THE NEW PORTLAND BICYCLE MASTER PLAN will be presented to Portland City Council on Feb. 4th at 2:00 pm. It has recently been endorsed by the Planning Commission. The present plan was created in 1996 and needs to be updated. The new plan provides a blueprint for making Portland a world-class bicycling city, reducing the causes of climate change, improving public health, promoting prosperity and building a close-knit community. It will set the course for the next 20 years. The plan will include an “80% Strategy” which will get Bike Boulevards within one-quarter mile of 80% of Portlanders and a “World Class Strategy” which will include Cycle Tracks and “low stress” bikeways similar to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and other world class cycling cities. For more information or to write a letter endorsing the plan, go to http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/BicycleMasterPlan .

Plans to close the ARCH BRIDGE CONNECTING OREGON CITY WITH WEST LINN for renovation have been delayed for 9 months to 1 year. This is good news for cyclists as the bridge had been scheduled to shut down in January, 2010 for up to two years. This would cause a major inconvenience, especially for the Oregon City business district. It is also a popular cycling route with no convenient detours. Federal officials asked ODOT to conduct several additional reviews including innovative contractor bids, minimizing “unknowns” and developing a mitigation strategy for problems. When Open Houses are held I’ll keep you informed so we can attend or send letters.

IF A CYCLIST IS HIT IN AN UNMARKED BIKE LANE (SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION) HE/SHE IS NOT PROTECTED BY LAW. In Portland a woman was the victim of a “right hook”. The driver was cited for “failure to yield to a bicycle”. The driver admitted she turned without checking her blind spot. The judge came to a different conclusion. Because the defendant’s failure to yield was in an unmarked portion of the roadway (i. e. intersection), she cannot be judged liable for the violation. Three experienced bike lawyers felt the judge had made an error in his interpretation of the law. Possibly the legislature will have to clarify the law. It gives you an additional reason to be careful when you are on the road.

PORTLAND BIKE COUNTS HAVE SHOWN THE FIRST DECLINE IN 5 YEARS. I am one of hundreds of volunteers who count bikes at intersections every summer. I was surprised that my counts were down. But then I found out that bike counts were down across the board. Here are some of the findings:

Bike traffic on the 4 main bike-friendly downtown bridges (Hawthorne, Broadway, Steel, and Burnside) and at 100 non-bridge locations citywide have shown an annual decrease of 8% and 5% respectively.

Compared to 2008 counts, overall bike use in Portland decreased 6%.

Helmet use is down from 80% in 2008 to 77% in 2009 (women wear helmets 8% more often than men).

The amount of female riders went down 1% in 2009 — from 32% to 31%. The decline in male ridership at the 100 non-bridge locations went down 4% in 2009.

Were numbers for all modes down? Did lower gas prices have something to do with the findings? Did higher unemployment factor in? We don’t know and the full report is scheduled to be released soon.
Sharon Fekety

BACK AGAIN! Columbia Gorge Explorer 2010

May 28-30 Memorial Day Weekend - This is a self- supported bike tour (that means schlep all our own equipment) that runs Memorial weekend - Friday through Monday. This is a great tour for beginner riders that want to begin a bike touring. Space is limited to 30 people and it fills up VERY QUICKLY!

This moderately paced, 4-day tour of the Columbia Gorge over Memorial Day weekend covers 55-65 miles/day, traveling east in WA, crossing the Columbia at Hwy. 97, returning in OR, and allowing plenty of time for sightseeing.

Day 1: Vancouver to Home Valley-56miles. Features a climb to Beacon Rock and Carson Hot Springs.
Day 2: Home Valley to Deschutes River State Park-63/70 miles. Features a visit to Maryhill Museum.
Day 3: Deschutes to Viento State Park-52 miles
Day 4: Viento back home-59 miles. Much to see and do on this route you can’t possibly do it all!
Complete 2010 Itinerary

Yes, there are some hills, but none of the long grades exceed 7%, and at the expense of missing some of the scenery, some of these can be bypassed. NO SAG provided for this tour- it’s set up for camping along the way with riders carrying their own gear, but there are enough motels, B&B’s and restaurants on the route that if you want to take your skinny-tired racer, you can do it with nothing but a fanny pack and credit card. If you’re planning on riding with gear, find a partner or two so you can share time & gear and lighten each other’s load. This tour has run for seven previous years to rave reviews.

You will need to be in proper physical condition for the riding, and if you’re inexperienced at loaded touring, you need not worry-several experienced riders, some with mechanical skills are already signed up, so plenty of help will be available if you get into difficulty.

Leaves at 9:00 a.m. Friday, May 28, 2010 from Larson’s Bakery, 13411 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA.
For more information and to let us know you’re coming, e-mail Ride Leader Sally Loughridge: or phone 503-807-3340. Space is limited to 30 people and it fills up VERY QUICKLY! $10 will reserve your spot.
Please note: Friday & Saturday nights’ campground fees must be paid in advance and are nonrefundable. Reserved group space for those two nights is limited-fee is $10.00 per person. Campgrounds will fill on both nights, so contact us and get your $ in pronto. No reservations for Viento – 1st come, 1st served.

New Club Jersey!

- With the new year comes a new club jersey! Club member Eileen Holzman's artistic talent has joined with Primal and designed the latest Portland Wheelmen jerseys and jacket. Some members have already placed their order and will be the first to ride in their new finery! Stay tuned for another opportunity to order your own club jersey, long or short sleeved, or perhaps even a wind-breaker jacket!!! More details and pricing to come. Until then, here is the art rendition of the design.

2010 Pioneer Century

- The date is set: June 5th 2010! More information coming soon! Check back again!

PWTC on Facebook!

- The Portland Wheelmen have joined Facebook! Stay connected with the club and events by joining the Fan Page and/or the Group page! Members can message each other, upload club photos and video, discuss upcoming rides and events. This is any easy way to share with each other, advertise rides and meet up!

Portland Wheelmen Touring Club

Riding in Groups

- Riding in groups - A guide to safe bike riding

Riding bicycles in groups can be a very satisfying, rewarding and safe experience. It can also be a dangerous experience. When riding a bike, you are operating in a multi variable world where the dynamics are constantly changing. Rider positions change, traffic conditions change, the road surface changes, the road direction changes, topography changes, the weather changes, and additional variables constantly come into and out of your immediate environment. While riding in a group, the safety of everyone in the group is dependent on everyone in the group riding safely and a single mis-step by one rider can endanger the whole group. When things go wrong in a group ride, they go very wrong very quickly and there is very little time to react. So knowing how to ride safely in groups can go a long way to keeping the riders safe. Whether the group is 2 people or 20, the same principles apply. After many miles on bikes, and observing many safe and unsafe riders and riding conditions, I am putting on paper my observations, recommendations and guidelines for safely riding in groups. These are only guidelines. Ultimately, every rider is responsible for riding safely and constantly being vigilant of the situation around them. Although many of these points seem like common sense, still they warrant inclusion in this list. As a point of reference, in this context a leading rider is anyone ahead of you and a following rider is anyone behind you.

Be aware of your surroundings, both the other riders and the greater world in which you’re riding.

Expect the unexpected.

Look for dangerous situations that could be developing.

