The Lansing Bicycle Club

 

      On a clear summer day in 1890, they wheeled on their machines through Lansing's streets to the Capitol. Once there, they assembled and arranged themselves in a gallant pose. Standing solemnly, proudly, and jauntily in front of the Capitol steps, the Leavenworth company's photographer tripped the camera's shutter and captured for all time an image of Lansing's first bicycle club.

      This historic photo was replicated in 1989. Kim Wilcox had been the TCBA's Events Director since 1981. He had put his endless ideas and energies into operating DALMAC (with help from his dedicated crew of TCBA volunteers) for 10 years adding additional routes and 4-day and 5-day centuries, expanding the ridership, and leaving TCBA with oodles of money, but he was finally tiring and leaving that position.

      Kim, a salesperson for Mobil Oil, was making his rounds. At Spartan Oil, he noticed a promotional postcard the company was using that had a picture of a group of bicyclists on it. Kim asked his contact at Spartan Oil about it. The man told Kim he was related to Roger Boettcher, the owner of the Leavenworth photographic collection which the picture was part of. He gave Kim an original print of it which Kim still has. As Kim and his crew tossed ideas around for the 1990 DALMAC poster, the idea arose to take a photograph of TCBA members and use it and the picture of the 1890 club for the poster.

      On a clear summer day in 1989, club members gathered on the Capitol lawn. They scrambled around at Kim's direction to find a place to sit or stand on the Capitol steps. When all were assembled and still, the professional photographer pressed the shutter. Nearly 20 years after its founding, the first formal photograph of the Tri-County Bicycle Association was taken.

Great Idea, Kim and crew!

      PS - Dave Mansfield, TCBA webmaster, is still asking for the names of many people in the 1989 photograph. Click on this link, follow the instructions, and if you recognize any person let Dave know. The names of some of the men in the 1890 photograph are lost to history. You can assist to make sure that this doesn't happen to those members in the 1989 photograph.

The Chainwheel Chatter Archive

      Dick Janson is quite a character. Like a lot of us, Dick doesn't participate in organized sports, but he loves to ride. He does most of his riding on solo journeys; just him and his recumbent companion "Sara Dipitee". He has written many articles about their adventures for the "Chainwheel Chatter".

      Dick and I worked closely together in the data processing department at Farm Bureau Insurance for many years. He was technically adept. I rode my bike to work. Dick wasn’t a bicyclist when I met him. I'm not sure when he turned into one, but one day he was one.

      I was surprised and delighted when Dick joined the club in the '90's. Once Dick decides to do something, he goes all in. His enthusiasm and engagement were just what the club needed. He developed and conducted a series of self-contained touring rides (what we called "pannier rides" in the early years). Dick was TCBA President in 2007. He was a big promoter of and contributor to the club's "Cross-Town Maps" project. Dick is also a long-time volunteer at East Lansing Share-A-Bike.

      Dick's technical side generated the idea to create a digital archive of the "Chainwheel Chatter" that covers the years 1972 to 2006. Fortunately, the newsletter editors had saved a paper copy of each issue and passed them along from person to person. Otherwise, this easily accessible resource about the club's activities would not exist. Dick acquired them and scanned them, then cut a CD. I have one sitting in front of me.

      Thanks to Dick Janson and long-time CC editor Sandy Munson and her predecessors, I can give you the "Story of How It All Began" written by Norm Reeder for the October 1982 "Chainwheel Chatter". Norm was a writer by profession. He played a key role in the creation of TCBA and wrote about it for us to remember. Of course, the CD is a great assist to a failing memory.

TCBA-How It All Began

Written by: Norm Reeder Oct 1982

 

      This club was born in the early winter of 1973 after a year of gestation mainly in the head of John Czarnecki. When I met him in 1972 John was a recent MSU graduate working on his Masters degree and anxiously waiting out his application for a job with the state. A self-styled political radical, he was caught up in ecology, the war on pollution. Get out of that stinking car. Ride a bike.

      But where? The answer seemed clear - on bike paths. State Representative Dick Allen proposed tapping weight and gas tax revenues to build paths along major highways. Senator Plawecki called for a bicycle path from Detroit all the way up the state. So what the people of East Lansing and environs clearly needed was a bike path from the MSU campus up to soon-to-be-opened Sleepy Hollow State Park, plus paths all over town.

      It happened when I got a letter from John. It was addressed to the state representative of the League of American Wheelmen which I happened to be at that time, quite by accident and only for the interim. John wanted to talk about bicycling. We met for lunch. Three or four times that summer I went to his apartment for more talk. Two or three others came whose names neither of us recalls. What John was telling us was that we needed to have a major meeting in the East Lansing-Lansing area to organize for bicycling. John got that message out when he persuaded Gene Hashley, Lansing State Journal reporter, to do a story projecting his vision.

      That did it! The meeting, in November of 1972 at LCC, drew some 40 people. Dick Allen was there. So was Fendley Collins, retired wrestling coach at MSU who had turned to bicycling. Kim Wilcox had to have been there, and Tom and Linda Hardenbergh, Stan Haley, Dr. Eva Urban, Dean Brailey, and Dale Mayers, among others. At the end of the meeting, John had clustered around him the volunteers who became his lieutenants. He appointed them to an informal board of directors. An organization was in sight!

      The organizational meeting took place early in 1973 back at LCC. To launch this Tri-County Bicycle Association called for a lot of work and dedication. The hard job of getting out a newsletter and how to pay for it. John drew $75 out of his savings account and bought a bushel of buttons that he and his followers bestowed on anybody within reach who would contribute 25 cents or more to help TCBA. He solicited ads to pay for printing and mailing. After two or three issues, he remembers the merchants were saying as he came in the door: "Here comes Czarnecki for some money again, watch out."

      Above all it took leadership, and John led with the zeal of a Fidel Castro. He held out the vision. He persuaded, he nudged, and when nudging wasn't enough, he became a driver. Not until it came to the choice of club colors did he suffer a reverse. He wanted green and white, like good old MSU. The members said no. They voted in green and gold.

      Through the newsletters, John's infant club announced rides. His were typically rides of five miles for Sunday brunch at Uncle John's Pancake House. Others, notably Kim Wilcox, had a yen for rides of 50 miles, at a fast clip. Privately John shook his head, but he waved on the hard rides and his lieutenants soon expanded the ride program to attract riders of all degrees.

      In the 4 days before Labor Day in 1971, Dick Allen and a party of a dozen had bicycled from the Capitol up to the Straits. There was his picture in the Lansing State Journal, in shorts, for the take-off. The next year, 1972, some 75 volunteers joined him, all on their own. Out somewhere this side of Fowler, Dick remarked, "This thing needs some kind of organization." I had to agree.

      Later that fall, in 1972, I got a call one night from a man in Petoskey who said he was John Shields, MD. He had organized a club up there of 100 members, meeting at the Holiday Inn. Everybody who was anybody in Petoskey belonged, and John Shields was champing at the bit for something ambitious to do. All I did was ask the question: could the clubs at either end of the ride Dick Allen had pioneered organize it as a joint event? John Czarnecki said "Well, yes." John Shields said, "Yes, Yes, let's go." A meeting followed at the Holiday Inn in Grayling. TCBA came in with this wonderful name, DALMAC, for the "Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw" ride and volunteers like Tom and Linda Hardenbergh, eager to work on the route and on registrations. The Petoskey party came in with a copy of the TOSRV entry blank for a model application.

      Shields spent the summer of 1973 working on his end, losing his partnership in the medical clinic there as the price of his devotion. John Czarnecki sweated the nuts and bolts at this end. On the last night before liftoff, he insisted on a step-by-step rundown over everything that had to be done come morning; and all the while, he worried that rain might soak and chill this wild enterprise. That year it didn't rain until riders got to Maple Rapids, just a good shower.

      With that this club earned half the revenue from DALMAC entry fees, less expenses. A neat little bankroll. No more pestering merchants for ads, no more wise cracks to endure. TCBA was on its feet, walking off to fame and fortune.

Dick at Capitol 1971

The Evolution of the Ride Program

 

      When the Tri-County Bicycle Association was founded, group riding was the club's purpose in only an indirect way. John Czarnecki's primary objective in starting a bicycle club was to promote the construction of a trail from East Lansing/MSU to Sleepy Hollow State Park for bicyclists, but also for walkers and joggers and families with kids. John saw early on the importance of non-motorized pathways for building a community and the health of its members. So, he founded TCBA to bring people together to support his goal of getting a trail built. Well, the people who joined TCBA in the first year were much more interested in riding on the many good asphalt roads around Lansing than in advocating for and riding on a trail. A strong ride program evolved over the years. A trail to Sleepy Hollow is still a dream.

• January 1973 Road Captain position created

• March 1973 First ride announced in the newsletter

• May 1973 Seven June rides are listed

      Dr. Eva Urban and Dean H. Brailey volunteered to be the first Road Captains, a popular term at the time used by the League of American Wheelman, now League of American Bicyclists, for a position that combines TCBA's current Ride Coordinator and Ride Leader positions. They decided that organizing rides, mapping routes, and teaching the etiquette of group riding on the road had to be the primary focus of the ride program. Also, they soon realized they couldn't do it alone. So, they encouraged members to be a ride leader; people who loved to ride and who were willing to be responsible for organizing and leading a group. John Czarnecki, Chuck and Nancy Garber, Tom Hardenbergh, Duncan Wyeth, Kim Wilcox , and Sam Febba came forward to lead a growing number of rides.

• April 1973 Ride Classes posted in the newsletter

• December 1973 "Guidelines for Ride Leaders" is mailed with the Club newsletter, newly named "Chain-Wheel Chatter"

• January 1974 Ride Class "E - Beginner" introduced in Chainwheel Chatter

• May 1981 Ride Class "AA - training and competitive rides" introduced

• March 1986 Ride Class "Z" introduced in Chainwheel Chatter

• March 1993 Ride Class "M" introduced in Chainwheel Chatter

• March 2018 Ride Class "G" introduced in Chainwheel Chatter

      In the first year, people joined TCBA to ride on an organized group ride. Most members were novice bicyclists and new to riding with a group. The ride leader rode at the front setting the pace, trying to keep the group together (often a difficult task given the varying abilities of the riders), asking another rider to "ride tail" at the rear of the group or doing it themselves if no one volunteered.

