TWBC Newsletter - November 1994
TACOMA WHEELMEN'S CLUB
Tacoma Wheelmen’s
Bicycle Club
P.O. Box 112078-TACOMA, WA 98411
Inside This Issue:
November ride
calendar on pages
2-4. Lots of break-
fasts.
Potential Gifts
and Government
Affairs on page 3.
Commuter Of The
Month, Mini Min-
utes, and Bike Ad-
visory Committee
on page 4.
County Road Pro-
jects, GAC Novem-
ber meeting, Christ-
mas Revisited, and
Classified Ads on
page 5.
*
The next TWBC Board meeting is on Tuesday, Novem- ber 1, 1994, at Scott Pierson's home. The address is 2804 N. 19th Street, Tacoma, WA., and the meet- ing starts at 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome.
TWBC
NEWSLETTER
Bicycle Fit And Parts Swap
Cap November Meeting
Les Schroel of the Mt. Constance Moun-
tain Shoppe will talk about bicycle sizing
and fit at our November Club meeting. He
will bring the Serotta dynamic fit machine,
which can determine the different ways a
bike can be changed to better suit the rider.
A member of our Club will help demon-
strate the machine. This member purchased
a new bike and then developed knee prob-
lems. Les will try to find the problem by
checking the bike and the way it was set up.
We will also have a parts swap or sale.
Anyone having a used bike to sell can bring
it to the meeting. A bulletin board will be
provided to advertise specific types of
equipment.
Our Club meetings are held at the South End Community Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA. This large white build- ing is across the street from the Standard Brands paint store. Meetings begin at 7:00 p-m., and include food, drink, and door prizes.
Remember, there are no Club meetings in
December or January. Go to the Christmas
Party and Annual Banquet instead.
Call Kent Wienker for more information
at 474-9395.
Trip To Leavenworth For
Christmas Tree Lighting
The Spanaway Elk Plain firefighters have
invited Club members and their families,
friends, and relatives, to help them fill a
chartered bus to Leavenworth for the annual
Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, De-
cember 3, 1994.
The bus will leave the firestation at 176th
Street and 22nd Avenue at 7:00 a.m., and
return late that same night.
Cost is $15.00 per person. You may re-
serve your seat by calling Joy Roelofsz at
847-1843, or Kathy Ray at 537-4141.
Founded In 1888
November, 1994
Qe.
Plans Start For TWBC
Annual Banquet
by Bob Myrick
I have agreed to help coordinate the
annual TWBC banquet. The date of the
banquet is January 14, 1995, with the site yet _
to be determined.
The annual banquet is celebrated to close - out the past cycling year and look forward - to the next year's activities. Officers, volun- teers, and faithful riders are recognized at the banquet. Some riders deserve special recognition and they get it at the banquet.
A delightful slide show reveals the past
year's highlights and lowlights.
We need a few good, enthusiastic volun-
teers to work on this event. Having a theme
and decorations would be nice. If you want
to be famous, or infamous, call me at 473-
7455.
TWBC Welcomes The Following
New Members For November:
John Blakeslee, Sara Blakeslee, David
Grote, Duane Henton, Hui Cha Le, Sherry
McDonald, Rick Snodgrass, and Kevin A.
Thomas.
TWBC RIDE CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 1 to DECEMBER 3, 1994 Questions about rides or activities? Call the leader!
DATE TIME MILES START POINT ACTIVITY CODE
Tues AM 30+ Call the ride leader or | Tuesday Ride a
1/1 Ride Line (759-2800)
Tues Scott Pierson's home, TWBC Board Meeting
11/1 2804 N. 19th St.,
Tacoma, WA.
Sat 20 Carla & Steve'shome, | Annual Pancake 2
11/5 3218 N. 28th, Tacoma, | Breakfast 8-9:30,
WA. followed by ride. 753-4038
Sun 8:00 a.m. 20 McDonald's Breakfast at Tony's 2 Louis Marret
11/6 N. 21st & Pearl 564-8599
Tues AM 307 Call the ride leaderor | Tuesday Ride 3 Louie Boitano
11/8 Ride Line (759-2800) 922-6156
Tues Government Affairs Bob Myrick
11/8 Committee Meeting. 473-7455
Open to all bicycling
enthusiasts.