Use a rear view mirror. Sunglass mounted or helmet mounted mirrors, in my opinion, are far better than mirrors mounted in the end of road style handlebars. Handlebar mounted mirrors require that you look down to see behind yourself, making you take your eyes off the road ahead while you are doing it. Sunglasses or helmet mounted mirrors are lightweight and versatile. They move with your head and with the momentary flick of your eye you can see what’s happening behind, while still maintaining visual contact with the road and riders ahead. I have ridden with over 40,000 other riders in my life time. I have been hit from behind 6 times by two riders; 3 times from one rider and 3 times by another. Both use handlebar mounted mirrors.

Pay attention to what is going on around you, what road markings are saying, traffic signals, the presence of other riders, and the presence of cars.

Visibility in a group is limited, so each rider needs to be on the look out for all the other riders. The leading riders can not see behind themselves because there are other riders in their line of view. Riders in the rear have limited forward visibility because of the riders ahead of them. Riders in the middle can not see forward or backward. Call out any hazards in the roadway so the following riders can avoid them. Call out when traffic is approaching from the rear so the riders ahead of you will be aware of it. Point to and call out glass or other hazards on the road that could pose a danger to other riders.

Follow far enough back from other riders that you can stop if the rider ahead does something unexpected. You will have to gauge this distance according to your speed, but a good rule is to maintain a 2 second interval.

Other riders will do unexpected things so it is incumbent on you to make sure you are alert and prepared to take evasive action if another rider does do something unexpected. Unexpected actions can result from a whole host of things, like a dog running into the roadway, a rider trying to avoid a pot hole, a sudden puncture flat, an insect flying into a riders eye or ear, a car that veers too close to a rider. The possibilities are almost endless, but you need to be alert to the possibilities and keep enough distance so you can react before colliding with another rider.

Signal turns in advance so the other riders know what you are going to do and they can adjust their course and speed accordingly.

When other riders call out “car back” it means that a car is approaching from the rear. You should make every effort to move toward the right side of the road and give the car ample room to pass.

When a rider calls out “riders up” it means that your group is overtaking another group of riders and will probably pass them. You need to move toward the left to provide clearance for the riders being overtaken. This same principle applies when your group is approaching a runner, a walker, a person on horseback or any other obstruction in the roadway.

Passing another rider or group of riders should always be done on the left side of the rider being passed. Call out to the rider being over taken and announce “on your left”. This lets the rider know you are approaching and lets him take appropriate actions.

Do not ride between a leading rider and the curb side of the roadway. You do not want to ‘overlap’ the leading rider’s rear wheel on the ‘inside’. If the leading rider experiences an unexpected situation, his/her normal reaction is to move toward the curb. If you have your front wheel poked in there, the lead rider will hit you and potentially take both of you down.

Stay on your own side of the road. DO NOT ride in opposing lanes of traffic. DO NOT cross the “Yellow Line of Death”. Its there for a reason.

Be smooth, consistent and predicable in your riding style. Avoid sudden starts, sudden turns, and sudden stops. These abrupt actions can distract other riders and cause accidents.

When passing another rider, give them plenty of room before you pull back in front of them.

Watch the road ahead for pot holes or other potential bike damaging hazards and avoid them.

Pace Lines should be left to the experts. Drafting in another riders slipstream is an effective way to reduce wind resistance. It is also a dangerous practice and can lead to serious accidents and injury. Drafting and pace lines provide the riders with significantly reduced visibility and reaction time. A tiny mistake can put the whole group in the ditch.

A typical bike and rider weighs somewhere between 125 and 250 pounds. Their body is usually covered in Spandex or other cloth material. Spandex offers little in the way of abrasion or impact resistance. A small car on the other hand weighs at least 1,800 pounds and is covered in steel. Extensive research into the subject has proven that the bike and rider will ALWAYS lose an encounter with a car. ALWAYS. It is not enough to be right, you have to be safe. Give cars the greatest possible respect, even when they are in the wrong, because challenging a car will end poorly for the bike and rider.

When changing lanes in a group of riders, point to the spot you are going to move into before you move over. Again let the other riders know what you are planning before you do it.

On descents specifically, and passing in general, pass on the other riders left, pass on the straight-a-ways, not in the curves. The curves are the most dangerous part and a collision there would be painful for all involved.

Be careful after a car or truck passes. Many vehicles pull trailers, and you may not see them or know they are there. Don’t pull back out after being passed by a vehicle until you make sure the road is clear.

Be aware of the wind. A strong crosswind can blow you off course and into other riders. This is especially true when riding from a protected area, behind trees for example, into an open area beside a field. The trees protect you from the effects of the wind, but as soon as you become exposed to the wind it can cause you to swerve. This is more pronounced on bikes with bladed spokes.

If you need to stop separate from the group, for instance to attend to a flat tire, fist signal your intention to slow down and then indicate that you are pulling over. Some times you may need to move toward the center of the road to disengage yourself from the group before you are clear to pull over to the right. Once stopped, move completely off the road onto the shoulder. If you remain in the roadway, you are exposed the being hit by other bikes or vehicles.

PWTC Library Catalog Now On-line

- Ever wonder what the bike club's library has for you to read about to help with your training? Perhaps a book on nutrition? Something inspirational to read? What about a racing video? One of the benefits of club membership is that you can check out materials from the club library for free. It used to be that the only way to see the library was to come to a club meeting. Now you can look on-line at "the stacks" and decide what you would like to borrow. Club Librarian Frank Arndt has catalogued our books and videos on-line for members to view.

The catalog link is just for viewing the club’s book, DVD, and VHS collection. Many of the catalogued materials have comments and summaries. The library materials are for the use of PWTC members. Unfortunately a member can’t check out or reserve a book using the catalog link. Only the librarian can edit the catalog because it is password protected. However a member can reserve a book or suggest new library additions by contacting the librarian (Frank!) via email: or at club meetings.

Check out the catalog. You can display the collection by the cover or by a list mode. There are different display styles which provide different information. You can also view the collection by tags. Tags are names of groups that he has organized the collection with such as VHS, DVD, racing, out, new, etc.

You still have to go to the meeting to pick up/return items in person. The on-line catalog should make things a little easier to see what’s available!

PWTC Library

Ride Schedule

Reminder: All rides leave promptly at the times stated in the schedule. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the departure time to allow yourself time to get ready to ride, sign in and get a map. Wear an ASTM, CPSC or Snell approved helmet on all PWTC rides. All riders (members and non-members) must sign in on the waiver/sign-in sheet at each ride. All riders should carry: spare tube, patch kit, tire irons, pump, tools, etc. Filled water bottles and food. Identification and money for store stops or emergencies.

For some popular PWTC route maps, go to Maps & Resources

RATING SYSTEM
A. Basically flat, no steep hills

B. Gently rolling terrain with one or two short, steep hills

C. Moderate terrain with rolling, short, steep hills, or moderate, sustained climbs

D. Difficult terrain with longer, steeper hills

E. Extreme terrain with frequent, steep hills, and long, sustained climbs

STEEP HILL: Requires low gears or standing out of the saddle required

SUSTAINED CLIMBS: Examples: Chehalem Mt., Rocky Butte, Mt. Scott (D rating)

LONG, SUSTAINED CLIMBS: Examples: Timberline Rd. Rocky Point Road (E rating)

Every Monday…

Monday Morning Meander: Distance 20-40 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from NE 99th and Irving, just 1 block north of Glisan Street. There are usually 2 or 3 distances available on these loops through the East County area. Non-group ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503.667.0683.