      Developing a ride program for riders of varying levels of fitness and interest has been a challenge from the first year of the club. "Elitists!" "Clique-y!" "I got dropped and no one cared!" were complaints members had about club rides. Club officers have endeavored to address these charges in various ways, but never perfectly. Defining ride classes, training new riders, developing rules and training for ride leaders, starting a ride incentive program, and recognizing ride leader of the year have been instituted over the years.

      The "Guidelines for Ride Leaders" laid out the expectations for ride leaders. They were first published in 1973. Although refined over the years, they have covered the same set of responsibilities. This was an important step in developing competent ride leaders and improving the group riding experience for riders. The Guidelines were published every year in the Chainwheel Chatter. As the number of rides increased and more ride leaders were needed, these rules helped to make the conduct of rides more uniform. Also, an awareness of the club's and ride leader's liability was growing because of the expansion of club activities and increased reporting about liability lawsuits. Below is an outline of the 1984 Guidelines. They can be viewed in the Pages from the May 1984 Chainwheel Chatter.

I. GENERAL POLICY

II. PREPARATIONS

III. THE ROUTE

IV. REST STOPS

V. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RIDE

VI. THE RIDE ITSELF

VII. AFTER THE RIDE

VIII. RULES OF THE ROAD

      In 2002, President Arnie Johnson and his wife Betty initiated a novel approach to help the ride program. They created "Information for New Riders" to introduce new members to the ride program. This sheet was mailed with the July 2002 Chainwheel Chatter and can be viewed in the Pages from July 2002 Chainwheel Chatter.

I. REASONS TO GO ON CLUB RIDES

II. THINGS THAT THE "RIDE LEADER" WILL DO

III. THINGS THAT ALL RIDERS MUST DO

IV. THINGS THAT A "NEW RIDER" SHOULD DO

V. THINGS THAT RIDERS SHOULD NOT DO

VI. SAFETY TIPS

      In the June 2004 Chainwheel Chatter, President Johnson again addressed concerns about the ride program in "Things to Remember on Club Rides". They can be viewed in the Pages from June 2004 Chainwheel Chatter. You will see his purpose was to remind ride leaders of their responsibilities and members to choose rides suitable for their ability.

      Ride classes were defined to help a rider find their niche. Who rides like me? Who will talk to me? Who do I like? Who likes me? Ride classes have changed with the times. As members became better bicyclists and found their class, group rides became more enjoyable for all levels of rider. Of concern right from the start, "Club Touring Rider Classifications" were published for the first time in the April 1973 newsletter. Compare these 1973 ride classes with today's to see how far rider fitness and skill, and bicycle technology have advanced.

Ride Classes in August 1973

Class "A" fast 18-22 mph
Class "B" fairly fast pace 12-18 mph
Class "C" average 8-12 mph
Class "D" rides suitable for the whole family 5- 8 mph

Ride Classes in April 1982

A Training: 17+ MPH
A Touring: 17+ MPH
B: 14-17 MPH
C: 10-14 MPH
D: Under 10 MPH Less than 15 miles long

Ride Classes since March 2018

A+ - 19+ mph
A - 17 - 19 mph
B - 14 - 17 mph
C - 12 - 14 mph
D - Up to 12 mph
Z - Over 40 miles at riders’ own pace
M - Mountain bike “single track” rides
G - Gravel road rides plus speed class (A-Z) of the ride

     At the start of the 1982 riding season, the Exec Board wrestled with fine tuning ride classes and controlling rider conduct to respond to member's complaints and safety concerns. This is an excerpt from the February 1982 newsletter of what they concluded.

"FROM THE PRESIDENT:

. . . the Exec Board agreed that TCBA does have a problem with riders going too fast

. . . we all need to realize that a perfect ride classification system does not exist

. . . the Exec Board believes that the present classification system is best suited to the Club's present diversity

. . . ride leaders are encouraged to say a few words about the rules of the road before the ride begins

. . . everyone is encouraged to welcome new riders"

• May 1980 Called in RideLine - TUBES00 began

• December 1980 Ride Incentive program began, managed by Ride Coordinators Pat and Rebecca Baughan

• September 2016 Called-In RideLine discontinued

• October 2016 Ride Calendar moved to the Club Calendar on TCBA website

• October 2016 All rides submitted to the Ride Coordinator by email

     Pat and Rebecca Baughan managed the ride program in 1981. Adding the Ride Incentive program required a lot of work. Pat and Rebecca put in many hours during the riding season collecting Ride Rosters, compiling the miles ridden by each rider, and other totals. In 1982, three volunteer positions were needed to handle this work: Ride Coordinator, RideLine Coordinator, and Ride Mileage Keeper. In March 1982, the members who held these positions were listed in the Chainwheel Chatter:

Ride Line: Nancy Dyki
Ride Coordinators: Gary and Sandy Munson
Ride Mileage Keeper: Sharon Lenon

      Many things were tried to make the management of the ride program, submission of rides, and posting the ride calendar easier. From the newsletter and answering machine, to the website and email, from a paper map and cue sheet to RideWithGPS and Garmins, the TCBA Board and ride program volunteers met the challenge as the membership grew and technology changed. In the July 2016 Chainwheel Chatter, President Pat Kelly informed members about these upcoming revolutionary changes: "Now that the Club Calendar is in place and being updated regularly by several volunteers, the tentative plan will include to no longer have rides listed in the Chainwheel Chatter (we will keep the Chainwheel Chatter, but not list rides). The “Called-In Ride Line” will also change. When a Ride Leader wants to post a ride or rides to the Club Calendar, they will contact the Ride Coordinator who will then post the ride(s) to the Club Calendar. The weekly Called in Ride e-mails will also be discontinued, as all the rides for TCBA will be on the Club Calendar via the Ride Coordinator. One place to look, one person to contact to have your ride put on the Calendar! We think this will streamline the ride posting process, by making it easier to post rides and to see when/where rides are held."

      Before the Ride Incentive program, no one tallied the number of rides held or miles ridden. In the years after it started, the total number of rides and miles ridden, the rider's names and award level achieved were a regular feature in the Chainwheel Chatter. The Ride Coordinator's report clearly showed the Ride Incentive program produced more rides and ride leaders. As Mark Kappler noted in 1996, "I rode about 800 miles in 1994 and 2100 miles in 1995".

      The Ride Program and Ride Incentive award totals have been included in the President's Annual Report since 1998. When the Ride Coordinator and Ride Mileage Keeper produce the totals, they become a yardstick that measures the Club's success in achieving one of its primary objectives. Here are the totals for several years obtained from the Chainwheel Chatter archive.

1981 Ride Incentive Awards

98 members earned a mileage award

1989 Ride Incentive Awards

294 (of 1024) members earned a mileage award

65 members earned a ride leader patch

1991 Ride Incentive Awards

306 members earned a mileage award

77 members earned a ride leader patch

285,000 miles ridden on club rides

5,054 miles ridden by Edie Belcher

2001 Ride Program

489 riders rode on 775 rides

267,430 miles ridden

2005 Ride Program

441 members road a club ride

853 rides led by 88 ride leaders

372,000 miles ridden

• July 1973 First Wednesday Night Ride from Y-Lot

• September 1973 First DALMAC organized by TCBA

• August 1973 First overnight Ride to Hell and Back

• July 1979 First T-Shirt Ride

• July 1981 First Women-On-Wheels Ride

• July 1987 Club hosted Bicycle USA National Rally

• July 1990 First SummerTour

• June 2007 First NorthWest Tour

      TCBA's ride program expanded rapidly beyond weekend rides. Week-day rides, invitational rides, and multi-day tours were introduced as members volunteered as ride leaders and ride committee members. Look at how many years ago these rides started. Only TCBA's ready and willing volunteers have kept them going for so long. The T-Shirt Ride and the W.O.W. Ride are on a break now, but volunteers may one day step-up to start these very popular rides again.

• June 2019 The slogan "Promoting Safe, Social Bicycling Since 1972" appeared in the masthead of the Chainwheel Chatter after often appearing elsewhere in the newsletter since December 2017

      TCBA's ride program has been the beating heart of the club since the beginning. "Racers", recreational social cyclists, parents and children, off-road and fat-tire bikers, and cycle tourists have found their niche over the years. Even as member demographics and bicycle technology change, TCBA needs to maintain a strong ride program. The club depends on it to thrive as a organization for "Promoting Safe Social Cycling Since 1972" into the future. Let's Ride!

1974 Vermontville Ride


1987 Jody Bennett and L.A.W. National Rally Team


2002 Rebecca & Pat Baughan


TCBA Riders

And Helmeted Heads Prevailed

Professional bicycle racer Joop Zoltemeke wore one. So did Eddy Merckx. Greg LeMond wasn't wearing one when he won the Tour de France in 1986 defeating Bernard Hinault. However, a few TCBA members wore a helmet 50 years ago.

The EMS (mountaineering) Helmet. The "Leather Hairnet". The SkidLid.  The original Bell Bicycle Helmet.  In the 70's, the "fast riders" like Byron Drachman and Kim Wilcox, wore the "Leather Hairnet".  That style marked them as a "racer" because some professional riders wore them.  Greg Neff wore an EMS mountain climbing helmet. Bob Harrington wore a SkidLid which left unprotected a portion of the top of his head. Steve Leiby, Dean and Jean Brailey, Gene and Rebecca Losey, John and Linda Ray (all riding companions of mine) were among many members to buy the original Bell Bicycle Helmet as early as 1972.  Dean said he ordered a carton of Bell helmets from California. Dean called them "nazi" helmets because they had a slightly curled edge that reminded him of a German WWII helmet. Steve said they were "heavy".  I thought they looked dorky. 

Helmets of various quality began to appear in the 70's.  In the 1980's, manufacturers improved the quality and appearance of helmets and the Snell and CPSC standards were issued. Club members' opinion about helmets changed as the availability and the quality of helmets improved.  They had lots of discussions about the pros and cons of helmets.  I don't remember them being contentious.  I remember that many members and DALMAC riders were wearing helmets in the 1980's. I bought my first helmet, a Bell V1 Pro, in 1985.  It looked somewhat like the original "Leather Hairnet" and not as dorky as the original Bell.  I've had three other brands of helmets since then. Some members, including my wife, had a Vetta. Others had a Giro or Specialized.

