Ride Calendar – Winter 2006

Tuesday and Thursday rides start at the Richland Community Center (meet on the north side by the bike racks). These are leaderless rides, with the destination chosen by the group. Morning rides start at 9:30 AM, but that changes to 8:30 after Daylight Savings Time begins on April 2. Evening rides are discontinued until spring.

Saturday rides generally start at 9:30 AM (8:30 after Daylight Savings Times begins) from their scheduled locations, as specified in the ride calendar.

Ride Codes: Green – less than 15 miles with nearly level terrain; Blue – 15 - 40 miles with moderate terrain; Black – greater than 40 miles with moderate terrain, or fewer than 40 with asphalt moguls.

Riders: No need to call ahead unless otherwise indicated. Just show up at the start. Feel free to call the ride leader for more information.

Leaders and Sweeps: Ride leaders and sweeps are always needed. As a leader, you can choose a ride that’s been done before, or create the ride of your choice and have it immortalized in this Spokesman ride calendar. The day you lead the group on your ride, you may be surprised at the number of riders who have never followed your route before. Ride sweeps provide the “rear guard” for the ride, ensuring that slower riders or those with mechanical troubles don’t fall back behind the pack. Call Tom Klinckman at 543-7714 to volunteer.

And two more Very Important Notes: First, WEAR YOUR HELMET! Second, please obey the rules of the road at all times. The Club is active in community affairs, which helps us promote legislation that could provide better facilities for cyclists. Don’t ruin it by blowing through stop signs, tailgating left turns, or riding against traffic. If you wouldn’t do it in a car, don’t do it on a bike!

Beginning riders and those who want a shorter ride: Show up at the longer rides and let the ride Sweep or Leader know you’d like a less strenuous ride. They can help you with a shorter route and try to match you up with someone to ride with. We won’t leave you dangling.

Ride Leaders – Some hints for an enjoyable and successful ride:

• Introduce all the riders before starting.
• Make sure everyone is wearing their helmets
• Brief all riders on the route, where to regroup, any problems expected. (If you are unsure of the route and its conditions, ride it yourself the week before the ride.)
• Provide maps. You can get some maps on the Web, or ask John Ittner for maps, 627-1858.
• Ask about the riding abilities of the group, if you are not personally acquainted with some of the riders. Ask someone to act as sweep (rear guard) if there are riders who can’t keep up with the leaders.
• Ask riders to let you know if they will be leaving the group before the end of the ride.
• In hot weather, carry extra water in case another rider goes dry.
• After a particularly good ride, if the ride leader should ask for a tip, offer him or her the previous one..

Riding in the fresh air and sunshine is its own best reward.

Jan 21 - Kennewick Convoy - Leave from Espresso World in Kennewick at 10:30 AM (for those wanting a longer ride, start at Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30). Tour Kennewick via 10th and 4th Avenues. Possible stop at O'Henry's on Auburn near 1st St. Return via Columbia Park. Blue, 18 miles. Leader: Harold Udseth, 946-1202

Jan 28 - Dallas Climb - Meet at Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. Out I 182 to Kennedy and Dallas. Climb Dallas to I-82 and onto Badger Road. Return on Leslie or continue to Sandstone. The climb up Dallas makes this ride a Dark Blue, 25 miles. Leader: Gene Weisskopf, 946-1316

Feb 4 - Loop the Parks - Leave from Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. Ride through Chiawana Park. Return via Cable Bridge and Columbia Drive through Columbia Park, I-182, Jadwin, back to Some Bagels. Blue, approx. 25 miles. Leader: Larry Thomas, 942-1266

Feb 11 - West Richland Tour - Leave from Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM Out Kennedy to Bombing Range. Ride through residential areas on Ironton, Broadview, Riverside, returning on Van Giesen and Hains. Gradual climbs and a steep downhill; Blue, 19 miles. Leader: Dave Gerkensmeyer, 628-3084

Feb 18 - Benton City - Leave from Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. Ride to B.C. via Dallas to Badger. Lunch at Bear Hut. Return via DeMoss, Ruppert, and Van Giesen. Blue, approx. 30 miles. Leader: Bob Morford, 375 0839

Feb 25 - Sagemoor Loop - Leave Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. Rd 100, Harris, Dent, to Rd 68 at Douglas Fruit. Rd 68 to Sagemoor. Return on Taylor Flats Rd. Black, approx. 35 miles. Leader: Ed Nordquist, 627-1195

Mar 4 - Badger Canyon Loop - Leave Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. I-182 to Queensgate, Columbia Drive, Leslie, and Badger. Return on Jacobs Rd from Kiona, then Dallas, Kennedy and Queensgate back to Richland. Blue, approx. 35 miles. Leader: Larry Thomas, 942-1266