PaperBackRider: Distance 20-28 Miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Bethany Village QFC, 4756 NW Bethany Blvd. Portland OR 97229. Various lengths and routes north of Bethany Village near Skyline Drive and points west. This is a hilly level C ride; we’ll regroup along the way. Ride leader Steve Bernot 503.200.2227. or Twitter: PaperBackRider.

Every Tuesday...

Tuesday Morning Triple Challenge: Distance 30/60/90 miles. Leaves at 9:30 a.m. from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. Three mileage options are offered to accommodate rider’s desire or the weather conditions. Non-group ride. Level C. Ride leader: Dick Weber, 503.658.3403.

Tuesday Night Classic: Distance 27 miles. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th & Skidmore. Average speed 18-22 mph. Lights and reflective clothing are required. Regroup ride. Level C. Ride leader: Kevin Williams, 503.256.5476

Every Wednesday…

Wednesday Morning Triple Challenge: Distance 20-90 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. This ride rotates through a number of routes in Oregon and Washington. Non-group ride. Level C/D. Ride Leaders rotating: Doug Beliel 503.252.8810

Every Thursday…

Thursday Morning Triple Challenge: Distance 30/60/90 miles. Leaves at 9:30 a.m. from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. Come out for a short leg stretcher or spend the day on one of the longer routes offered. Non-group ride. Level C. Ride leader: Scott Poindexter, 971.645.0461 and Dick Fairbank, 503.285.8151.

There is NO night ride on the first
Thursday of the month.
Club Meeting
Everyone is welcome to attend!

Thursday Night East Side: Distance 26 miles. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th & Skidmore. We climb Rocky Butte, ride through Maywood and Parkrose neighborhoods, descend toward Marine Drive, but the out-and-back is on Airport Way with the return back to the start via Cornfoot Rd. Lights are required and reflective clothing is strongly recommended. Regroup ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Dennis Mowdy, 503.281.6852

Every Friday…

Friday Morning Quickie: Distance 20-40 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. This ride offers a variety of routes from Troutdale and the Women’s Forum Park to North Portland or Vancouver. Non-group ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Ron Householder, 503-234-0630; Bob Sahleen, 503-655-1480; Frank Zuleger, 503-257-5708; Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Saturday, January 30

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Distance 25-90 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th & Skidmore. Two or more ride options will be offered. Join the regulars for the relatively flat 35-mile Kelley Point/Two-Bridge Loop, with a coffee stop midway through, or take off for the West Hills or Camas for a steeper or faster ride. Ideal for experienced riders. Non-group ride. Levels A/B/C/D. Ride leader: Marvin Blaine, 503-653-1918. Map

Double Volcano Plus:

Distances 26 or 43 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Woodstock Park, SE 47th and Steele. Join us as we ride the traditional Double Volcano with the loop out to Parkrose. Options for eliminating the climbs up the two volcanos will also be available. Then either head back to Woodstock Park for the 26-mile route or add the additional loop out Marine Drive and through the Peninsula Crossing for the 43-mile route. Longer route has an optional stop at the Grand Central Bakery on N Fremont before the return to the SE side. Non-Group Ride. Level B/C. Ride leaders: Cindy Bernert-Coppola, Recording Secretary, and Alan Coppola, 503-781-1822, .

An Urban Coffee Ride:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th and Skidmore. Join us on these moderately paced group rides around the Portland/Vancouver area that feature a stop at a local coffee shop somewhere along the route. Group ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Sunday, January 31

Sunday Morning Ride:

Distance 20-90 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from the Tri-Met Park & Ride, NE 96th & Sandy Blvd. Riders meet and sign in, then ride wherever they want. Ride maps will be available. Non-group ride. Levels A/B/C/D. Ride leader: Rich Seifert, 503-659-7516.

☞Meet PWTC or Back in the Saddle Again

Learn about group cycling and explore by bike. Build your skills and test your mettle. Group rides, mostly flat and easy. Find out why bicycling is such a popular sport - You can do it! Distance 11 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m from the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge. Meet near the Portland Fire District Building and check out this great downtown loop between the Steel and Sellwood Bridges. Beautiful scenery, fun metro riding. Group ride, site seeing, caters to novice/slower riders. Level A. Ride Leader Ann Morrow (Vice President) 360.608.3173.

Saturday, February 6

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

☞Meet PWTC or Back in the Saddle Again

Learn about group cycling and explore by bike. Build your skills and test your mettle. Group rides, mostly flat and easy. Find out why bicycling is such a popular sport - You can do it! : Distance 12+ miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Leverich Park in Vanouver. Take I-5 take Exit 2, go East on 39th Street and then North on NE Leverich Park Way. We will head east on this diverse trail to the end and then double back to the park. Extra miles can be added by then heading West across I-5 to Fruit Valley Road. Group ride, site seeing, caters to novice/slower riders. Level A. Ride Leader Ann Morrow (Vice President) 360.608.3173.

An Italian Bakery Ride:

Distance 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from the Tri-Met Park & Ride lot, NE 96th and Sandy Blvd. Cruise through north and NE Portland on the way to the La Prima Dolci Bakery on North Killingsworth and Denver. Non-group ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Sunday, February 7

Sunday Morning Ride:

The Pre-Super Bowl Coffee Ride:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from the Gateway Transit Center south parking lot, 1 block west of NE 99th Ave. and Pacific ( you can’t see the parking lot from 99th Ave). Grab a short ride, a bakery item, and a cup of coffee somewhere around the Portland area and get back from the ride with plenty of time to enjoy the new batch of Super bowl commercials. Group ride. Level B. Ride Leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Happy Valley-Clackamas River Loop.

Distance, 35 miles. Leaves at 10:00 from Lents Park, just south of
Holgare on s.e.92nd. Level C, non-group ride. . Scott Poindexter, leader. 971-645-0461

Lake Oswegp-West Linn Loop.

Distance 15-17miles. Leaves at 10:00 from LOACC, 505 G Ave, in Lake Oswego. Ride quiet streets to Childs, Stafford then Johnson into West Linn.
Willamette Falls Drive to 43 to Old River Rd into Lake Oswego. Level: B/C. Group ride.
Ride leaders, Jim Liu 971-221-6726 and Chip Kyle 503-387-3940.

Clark County Cruiser:

Distance 20-40 miles. Leaves at 1:30 pm from Peet’s Coffee, 16501 SE Mill Plain, Suite 100 Vancouver, WA. Take I-205 or I-5 north, SR 14 east to the 164^th St. exit. Head north, right turn on Mill Plain, first right turn into Columbia Crossing Shopping Center. We will meet in the northwest corner of the parking lot near Peet’s Coffee, or in Peet’s if it’s raining. Join us on this early spring ride as we loop around Clark County. Length and route will vary based on weather, but may include Hockinson, Lacamas Lake, Green Mountain, the Castle, Sunnyside or Washougal River area. Maps will be available at the start. The group may choose to mostly stay together, faster riders may choose to be off the front, regroup stops will be made. Faster riders will get a better workout, slower riders can ease into shape. Regroup ride. Level B/C. Ride leaders: Dave Ek, 503-762-1629 and Doug Myers, 360-737-3860.