In the Feb 1991 Chainwheel Chatter (CC), President Joe Adams announced TCBA's position on wearing a helmet: "a helmet should be worn at all times when someone is riding a bicycle".  Reading Joe's article, I believe the officers had discussed this question for several years before deciding to take this position. The DALMAC and SummerTour applications for 1991 said for the first time that wearing a helmet was "REQUIRED".   Before 1991, the applications said wearing a helmet was "strongly encouraged".   Even though helmets were "required", the Ride Incentive Program Rules and Rules of the Road in the CC still only "strongly recommended" that all riders wear a helmet. The T-Shirt and W.O.W. applications for that year only suggested that a rider "wear a helmet". However, a change was coming.

Beginning in 1991, the Club began to strongly support wearing a helmet.  The CC had articles about helmets:  January 1992 articles from the State Journal appeared under the heading "Wear that Helmet.  It helps!"; March 1993 mandatory helmet laws were reviewed; July 1993 how to make a helmet fit properly; August 1993 a letter to the State Journal from a member explaining how to properly wear a helmet. 

The 1992 Ride Incentive Program Rules strongly recommended that riders wear a helmet. In 1993, the rules warned that ride miles would not be credited if a helmet wasn't worn.  The monthly Ride Calendar in the CC didn't have a caption saying helmets were required on TCBA rides.  However, the Ride Incentive Program Rules included this requirement to remind members to put on their helmet. 

Even though by 2001, riders on TCBA rides wore helmets, the T-Shirt and W.O.W. ride applications still did not say helmets were mandatory. After Katie Donnelly pointed this out at the Executive Board meeting in May 2001, the Board passed a motion that all ride applications and other ride literature must clearly state that helmets are required on all TCBA rides.

In 2021, some adults and children still ride without a helmet. TCBA encourages all riders to wear a helmet. Many TCBA members know a friend whose helmet protected their head from severe injury in a crash. The Club has given helmets to community members at special events and The DALMAC Fund has supported helmet programs. Anyone looking at the Ride Calendar, a ride application, or the website sees the Club's policy: "HELMETS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL TCBA RIDES".

Helmets All

Joop Helmeted                                                                                                            

Merckx Helmeted

Skid Lid

Invitational Tours Other Than DALMAC

         As TCBA faced its first full year of operation in 1973, President John Czarnecki's main concern was how to make the Club financially "viable" (his favorite word). Dues, selling ads in the newsletter, and peddling logo buttons for one dollar probably would not put TCBA on a firm financial footing for the long run. People were joining and rides were happening, but Czarnecki wanted a source of revenue to insure the Club's "viability". When Norm Reeder offered him the chance to co-sponsor Dick Allen's ride from Lansing to Mackinaw with the Little Traverse Travelers, he feared the Club would lose money doing it. After he discussed this risky opportunity with the board and members, and found they were excited about it, he reluctantly agreed to do it.

         Fifty years on, DALMAC has clearly been the key to the Club's financial well-being. DALMAC was the first TCBA invitational tour and set the framework for the others to come. TCBA's mostly youthful members were eager to do the tasks a bicycle Club required. Some served on the Board. Some led rides. Some wrote articles for the Chainwheel Chatter. An active and sometimes vocal group attended monthly meetings at the Unitarian Universalist Church in East Lansing. Others organized a summer picnic and a Christmas party. DALMAC '73 brought forth a dedicated cadre of volunteers who spent five months organizing the tour. DALMAC's success convinced the members that they could run a bicycle tour.

        With the DALMAC experience under their belt, TCBA members initiated, supported, and borrowed six invitational rides other than DALMAC over the next four decades. These rides didn't need to make big money, but they couldn't be money-losers as founder and former President Czarnecki worried DALMAC might.

        The complexity of organizing and operating these tours varied. They ranged from one day to five and seven days in length. The ride director and committee members had meetings for several months before the ride. The tasks done to prepare for the ride included: get approval from a school, park, or campground to use their facility; design and distribute the application; plan the route, make maps/cue sheets, and mark the route; arrange food service; get sag wagon and baggage truck drivers, and a mechanic with a repair truck. At the beginning of the ride, the planning went into motion: the equipment required for the ride was hauled to the start; signs were placed to direct people to the parking lot, rider check-in, food, and showers; volunteers checked-in riders, sold merchandise, answered questions, kept in touch with sag drivers, staffed rest stops with drinks and snacks. After the ride, the clean-up began: Club property was taken back to storage; money was counted and deposited; at the post-ride meeting, committee members reviewed what had gone right or wrong, suggested changes, ate pizza, and went home to rest until the process started again for next year; the tour director submitted a ride report to the Board.

        As you read the foregoing, you might have wondered what all this has to do with a Club people joined to ride their bicycle with other like-minded people? As a Club member from the start, I believe TCBA became more than a group of bicycle riders in its first year. Riding together is only one aspect of the Club. Some members joined the crew of an invitational ride, gave their time and talent working on the ride, met people who became friends and riding companions, and made memories that last a life-time. Members working together on these events strengthened the Club by giving it a purpose beyond riding. The popularity of these rides over so many years speaks to the know-how Club members possess about organizing and operating a quality bicycle tour; one that brings riders back year after year.

100,000 Meter T-Shirt Ride May 1980 - June 2019

         Bicycling and jogging became popular during the '70s. Both had enthusiasts who claimed their sport was the best type of aerobic exercise. A t-shirt for each entrant was often included at a jogging event. When a jogger wearing a 10,000 meter (10K or 6.2 miles) t-shirt boasted about his accomplishment, the idea for this ride was born. Patches were very popular ride mementoes, but a t-shirt with 100,000 meters emblazoned across it was an obvious one-up on the joggers.

        Jay Hardcastle was the first 100,000 Meter T-Shirt Ride's director. Also, he was Club treasurer. He, President Steve Leiby, and Kim Wilcox planned the ride in the winter of 1980. After a plea for volunteers in the April 1980 newsletter, Jay got the people he needed to run the ride.

T-SHIRT RIDE: Jay Hardcastle has begun having nightmares- 400 riders and no one to help
run the show. Things are shaping up but there's still lots to do . There will be a
meeting Thursday, May 1st, at Apt. A-19, Taurus Apts. {the corner of Michigan and Creyts,
Lansing). Jay will have samples of the T~shirts to show off and pizza for any willing
workers who appear.

        Rain fell on the inaugural ride, but did not dampen the Club's interest in running an early season, one-day, full service ride. Riders were eager for an early season test of 62.8 miles as well.

T-SHIRT RIDE : Since the first 100,000 Meter T-shirt Ride was such a success, despite
the rain, we are planning to hold the 2nd annual in 1981, again in early June. Although
not as complex as Dalmac, this ride also needs workers. Anyone interested in helpinq
out should cal l Events Direct or Kim Wilcox at 394- 0493 .

   THE TRI-COUNTY BICYCLE ASSOCIATION PRESENTS THE 100,000 METER T-SHIRT RIDE
                                                                        May 31, 1981

Tired of Joe Jogger getting cheered while walking t he dog in his 10 ,000 meter t-shirt?
(Which he ran in 2 hours?) People never notie your aerobic fitness , but ask you about
the funny tan on the back of your hands. Do ·people wonder why you wear a jacket that's
been patched so many times?

Well, bunky, come into the bright light in a new season with a ride to solve all these
problems , and more!!! Join us on the second annual Tri-County Bicycle Association
100,000 meter t-shirt ride, on Sunday, May 31.

At the 100,000 meter t-shirt ride , every rider will receive a 100,000 meter t-shirt
instead of a patch. Each rider will also receive a quick energy snack during the ride.
(We just may slip in a few pieces of fruit to sweeten up everyone!) 

T-Shirt Highlights

• Based at MSU Commuter Lot-Y from 1980 to 1982

• Based in Grand Ledge from 1983 to 1998 starting from Fitzgerald Park, Beagle Elementary School, Sawdon Junior High, and Grand Ledge High School during these years

• Based at Laingsburg from 1999 to 2014 with strong support from members of the police and fire departments

• Moved "Back to the Ledge" in 2015 and started from the high school through 2019

• Added $800 to the Club treasury in 1981

• 50,000 meter route added in 1986

• Number of riders ranged from 300 to 500 over the years with a high of 959 riders in 1986 and a low of 165 riders in 2019

• Board voted in 2018 to remove "100,000 meter" from the ride name

T-Shirt Directors

80's Jay Hardcastle, Jim Dougherty, Pat Baughan

90's Pat Baughan, Sue Walsh, Linda Wells, Frank Hartman, Kim Claflin, Steve Drake, Kay Erb

00's Dwayne Scheidler, Steve Drake, Al Simons, Deb Holdcraft, Steve Schuesler

10's Deb Holdcraft, Steve Schuesler, Ralph Bednarz, Bob Noble

After 2019, Bob Noble decided to be the ride director for two more years and find a new director for 2022. However, the COVID pandemic had other plans. After the state-wide lock down in 2020, the board decided to suspend all Club rides. With the infection still raging in early 2021, Club rides remained on hold. The T-Shirt ride was not held. When Club rides began again in mid-2021, no one stepped up to direct the T-Shirt Ride in 2022. The T-Shirt Ride's run was over.

Women on Wheels (WOW) July 1981 - July 2015

         Many women caught the bicycling bug during the 1970's bicycle boom. TCBA had women members from the beginning and more women joined during the '70s. Dr. Eva Urban, Maribeth Fletcher, Ellen McViccar, Rebecca Arnold Losey, Linda Hardenbergh, Maria Quinlan Leiby, Jean Lantzer-Brailey, Cathy Jacobs, Sue Rabidoux, Cheryl Bartz, and Donna Keefe (to name just a few) rode and led Club rides regularly. In the late '60s and through the '70s, feminists and women's libbers were changing minds about women's role in society. Women were on the rise. The idea for WOW came from this trend.

