1. Art and Diseño

The
Paceline
The Fort Worth Bicycling Association Newsletter
An eating club with a cycling problem.
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February 2015
IRVING — Fighting back tears, Sandy Dalton sat in a chair
at her home, fighting through extreme physical lower body
pain. Dalton said she survived a hit-and-run accident while
cycling this week.
"I'm real frustrated," Dalton said. "This is meanness... big
time meanness!"
Sandy Dalton is recovering from several broken bones after
a hit-and-run crash in Irving. She said the car that struck her
is a white Cadillac Escalade. Demond Fernandez has more.
That mean moment came on Sunday afternoon. Dalton and
her friend were halfway through a 40-mile bike ride when
an unknown driver hit her bike from the rear on the Irving
Boulevard overpass at MacArthur Boulevard. Dalton lost
control of her bicycle.
"When I landed, I looked up, and I know that it was a white
Escalade because of the emblem," Dalton remembers. "It
was just right there in my face."
Sandy Dalton was riding her bicycle on Irving Boulevard
Sandy Dalton was riding her bicycle on Irving Boulevard
on January 18, 2015 when she said she was struck by a
Cadillac Escalade SUV that fled the scene. (Photo: WFAA)
Dalton said the impact sent her flying from her bike and
into the shoulder of the road. The fall left her with pelvic
bone fractures in three places. A bone in her hip joint is also
fractured.
The driver of the Cadillac SUV never stopped.
Dalton's injuries have left her unable to leave a chair at
home.
"This kind of incident is way too common," said Dalton's
friend, Kimball Smith.
The two say they are members of the Forth Worth
Bicycling Association. Smith was riding with Dalton when
the hit-and-run happened.
Sandy Dalton said she was struck by a Cadillac Escalade
Sandy Dalton said she was struck by a Cadillac Escalade
while riding her bicycle on this overpass on Irving
Boulevard on January 18, 2015. (Photo: WFAA)
"Everything that we see leads us to the conclusion that it
was an intentional act," Smith said.
Smith and members of their biking group are offering up
their own reward.
"My company, Kimball Distributing, will guarantee that
reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver of
this Escalade," Smith said. "We'll give them a reward of
$5,000,"
As for Dalton, she remains optimistic that police will catch
the fleeing driver as she continues to rest and recover at
home.
Irving Police have assigned detectives to investigate the hitand-run case. Officers are urging anyone with information
about the case to call 972-273-1010. They say tips can also
be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]
Beginner’s Clinic/Biking 101/
When: going on Hiatus until Spring. Look to start back up in March 2015
Where: Art’s Park Trail Head in Benbrook. Go south on Winscott to Memorial Oak. Trail Head is
at the end of the road.
Cost: 1 dollar for entrance to the State Park.
Distance: up to 21 miles all on trails and park roads. Ride will be from Trail Head up thru
Benbrook Lake park to HI 377 and back.
This is primarily a training ride for those new to cycling. Any level cyclist is welcome and club
members will be on hand to provide guidance and answer questions. The goal is to introduce riders
to the club and to help those new to our sport gain the skills they need to allow them to enjoy the
normal club rides.
Note: Helmets are required . Under 18 needs parent in order to sign ride waiver.
Contact: Mark Poulson for more information ([email protected])
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FORT WORTH
Mellow Johnny’s, a premier Austin bike shop,
is expanding to Cowtown this spring with a
location at Clearfork’s Trailhead Cycling and
Fitness Center in southwest Fort Worth.
“The Trailhead at Clearfork offers the right
combination of location, personality and
business viability,” said Todd Church, Mellow
Johnny’s partnerships manager.
Mellow Johnny’s will operate and manage the
cycling center at The Trailhead, said Cassco
Development Co., Clearfork’s developer.
The store will include a showroom of road,
mountain, hybrid and children’s bikes, as well
as repair services and accessories, including
cycling fitness and lifestyle apparel.
Will Black, Mellow Johnny’s general manager,
said Clearfork is a perfect fit for the retailer.
“Fort Worth is a close-knit and unique
community, much like Austin, and The
Trailhead is already a vibrant gathering place
for fitness enthusiasts and people out and about
enjoying the Trinity Trails,” Black said.
The 13,000-square-foot cycling and fitness
center is slated to open in the spring, Cassco
said. It will also house a fitness studio, cafe
and rooftop bar.
The Trailhead is located at the riverfront of the
Trinity Trails in the Clearfork development, at
the roundabout between Hulen Street and
Bryant Irvin Road, on Clearfork Main Street.