Saturday. February 13

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Panera’s Bakery Ride:

Distance 25-30 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Rose City Park at NE 62nd and Thompson. Join us for an urban ride through NE and North Portland. Options for loops if the weather is great or head straight to Panera’s in the Hollywood district if it’s not. Great pastries, soups, salads and sandwiches! Non-Group Ride. Level B. Ride leaders: Karyn and John Mardis 503-280-5165

The New Deal Cafe:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th and Skidmore. Wander through east Portland until we get tired before we take a stop at the New Deal Cafe for lunch. Group Ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Sunday, February 14

Sunday Morning Ride:

Sunday Social:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Laurelhurst Parks north entrance, 2 blocks west of SE 39th on SE Ankeny. Come out and socialize with other cyclists on these moderately paced group rides. We’ll travel along at around 13/15 mph and we"ll stop for a snack or something to drink part way through the route. Group ride. Level B . Ride leader: Bud Rice,503-667-0683.

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Slow Poke REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #1, Discovery Trail Vancouver Ride:

Distance 30 to 47 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Tri-Met Park & Ride, NE
96th & Sandy Blvd. Loop out to the Discovery Trail in Vancouver and back.
Non-group ride. Level B/C. Ride Leader: Larry Eades 503-631-3256. This ride will be repeated on Saturday, February 20—see below.

Saturday, February 20

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Champoeg Country Classic.

Distance 24/33/41 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Shari’s Restaurant, corner of Highway 99 and Springbrook Road in Newberg. Do not park in Shari’s Restaurant parking lot. Please park on Springbrook Road. Tired of big city traffic? Join us for a pleasant ride on quiet country roads. Longer rides may want to stop at the Donald Cafe. Non-group ride. Level easy B. Ride leader: Ron Ing 971.221.3025

DICK’S REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #1, Discovery Trail Vancouver Ride:

Distance 30 to 47 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Tri-Met Park & Ride, NE 96th & Sandy Blvd. Loop out to the Discovery Trail in Vancouver and back. Non-group ride. Level B/C. Ride Leader: Larry Eades 503-631-3256.

An Urban Coffee Ride:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Lents Park, just south of SE holgate on SE 92nd Ave. Join us on these moderately paced group rides around the Portland/Vancouver area that feature a stop at a local coffee shop somewhere along the route. Group Ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Sunday, February 21

Sunday Morning Ride:

Grand Central Bakery:

Distance 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from the Tri-Met Park and Ride, NE 96th and Sandy Blvd. Travel through north and NE portland on the way to the Grand Central Bakery on north Fremont. Non-group[ ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Clark County Cruiser:

Wednesday, February 24

REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #2, Vancouver and Blue Lake Park:

Distance 48 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from Wilshire Park at NE 36th and Skidmore. A beautiful ride on mostly flat rural roads with some rollers. The scenery will include rivers and cities. Non-group ride. Level B. Ride Leader: Larry Eades, 503-631-3256

Saturday, February 27

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #2, Vancouver and Blue Lake Park:

Saturday Morning Social:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th and Skidmore. Come out and socialize with other cyclists on these moderately paced group rides. We’ll travel along at around 13/125 mph and we’ll stop for a snack or something to drink part way through the route. Group ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Sunday, February 28

Sunday Morning Ride:

A Krispy Keme Donut Ride:

Distance 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from the Marshall Center, 1009 East McLoughlin Blvd, just east of I-5 in downtown Vancouver,WA. Cruise north of Vancouver on the Discovery Trail and mostly back street out to the Krispy Kreme Donuts on Andresen. Non-group[ ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Saturday,March 6

REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #3, Champoeg State Park:

upper parking lot (visitor’s center). Distance 49 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. There is a $3.00 fee to park. Drive south on I-5 to exit 278. Turn right on Ehlen (becomes Yergen), right on Case Rd., continue left on Champoeg, and the park will be on the right. A beautiful ride on mostly flat rural roads with some rollers. The scenery will include farms, fields, small towns, and nurseries. Non-group ride. Level B/C with one D hill. Ride Leader: Larry Eades 503-631-3256.

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Harry’s Deli for Lunch:

Distance 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th and Skidmore. Head out east (unless the east wind is blowing) toward Gresham before heading west along Marine Drive and back to Harry’s Deli on NE 122nd for a lunch stop. Non-group[ ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Sunday,March 7

Sunday Morning Ride:

An Urban Coffee Ride:

Distance 15 to 25 miles. Leaves at 10:30 a.m. from Laurelhurst Parks north entrance, 2 block west of SE 39th on SE Ankeny. Join us on these moderately paced group rides around the Portland/Vancouver area that feature a stop at a local coffee shop somewhere along the route. Group ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-9683.

Membership

Fill out this form and mail it in. If you have any questions, feel free to email our .

Other Rides

A listing of other area rides and cycling events.

2010

This page is updated as clubs/organizations announce/confirm their event dates.

February

Cycle Oregon Kick Off Party-February 4th http://www.cycleoregon.com Party will be held at the Nike Tiger Woods Center. Learn at the kick off party where Cycle Oregon '10 will be routed. September 11-18. Register early, as this event sells out quickly!

Worst Day of the Year-February 14www.worstdayride.com Community Cycling Center. If it's cold, windy and raining, we say KEEP RIDING! Get out for this 18-mile urban adventure. There is also an optional 40 mile ride through the West Hills for the more ambitious cyclist.

Northwest Bike Show-February 20/21 Portland Expo Center http://www.nwbikeshow.com

Chilly Hilly-February 28th Cascade Bicycle Club http://www.cascade.org It's usually chill and always hilly around Bainbridge Island. 2,675 feet of climbing in 33 miles. Includes a ride on the Washington State Ferry. This is the official kick off of the 2010 cycling season.

March

Bike Expo-March 13-14 Smith Cruise Cove Terminal 91. Bicycle Everything! Group Health Seattle International Bicycle Expo is a complete celebration of cycling, with exhibits and presentations from all aspects of the sport. Over 150 Exhibits (including PWTC) http://www.cascade.org

McClinchy Mile Bike Ride-March 20thSeveral loops to choose from and a fundraiser for B.I.K.E.S. http://www.bikesclub.org/html/mcclinchy/mcclinchy.htm

April

The Bicycle Show-April 10 & 11Oregon Convention Center. http://www.pedalnationevents.com Pedal Nation Events will present a two-wheel focused expo with the goal of promoting and celebrating all things related to bicycling. See the largest display of bicycle technology & innovation, bicycle frames, gear, apparel, travel, fitness, ride events, & nutrition in Oregon.

Daffodil Classic-April 18th Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club http://www.twbc.org The Daffodil Classic weaves through the beautiful Orting valley and surrounding hills. Choose from 40, 60, or 100 mile loops; or a flat, family friendly, paved trail option of 1-30 miles. Riders will enjoy a well-marked course with cue sheet and map, support vehicles, fully stocked rest stops, and dessert at the finish line.

Group Health Yakima Ridges- Apple Valley Kiwanas http://www.desertvalley.com 25, 50, 70, and 100 mile loops. Winding over the ridges of upper Yakima Valley, each route features rewarding landmarks of the area. Starting from Northwest Yakima, the routes go past Painted Rocks, Longmire Immigrant Trail, Wenas Lake, the Naches River, the Ahtanum Mission, and numerous peaks and canyons. Note: this event has been discontinued.

Monster Cookie Metric Century-April 25th Salem Bicycle Club http://www.salembicycleclub.org The route for the Monster Cookie Metric Century starts from the State Capitol Mall on the north side of the State Capitol Building and covers 62 miles of countryside north of Salem. Register early to order lunch. The lunch stop is at Champoeg State Park on the Willamette River.