Mar 11 - Tour de Hanford - Leave from Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. Ride Rt 4S north to Rt 10 at the Wye Barricade. Rt 10 and Horn Rd to Benton City. Lunch stop at the Bear Hut in Benton City. Return via Kennedy, Queensgate, I-182 trail, Goethals, and Lee. Black, 47 miles. Leader: Gene Weisskopf, 946-1316

Mar 18 - Zintel Dam - Leave Espresso World in Kennewick at 10:30 AM, or get there from Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM . Take Kellogg to 10th, then Union to 27th. Ride up to Dam. Continue through Canyon Lakes to Ely. Left on 27th and retrace back to Kellogg. Black approx. 25 miles (or 40 miles from Richland). Leader: Harold Udseth, 946-1202

Mar 25 - Burbank- Leave Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM. Columbia Park and over the Blue Bridge. Out "A" Street and Hwy 12 to Burbank. Stop at the petrol station. Return same route except go over the Cable Bridge. Blue, approx. 32 miles. Leader: Ed Nordquist, 627-1195

Apr 1 - Chocolate Factory - Leave from Some Bagels in Richland at 9:30 AM Cross Columbia River on I 182, out Court to Harris, left on Harris to Dent. Left on Rd. 68, right at fire station, out to Hwy 395, and lunch at the Chocolate Factory. Retrace route to return or continue to Sagemoor. Blue, 40 miles. Leader: Bill Painter, 946-1076

Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, April 2

Apr 8 - B.C. to Prosser - Leave from Benton City Park & Ride at 9:45 AM or, for those wanting a longer ride, start from Some Bagels in Richland at 8:30 AM . Up Weber Canyon to County Wells Rd. Over to Patterson Hwy, and down into Prosser for lunch at Blue Goose. Back via Old Inland Empire Hwy to Benton City. Black approx. 35 miles (or 65 miles from Richland). Leader: Gene Weisskopf, 946-1316

Apr 15 - Over to Hover - Leave Espresso World in Kennewick at 9:30 AM, or get there from Some Bagels in Richland at 8:30 AM . Kellogg, Metaline, Edison, Columbia Park Trail, Fruitland to First Ave, left on First to Chemical Dr., 3rd, Yew, 7th, Havana, Finley Rd Riek, Meals and Hover Rd. to the Old Hover town site. Return via Game Farm, Haney, Bowles Rd., Oak St., 27th, Washington and 10th. Blue, approx. 35 miles. Leader: Dave Gerkensmeyer, 628-3084

Upcoming Spring Biking Event

Northwest Crank April 28 - May 1, Wenatchee, WA
Ready, set, crank!

Mark your calendar and prepare your bike! Join your fellow cyclists in Sunny Central Washington from Friday, April 28th through Monday, May 1st for Northwest Crank, a spring cycling festival. Don’t miss this great opportunity, hosted by the Seattle International Randonneurs, to build your spring base miles and have a great time with riders from all over the region. Experience life at its purest for 4 days: Ride, eat, sleep, lie - repeat! Details:

http://www.seattlerandonneur.org/rides/nwcrank/

Job Opening: TCBC Web Site Manager

Gene Weisskopf

The club's Web site is in need of a new manager. I set up the current site at the beginning of 2004 and have maintained it since that time. The site provides a way for anyone on the planet to find and learn about the TCBC, there's a membership form that can be printed and mailed in, it has our newsletter and ride schedule that are updated each quarter, and there are updated announcements and information for our regular events like the Century. Keeping those components going does not take too much work, but a new manager might want to dive in and come up with new opportunities for using the site (while understanding that new features could add to the routine maintenance). In other words, the job can be as compact or as huge you (and the club's Board!) want.

The new manager should have at least rudimentary skills dealing with HTML and converting text and images into HTML pages, as well as managing the files on a Web site (uploading, renaming, etc). If you think you have at least those basic skills, the job would give you an opportunity to hone those skills, with something to show for your efforts. If you're interested, contact me at 946-1316.

For Sale

Bicycle Wind Trainer: by Performance. Sturdy, with resistance control adjustment. $20 contribution to Tri-City Bicycle Club. Call Carl B 375-4740

Recumbent: Long wheelbase, underseat steering, "Infinity". Still has first/only front tire on it. Stable ride, Max Rider height ~5’9", $295 Call: Bob Morford 375-0839

Get a Bike Fit from Colburn Coaching! A proper bike fit will allow you to ride longer with better comfort! Call 375-3248 or email colburncoaching@hotmail.com to set up an appointment. Spring Special for Tri-City Bike Club Members: $35.00 Regular price $50.00

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