         President Donna Keefe (the first woman to be the president of TCBA) got the idea from Dean Brailey. She liked his idea of an invitational group ride only for women. The routes would be on the lightly-traveled country roads around Mason with distances for novice and experienced riders. Her prime objective was to attract women who weren't Club members and didn't usually ride on rural roads. She wanted to increase their comfort level for recreational group riding and persuade some of them to join TCBA. At that time, the Events Director was in-charge of all invitational rides. When Donna proposed the ride to him and it was coolly received, Donna (not to be denied) decided to organize the ride anyway.

         The inaugural ride started at Rayner Park in Mason and was based there until 1991 when it moved to Mason High School. It traveled the surrounding rural roads. It was a success, putting $200 into the treasury. While the ride was for women only, male Club members had a role to play: route planning and marking, sag drivers, and food service. With several mileage options, including 90 miles in the early years, routes of 15, 30, and 50 miles became standard.

        A short assessment of the first WOW:

WOMEN ON WHEELS: An organizational meeting for next years ride will be held
January 21 at 2015 Cooper Ave., Lansing. Last years ride proved very successful
in bringing out many women who don't ordinarily ride or who rarely ride on their
own . We want to repeat that success and plan to have fun doing it . Call Maria
Q.L. at 374-7592

         The app for the second year boldly declared the reason for the ride: "Tired of riding behind the old man on the back of the tandem? Tired of always playing 'catch-up' with your male riding companion? Want to meet some other women cyclists? Then leave your troubles behind and come join us on the second 'Women on Wheels' tour, July 24, 1982~starting from Rayner Park in Mason Michigan."

         The ride director wrote a report for the newsletter with information like this one from 1984:

W.O.W. REPORT: The unusually cool July morning drew another 88 riders to join the 234 preregistered
riders for the fourth annual "Women on Wheels Tour". It was our best year ever,
cooking up 450 hotdogs, 75 pounds of beans and mixing 75 gallons of lemonade and ice tea to
serve the 322 hungry cyclists, mostly women. Many discovered Italian Ice, and how refreshing
it is after a hot afternoon bike ride. We received many compliments on the T-shirts,
menu, and routes. I want to thank all of those who helped make W.O.W. '84 another successful,
quality and fun tour. For those that· are interested, our profits reached beyond $370.
I do not have the final figures. Thanks again.
                                                                                                     Donna Keefe

         How many volunteers did it take to do an event like WOW? In 1991, the ride director acknowledged 50 people.

WOW '91 would have been impois-
sible without the assistance of 50
volunteers who worked on planning.
T-shirts, patches, registration. road
markings. sag service and sag stops,
lunch, parking, clean-up, equipment,
newsletter information; publicity.
mailings and record keeping. These are
the people who make working on the
ride so much fun and who make WOW
fun to ride.

        This report identified the elements that made WOW a popular event:

                        WOW '99 -A Winner

    The Women on Wheels bicycle tour was a successful
club event Bicyclists arrived early to beat the heat.
Enthusiastic TCBA volunteers assisted them with
registration. People were excited about the WOW '99 T-
shirt with an original Native American design encircling a
woman on a bicycle. The route was patrolled by a dedicated
group of Sag Drivers who proved to be very handy with a
bicycle pump. Familiar Rest Stop workers greeted riders
with cold water, plenty of fresh fruit, and delicious cookies
with macadamia nuts. A cooling rain arrived just as riders
completed their first loop. The famous WOW lunch was
prepared and served by many bard working kitchen
volunteers. Everyone appreciated the excellent food as well
as the clean and neat presentation.
    Students from the Ann Arbor Institute of Massage
Therapy treated participants to free mini massages. The
Central Michigan Amateur Radio Club provided valuable
communication between Rest Stops, Sag Drivers, and
organizers at Mason High School Stan Haley, Holt Pro
Cyclery mechanic, offered bis expert knowledge to people
who asked for help with their bikes. Our special thanks to
the paint crew, Lee Adair, Don Cary, and Joe Adams for
adjusting the route to avoid fresh chip sealing and working
in extreme heat. Thanks to everyone who made the Women
on Wheels tour an enjoyable event for approximately 500
bicyclists. .

Mary Burris, Bonnie Good, and Kay Erb

WOW Highlights

• Based at Rayner Park in Mason from 1981 to 1990

• Based at Mason High School from 1991 to 2015

• Added $200 to the Club treasury in 1981

• Added $434 to the Club treasury in 1982

• Starting in 1987, men were invited to ride with the women

• Number of riders ranged from 300 to 500 over the years with a high of 900 riders in 1990

WOW Directors

80s Donna Keefe, Maria Quinlan-Leiby, Diane Fisher, Rebecca Baughan,

Glenna Dunaway

90s Mary Ann Sipher, Lisa Nowak, Deb Strait, Cheryl Hosler, Joane Gruizenga, Judy Miller, Val Riggs, Janice Koller, Bonnie Good, Mary Burris, Kay Erb

00s Dick & Dee Gilmore, Joane Gruizenga, Judy Miller, Val Riggs, Adreah Saxton

10s Adreah Saxton, Pat Trudgen

         At the Board of Directors meeting on July 5, 2016, the Board made a difficult decision: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, major road construction, and chip sealing on routes, the board decided to cancel the 2016 Women On Wheels Ride (WOW)". After 36 years, the WOW Ride was over.

The Magic Ride June 1983 - June 2000

         The Magic Ride for Kids was initiated by State Representative Debbie Stabenow in 1983. The ride was a pledge event to raise money for the Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. Rep Stabenow's office had obtained many big name sponsors. Ervin "Magic" Johnson made an appearance to see the riders off in the first two years. Her office found notable people in subsequent years to start the ride, even bicyclists Susan Notarangelo and Lon Haldeman and "Michigan Celebrity Bicyclists and Personalities" tandem riders Patty Brehler and Patience Hotton, and frame builder Matt Assenmacher. The ride was based at Holt High School. Short routes went through the neighborhoods around the school. The longer routes were on the rural roads south of Holt. Ride literature said up to 3,000 riders participated.

        In the '80s, the Board wanted people in the tri-county area to be more aware of the Club. The Club sponsored an Explorer Post, had a booth at the annual LCC Health Fair and Ingham County Health Fest, rode in Lansing's 4th of July parade, and co-sponsored the Greater Lansing Triathlon. The Magic Ride for Kids was another opportunity.

        In 1983, the Club put the ride in the newsletter's List of Coming Events and received a letter of appreciation. The Club did this again in 1984.

July 2            - A MAGIC RIDE FOR KIDS - sponsored by the Council for the Prevention of
                        Child Abuse and Neglect with special guest Earvin 11 "Magic" Johnson. Ride
                        starts from the driving range south of Holt High School and travels thru
                        rural Ingham and Eaton Counties . You can either pay a fee of $8 to ride
                        in the event or by getting mileage pledges ride free. There will be maps
                        refreshments and t-shirts for all participants. For application informa-
                        tion contact Sharon Shay, P. O. Box 200247 , 111 S. Capitol Ave ., Lansing,
                        MI 48901. If interested in helping with the event, contact Dave
                        Messner at 669 - 5827 . ·

Dear Sandy:

Thank you for your help in publicizing "A Magic Ride for Kids" in the Chainwheel
Chatter. We raised $18,000 for child abuse prevention programs throughout the
State of Michigan.

The date of next year's ride is June 23, 1984. Our intent is to host a bicycle
oriented weekend with camping, music, movies and food.

Thank you again for your help.

                                                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                                                    Dave Messner
                                                                                                                    Co-Chairperson 

 

         Ken Hendrick joined TCBA in 1985. He worked for the DNR. Known to be a bicyclist, his boss asked him to help Representative Stabenow's office staff with the ride. He worked with the staff in 1983 and 1984 to organize and conduct the ride. Ken put together all the aspects for the ride: marked routes and maps, sag wagons and repair truck, tires and tubes provided by Denny's Schwinn, and HAM radio operators to report to him when riders needed help.

        Ken had established a solid format for the event when this happened in 1985:

         Representative Debbie Stabenow attended the Board meeting to ask for our co-operation and help in making the "Magic Ride" an even greater success than in the past. This will be held on June 1st at the Holt High School. We have agreed to cooperate in several ways. More on this in the near future.

         After this request, a Magic Ride application was mailed with the Chainwheel Chatter and TCBA volunteers planned, marked, and mapped routes, provided sag service, helped with day-of-ride check-in, planned and conducted a children's bicycle safety rodeo, and provided other assistance from 1985 to 1999. Among the Club members involved were Ken Hendrick, Jim Dougherty, Tom Hardenbergh, Rebecca Baughan, Pat Baughan, Pat Harrington, and Sally Long. TCBA didn't make a penny from this ride, but its cooperation was highlighted in The Magic Ride application, and perhaps some its participants joined the Club.

        During the '90s, fewer members volunteered to help The Magic Ride. In 2000, Ken Hendrick came to a board meeting and asked for more support. Board members were supportive and referred Ken to the ride committee. In April 2001, this notice was in the newsletter. After being a successful fund-raising event for 18 years with the assistance of the Club, The Magic Ride was over:

        Magic Ride Cancelled - The Child Abuse Prevention Services in Lansing announced that
they are regretfully canceling the Magic Ride scheduled for June 9th in Holt. Ms. Kathleen Johnson-Calati told me that the administrative staff costs were too high and that a volunteer crew and ride leader would be the only way they could afford to bring the ride back. They would welcome commitments from volunteer leaders and crew to run the ride. Lucinda Means - LMB Executive Director

SummerTour July 1990 - On-Going

         Does anyone remember that the 1987 5-Day DALMAC was held in July after the LAW National Rally the Club ran? The post-rally tour was offered to persons who attended the Rally and anyone else who could secure themselves the highly sought after ticket. Don Barger, who worked over two years on the National Rally, headed-up the DALMAC 5-Day crew.

         The idea of a mid-summer ride had been percolating in the Club for years. Many members and others couldn't ride DALMAC because their job in a school system required them to be at work at the beginning of the new school year. A mid-summer DALMAC gave them what they wanted. However, 1987 was the first and last time that was allowed to happen.

        The demand for a DALMAC-like mid-summer tour did not go away. If a DALMAC ride had to be held only in the days before Labor Day, then why not have a similar TCBA event with a different name? So, this announcement appeared in the March 1990 Chainwheel Chatter:

 Mid-Summer Michigan
         Bicycle Tour

The TCBA Events Committee has
elected to begin a new six-day bicycle
tour lmginning the Sunday after the
4th of July.