May

Ride Around Clark County-TBA Vancouver Bicycle Club http://www.vancouverbicycleclub.com Venture across state lines for this well-established ride sponsored by our friends in Vancouver. With 32, 62, and 100 mile loops, the routes showcase Clark County. Riders on all three routes will also stop at the little known and under utilized LaCamas Lake for a rest stop.

Lewis County Historical Bicycle Ride -TBA Chehalis-Centralia Optimist Club. http://www.cyclelewiscounty.org/lchr/ 20, 46, 76 or 100 miles with views of three volcanos, Mt. Adams, Mt. Saint Helens, and Mt. Rainier. Three of the four routes take in two must-see sites; the Evaline School, a functioning two-room country school house, and the historic Claquato Church. Starts at Stan Hedwell Park, Chehalis, WA.

Inland Empire-TBA Tri City Bicycle Club http://www.tricitybicycleclub.org Ride options are from and easy 25 miles to a challenging 50, 75 or 100 mile tours. All routes showcase the scenic beauty of the lower Yakima/Columbia River valley with its vineyards, wheat fields and fruit orchards. Word has it that Webber Canyon is closed so the route may vary from previous years.

Reach the Beach-May 15th American Lung Association http://www.rtb.kintera.org Choose from one of five distance options ranging from 26-110 miles. Meander along quiet, gorgeous rural roads in search of a spectacular beach party in Pacific City. Each route features rest stops approximately every 15 miles, two delicious lunch stops and ample support every step of the way.

Century Ride of Centuries-May 29-31 http://www.cyclependleton.com Enjoy 3 days of riding in beautiful Eastern Oregon. CROC will take you past a number of these beautiful Century farms and ranches, rising from Pendleton into the highlands of the nearby Blue Mountain foothills. You'll also travel through the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. This is an excellent, well supported ride with multiple distances each day. $150 gets you 3 days of riding and all your meals!

June

Pioneer Century-June 5th Portland Wheelmen Touring Club http://www.pwtc.com A scenic, challenging 55 mile loop winds into the foothills of the Cascades and back to Canby. Finish off a great century with a bucolic 45 mile loop in historic Champoeg country. Each loop begins and ends at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in Canby. Great training ride for STP. Rest stops promise to be stocked with a variety of nourishing fuel for the ride.

Gorge Ride-TBA Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway http://www.hcrh.org This is an out and back route of 38.5 miles along the Historic Columbia River Highway (HRCH) and the HCRH State Trail to the west to the Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead, just east of Hood River. The total elevation gain for the ride 2,974 feet

Strawberry Century-TBA Santiam Spokes http://www.santiamspokes.org Revised route from '07 makes this popular ride even better. The 53 mile loop remains the same, but there are major improvements in the 72 and 102 mile routes as well as the addition of a 13 mile family route.

Flying Wheels-June 12th Cascade Bicycle Club http://www.cascade.org Whether you choose the 30, 60, or 100 miles route, each will take you through rural scenery, a few busy spots, and great rest stops. Starts in Redmond WA. This is Washington's largest century. This has been an official training ride for STP.

Tour de Blast-June 19th Longview Rotary Club http://www.tourdeblast.com Stats and finishes at Toutle Lake High School, located 10 miles east of Interstate 5 on Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. Three distances to choose from.

Livestrong Challenge- SEATTLE Sunday, June 19 & 20 Lance Armstrong Foundation http://www.livestrong.org The LIVESTRONG Challenge is the LAF’s signature fundraising event. Whether you walk, run, ride, volunteer or donate, your participation is one more powerful weapon in the fight against cancer.

Mt. Adams Country Bicycle Tour -Saturday, June 26 http://www.troutlake.org Trout Lake and Vicinity Businesses 51 Mile Valley Loop: south to BZ Corners; climb for 6.5 miles through spectacular rural, farmland scenery; pass by Conboy Lake Wildlife Refuge with many glimpses of Mt. Adams; circle back through pine forest and back into the Trout Lake Valley. 2,700’ elevation gain. 105 Mile MACBT Forest Double Loop: From Trout Lake climb 14.5 miles (2000’ gain), including a short 10% incline and then a long ride down, down, with waterfalls, creeks, eagles and all the majesty this special country provides; a 10 mile climb up to Big Tire Junction and then on to one of the downhills you will never forget, back to Trout Lake. Total of 3,800’ elevation gain. Then lunch and the 51 mile loop. http://www.troutlake.org

Tour de Fronds-TBA Umpqua Velo, Glendale, & Powers http://www.tourdefronds.com The event uses a fully paved back road route between the communities of Glendale and Powers in beautiful Southern Oregon. Much of the route is on US Forest Service or BLM land through the remote regions of the Siskiyou National Forest and borders on the Wild Rogue Wilderness. Due to the remoteness of this route, few cyclists have an opportunity to ride these roads unsupported – attending this event offers a rare glimpse of nature’s finest; waterfalls, rivers, majestic fir trees, mosses, lichens and ferns. The Tour de Fronds, so aptly named, is a nature lovers ideal ride

Mountain Lakes Challenge-TBA Siskiyou Velo http://www.mountainlakeschallenge.com A wonderful cycling experience on country roads with Mt. Ashland and Mt. McLoughlin in the background you’ll ride through meadows of wildflowers, beneath towering conifer forests and by dazzling mountain lakes. A full “epic century” two metric centuries, and also introducing 25 and 50 mile routes and a 5-8 mile Jack and Rogue ride along the Bear Creek Greenway.

Watermelon Rides-TBA Salem Bicycle Club http://www.salembicycleclub.org The Watermelon Rides offer routes of 50, 100, 125 and 200 miles (Oregon's original one-day double century). The routes are generally flat with some rolling hills and take riders through the central Willamette Valley.

July

Northwest Tandem Rally-July 2-5 http://www.nwtr.org 25th Anniversary! Medford, Oregon Register before March 31st and receive a discount

Seattle to Portland (STP)-July 17 & 18 Cascade Bicycle Club http://www.cascade.org A 200 mile ride through the scenic valleys, forests, and farmlands of wester Washington and Oregon. Come join what Bicycling Magazine has listed as one of the best cycling events in the nation! PWTC runs the finish line and will welcome you home.

Cycle Oregon Weekend Ride-July 16-18 http://www.cycleoregon.com A 3 day adventure (route TBA). Sure to please!

Tour de Cure (fka Summit to Surf) TBA http://www.diabetes.org/portlandtourdecure American Diabetes Association NEW START LOCATION: Tour de Cure is moving to the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley. The new ride will feature user friendly roads, beautiful scenic vistas, captivating views of the Cascades and a start/finish setting that encourages family participation for one and all. The Hillsboro Stadium will be the new start/finish location with four well planned routes to challenge riders of all levels, including a full century ride that features a 1600 ft. climb. Or, spend the day at the stadium participating in family activities ranging from tricycle laps, bike decorating contests, climbing walls and other activities promoting health and wellness.