The Trailhead opened in the fall of 2013 as an
outdoor recreation venue along the riverfront
of the Trinity Trails in Clearfork.
The location is near Clearfork’s 392 luxury
apartments, slated to open later this year, and
the newly announced 400,000-square-foot The
Shops at Clearfork shopping center, which will
be anchored by Neiman Marcus, set to open in
February 2017.
Until March 1, the Trailhead parking lot will be
closed due to construction. Parking is available
along Clearfork Main Street, adjacent to Forest
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Park Medical Center with direct access to the
trail system.
Mellow Johnny’s opened in downtown Austin
in 2008. In addition to bikes and services, the
location also offers lockers, showers, training
and a cafe.
Clearfork will have more than 2 million square
feet of Class A office space, 1.2 million square
feet for shops and restaurants and 2,500 multifamily residences when completed.
Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727
Twitter: @SandraBakerFWST
amazingly well. (But since tandems have the reputation
for climbing slowly, it is considered bad taste to
whistle when flying past singles going uphill!)
Tandem FAQ
by Pamela Blalock
http://www.blayleys.com/articles/tandem/
So you and someone special have decided to buy a
tandem, and you have a ton of questions. Hopefully
this article will address some of those questions. I've
been riding tandems since 1986. John and I got
together on a tandem date in 1993, and have been
happily riding together ever since. We have used our
tandems for everything, fun fast rides, commuting,
touring and off-roading. Hopefully some of our
experience will be of help to others.
Tandem - a multi seat bicycle with riders seated one
behind the other. Most often the term refers to two
seater bikes, but tandem is also the generic term for
other multi-seaters like triplets (for 3) and quads (for 4)
Sociable - a side by side bicycle built for two.
Captain or Pilot - the rider in front (on a conventional
tandem)
Stoker - the rider in the rear (on a conventional
tandem)
Sync, Timing or Crossover Chain - chain that connects
the captain's cranks to stokers cranks
Sync, Timing or Crossover Rings - chain rings
typically found on the left side of the bike
Eccentric - part which allows sync chain to be
adjusted. Captain's bottom bracket threads into the
eccentric
Drum Brake - brake threaded onto rear hub, typically
used to curb speed on a long descent without
overheating the rims.
Why a tandem?
Tandems are an ideal solution for partners of different
riding abilities who want to ride together. Tandems are
also great for blind riders or riders with some physical
limitations that may keep them from riding a single
bike. And tandems are also great for two strong riders
looking for a new challenge.
Tandems really fly on flats, rolling terrain and
downhills. Climbing is considered to be more difficult,
but a well-coordinated tandem team can climb
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Tandems are also great for loaded or semi-loaded
touring because the extra weight is less noticeable than
on a single, but be aware that there is half the luggage
space. Of course everyone knows that when touring
you will fill your bags, no matter what the size, so this
could be an advantage.
Communication is the absolute key to riding a tandem.
It has been said many times that a tandem can make or
break a relationship. I wouldn't recommend tandem
therapy to a couple who fight saying "He/she never
listens to me", but I would recommend a big bike to a
couple who don't get to spend enough leisure time
together.
Tandems also attract all sorts of creative comments,
like the one that always surprises me every single time
I hear it, "Hey buddy, your girlfriend isn't pedaling!"
Where do these witty people come from?
What size bike should we buy?
The front of the bike should fit the captain. One rule of
thumb for a road tandem is to get a bike with a front
seat tube smaller than the captain's road bike (provided
of course that the road bike fits). The most common
method for starting and stopping involves having the
stoker clipped in, so the captain needs to be able to
straddle the bike with both feet planted firmly, while
the stoker spins the pedals into position. Don't forget
pedals hurt when they whack your shins, so the captain
needs to get a wide stance over the bike. The other
thing to be aware of is that the stokers handlebars
attach to the captains seat post, so the captain's seat can
not go all the way down. You'll need a couple of inches
for the stoker stem clamp. The captain's reach should
be the same as on his or her single bike.
Typically (on production tandems), the rear size will
be 1 or 2 inches shorter than the front.
Sizing in the stoker compartment somewhat different
than on a single bike. It is not as important for the
stoker to be able to stand over the top tube, since it
should not be necessary for the stoker to get off the
bike, except at the end of the ride, when the captain
can lean the bike way over for the stoker. More on this
in section about stopping and starting. Of course, the
stoker must be able to reach the pedals when on the
saddle.