Sat 12 Mt. Constance Easy to moderate 2
11/12 Gig Harbor mountain bike ride 752-4038
along Power Line Trail
Sun 10:00 a.m. McDonald's Decide To Ride Ride Line
11/13 N. 21st & Pearl 759-2800
Tues AM 30+ Call the ride leaderor | Tuesday Ride 3 Louie Boitano
11/15 Ride Line (759-2800) 922-6156
Tues 2 South End Community | TWBC Club Meeting. Kent Wienker
11/15 Center, 4851 S. Tacoma | Bicycle fitting and 474-9395
Way. swap meet.
Sat -, | 30-35 2. Steve & Phyllis Lay
11/19 759-1816
Center. Christmas
Boutique at PLU.
Sun 25 McDonald's Likity Split through
11/20 N. 21st & Pearl - | peaceful Tacoma.
(Rain will cancel)
Tues AM 30+ Call the ride leader or | Tuesday Ride 3 Louie Boitano
11/22 Ride Line (759-2800) 922-6156
Sat 10:00 a.m. Freighthouse Square Decide To Ride Call The Ride Line
11/26 S. 25th & D Street
759-2800
Sun 8:00 a.m. McDonald's Mountain Bike 3 Kent Wienker
11/27 Hwy. 512 Capitol Forest 474-9395
TWBC NEWSLETTER November, 1994 Page 2
Louie Boitano
922-6156
Kent Wienker
474-9395
Carla Gramlich
Steve Brown
Scott Pierson's home,
2804 N. 19th St.,
Tacoma, WA.
Carla Gramlich
UPS Fieldhouse
N. 11th & Union
Pancake Breakfast,
Spanaway Senior
3
John Hansen
471-0962
Sun 3:00 p.m. 20-25 | McDonald's Sunday Afternoon 2
11/27 N. 21st & Pearl Spin.
Tuesday Ride 3 Louie Boitano
922-6156
Tues AM
11/29
Call the ride leader or
Ride Line (759-2800)
Firestation
176th St. E. & 22nd
Ave.
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.
Leavenworth
Christmas Tree
Bus, $15.00.
Lighting. Chartered
Connie Reitzug
265-2127
Joy Roelofsz
847-1843
Kathy Ray
537-4141
For More Information About Rides, Call The Ride Line At 759-2800. (To record your message on the ride line without watting 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!
Potential Gifts
by Dena M.E. Wessels
The Hanukkah and Christmas seasons
are coming upon us. Are you wonder-
ing what to give those special people in
your life? Come to the 15 November
TWEC general meeting for some great
stocking stuffer ideas.
Our TWBC first aid kits are great for only three dollars. Each kit includes bandages, iodine, tape and pads for those occasions when you and another biking buddy take a notion to try to get more familiar with the road surface. Be prepared! The kits fit easily in a bike bag, and by getting one now you will be ready when your bike comes out (of storage?) in the spring.
Another idea is a nifty colored zip- pered coin bag. Have you ever gone on a ride and forgotten your money or I.D.? You can avoid this by purchasing a four inch circular coin bag. For only six dollars, you have a bag that is large enough for your expired driver's license and a few dollars and coins. You can put the bag in your pocket or pannier and forget about switching things from your wallet or purse to your pannier or bike
clothing and back again.
Government Affairs
Committee Meets In
October
by Bob Myrick
At its October meeting the government
affairs committee discussed Marine
View Drive, Point Defiance Promenade,
ASARCO, S.R. 16, helmets, the Pierce
County non-motorized plan, and how to
divide responsibility.
The issues are often so interrelated we
decided to divide the tracking re-
sponsibility roughly by jurisdiction as
follows: Dave Tison, Metropolitan
Parks; William Hoehne, City of Tacoma;
Bob Myrick, Pierce County and region;
Scott Pierson, State of Washington; and
Carla Gramlich, helmet advocacy. Kent
Wienker and Steve Brown already have
major Club responsibilities, but hope to
have time to contribute to advocacy
issues.