The expected start s hould be
Manchester, Michigan. The first
night's stop will be here in Lansing.
The remaining nights should be along
the DALMAC route.

The ride flavor will be similar to the
DALMAC 5-day (shorter mileages).
The daily objective is to ride near as
many lakes as possible. Swimming,
bicycling and socializing are the activities.
Brear.fast and dinner will be
included. Instead of riding the
bridge, we will probably take the
boats to the island and then to St.
Ignace. Group size will be limited to
300, which should make dinner and
shower lines small.

Set your calendar for Sunday, July 8,
1990.

 

         Because of its DALMAC-like format, SummerTour was a very ambitious undertaking. The promo for the ride in the May 1991 Chainwheel Chatter made that very clear:

 
Hit the Road With SummerTour II

         After the first two years, SummerTour evolved and became different than other Club invitational tours. The SummerTour Committee decided the event needed a new format: shorter routes to allow time for sight-seeing, swimming, relaxing in camp, evening campfires and s'mores; a family-friendly bicycling vacation.

SummerTour Highlights

• In 1992, the ride started and ended in DeWitt eliminating the return trip by car or bus. Overnights were Mt.Pleasant on the first and last days, Houghton Lake, Gaylord, Elk Rapids, and Lake City. The SummerTour Weekend was still offered going from DeWitt to Mt. Pleasant and back.

• In 1995, SummerTour Weekend was based at Eaton Rapids High School with activities and rides starting on Friday afternoon. The longer ride was not held that year.

• In 1996, SummerTour became a five day tour starting and ending in Portland. SummerTour Weekend was dropped.

• In 1998, the riders spent two nights at Holland High School; the first time the ride didn't move to a different campground every day

• From 2000 until 2010, the ride was five days long with two overnight locations

• Since 2011, the ride has been based at one location with several daily route options and other activities

SummerTour Directors

90s Gary Jenks, Barry Culham, Milt & Gloria Gruhn, Pete Derkos, Lee Adair

00s Lee Adair

10s Pete Derkos, Ginger Royston

20s Ginger Royston

         SummerTour has been a very popular ride since it began. With a limit of 300 riders for many years, members and non-members rode. Club members who didn't act fast enough didn't get in and they complained. In recent years, the ride was limited to around 150 entrants. It has become a "meeting of the clan" with most riders being Club members. With Ginger Royston and RJ Chulski organizing the ride, the volunteers on the ride committee, Ryan Cramer and his sub-committee planning daily activities for the kids, and Ryan and Lynn Cramer and Ryan and Megan Keast acting as campground hosts, SummerTour has become the event envisioned 30 years ago: a relaxing mid-summer bicycling vacation for all ages. Watch for on-line registration to open because the ride fills up fast.

NorthWest Tour June 2007 - On-Going

         The Great Northwest Tour, run by Ivan Ford and the Glen Lake Bicycle Club, was based at Glen Lake High School and had routes in the beautiful Leelanau Peninsula. In the years 1982 to 1991, TCBA had more members attending than any other Club (60 in 1983, 69 in 1986) and was awarded the Club attendance plaque many times. Even though the GNT ended in 1991, members who had ridden it year-after-year missed the good roads, challenging hills, scenic views, sandy beaches, and ice cream.

        In 2007, Dick Sulin took the Club back to Leelanau County. He organized a committee for the first NorthWest Tour. He was the tour director for five years. He was also Club treasurer for three of those years. TCBA members had enjoyed riding in Leelanau on Club long-weekend rides and the Great Northwest Tour. Dick and his committee soon had a very popular event to run.

NorthWest Tour Highlights

• In 2007, the new NorthWest Tour begins-a five-day event based at one campground in the Leelanau Peninsula

• Between 2007 and 2012, the number of entrants grew from 150 to over 300

• In 2016 with on-line registration and a 300 rider limit, the ride filled in 45 minutes

• In 2012, Jeff Dillingham became the ride director

• In 2013, the ride is branded "Biking The Bear"

• The NWT sells-out almost every year

         In 2013, the opening date for registration was announced with this information: "Come spend 5 days biking the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes and Leelanau areas with us for spectacular scenery through small towns and tourist areas, all from the convenience of a single campground. Empire, Glen Arbor, Traverse City, Frankfort, Leland, and Suttons Bay are just a few of the highlights. Be prepared for hilly terrain, good food, and a great time."

         In 2017, Jeff Dillingham's ride report included this info about the people needed to run the tour: "Sixteen volunteers made this all happen. Director, campsite and registration coordinators (2), route planning and map making (1), campground hosts (2), SAG drivers (3), registration staff (7)." Jeff has retired and moved to Traverse City. The indefatigable Patty Mead and the committee will continue to run the NorthWest Tour.

NorthWest Tour Directors

00's Dick Sulin

10's Dick Sulin, Jeff Dillingham

20's Jeff Dillingham, Patricia Mead

The Baker September 2020 - On-Going

         When a long-time bicycling friend dies, their riding companions are shocked and saddened. This is what David Baker's friends John Carey and Jeff Barnes experienced after David was struck and killed by a motorist while riding on Okemos Road on August 23, 2019. John wrote a heart-felt remembrance of his friend David for the November 2019 Chainwheel Chatter. John and David had ridden together on the "Ride of Silence". Perhaps this event and their friendship gave John and Jeff the idea for a commemorative ride for their friend.

        The Baker 2022 was the "3rd Annual" running of the event. The information and registration for The Baker were on the Club's website. The TCBA Facebook group had a post about it, also.

        Website - "A biking event to promote bike riding safety inspired by and in memory of our good friend David Baker who was tragically killed in 2019 when a vehicle struck him while he was riding his bike. David was an avid biker who participated in many endurance events such as the Zoo-de-Mac, ODRAM (One day ride across Michigan), DALMAC and the National 24-Hour Challenge. Proceeds from this event will be split and donated to both the Pere Marquette Rail Trail and the Tri-County Bicycle Association/DALMAC FUND Inc."

        Facebook - "Ride the Baker! All trail ride on the Pere Marquette! Clare, Mi Saturday, Sept 10, 2022. Please come to the registration area between 8 and 11am at the northeast corner of the Doherty parking lot and get your t-shirt and swag. We will conduct the drawing for the Garmin Rear Radar and Light when we open the registration area, but you need not be present to win. All who registered by the August 20th deadline will be placed in the drawing and the Garmin unit will be placed in the winner's swag bag! Rest stops will be set at 5, 10 and 20 miles from the start and will be open until 11am or so. Spread the word to any potential riders as we will accept walk-up registrations. Swag will be available for these late registrants but no t-shirts. Here's looking forward to a great day and thanks so much for participating in "The Baker 2022"".

        Jeff and John have organized a different type of event for TCBA The Baker begins in Clare and is routed on the Pere Marquette Rail Trail. The ride is held on the first Saturday in September after Labor Day. This weekend often has perfect weather for bicycling. It is a ride for all abilities and ages because of the safety of riding on the flat, black-topped trail. The out-and-back nature of the ride allows riders to choose the number of miles to ride. Riding from Clare to Midland and back is 60 miles, but riders can turn around at any point; maybe after reaching a rest stop and having a drink and food.

        An invitational ride needs promotion and riders to become successful. The riders are often the best promoters. Ride director Jeff Barnes told me The Baker had 44 riders in 2020, about 80 riders in 2021, and about 90 riders in 2022; and riders gave the ride good reviews. 30 of this year's registrants donated to The DALMAC Fund and didn't ride. So, about 60 people rode. Watch for pictures of this year's ride on Facebook and a ride report on the website. The Baker may be the autumn ride you have been looking for.

The Baker Directors

20's Jeff Barnes, John Carey

The Jeaneen Reynolds Joy Ride June 2021 - On-Going

         Jeaneen Reynolds was an avid bicyclist. She was a customer of the Spin Bicycle Shop in Old Town. She joined TCBA and made friends who became her riding companions. While on a ride in 2020, she tragically died after a crash with a car.

        In the latter part of 2020, Eric Dean was considering becoming the T-Shirt Ride director after Bob Noble indicated his desire to step away from organizing the ride. After hearing about Jeaneen's death and talking to Nicole Cottom, who owns Spin Bicycle Shop with her husband Chad, they decided to partner to have a ride of remembrance for Jeaneen. Eric talked with Jeaneen's family/relatives about the event and naming a ride in her honor. They were in favor of the ride and were happy when it was suggested that part of the proceeds be donated to organizations Jeaneen and her family supported.

        Eric developed the ride format while Nicole worked to design a logo, worked with suppliers to provide some free refreshments, organized the food truck for the first Joy Ride and encouraged people in the shop's ride group to attend the ride. The ride had multiple routes ranging from 20 to 62 miles on paved and gravel roads. The first JRJR was announced in the April 2021 Chainwheel Chatter. Riders gathered on June 13th at Mt. Hope Park in Delta Township. 130 people paid the $30 entry fee. The League of Michigan Bicyclists' Education Fund received the first donation from the JRJR.

        This post was made to the TCBA Facebook Group after the 2022 JRJR which 106 people rode: "This morning, TCBA Treasurer K.C Harrison and Board Member Eric Dean, along with Clay, Therese and Derrick Reynolds presented a $500 check to the Equine Center for Learning (aka The Beekman Center). This amount was half of the proceeds from the Jeaneen Reynolds Joy Ride and the charity was chosen by Jeaneen’s family as she had volunteered there in the past."

        The JRJR is an event of these times. Club members working on it are using the tools available today to pull it off. RaceRoster supports the pre-ride only registration. Maps and cue sheets are on RideWithGPS. Paper maps and cue sheets are available at the start for people on the other side of the digital divide. A food truck stationed at the park offers several options for hungry riders. The Club has come a long way since the 1980 100,000 Meter T-Shirt Ride.

JRJR Directors -

20's Eric Dean

         President Dick Gilmore ended the 1998 Annual Report with this: "MANY, MANY THANKS to all the volunteers who made all these things happen, and made my past year as Club President an enjoyable and memorable experience. Your individual efforts make the big picture possible!".