Rear top tube lengths can be misleading if trying to
compare to a single bike. Remember the stem length
will be subtracted from the top tube on the back of a
tandem, rather than added as on a single (or the front).
Also keep in mind, that even if you can replicate the
geometry of saddle to bars that the position may not
actually be fully usable, due to the captain sitting right
where the stoker wants his or her face. Now this
doesn't mean a stoker will be uncomfortable. Since the
stoker doesn't actually steer, his or her position can be
quite different from that on the single bike, but still be
comfortable.
Rear tops tubes have been getting longer over the
years. There is a compromise to be made though. A
longer rear top tube may add weight and handling
issues. Some builders do a better job than others
finding the best compromise. Large, tall or stokers with
long torsos should look carefully at rear top tube
lengths, and their position relative to the captain's.
If the stoker is really tiny, relative to the captain, there
are a few options. Some manufacturers make frames
with much broader size differences between front and
back. Custom builders can definitely do this. And
finally, there is a device referred to as a kid back. This
is a second set of cranks, mounted higher on the rear
seat tube to reach the shorter legs. This is commonly
used for riding with children, hence the name, kidback.
And if the difference is in the other direction, larger
stoker with smaller captain, frames can be adjusted and
custom frames can be designed for extremes. It is less
common to have a larger rider in back, since it can be
harder for a smaller captain to control a bike, if the
center of gravity is higher in the back. It certainly can
be done, and loads of folks will step forward and tell
you they have. In fact, I have captained with taller and
heavier stokers myself. The stoker should be aware
that his or her movements have a greater effect on the
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bike than with a heavier captain.
Finally if the bike will be ridden by various riders, it
can be setup in an adjustable way. Most production
tandems now come with an adjustable stoker stem.
This makes it easy to setup the fit initially for a stoker,
but also to allow for different stokers. There are
adjustable front stems as well, but these are less
common. The Look ErgoStem is a good choice for the
tandem with different captains. Also stems with a bolt
off front make changing stems to achieve a different
length or angle relatively painless.
What kind of bike should we buy?
Try to test ride as many as you can to determine which
bike will fit your needs and desires. If you are new to
tandems, the more the ride, the better each one will
feel, so be sure to ride the early bikes again after you
become more comfortable with tandem handling.
There are a lot of tandem makers out there now.
Santana is one of the oldest and most successful
production builders. Other companies that build
production big bikes include Burley, Cannondale, and
Co-Motion. Calfee, daVinci, LongBikes and Meridian
are newer players in the tandem market. Most of these
companies also do custom bikes. And there are many
custom-only tandem builders, like Bilenky and
Erickson.
There are big bikes available for less than $2000. Some
cost $6000 or more. One rule of thumb is that a tandem
will typically cost 3X the comparable single, since you
need twice as many parts, and they need to be stronger.
There are lots of different frame designs and materials,
and of course in lots of different sizes. Steel is still one
of the most popular materials, but tandems can also be
found in aluminum, carbon-fiber and titanium. Then
there is wheel size difference. You can get 26 inch
wheels or 700C. If you want to do strictly off-road, the
26 inch wheels and maybe some form of suspension
are a good idea. For strictly road riding, 700C may be
the obvious choice. If you want to do a mixture of road
and trail, or expedition touring, 26" wheels offer great
versatility and strength. Smaller captains may need to
consider 26" wheels to get a good fit.
26" wheels do offer great versatility. There are a
variety of tires available from 1" narrow slicks to wide
knobblies. Typically the clearances on frames built for
26" wheels is good enough to use any tire. While wide
and knobby 700C tires are available, most frames (for
700C) don't have the clearance for really wide tires.
Tandems tend to be better than singles in this regard
though, and many production models will take a 32mm
tire.
We do all kinds of riding and have now acquired three
different tandems to meet our demands. We have a
lightweight, unencumbered go fast tandem with 700C
wheels, for fast club rides and supported tours. We
have a mountain bike with bombproof 26" wheels and
a suspension fork for playing on single-track, and
finally we have a touring bike with s&s couplers,
racks, fenders, lights and sturdy 26" wheels for loaded
tours, bad weather, and travel. We considered a 700C
tandem for the expedition touring machine, but would
need to go somewhat custom to get the clearances we
wanted. We found a production 26" wheeled bike that
meets our needs well.