This structure should help us to quick-
ly mobilize for most issues by directing
our efforts to decision making boards or
councils. There are other geographic -
areas, and we could subdivide areas as
the group grows. With a few more
people, proactive work would be easier.
The Club always welcomes anyone
willing to tackle an interesting issue ora
pet peeve to bring to the committee. If
you have a problem that government
can fix, give me a call at 473-7455.
In October the government affairs committee sent a letter to the Tacoma City Council and the Planning Com- mission objecting to the lack of bicycle lanes on the Marine View Drive project now being built. Consistent with the Transportation Plan and environmental impact studies, bike lanes were originally planned. The city seems to be ignoring both the studies and the plan.
Our letter asked for consistency be-
tween studies, plans, and projects so
when bike lanes are called for they do
not suddenly disappear at construction
time.
The government affairs committee
hopes to meet with city council
members and officials to reach some
understanding about this and future
projects.
TWBC NEWSLETTER November, 1994 Page 3
Commuter Of The Month
by Kent Wienker, TWBC President
Bob Myrick has cycled to his work
place at the P.U.D. building in Nalley
Valley regularly since 1991. He is
Tacoma's city water quality coordinator.
His round trip is eight miles, and he
rides in his sport coat, shirt, and tie.
Bob rides an early generation mountain bike with fenders, three head lights, and multiple tail lights. He uses a Night Sun light set and converted an old Union-Frondberg generator light to a battery light. He has had only one flat tire.
Bob rides on sidewalks during peak
traffic periods. There are times and
conditions when sidewalk riding is
safest. Sidewalks are not used much in
any case, and Bob uses a bell to alert
pedestrians.
Bob has co-chaired the Daffodil Classic, serves aS our government relations coordinator, and serves on the Regional Trails Advisory Commission. Bob has been a TWBC board member for years, including terms as president and vice-president.
Linda King of Tacoma was recently
featured in a Bicycling Magazine article
which showcased her commute. In the
article she mentioned another article
that inspired her. This article included a
picture of Bob on an I-5 overpass.
Bob:was on the committee that started
Carless Commute in 1992. He was on
the committee that started bikes on
busses in Pierce County, a full year
before Metro of Seattle started a similar
program.
In an article about Bob in a P.U.D.
newsletter, Bob said that a good bicycle
costs about $500.00, and because of flat
tires and the consumption of lots of
doughnuts fuel saving payback takes
forever. But we have already
established that he has had only one flat
tire. So let us add that we like
doughnuts, and we like to ride.
Mini Minutes
TWEC Board Meeting
by Dena M.E. Wessels, TWBC Secretary
TWBC Board Members met on
October 11, 1994, at Scott Pierson's
home.
September Board minutes were ap-
proved.
The Board will be investigating what
benefits we would have as a Club
versus as individuals in joining
Adventure Cycling. Kent will reword
the information about TWBC that is
published in their book.
TWBC received a letter of thanks from Pierce County Parks and Recreation for TWBC's check for $1000.00 for the Sprocket Women's Bicycle Program. In 1993-94 16 elementary schools were visited, with 8,400 students viewing the safety program. In the last 4 years, more than 20,000 students had _ the opportunity to view the program.
TWBC received notice that the Board
of Directors for the Daffodil Festival are
beginning the preparation of their 1995
Special Events Brochure. A donation of
$15.00 is requested for inclusion in the
book. This item was tabled for now—no
Daffodil chairperson exists, and no
official date for the ride has been set.
Tentative dates for the Daffodial Classic
and Peninsula Metric Century are April
16 and June 6th respectively.
TWBC received notice from the City of
Tacoma in conjunction with Pierce
Transit, about the Tacoma Transit
Supportive Project. Some of the Board
members will be attending.
Treasurer's Report: Kent Wienker
reported for Hazel Giddings that the
Club's total income as of July 1, 1994
was $17,099.50, with $27,490.18 in the
checking account.
Bank cards and mail box keys: An
update of the current signatures and
possession of these items was made into
the official Club records.