Bike MS-Saturday and Sunday, July 31 & Aug. 1 http://www.nationalmssociety.org/orc/home Multiple Sclerosis (pledge ride) Portland, Oregon, with routes through the Willamette Valley and the Historic Columbia River Highway

August

Blackberry bRamble & Jamboree-TBA Greater Eugene Area Riders (GEARS) http://www.eugenegears.org/rides/bramble The Jamboree community fun ride will take place on August 1st and start at 9 am at the EWEB Plaza on the River Trail just below the Defazio Bike Bridge. It will be a 20 mile ride through the neighborhoods of Eugene with stops planned at community centers and parks along the route. The route will consist of two 10-mile loops that roll back to the starting point for a short break. $5 for the whole family. Everyone gets a blackberry cobbler and ice cream after the ride. Fun for the whole family. Food, entertainment and T-shirts will be available. The bRamble is on Sunday, August 2nd and offers a full century, a metric century, and a 43 mile option.

RSVP (Ride from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. and Party)-TBA Cascade Bicycle Club http://www.cascade.org An event of 183 uncrowded miles (105 & 78 mile days) along scenic back roads with flat sections., rolling hills, and many hilly sections as well. Start in Seattle and finish in beautiful Vancouver, BC, at the Coast Plaza Hotel. There you'll enjoy a great finish line festival that includes a no host bar and live music!

Beaverton, Banks & Beyond-August 28 NorthWest Bicycle Safety Council http://www.nwbicyclesafetycouncil.org/ There is a new route added to an already popular summer event. In addition to short family rides of 30k or 50k there will now be a metric century out to Stub Stewart State Park (or you can turn around at the half way point making it a 30 mile ride). This is an easy route with a slight incline out to the park.

Hottest Day of the Year Ride-Sunday, August 2 http://www.hottestdayride.com 15-mile urban bike loop starts and finishes at the new Lucky Labrador Brew Hall northwest location. Along the way you will discover the longest Slip 'n Slide Portland's ever seen - just in time to cool you off after the first leg of the course.

Providence Bridge Pedal- Sunday, August 8 http://www.providence.org/bridgepedal Try a 6 bridge, 8 bridge or 11 bridge route in this classic Portland ride.

Covered Bridge Bicycle Tour- TBA Mid Valley Bicycle Club http://www.mvbc.com/event-CBBT.html Explore the rural roads and depending on the route, cross up to 5 historic covered bridges in the Mid-Willamette Valley. You will experience scenic views, open fields, rolling hills and only a few traffic lights.

Portland Century- TBA http://www.portlandcentury.com Portland’s premier century ride with 25, 50 and 100 mile options and unrivaled amenities. Bull Run, Marine Drive, Alameda Ridge, Ladd’s Addition, Willamette Blvd., Hawthorne Bridge, Powell Butte Park, Springwater Corridor, Smith and Bybee Lakes, Pioneer Courthouse Square and Downtown Broadway. It’s all about Portland.

Yaquina Lighthouse Century- TBA Yaquina Wheels Bicycle Club http://www.yaquinawheels.org/Century.html All routes start & finish at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area Visitor Center. Experience some of Oregon’s most picturesque back-road riding with panoramic ocean, bay and river views, as well as the Coast Mountains and wonderful old-growth forests. You’ll see crashing waves and quiet backwaters on each ride. 100 mile Century; 62 mile Metric Century or 25 mile family ride.

Ride Around Puget Sound- Saturday & Sunday, August 28 & 29 http://www.rapsodybikeride.com 5 Bike Clubs With 170 miles of rolling hills, doing RAPSody in one day is hard, two days is challenging fun. The route crosses the Tacoma Narrow Bridge, uses portions of paved trails, and provides many wonderful Northwest views. Starts and ends in Tacoma.

September

Cycle Oregon-September 11-18 http://www.cycleoregon.com

Peach of a Century-September 26th Salem Bicycle Club http://www.salembicycleclub.org Includes a full 100 mile route and a 62 mile route. Both start and end at Chemeketa Community College.

October

Kitsap Color Classic-TBA Cascade Bicycle Club http://www.cascade.org Several loops take riders along the gorgeous Kitsap Peninsula and range from 33 to 64 miles. Enjoy the fall colors and a fun weekend exploring the peninsula.

Gourmet Century-TBA Chris King Precision Components http://chrisking.com/events/events_gc_mmddyy The 2009 Gourmet Century was a scenic 103-kilometer non-competitive bicycle ride through Yamhill County, the hub of Oregon Wine Country, located less than an hour's drive from downtown Portland. The food will likely outshine the ride on this one! Some proceeds to benefit Livestrong.

Ride Leaders

- Can't find a ride that suits your style or schedule? Become a ride leader!

A big thanks to all of you who have volunteered to lead PWTC rides!

Ride Information is to be submitted to the Road Captian. Ride leaders wishing to create their own ride descriptions or to sign up to lead a ride for the following month need to provide the Road Captian the THE PERTINENT INFORMATION prior to the 5th! Contact Road Captain Larry Eades via email, or at a club meeting. Fill out the form and send it to the Road Captain, or use the form as a guide in order to give complete information by email.

Ride leaders may request maps and return envelopes by contacting either the Road Captain, or the Assistant Road Captain John Mardis . Some maps may be sent electronically as a pdf. Ride leaders leading multiple rides in a month may send 3-4 ride sheets in one envelope. Please avoid overstuffing those envelopes...our statistician does not enjoy paying postage due!

Contact:Club Statistician

Ride Leader Forms

Ride Signup Sheet

Ride Leader Checklist

The Missing Links-Resources & Maps

- A list of bicycling resources...

The following MAPS have been produced by the PWTC. The suitability information for the bike routes is advisory only and depicts conditions for riders of “average” ability and experience. No independent evaluation for suitability has been undertaken by the PWTC. The parties involved in the production of these maps in no way warrant the safety and suitability of the suggested bike routes. Bicyclists should be aware that traffic, weather conditions and other factors change from time to time and can influence and alter the suitability of the suggested routes. Map users assume the entire risk of determining whether or not a route is suitable for them. The PWTC makes no warranty or representation as to the content or accuracy of these maps.

Maps

Bike Clubs

Organizations

Bike Shops

Rides

Welcome to PWTC Rides

- For new and developing riders.

Portland Wheelmen Touring Club (PWTC) offers a series of rides called Welcome to PWTC. You need not be a member to participate. These rides are especially for the newer or less experienced rider but are probably too ambitious for a novice rider.

The expectation is that the rider can pedal along at 12 to 15 mph on the flats and complete a 30 mile ride.

These are group rides whcih means the group of riders generally stays together throughout the ride. The ride leader will guide the group and offer riding suggestions as needed. Theses rides provide a safe, friendly opportunity for newer riders to get out and ride with other cyclists. More information may be obtained by calling the ride leader listed.

Here is the 2009Welcome Rides Schedule pdf

Our Ride Schedule also lists the Welcome to PWTC Rides for the current month.

To view pdf files you need Adobe’s Acrobat Reader - a free, downloadable plug-in.

Family Rides

- PWTC and River City Bicycles have teamed up to offer some fun rides especially for families and novice riders.

An adult must accompany children and all riders must wear helmets.
Bring some water
Eat a good breakfast before the ride. You'll feel better and have more energy.
All rides are relatively flat and "out & back" routes so you may head back whenever you want.
Bring a snack, fruit or energy bar.
Check your bike prior to the ride. A well maintained bike will get you through the ride. Seek professional help if necessary!
All children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Here is the ROOKIE RIDES 2009.pdf

Our Ride Schedule also lists the Family Rides for the current month.