         What was true in 1998 is still true today and always will be as long as there is a TCBA. The invitational rides happen because volunteers, both members and non-members, are willing to give their time and talent to an event. Today, the Club is focused on running NorthWest Tour, SummerTour, two newer rides The Baker and The Jeaneen Reynolds Joy Ride, and DALMAC (of course). The situations that gave rise to T-Shirt and WOW have passed. The fact is members have only so much time to devote to the Club. However, another cause or situation may arise that warrants a new invitational ride. Until that happens, volunteers are staffing the on-going events. If you want to work on an invitational ride, contact the ride director. Another helper is always welcome.

T-Shirt Ride 2015


T-Shirt Ride 2018


WOW 1982


WOW 2001


WOW 2015


SummerTout 2002


SummerTour 2015


SummerTour 2021

The Chainwheel Chatter - The Source for TCBA News for 50 Years

          A monthly newsletter has been TCBA's vehicle for communicating news and information to members and the public since January 1973. The end of the paper version of the newsletter, cleverly named Chainwheel Chatter by Stan Haley in September 1977, was presaged when the first Club website went online in March 1996. The Club's website has been revamped several times since then. Gradually, the news and information from the newsletter became a page on the website accessed by clicking a tab. The organization of content improved with each release of the website.

          In January 2019, the mailing of a paper version of the Chainwheel Chatter stopped with an exception for a few members without an internet connection. The information that remained in the newsletter was accessed from the tab labeled "CC" on the home page. The capability to dynamically present Club news and information on www.biketcba.org has changed the purpose of the Chainwheel Chatter and the job of editor. As this article was being written, a new release of the website was installed. It reorganizes the current and past issues of the Chainwheel Chatter to make them easier to access.

          The Board of Directors continues to rethink what a "newsletter" should be in the age of the internet. The Chainwheel Chatter has evolved over 50 years. Club officers and the newsletter editor regularly added or removed content and reorganized its format and style; always with the goal of selecting and organizing the important news and information about TCBA for members and the public. While the challenge of editing remains, the internet makes the process of communicating with members and the public a technical challenge as well. Selecting the information to put on the website and how to organize it is an on-going process for the Board and committee members.

          The Chainwheel Chatter editor has a very important job. The person has to interact with and have the cooperation of Club officers and committee members. Collecting and organizing the information for each issue and producing the newsletter takes many hours. This work has gone on every month for 50 years. The voluntary dedication of 21editors produced the newsletter that has been vital to TCBA's growth and success.

          The following is a look back at the changes to the Chainwheel Chatter masthead over the years and an article of interest at the time.

MASTHEAD VERSION 1.0

In December members of the Tri-County Bicycle Association met to discuss three main topics before the next general meeting:

1. Officers for TCBA
2. January meeting date
3. By-Laws for TCBA

Due to the fact that few people knew each other, it was felt that temporary officers should be appointed and that formal elections then would be held at the end of summer, either in the month of September or October. The Officers appointed are:

President: John Czarnecki

Vice President: Kimball Wilcox

Secretary: Paul Zielinski

Treasurer: Bill Baker

Road Captain: Dean H. Brailey

Road Captain: Dr. Eva Urban

Asst VP for : David Godfrey

Children Activities

Editor: Stan Haley

MASTHEAD VERSION 2.0

Note the name for our newsletter. Stan Haley was presented with a TCBA button on the DALMAC trip for coming up with the name.

DALMAC NOTES:

For all those who missed the ride, you missed a superb adventure. Three hundred people biked from Lansing to the Mackinac Bridge over some of the best rural roads in Michigan. To the many club members who worked on the committee and helped on the 4-day trip, I can't thank you enough. Steve, Don, Kim, Stan, Tom, Linda, and Norm your hard work made DALMAC a tremendous success and helped make a name for TCBA. I bet the DALMAC Tour will become one of the most prestigious bike tours in the nation within a few years. John Czarnecki

MASTHEAD VERSION 3.0

RIDE NOTES: Vermontville Maple Syrup Ride drew largest turnout for a club event. 56 riders made the trip! Interest in club rides is rising. Even threatening weather did not dampen attendance at Sam Febba's first ride. A good ride schedule for June with week-day night rides and longer weekend tours should provide something for everyone.

           The Covered Bridge Century, sponsored by Dayton Cycling Club, attended by the Hardenberghs, Kim Wilcox, and Steve Leiby. Covered bridges and scenic Ohio farmland ware main attractions. "Whizzer" Wilcox finished in 6 1/2 hours.

           Thirteenth TOSRV attended by several club members drew largest crowd ever, some 4000! Inclement weather made the 2 day 210 mile tour somewhat of an ordeal.

           CAUTION - Loose stones and gravel at intersections make turning hazardous for the unwary rider. The suddenness with which a bike can go down is amazing. Appraise road conditions when approaching a turn and slow down!

           Railroad tracks grab narrow tires with amazing ease. Beware of all tracks especially those that intersect your path at a sharp angle. Slow down and cross tracks at a right angle! It is no disgrace to get off and walk. It could prevent a bent rim or scraped knee.

MASTHEAD VERSION 4.0

Bicentennial 1776 Mile Award: As part of TCBA's observance of the Bicentennial and the Bikecentennial, we are initiating a special prize to be awarded to anyone who rides 1776 miles in 1976. To qualify for this award (probably a red, white and blue jersey)you must ride at least 1,776 miles on sanctioned rides. Sanctioned rides are: (1)Club rides; (2) LAW Sanctioned Century, Half-Century or Quarter-Century Rides (proof by showing patch earned); (3) DALMAC or (4) TCBA's Bikecentennial Colorado ride. Any number of people can win this award. So, get started riding now!!

MASTHEAD VERSION 5.0

INTERVIEW WITH OUR FOUNDER

Dean Brailey recently interviewed John Czarnecki, the founder and first president of TCBA. Here are some of the highlights from their conversation.

Dean: What prompted you to start TCBA in the first place?

John: In all honesty I wanted to get a bicycle path built from East Lansing to Sleepy
Hollow State Park.

Dean: And that's it?

John: That was my primary incentive ... I started bicycling by myself, and East Lansing was starting a bicycle plan. But who wants to bike just in East Lansing? I wanted to go out to Sleepy Hollow. So, I figured the best way to get a bike path built outside of East Lansing was to start a lobbying group to promote such routes.

Dean: So the original plan was for a political action group.

John: That's right.

Dean: Has the club followed the path of political action as well as it could have?

John: Yes. I feel that what the club has accomplished in that realm is to push forward and serve as a focal point for bicycling in this state. People might not think that this is a major accomplishment, but being around government for some years now, I find that that is a major accomplishment. We have had two members on the state Non-motorized Advisory Group, a number of members on the Ingham County Advisory Group, and all in all I think that more people are becoming aware of bicycling in this area.

Dean: Have you seen any major changes in the way local governmental officials view bicycling?

John: I think that they are slowly beginning to realize that bicycling is just like driving a car. Cyclists have the same rights to the road as the automobile, and local officials are beginning to realize this. It's taken a long time, but you can't expect people's attitudes to change overnight.

Dean: At this point in time what do you see as the major problem facing the club?

John: Survival.

Dean: That's it?

John: Probably. . . I feel that it's difficult for any club to maintain its momentum . . . Unless it is really structured and built into some type of institutional pattern, like the Kiwanis. I think that club membership has reached its peak ... , and now it's important to make it a good club, have it enjoyable for people, and still maintain it as a place to go to get involved with bicycling. Also, it needs to be a place where elected officials can find out what bicyclists need. Our immediate objective, and our most difficult, is to strengthen the club into a cohesive force that will endure.

MASTHEAD VERSION 6.0

Hope you like our "new look"

As we move into the new year I'd like to make you aware of a couple of changes that have taken place with this publication, in addition to the new masthead.

1. The deadline has been moved to the 2nd Saturday of the month, the old deadline was the 1st Saturday of the month. By making this change the deadline will always be after the board meeting.

2. Meeting information for the upcoming meeting will appear in the issue mailed in the prior month, i.e. January meeting
information appears in the January edition, which is mailed in December. This should eliminate most of our problems with members receiving their newsletter after the meeting has taken place.

Charla Scheidler, Newsletter Editor

Newsletter/Ride Calendar Deadline

The deadline for the next newsletter is Saturday, January 13, 2001. Please send items to Charla Scheidler, 10384 Blackberry Ln., Haslett, MI 48840, FAX to (517) 339-1758, or email to: chainwheelchatter@biketcba.org.

Ride calendar information should be sent to Wendell Proudfoot, 5380 Barton Rd., Williamston, MI 48895 or email to tcbarides@prowen.com. To be included in the newsletter this information must be received no later than the above-mentioned date.

MASTHEAD VERSION 7.0

MASTHEAD VERSION 8.0

MASTHEAD VERSION 9.0

MASTHEAD VERSION 10.0

Generations - Changing with the Times

    The last article in this series highlights some important events in each decade and records the members who have held elected positions in the Club over 50 years. Every Board has acknowledged the importance of the members who volunteered to head or work on a committee. Although too numerous to name individually, their participation in Club activities kept TCBA going for 50 years.

    Each generation has had a changing cast of characters, but every new generation was a blend of members from current and past generations. This is how practices, procedures, activities, and organizational knowledge were passed from the current generation to the next. TCBA is an institution with a culture - one that is strong but not rigid; innovative but retains what is useful and replaces what is out-dated; solid but not inflexible; serious-minded about safety and public perception, but always allowing time to have fun riding a bicycle.

    These articles have been about the past. What the past shows is the Club changed as society changed. Year to year, it might seem that not much has changed. However, a person who went to sleep in 1972 and woke up in 2022 would be astonished. Look at the variety of clothing for different types of cycling! Where are the cut-off shorts and cotton t-shirts? Look at the different types of bicycles! Where is the 30 lb 10-speed? Look at the click-in pedals and shoes! Where are the toe clips and running shoes? Look at the variety of safety equipment! Who wore a helmet, sported Oakley sunglasses, slathered on sunscreen, or attached high-intensity flashing front and rear lights? Look at the light-weight digital devices! Who didn't have money for an emergency call, a folded map or cue sheet, a compass, and a mechanical speedometer-odometer? The bicycling world has changed. TCBA has changed along with it.