Bike Boxes: Steve Brown reported for Carla Gramlich that several shops and publications have been checked for the best price and product. The original price of $199.00 per box is up to $229.00 fora hard shell box. Steve will continue to work on purchasing the boxes with Kent Wienker.
A question was raised about the
number of votes required to pass a
motion on the Board when one or more
Board positions are vacant. A change in
the Club by-laws may be needed by a
vote of the membership.
TWBC NEWSLETTER November, 1994 Page 4
Special Events Board Position: Mat
Reitzug would like to be nominated for
this position, leaving Connie Reitzug as
Touring Captain. Club by-laws do not
prohibit couples from holding different
Board positions. Nomination will occur
at the November general meeting.
Annual Banquet: Bob Myrick will be
working on this shortly. Items discussed
were standardizing mileage awards, t-
shirts for other awards, and ride leader
programs and awards. A location for the
banquet is still open.
Adopt A Trail: TWBC has been invited to join this program sponsored by Pierce County Parks, Recreation and Com- munity Services Department. The Club could receive publicity, and rides on the trail could be arranged. Maintenance and policing of the trail would be required. Carla mentioned the Orting section on the Rails to Trails line as a possibility. No decision was made.
Kent requested a listing of the organ-
izations and associations TWBC has
joined. Dena and Hazel will check
records for names.
Dena will make copies of insurance
records that she has for Kent, in his
search for better policies for the Club.
Bob Myrick has some of this
information.
Kentis still trying to find chairpersons for the Daffodil Classic and the Peninsula Metric Century rides. Dena will comb the records for some history on the Daffodil to celebrate its upcoming 20th year. The Club has an opportunity for some good publicity.
Bike Advisory Committee
Seeks Members
The state Department of Transporta-
tion is looking for bike riders to serve on
its Bicycling Advisory Committee.
The committee meets three times a
year to advise the department on poli-
cies and projects.
Applicants should send a resumé by
November 11th to Mike Dornfeld,
WSDOT, P.O. Box 47329, Olympia WA
98504-7329. For more information about
the committee and member's duties, call
705-7258. (Source, The News Tribune,
October 18, 1994.)
The Tacoma Wheelmen's
Bicycle Club
Board Members
PRESIDENT
Kent Wienker -474-9395
VICE-PRESIDENT
Dave Tison -272-4571
SECRETARY
Dena Wessels 857-5658
TREASURER
Hazel Giddings -894-2643
TOURING CAPTAINS
Mat & Connie Reitzug -265-2127
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
William Hoehne -759-4464
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Bob Myrick -473-7455
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
PAST PRESIDENT
Carla Gramlich -752-4038
Staff
MEMBERSHIP
Phyllis Lay ‘759-1816
PUBLICITY
L.A.W. REPRESENTATIVE
Sue Given -565-0535
B.F.W. COORDINATOR
Diane Lister -752-8636
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
BICYCLE SHOW BOOTH Sylvia Russell -862-3288 Brian Wester 862-3288 S.T.P. COORDINATOR Hank Giddings -894-2643 BANQUET COMMITTEE Bob Myrick -473-7455 ANNUAL PICNIC Peggy Fjetland -841-4458 Joy Roelofsz -847-1843 Send correspondence to: The Tacoma heelmen's Bicycle Club, P.O. Box 112078, (Tacoma, WA 98411. Send articles, for our Newsletter, to the editor jt: 5702 N. 33rd, Apt. 17B, Tacoma, WA 98407. E-mail can be sent to the editor via Compuserve, User # 71570,446. Article deadline for the December, 1994 issue is lovember 15, 1994.
County Road Projects
Include Shoulders And
Sidewalks
(Editor's note: Gary N. Predoehl, P.E., Program
Development Manager, Pierce County Public Works,
supplied the following project information to Kent
Wienker, TWBC President, in a letter dated August 16,
1994. Kent asked about bicycle transportation in Pierce
County.)
104th St. East, Golden Given Rd. E. to Portland
Ave. E., 3 to 5-foot paved shoulders.