For additional information contact the ride leader listed on the schedule.

Weekly Rides

- Monday through Friday, these faithful rides are here for you.

Every Monday...

Monday Morning Meander

Distance 20-40 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from NE 99th and Irving, just 1 block north of Glisan Street. There are usually 2 or 3 distances available on these loops through the East County area. Non-group ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Monday Night East Side Ride

Distance 15-30 miles. Leaves at 6:15 p.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th & Skidmore. Length and route will vary with the season and weather. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Regroup ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Dennis Mowdy, 503-281-6852.

Every Tuesday...

Tuesday Morning Triple Challenge

Distance 30/60/90 miles. Leaves at 9:00 a.m. from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. Three mileage options are offered to accommodate rider’s desire or the weather conditions. Non-group ride. Level C. Ride leader: Dick Weber, 503-658-3403.

Tuesday Night Classic

Distance 27 miles. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th & Skidmore. The original Tuesday night ride that still goes around Kelley Point. Formerly dominated by racers and rascals, this is what happens when we get older – 18-22 mph. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Regroup ride. Level C. Ride leader: Phil Whitmore, 503-274-9755.

Tuesday Night West Side Ride

Distance 25-40 miles. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Tualatin City Park at Tualatin and Boones Ferry Roads in Tualatin. Get out of the urban jungle on a different route each week. There will be a few new rides mixed in with the old favorites in Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill and Marion counties. Most rides include a hill or two with distance and terrain chosen to match the weather conditions and daylight. There is a group of riders who like to get a head start on the main group but there will not be a ride leader present. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Non-group ride. Most rides Level C/D and include high-speed pack riding. Ride leaders: Del Scharffenberg, 503-353-0073, Tom Napier, 503-246-1917 and Richard Marantz, 503-246-7185.

Tuesday Night East Side Spin Down

Distance 18-38 miles. Leaves at 6:15 p.m. from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. Length and route to be dependent on the weather. Moderately paced, riders should be able to maintain 15-16 mph. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Regroup ride. Level B/easy C. Ride leader: Joan Cullen (Member-at-Large), 503-762-1629.

Every Wednesday

Wednesday Morning Triple Challenge

Distance 20-90 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. This ride rotates through a number of routes through Oregon and Washington. Non-group ride. Level C/D. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Wednesday Night Double Volcano

Distance 26-30 miles. Please note this ride starts on May 17th. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Woodstock Park, 47th & SE Steele. Double your climbing fun, after all, Wednesday is A.K.A. “hump day”! This ride can be challenging, yet it’s always moderately paced and social. For this season the 1st and 3rd week will feature the Mt. Tabor and Rocky Butte combination, while the 2nd and 4th week we will climb the more challenging Mt. Scott and Rocky Butte combination. Both routes include a flat out and back to the Parkrose area. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Non-group ride. Level C/D. Ride leader: Cathy Varner (Recording Secretary), 503-788-5394.

Wednesday Night Group Ride

Distance 15-25 miles. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Laurelhurst Park’s north entrance, 2 blocks west of SE 39th on SE Ankeny. Join us on this moderately paced group ride that explores various routes through NE and SE Portland. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Group ride. Level B. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Every Thursday...

Thursday Morning Triple Challenge

Distance 30/60/90 miles. Leaves at 9:00 a.m. from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. Come out for a short leg stretcher or spend the day on one of the longer routes offered. Non-group ride. Level C. Ride leader: Frank Haynes, 503-695-5633.

There is NO night ride on the first Thursday of the month.

Club meeting night. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Thursday Night East Side

Distance 26 miles. Leaves at 6:00 p.m. from Wilshire Park, NE 36th & Skidmore. We climb Rocky Butte, ride through Maywood and Parkrose neighborhoods, descend towards Marine Drive, but the out-and-back is on Airport Way with the return back to the start via Cornfoot Rd. Reflective clothing is strongly recommended for early evening dusk riding. Regroup ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Dennis Mowdy, 503-281-6852.

Every Friday...

Friday Morning Quickie

Distance 20-40 miles. Leaves at 10:00 a.m. from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 11229 NE Prescott, take the front entrance to the back parking area. This ride offers a variety of routes from Troutdale and the Women’s Forum Park to North Portland or Vancouver. Non-group ride. Level B/C. Ride leader: Bud Rice, 503-667-0683.

Portland, Oregon’s Largest Bicycle Club

- The Portland Wheelmen Touring Club was founded in 1971 to promote cycling and to provide a social organization for bicyclists.

Boasting over 800 members, the primary focus of the club is recreational riding with up to two dozen rides being offered on a weekly basis, including rides every day of the year and many evenings. Rides are listed in the monthly Riders Digest available at most Portland area Bicycle shops and online.

Membership: PWTC welcomes riders of all abilities. The annual membership includes a monthly newsletter, club discounts at many area bike shops, and is a great way to network with cyclists in the area. To join, print out this Membership Form or pick up a form at most area bike shops.

Club meeting: Held the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 4330 NE 37th Ave. Portland. (Access meeting room by ramp to basement on Skidmore Street. Map

To view pdf files you need Adobe’s Acrobat Reader - a free, downloadable plug-in.

Constitution and By-Laws

PREAMBLE AIM:

The aim of this organization shall be to promote the general interests of cycling in all its phases; to encourage and facilitate touring, rides, cycle outings and all forms of recreational cycling activities; to defend and protect the rights of cyclists; to secure a better understanding and recognition of the need for safer riding conditions; to encourage the allocation of facilities for cycling on public lands; to cooperate with the public authorities in the observance of all traffic regulations; and to promote the regulation and recognition of the bicycle as a vehicle used for pleasure, health and transportation.

PURPOSE:

The main purpose of this club will be bicycle riding and promotion of bicycle related activities in the community.

ARTICLE ONE

NAME:

The name of this organization shall be the Portland Wheelmen Touring Club, hereinafter referred to as “The Club”. The official colors shall be red, white, and blue.

ARTICLE TWO

MEMBERSHIP:

Anyone who has an interest in bicycling is eligible for membership.

ARTICLE THREE

DUES:

Club dues shall be governed and reviewed annually every June by The Executive Board, hereinafter referred to as “The Board”. These shall be payable annually to The Club.

ARTICLE FOUR

OFFICERS:

The following officers shall be elected by the general membership:

President
Vice-President
Recording Secretary
Membership Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Road Captain, becomes Road Captain
Four Members-at-Large

The Board shall consist of all elected officers.

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT:

Conduct all Club meeting and Board meetings; represent The Club in legal matters; appoint a nomination committee and conduct elections; be a standing member of all committees; appoint temporary Board member if that Board member resigns.
DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT:

Act as the President pro-tem in the absence of the President. Assist the President in committee representation; act as the Chairperson of the Special Events Committee.
DUTIES OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY:

Maintain a written record of all Executive Board and General Membership Club meetings.
DUTIES OF THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY:

Process new members’ applications; maintain the membership files; prepare an annual report on membership to be presented to the membership during the 1st quarter of each year.
DUTIES OF THE TREASURER:

Management of Club finances; preparation and/or filing of all necessary tax reports or returns; prepare and submit to the membership an annual financial report during the 1st quarter of each year.
DUTIES OF THE ROAD CAPTAIN AND ROAD COMMITTEE:

Be responsible for the planning and organizing of Club rides; recruit and train ride leaders as needed; maintain a catalog of rides and establish the “Rules of the Road”. The Board may, at its discretion, review any proposals for rides and shall cooperate with the road committee to make certain that all rides are adequately planned. The Board may, by a majority vote, cancel any proposed ride.
DUTIES OF THE FOUR MEMBERS-AT-LARGE:

Assist the President and Vice-President in carrying out the Executive duties of the Board.