    The members have made TCBA a successful bicycle club. Remember our heritage. Do today's work for tomorrow. Ride and have fun, but keep your eyes on the road ahead. Envision where you want to go. The Club goes there only with you.

First Generation Highlights

1973

• Adopted By-Laws

• Monthly Ride Calendar listed in Chainwheel Chatter

• Held summer picnic and holiday party

• Co-sponsored DALMAC '73 with the Little Traverse Travelers

1974

• Monthly meeting moved from LCC to the East Lansing Unitarian-Universalist Church

1975

• X-C Ski Weekend at Innisfree in Leelanau County

• Became sole sponsor of DALMAC

1976

• X-C Ski Outings were held

• Riding season kicked off with 40 scheduled rides in May

• "Road Captain's Notes" included in newsletter

1977

• Upcoming rides were a phone call away on Ride Line - TUBES-00

• Mark Reed, Steve Leiby, and Tom Martin offered ways to deal with dogs on the road

1978

• President Leiby improved financial reports, filed taxes, and applied for tax exemption

• Mark and Ellen Reed taught Effective Cycling courses

1979

• East Lansing Comprehensive Plan adopted bicycling goals advocated for by Club

• Board established two elected At-Large positions

1973			1974
	President	John Czarnecki		President	John Czarnecki
	VP	Kim Wilcox		VP	Kim Wilcox
	Treasurer	Bill Baker		Treasurer	Steve Leiby
	Secretary	Paul Zielinski		Secretary	Anita Wolfe
	Events	John Czarnecki		Events	Stan Haley
	Editor	Stan Haley-Paul Giroux		Editor	Linda Hardenbergh
1975			1976
	President	Kim Wilcox		President	Tom Hardenbergh
	VP	Gene Losey		VP	Mary Ann Batt
	Treasurer	Steve Leiby		Treasurer	Tom Martin
	Secretary	Mary Ann Batt		Secretary	Sharon Stormes
	Events	Tom Hardenbergh		Events	Tom Hardenbergh
	Editor	Linda Hardenbergh		Editor	Rob Peck
1977			1978
	President	Gene Losey		President	Steve Leiby
	VP	Tom Martin		VP	Bob Harrington
	Treasurer	Marty Rabb		Treasurer	Marty Rabb
	Secretary	Sharon Stormes		Secretary	Anita Rabb
	Events	Kim Wilcox		Events	Stan Haley
	Editor	Steve Leiby		Editor	Tom Martin
1979
	President	Dean Brailey
	VP	Ellen Reed
	Treasurer	Dan Cogan
	Secretary	Coralynn Kurrle
	Events	Steve Leiby
	Editor	Diane Wilhelm-Jean Lantzer Brailey

Second Generation Highlights

1980

• Bob Gibbs mapped a DALMAC West route

• Jay Hardcastle organized the first 100,000 Meter T-Shirt Ride

1981

• Pat and Rebecca Baughan started the Ride Incentive Program

• Donna Keefe organized the first Women on Wheels (WOW) Ride

• Kim Wilcox enlarged DALMAC ridership with the East and West routes

• Pat and Rebecca Baughan hosted first annual Fall Hayride

• Supported the creation of the new League of Michigan Bicyclists

1982

• Ride Coordinator and Mileage Keeper positions are created to support the Ride Incentive Program

1983

• Monthly meeting moved from the UUC to Foster Community Center

• 5-Day route added to DALMAC

1984

• Established Safety & Education Committee headed by Jim Dougherty and Diane Fisher

1985

• Established The DALMAC Fund Committee chaired by Brint Donalson

• Purchased computer for the Ride Mileage Keeper

• President Pat Baughan produced a model annual report

• Member Roster had over 700 members

1986

• Sale of TCBA member name tag began

1987

• Safety & Ed Committee began Mini-Maintenance Classes before monthly meeting

• Hosted the LAW National Rally organized by Jody Bennett's committee

• Kim Wilcox named first Volunteer of the Year

1988

• Board purchased personal computer for Club business

• Gary and Sandy Munson named Volunteer of the Year

1989

• Total Memberships - 1024

• Diane Fisher named Volunteer of the Year

• Joe Adams named first Ride Leader of the Year

1980			1981
	President	Steve Leiby		President	Donna Keefe
	VP	Wally Parshall		VP	Arnie Werner
	Treasurer	Jay Hardcastle		Treasurer	Wally Parshall
	Secretary	Coralynn Kurrle		Secretary	Coralynn Kurrle
	Events	Bob Gibbs		Events	Kim Wilcox
	At-Large	Jack Kurrle		At-Large	Joe Rabidoux
		Arnie Werner			Joan Tierney
	Editor	Maria Quinlan Leiby-Marian Hikade		Editor	Maria Quinlan Leiby
1982			1983
	President	Maria Leiby		President	Gary Munson
	VP	Cheryl Bartz		VP	Sharon Lenon
	Treasurer	Bob Luoma		Treasurer	Brint Donalson
	Secretary	Sue Rabidoux		Secretary	Pat Baughan
	Events	Kim Wilcox		Events	Kim Wilcox
	At-Large	Herb Linne-Rick Banker		At-Large	Merle Crow
		Joan Tierney			Dean Brailey
	Editor	Marty Rabb		Editor	Sandy Munson
1984			1985
	President	Pat Baughan		President	Pat Baughan
	VP	Rick Banker		VP	Don Barger-Diane Fisher
	Treasurer	Joan Tierney		Treasurer	Patty Lloyd
	Secretary	Nola Meade		Secretary	Carolyn Szeremet-Bill Tucker
	Events	Kim Wilcox		Events	Kim Wilcox
	At-Large	Diane Fisher		At-Large	Brint Donalson
		Dean Brailey			Carl Beckner-Bill Madtes
	Editor	Sandy Munson		Editor	Sandy Munson
1986			1987
	President	Diane Fisher		President	Diane Fisher
	VP	Roger Nelson		VP	Nancy Fasano
	Treasurer	Susan Beyerlein		Treasurer	Janice Kline
	Secretary	Bill Tucker		Secretary	Bill Tucker
	Events	Kim Wilcox		Events	Kim Wilcox
	At-Large	Bill Madtes		At-Large	Ethel Hallett
		Ralph Goff			Clarence Jones
	Editor	Sandy Munson		Editor	Sandy Munson
1988			1989
	President	Bill Tucker		President	Doug Powell
	VP	Dave Wehrwein		VP	Dave Wehrwein
	Treasurer	Mary Ann Sipher		Treasurer	Mary Ann Sipher
	Secretary	Marie Watson		Secretary	Pat Walther
	Events	Kim Wilcox		Events	Kim Wilcox
	At-Large	Eric Freedman		At-Large	Joe Adams
		Dick Martin			Dan Barger
	Editor	Sandy Munson		Editor	Sandy Munson

Third Generation Highlights

1990

• First SummerTour ride is held

• New ride line for "called-in" unpublished weekly rides

• Joe Adams named Volunteer of the Year

• Milt Gruhn named Ride Leader of the Year

1991

• 306 members earned a Ride Incentive Award

• Pat Baughan named Volunteer of the Year

• Gary Jenks named Ride Leader of the Year

1992

• Dick Martin named Volunteer of the Year

• Joe Adams named Ride Leader of the Year

1993

• Membership Dues increased

• Official Club jacket and other apparel offered for sale to members

• Began supporting community Share-A-Bike program

• 261 members earned Ride Incentive Award

• President's Annual Report formalized and included in Chainwheel Chatter

• Instituted formal transition meeting for new officers

• Dick & Dee Gilmore named Volunteer of the Year

• Edie Belcher named Ride Leader of the Year

1994

• Joe Adams took over creation and production of computer-designed maps for DALMAC and other events

• Barry Culham named Volunteer of the Year

1995

• Sandy Munson retired after 13 years as editor

• Edie Belcher leads Ride Incentive Program with 10,000 miles

• Lenny Provencher named Volunteer of the Year

• Edie Belcher named Ride Leader of the Year

1996

• First Club website developed by website committee headed by Ed Noonan

• Charla Sims named Volunteer of the Year

1997

• Dick Janson started series of "Easy Spoken" articles

• Frank Cousin named Volunteer of the Year

1998

• Term of officers changed to begin in January instead of October

1999

• Alan Huber started "Cycle Forum" before monthly meeting

• New Club URL www.biketcba.org

• Membership at the end of decade - 305 family, 429 individual

1990			1991
	President	Doug Powell		President	Joe Adams
	VP	Marie Watson		VP	Marie Watson
	Treasurer	Jim Eddy		Treasurer	Jim Eddy
	Secretary	Don Barger		Secretary	Sara Kanya
	Events	Kim Wilcox		Events	Doug Powell
	At-Large	Jeff Kacos		At-Large	Jeff Kacos
		Joe Adams			George Norton
	Editor	Sandy Munson		Editor	Sandy Munson
1992			1993
	President	Joe Adams		President	George Norton
	VP	George Norton		VP	Gary Jenks
	Treasurer	Lisa Nowak		Treasurer	Lisa Nowak
	Secretary	Ken Tiffany		Secretary	Jacque Wallace
	Events	Doug Powell		Events	Doug Powell
	At-Large	Gary Jenks		At-Large	Kim Claflin
		Gunther Schmidt			Lenny Provencher
	Editor	Sandy Munson		Editor	Sandy Munson
1994			1995
	President	Gary Watson		President	Dick Gilmore
	VP	Gary Jenks		VP	Kim Claflin
	Treasurer	Jacque Wallace		Treasurer	Dick Jonseck
	Secretary	Charla Sims		Secretary	Charla Sims
	Events	Doug Powell		Events	Barry Culham
	At-Large	Ken Tiffany		At-Large	Frank Hartman
		Erik Jensen			Erik Jensen
	Editor	Sandy Munson		Editor	Sandy Munson
1996			1997
	President	Dick Gilmore		President	Dick Gilmore
	VP	Kim Claflin		VP	Mary Lou Nachreiner
	Treasurer	Leslie Miyasato		Treasurer	Janet Gillespie
	Secretary	Charla Sims		Secretary	Charla Sims
	Events	Barry Culham		Events	Barry Culham
	At-Large	Darryl Burris		At-Large	Pete Derkos
		Katie Donnelly			Katie Donnelly
	Editor	Cheryl Hosler		Editor	Charla Sims
1998			1999
	President	Dick Gilmore		President	Ed Noonan
	VP	Mary Lou Nachreiner		VP	Mary Lou Nachreiner
	Treasurer	Janet Gillespie		Treasurer	Janet Gillespie
	Secretary	Katie Donnelly		Secretary	Katie Donnelly
	Events	Barry Culham		Events	Kim Claflin
	At-Large	Pete Derkos		At-Large	Pete Derkos
		Dick Martin			Tom Hardenbergh
	Editor	Charla Sims		Editor	Charla Sims