S&S couplers are one of the greatest inventions ever
for tandems. These couplers allow a tandem frame to
be split into three sections and packed away in an
airline legal sized suitcase. While one can travel with a
tandem without couplers, it can be a hassle. Couplers
make life so much simpler. If you plan to do much
travel, definitely consider couplers!
Finally there are recumbents. We actually had a
recumbent tandem trike for a while and had a blast. If
you ride a recumbent single, you'll definitely want to
consider a recumbent tandem - and you probably
already know where to go look!
Can we test ride or rent one?
Ask local tandem owners to recommend a shop. Some
shops may offer rentals or longer test rides for
tandems. When you go to a tandem shop, ask to see the
tandem expert, or take a friend who knows tandems. A
tandem is a major purchase and it is important that
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someone at the shop be willing to spend a fair amount
of time with you. You may need to make an
appointment or pick a non-peak time. Some shops take
this very seriously. Ideally, someone should take you
both for a ride as stoker, treating the potential stoker
gently, and abusing the future captain by hitting
bumps, starting and stopping without saying, swerving,
going too close to the edge of the road, etc., so that the
captain really knows what not to do. If only one shop
in town carries tandems, and they are not helpful, go to
another town. Really try to find a shop that appreciates
the enormous amount of money you are about to start
spending. (You will be back to buy replacement parts tandems wear parts much faster than singles. You may
also want all the matching clothes, etc.)
It takes a little more than a 5 mile test ride to know
what you like and don't like. In fact it takes a little
more than that before some people will keep their feet
on the pedals all the time. As you try different bikes,
each one will likely feel better than the previous one.
This is not necessarily because each one is better. It is
more likely because you are becoming more
comfortable. Be sure to reride the early bikes.
If there are other tandem riders in your area, you may
be lucky enough to find someone who will let you try
out their bike for an extended ride. John and I love
introducing folks to tandeming.
Some shops and resort areas do have rentals.
Unfortunately my experience with rentals has not been
as good as it should have been. Maintenance has
sometimes been ignored, and a poor experience on a
poorly maintained rentals can turn a team off tandems
forever.
What does the captain do?
On a typical tandem setup, the captain steers, pedals,
shifts, brakes, avoids bumps and potholes, calls them
and coasts over them when he or she can't, never scares
the stoker for any reason, and does whatever the stoker
asks him or her to do.
The captain inspires complete trust from his stoker.
The captain must demonstrate good judgment and
good bike handling skills, so the stoker can relax and
give up direct control of the bike to the captain. The
captain does not stop pedaling without first telling and
receiving confirmation from the stoker.
The captain never pulls out in front of cars, crosses
tracks at a bad angle, runs lights, etc. He always lets
the stoker know what's going on, when something
unusual happens. He never says "UH OH" or "Oh Shit"
without immediately explaining why to the stoker.
I have helped train a lot of captains in the past 10 years
and have captained many tandems myself. The first
thing I tell a new captain is to treat the tandem as a
loaded touring bike, with the exception that the
luggage pedals. (It helps if they have toured!)
With the long wheelbase, the bike will be more stable
than a standard road bike, although at first it may feel
squirrelly, with two people fighting each other. When
training a new captain, I have him or her get on the
bike and ride around the parking lot, or up and down
the street a few times alone, just to get the feel. Then I
hop on and while still in a safe area show the affects a
stoker can have, leaning, stopping pedaling, etc. It is
actually important for both team members to know the
effect of bad riding, and not do it.
If you can't learn to ride with an experienced rider,
have someone videotape your first ride together. You'll
really enjoy watching this tape later!!!
What does the stoker do?
On a typical tandem setup, the stoker pedals, reads cue
sheets, opens energy bars, pinches the captain when he
fails to call bumps, and enjoys the scenery around the
bike. Yes, the stoker gets to see the captains back, but
provided the stoker's neck works properly, he or she
gets to look around a lot more than the captain, who's
up front keeping an eye out for bumps.
The stoker trusts the captain completely. The stoker
does not make sudden unexpected movements. The
stoker does not stop pedaling without first telling and
receiving confirmation from the captain.
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How do we start/stop?
The captain should do what it takes to find himself
standing over the top tube. This may involve swinging
the leg over the front, or over the rear, taking care to
clear the handlebars, or leaning the bike and stepping
through, sort of. The stoker should stand clear while
this activity takes place.
With the captain standing over the bike, and holding it
upright, with saddle propped against the buttocks, the
stoker should get on and get both feet on the pedals. I
use clipless pedals and highly recommend them for
tandems. If not attached to the pedals, your feet can
easily come off, but the cranks continue to turn
because another person is also pedaling. This can hurt!