Fruitland Ave. East, 400’ North of 112th St. E. to
80th St. E., 5-foot paved shoulders.
©84th Street East, Woodland Ave. E. to Fruitland
Ave. E., 4-foot paved shoulders.
224th St. East, 70th Ave. E. to 50' West of SR-
161., 4-foot paved shoulders.
© Pioneer Way East, 500' North of 72nd St. E. to Stewart Ave. E., 5-foot paved shoulders.
©@24the St. East, 92nd Ave. E. to 122nd Ave. E., 3-
foot paved shoulders.
® Rosedale St. N.W., Ray Nash Rd. N.W. to Gig
Harbor City Limits, 5-foot paved shoulders.
@Key Peninsula Hwy., 785' North of Home
Bridge to 68th St. KPN, 5-foot paved shoulders.
Home Bridge, Key Peninsula, 8-foot paved
shoulders.
‘© West Tapps Dr. East, 33rd St. Ct. E. to Lakeridge
Dr., 6-foot paved shoulders.
@12th S.t E, 210th Ave. East, 182nd Ave. E. to
Edwards Rd., 6-foot paved shoulders.
@S. Prairie Rd. East, SR-410 to 214th Ave. E., 6-
foot paved shoulders.
@Spanaway Loop Rd. S., 168th St. S. to Tule Lake
Rd., 5-foot paved shoulders and a sidewalk on the
east side of the road.
108th St. S.W., Cronins Dr. S.W. to Lakeview
Ave. S.W., 4foot paved shoulders and 6-foot
sidewalks.
®Calistoga Ave. Bridge, Orting, 3-foot paved
shoulders and 5-foot sidewalks.
@Sumner-Tapps Hwy. East, Forest Canyon Rd. E.
to Penstock Bridge, 6-foot paved shoulders.
®Valley Ave. East Bridge, Puyallup River Valley,
6-foot paved shoulders.
@Kernahan Rd. Bridge, Ashford, 4-foot paved
shoulders.
112th St. East, 18th Ave. E. to Waller Rd., 13-foot
wide curb lanes and 6-foot sidewalks.
@Canyon Rd. East, 106th St. E. to 116th St. E., 15-
foot wide curb lanes.
@ Waller Rd. East, 112th St. E. to 72nd St. E., 6-foot
paved shoulders.
These projects have recently been completed, are
under construction, or are scheduled for
construction during the 1995-1996 construction
season.
In addition to Mr. Predoehl, P.E., who can be
reached by calling 591-7250, Bob Vogel, who is
preparing the Pierce County Non-motorized
Transportation Plan, can be called for more
information at 591-7172..
Have You Turned In
Your Ride Log?
TWBC Government Affairs
Committee Plans November
Meeting
All bicycling enthusiasts and advocates are
invited to attend the next meeting of the Club's
Government Affairs Committee.
Issues to be considered are: Pierce County's draft
non-motorized plan; ASARCO's last plan; the
Point Defiance Promenade; Marine View Drive;
6th Avenue's new left turn lanes; and your
concerns.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday,November
8, 1994, at 7:00 p.m., at 2804 N. 19th Street,
Tacoma, WA.
If you have questions or answers, please call Bob Myrick at 502-8212 (work), or 473-7455 (home).
Christmas Revisited
by Kent Wienker
Two bicycles have been donated so far to our
program for making bicycles and helmets
available to children in our area.
Since we are known by our friends and
neighbors, possibly you can recall someone
mentioning an unused bike. If so, ask them if they
would like to donate the bike to our cause.
The bikes will be reconditioned, if necessary,
and will be given with a helmet.
Please help. We have the knowledge, tools, and
funds.
Call me at 474-9395 for information.
Classified Ads
For sale:
Bianchi Campion D'ttalia.
Black, 21" frame. New tires. $225.00.
Call evenings at 535-6993.
For sale:
Ritchey Comp 23. New. XT
Rapid Fire Plus. 21°. See to
appreciate. $800.00.
20" City, mountain bike.
Spaulding 18 speed. Excellent
condition. $125.00.
Call 474-9395.
TWBC NEWSLETTER November, 1994 Page 5