thank yeu” to the following new members and renewing members for July, 1995:
New members: John Campbell; K. Close; Pat Crockett; Connie Edwards; D. Farnes & family; Mike Knapp; Linda Lionheart &
Peter Lawrence and Amy, Heidi, Caleb, & Caron; M. Sosa & family; Doreen Wise; and Sue Yerian.
Renewing members: B. Dixon; Stan Engle; D. & P. Githens; G. Hawkins-Kunz; G. Hauser; L. Higgens; Kristine Kaliszewski;
G. Kelley; N. Lopez; Phyllis Mansfield; D. Moe; family of G. Moore; K. & D. Oyama; D. Parker; D. Lewis & L. Smuth; L. Sorenson; P.
Tevis; and D. Wilhyde.

TWBC NEWSLETTER September, 1995 Page 5

PAGE 6

Mr. Roger’s
Neighborhood

(Continued from page 5)
accessed by bicycle than by car.

Bicycle utopia is not all perfect. New opportunities avail themselves. The current popularity of carbon bicycles has created a challenging task. Seems these bicycles do not have enough metal ‘in them to trigger the traffic light to turn green. The old adage to “lean for green” does not work.

Another misadventure was with the Department of Agriculture. The Depart- ment has recently completed a new building near Oregon State University. Improvements for bicycles and walkers were not completed to city specifications when the building was ready to open. Consequently, the city of Corvallis re- fused to turn the water on in the build- ing. A compromise was later reached, but not before the Wall Street Journal gave a full report. Further, Oregon State University has consistently failed to adhere to the same city regulations.

Want to visit bicycle utopia, or the
closest thing to it in the Northwest? We
will be planning a mid-September trip
to Corvallis. Watch for details in the
September TWBC newsletter. Seeing is
believing. We will make sure Mayor
Moss and the rest of the City Council get
an invitation. (Steve Brown 752-4038)

Cycling Ads

For Sale:

Peugeot 12 Speed Touring Bike with
generator and front and back lights. 21°
alloy frame. Excellent condition. $65.00.
Call Nicholas at 845-5175.

For Sale:

Mike Melton Custom Tandem. 2312”
21%”. Great shape. $1300.00. Call 537-
3888.

For Sale:

19" Miyata 312. Shimano SIS 6 speed
(13-24). 700c wheels. 165mm cranks. -ADVENTURE CYCLING
Call Rich at 840-9103. 2

TWBC NEWSLETTER September, 1995 Page 6

PAGE 7

1995-1996 Budget For The TWBC

On August 1, 1995, Board Members met to discuss the proposed TWBC budget for October 1, 1995 to September 30, 1996. Items other than the proposed budget which were discussed will be displayed at the September General Meeting in the usual manner. The Seneral consensus of the current Board was to base the 1995-1996 budget on a projection of what funds the Club expects to raise versus actual funds the Club has presently. Based on the past year, some line items were added, while others were either combined or discarded. On September 19, 1995, in accordance with the by-laws, the general membership meeting of TWBC will present the

opportunity to discuss, modify, and vote on the budget proposed by Board Members.

Please take time prior to the September general meeting to evaluate the proposed budget. If you have any questions about a particular item, ask any Board Member. They will have full copies of the August Board minutes before the September meeting. Any member can give me acall to request a full copy of these minutes before the general meeting. Remember that the comments of general members are welcomed at board meetings. The passage of a budget on September 19th will allow the Club to function in providing services to both its

own members, and our community.

Dena M.E. Wessels, TWBC Secretary

Proposed Expenses:

Affiliations: (Includes LBA, Transport Institute, Adventure Cycling, IMBA, etc.)

Donations: (Includes NowBike, Rails to Trails, DARE, Bikes From Heaven.)

Education & Public Relations: (Includes Sprocket Person, Carless Commute, Bike Rodeos, Helmets on Wheels, NowBike calendar meetings, Bike Enhancements, TWBC Helmets, and STP ride preparation meetings.)

Club Banquet:

Bike Exposition: (Includes Seattle business license for selling t-shirts, plus booth cost and parking fees)

Club Picnic:

Social Events & Other Activities: (Includes Halloween and holiday parties, etc.)

Club Meetings:

Newsletter: (Includes printing, mailing, postage and complimentary newsletters to government officials.)

Club Insurance: (This is for the main Club policy only, i.e. liability and medical. Coverage for the Daffodil Classic and Peninsula Metric Century is included in those rides as part of the cost of the ride.)

Membership Costs: (Includes membership card, discount shop list, and TWBC pin. Club logos and transfers are available to members by separate purchase.)

Ride Line:

Ride Program: (Includes evening and weekend rides, camping fees, ridership awards, special rides requiring a
separate fee, and printing the NowBike calendar for inclusion in the newsletter.)

Equipment & Supplies: (Includes containers for Vice-President supplies for general meetings, and new Club
banner.)

TWBC Newsletter - September 1995

TACOMA WHEELMEN'S CLUB