Fourth Generation Highlights

2001

• Helmets required on TCBA rides

• Email address assigned to each Club officer

2002

• Membership at year end - 289 family, 559 individual

• Charla and Dwayne Scheidler named Volunteer of the Year

• Edie Belcher named Ride Leader of the Year

2003

• Provided $25,000 matching funds grant for area bike loops

• Fall Hayride held at Peacock Road Tree Farm

• Tri-County Map Booklets produced by Joe Adams and Gary Patterson

• Jan Koller and Pat and Roger Trudgen named Volunteers of the Year

2004

• Katie Donnelly and Betty Johnson organized Bicycle Safety Poster Contest for school children

• Alex Eglinton led 11th Brint Donalson Highland Festival Weekend Ride

• Club computer files backed-up in secure location

• Al Simons named Volunteer of the Year

2005

• Hard-shell bicycle cases acquired for member use

• First edition of Dick Janson's Crosstown Bike Route Maps released

2007

• Dick Sulin organized first NorthWest Tour

2009

• Bill Savage started LAW-based riding skills and safety class "Smart Cycling"

2000			2001
	President	Ed Noonan		President	Arnie Johnson
	VP	Lenny Provencher		VP	Al Simons
	Treasurer	Roger Trudgen		Treasurer	Roger Trudgen
	Secretary	Jan Koller		Secretary	Charla Scheidler
	Events	Lou Axeman		Events	Dwayne Scheidler
	At-Large	Tom Hardenbergh		At-Large	Tom Hardenbergh
		Sandy Sandoval			Jun Nogami
	Editor	Charla Scheidler		Editor	Charla Scheidler
2002			2003
	President	Arnie Johnson		President	Arnie Johnson
	VP	Chris Harrison		VP	Chris Harrison
	Treasurer	Ron Claflin		Treasurer	Ron Clafllin
	Secretary	Charla Scheidler		Secretary	Charla Scheidler
	Events	Dwayne Scheidler		Events	Darryl Burris
	At-Large	John Foltz		At-Large	John Foltz
		Gary Patterson			Phil Wells
	Editor	Charla Scheidler		Editor	Charla Scheidler
2004			2005
	President	Arnie Johnson		President	Arnie Johnson
	VP	Susan Viele		VP	Susan Viele
	Treasurer	Ron Claflin		Treasurer	Ron Claflin
	Secretary	David Ford		Secretary	Charla Scheidler
	Events	Darryl Burris		Events	Darryl Burris
	At-Large	John Foltz		At-Large	Kori Sperling
		Phil Wells			Ed Usewick
	Editor	Charla Scheidler		Editor	Charla Scheidler
2006			2007
	President	Arnie Johnson		President	Dick Jansen
	VP	Susan Viele		VP	Sue Viele
	Treasurer	Dick Sulin		Treasurer	Dick Sulin
	Secretary	Charla Scheidler		Secretary	Linda Antinori
	Events	Darryl Burris		Events	Al Simons
	At-Large	Steve Schuesler		At-Large
		Sara Troutman
	Editor	Charla Scheidler		Editor	Andrea Rybicki
2008			2009
	President	Joe Adams		President	Herb Drake
	VP	Sue Viele		VP	Roger Nelson
	Treasurer	Dick Sulin		Treasurer	Dick Sulin
	Secretary	Linda Antinori		Secretary	Linda Antinori
	Events	Al Simons		Events	Pat Trudgen
	At-Large	Herb Drake		At-Large	Bob Blanchard
		Kris Stairs			Kris Stairs
	Editor	Janet Weber		Editor	Janet Weber

Fifth Generation Highlights

2010

• www.dalmac.org developed and deployed by Wendell Proudfoot's Website Committee

• Board considered becoming more active in bicycle advocacy

• 40th DALMAC attracted over 2,000 riders

2011

• Steve Leiby volunteered for the advocacy position

• Club support for the Ride of Silence began

• DALMAC Fund grants surpassed $1,000,000

• Wendell Proudfoot named Volunteer of the Year

• Edie Belcher named Ride Leader of the Year

2012

• Board established the Advocacy Committee chaired by Mike Unsworth

• Several members staffed booth at Health & Fitness Expo

• 1,024 members at year end

• Janet Weber named Volunteer of the Year

2013

• Steve Leiby named Volunteer of the Year

• Steve Leiby and Heidi Vanator co-produce DALMAC Legacy video

• Committee formed to explore on-line registration system for DALMAC and other tours

2014

• Steve Leiby reported the DALMAC Fund granted $80,300

• Pat Trudgen named Volunteer of the Year

• Brenda Cartwright named Ride Leader of the Year

2015

• Dave Mansfield took over map-making duties for DALMAC and other tours

2016

• "Ride with GPS" club account purchased for all members

• Wendell Proudfoot retired as webmaster

• Started using web service provider Clubexpress.com

• DALMAC 2-Day Route started

• TCBA Facebook group started

• Event Calendar on www.biketcba.org used to list upcoming rides

• All rides submitted to Ride Coordinator at ridecoordinator@biketcba.org

2017

• Member's ride information became available on www.biketcba.org

• Ever-popular NorthWest Tour and SummerTour were sell-outs

2018

• DALMAC 2-Day Trail route started

• Advocacy Committee developed Bike Safety Billboards

• DALMAC Fund 501 c3 status obtained

• Club telephone service discontinued

• Mike Unsworth retired as Advocacy Committee chair

2019

• Membership dues increased

• Stopped mailing paper copy of Chainwheel Chatter

2010			2011
	President	Roger Nelson		President	Roger Nelson
	VP	Lenny Provencher		VP	Ray Bailey
	Treasurer	Dick Sulin		Treasurer	Steve Leiby
	Secretary	Linda Antinori		Secretary	Linda Antinori
	Events	Pat Trudgen		Events	Pat Trudgen
	At-Large	Donovan Riley		At-Large	Dean Brailey
		Kris Stairs			Kris Stairs
	Editor	Janet Weber		Editor	Janet Weber
2012			2013
	President	Roger Nelson		President	Pat Trudgen
	VP	Steve Schuesler		VP	Bill Smith
	Treasurer	Steve Leiby		Treasurer	Steve Leiby
	Secretary	Janet Weber		Secretary	Julie Bailey
	Events	Heidi Vanator		Events	Heidi Vanator
	At-Large	Wendell Proudfoot		At-Large	Ray Bailey
		Pat Trudgen			Joel Wickham
	Editor	Janet Weber		Editor	Janet Weber
2014			2015
	President	Darryl Burris		President	Darryl Burris
	VP	Bill Smith		VP	Bill Smith
	Treasurer	Steve Leiby		Treasurer	Steve Leiby
	Secretary	Pat Baughan		Secretary	Pat Baughan
	Events	Pat Trudgen		Events	Ken Hendrick
	At-Large	Pat Kelley		At-Large	Pat Kelley
		Joel Wickham			Joel Wickham
	Editor	Janet Weber-Wendy Briggs		Editor	Wendy Briggs
2016			2017
	President	Pat Kelley		President	Pat Kelley
	VP	Bill Smith		VP	Bill Smith
	Treasurer	Steve Leiby		Treasurer	Steve Leiby
	Secretary	Deb Traxinger		Secretary	Deb Traxinger
	Events	Ken Hendrick		Events	Joel Wickham
	At-Large	Joane Gruizenga		At-Large	Bob Noble
		Ken Schwartz			Ken Schwartz
	Editor	Patricia Mead		Editor	Patricia Mead
2018			2019
	President	Pat Kelley		President	Pat Kelley
	VP	Bill Smith		VP	Patricia Mead
	Treasurer	Harry Levins		Treasurer	Harry Levins
	Secretary	Deb Traxinger		Secretary	Deb Traxinger
	Events	Joel Wickham		Events	Steve Leiby
	At-Large	Bob Noble		At-Large	Bob Noble
		Ken Schwartz			Ken Schwartz
	Editor	Patricia Mead		Editor	Saryanna Lopez Meza

Sixth Generation Highlights

2020

• Monthly group rides stopped by pandemic

• Monthly membership meetings suspended and Officers started meeting virtually to prevent spread on SARS-CoV-2

• 50th DALMAC postponed by pandemic

• Jeff Barnes started The Baker ride

2021

• Sponsored rides resumed as vaccination rates increased

• Eric Dean started the Jeaneen Reynolds Joy Ride

• 50th DALMAC held

• Established the Youth Cycling Club

2022

• 51st DALMAC

• TCBA 50th Anniversary Celebration at Lansing Brewing Company

• Zhang family led 2nd Annual Youth Cycling Club Fall Fun Ride

• 2023 Club Officers elected by affirmation again (no formal vote)

• Ginger Royston and RJ Chulski named Volunteers of the Year

• Zhang family earned special recognition as Family Volunteers of the Year

2020			2021
	President	Pat Kelley		President	Pat Kelley
	VP	Patricia Mead		VP	Patricia Mead
	Treasurer	KC Harrison		Treasurer	KC Harrison
	Secretary	Deb Traxinger		Secretary	Deb Traxinger
	Events	Steve Leiby		Events	Steve Leiby
	At-Large	Ken Schwartz		At-Large	Ken Schwartz
		Eric Dean			Eric Dean
	Editor	Saryanna Lopez Meza		Editor	Saryanna Lopez Meza
2022
	President	Pat Kelley
	VP	Patricia Mead
	Treasurer	KC Harrison
	Secretary	Deb Traxinger
	Events	Steve Leiby
	At-Large	Eric Dean
		Chris Diamond
	Editor	Saryanna Lopez Meza