APPOINTED OFFICERS AND DUTIES:

The positions of Editor, Publicity Chairman, Program Coordinator, Refreshment Coordinator, Librarian and Historian shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the elected members of The Board.

DUTIES OF THE PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN:

Provide the media with information on Club-sponsored events; see that the major Portland area bicycle stores have PWTC information and application available to their customers.
DUTIES OF THE HISTORIAN:

Maintain a historical record of club newsletters, past elected officers, minutes of club meetings and any other items of historical interest to the general membership.
DUTIES OF THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR:

Procure the monthly general membership meeting location, and arrange for the entertainment program portion of the meeting.
DUTIES OF THE REFRESHMENT COORDINATOR

Make all necessary arrangements for refreshments to be served at the general membership meetings.
DUTIES OF THE LIBRARIAN:

To purchase, maintain, and make available to the general membership books, magazines, tapes or any other appropriate forms of information.
DUTIES OF THE EDITOR(S):

To collect information of interest to the general membership of The Club, including the ride schedule, and publish on a monthly basis the official Club Bulletin, which shall be known as the “Quick Releases”.

ARTICLE FIVE

ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS:

The President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected at the regular Club meeting in December and serve a one-year term beginning the following January.

Two Members-At-Large shall be elected in June and two in December, each serving one-year terms beginning in July and January, respectively.

The Assistant Road Captain shall be elected at the regular Club meeting in December and June, and serve a six-month term beginning the following January and July, respectively. At the end of the six month term as Assistant Road Captain, the existing Road Captain’s term shall expire and the Assistant Road Captain shall become the new Road Captain, serving a six-month term in the position.

THE MECHANICS OF THE ELECTIONS PROCESS SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS:

At the March and September Club meeting the President shall appoint a Club Member in good standing to be the Nominations Committee Chairperson. This Chairperson shall then choose a committee consisting of from three to seven Club members in good standing, including the chair.

The Nomination Committee shall recommend to The Board a slate of candidates for the next election of officers. The recommendations of the committee shall be presented at the April and October Board meetings.

The Committee shall then present the candidates at the May and November Club meetings, and accept and make note of any additional nominations from the floor.

The Committee shall submit the list of candidates to the Quick Releases staff for publication in the June and December issues of the Quick Releases.

Additional nominations from the floor will be accepted on the date of the elections. All candidates shall be elected by a plurality of the total votes cast for each office. If however, a candidate is running unopposed, the members present may choose to elect that candidate by unanimous acclaim.

Any Club member in good standing may introduce a motion for a vote of confidence for any elected officer. The motion shall be presented at one meeting, published in the next issue of the Quick Releases, and voted on at the following regular Club meeting. If said elected officer loses the vote of confidence by two-thirds of the total votes cast, the officer shall re replaced immediately by nominations from the floor, and by a vote of the membership present.

In the event that any elected officer, except the President, resigns or is unable to serve a complete term of office, the President shall appoint a temporary replacement, and a permanent replacement for the balance of that officer’s term shall be nominated and elected at the next regular Club meeting.

In the event that the President resigns or is unable to serve a complete term off office, the Vice-President shall immediately assume the office of President, and the vacant office of Vice-President shall be filled as per the preceding paragraph.

ARTICLE SIX

MEETINGS:

Regular meetings of the Club’s general membership shall be held on a weekday during the first week of the month. If special meetings are required, the President may schedule such a meeting after consulting with the board.

Executive Board meetings shall be held at least six times a year, at a time and place to be determined by the Board with the proviso that at least one meeting shall occur during each quarter of the calendar year. The Board may reschedule meetings which conflict with holidays or other events.

ARTICLE SEVEN

ORDER OF BUSINESS:

The order of business at regular meetings shall be:

Reading of minutes of previous meetings.
Treasurer’s report.
Report of Officers and committees.
Old business.
New business.
Announcement of new members and guests.
Announcement of rides, special meetings, etc...
Announcement of program- The Board and /or President, for the sake of convenience or courtesy to guests, may periodically schedule entertainment or educational programs to precede the regular business meeting.
Adjournment.

ARTICLE EIGHT

COMMITTEES:

The committees of this organization shall be appointed as needed by The President and The Board.

DUTIES OF COMMITTEES:

Committee chairman shall keep a written history of, organize and direct the activities of the committee, make regular reports of the committee’s activities to The Board, and maintain a complete financial record of the committee’s activities.

ARTICLE NINE

EXPENDITURES:

The following people are authorized to sign checks

President.
Treasurer.

With the exception of administrative funds, i.e., secretarial supplies, the procedures to be used for all expenditures will be regulated and set by The Board.

ARTICLE TEN

RULES OF ORDER:

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern The Club in all questions of parliamentary procedure.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

AMENDMENTS:

Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member of The Club and may be incorporated into this constitution if approved by two-thirds vote of the membership present at the regular meeting at which the vote is taken. The proposed amendment must be presented at a previous meeting and be printed in The Club Bulletin prior to the meeting.

February: Notes from the Community Liaison

BACK AGAIN! Columbia Gorge Explorer 2010

New Club Jersey!

2010 Pioneer Century

PWTC on Facebook!

Riding in Groups

PWTC Library Catalog Now On-line

Ride Schedule

Every Monday…

Every Tuesday...

Every Wednesday…

Every Thursday…

Every Friday…

Saturday, January 30

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Double Volcano Plus:

An Urban Coffee Ride:

Sunday, January 31

Sunday Morning Ride:

☞Meet PWTC or Back in the Saddle Again

Saturday, February 6

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

☞Meet PWTC or Back in the Saddle Again

An Italian Bakery Ride:

Sunday, February 7

Sunday Morning Ride:

The Pre-Super Bowl Coffee Ride:

Happy Valley-Clackamas River Loop.

Lake Oswegp-West Linn Loop.

Clark County Cruiser:

Saturday. February 13

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Panera’s Bakery Ride:

The New Deal Cafe:

Sunday, February 14

Sunday Morning Ride:

Sunday Social:

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Slow Poke REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #1, Discovery Trail Vancouver Ride:

Saturday, February 20

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Champoeg Country Classic.

DICK’S REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #1, Discovery Trail Vancouver Ride:

An Urban Coffee Ride:

Sunday, February 21

Sunday Morning Ride:

Grand Central Bakery:

Clark County Cruiser:

Wednesday, February 24

REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #2, Vancouver and Blue Lake Park:

Saturday, February 27

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #2, Vancouver and Blue Lake Park:

Saturday Morning Social:

Sunday, February 28

Sunday Morning Ride:

A Krispy Keme Donut Ride:

Saturday,March 6

REACH THE BEACH Training Ride #3, Champoeg State Park:

Saturday Morning Alphabet Ride:

Harry’s Deli for Lunch:

Sunday,March 7

Sunday Morning Ride:

An Urban Coffee Ride:

Membership

Other Rides

A listing of other area rides and cycling events.

2010

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

Ride Leaders

Ride Leader Forms

The Missing Links-Resources & Maps