The captain should have his legs spread wide enough,
so that when the stoker rotates the pedals, he will not
get hit in the shins by his own pedals. The captain
should decide which pedal he wants down, and be
consistent about it. The stoker will back pedal to get
that pedal in position and then the captain should get
his foot on the pedal. When the captain is ready to
start, he should announce his intention to do so, and
wait for acknowledgment from the stoker. Then he
should push off with the other foot and start pedaling.
The stoker should start pedaling at the same time. The
captain may be able to get into the other pedal without
coasting or may say "Coast" and then engage the other
pedal. When starting on hills or in traffic it may be best
to get moving with this foot on top of the pedal and
then attempt to engage when it is safer. The stoker can
keep you moving. Stokers should be aware that starting
up this way can be hard on knees and ankles, so be
careful.
When stopping the captain should put down one foot
and hold the bike steady, while the stoker remains in
place.
For stokers who are heavier than their captains, it may
be necessary to start with only one foot engaged, and
both riders push off. This stoker will also want to
disengage at all stops.
When both riders are getting off the bike, at an ice
cream store or coffee shop or at the end of the day, the
captain should stop like he would at a light. The stoker
should then get off the bike and get clear. The captain
should then get off the bike, making sure he is aware of
the handlebars in the back.
matter of personal preference and is very easy to
change. Loosen the eccentric and the timing chain
tension, derail the timing chain, set the phase you want,
put the chain back on, tension it, and tighten the
eccentric.
Can we stand?
Can we trade positions?
I try to avoid making standing sound difficult. Fear
seems to be the biggest issue with new teams standing
together. If you don't believe that it is difficult,
standing can come quite naturally. The captain should
announce his intent to stand. The stoker should
acknowledge. This is important because the stoker may
be doing something else and not have his or her hands
on the bars. It is usually best to upshift before standing
and on the count of three stand up. Upshifting is
important, since when you both stand you will have
more force than seated (just like on a single). It is even
more critical if you are standing on flats. When
standing on steep climbs, try to leave at least one lower
gear to go down to once you sit back down.
Trading positions can be good, since it allows each
person to understand the workings of the other
position. If you are close in size, you should be able to
change positions with relatively little trouble. But this
may take some effort on the part of the captain. Good
stokers are special people. We trust our captains
completely and don't steer the bike from behind. This
takes a little effort and practice. It also takes complete
trust in your captain. Some people are unwilling to
give up total control of the bike, and when they are
stokers, they make a ride miserable.
Initially, it might be best not to rock the bike. Once
you are able to stand, keeping the bike in a straight
line, work on rocking.
If you plan to trade a lot, adjustable stems are probably
a good idea. These are available for both positions.
Extra-long seatposts with the heights etched for each
rider may also help.
If your height difference is over 6", trading may not be
practical.
Neither rider should have a death grip on the
handlebars. Let the bike move easily under you. The
more you stand together, the more in-sync you will
become and the better you will get. You will have
slightly different climbing styles, relative to your
single bikes, because your styles will start to merge on
the tandem.
The ability to stand is what has allowed us to do long
rides on the tandem, since standing while pedaling will
relieve the pressure on the butt that all tandemists
experience.
What kind of accessories do we want?
Bells or horn! Tandems attract a lot of attention, and a
friendly greeting can make even the most serious and
grumpy person laugh!
Aero-Bars. Yes it is possible to use aero-bars on the
front of a tandem. The captain should have excellent
bike handling skills with aero-bars on his single first.
The stoker should be aware that motion from the back
can cause more problems, but it can be done.
Should we have our cranks in phase or out of phase?
We have ours in phase. I like this setup for starting/
stopping and standing. Some people set them up 90
degrees out of phase and say that this eliminates dead
spots in the pedal stroke, since while one may be
pedaling through the dead spot, the other isn't. This is a
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Clipless pedals are great on a tandem. (See comments
above)
Suspension seat posts for stokers are quite popular.
Softride beams are also popular. Stokers suffer a good
deal more saddle abuse, since they are over the rear
wheel and can't see bumps. I have used both a
suspension post and the softride beam.
What kind of components?
Tandems are abusers of components. You will wear
out chains, chain rings, freewheels, rims and tires at a
rate you never imagined before, especially if you ride a
lot of miles.
What parts are tandem specific?
Hubs - The spacing on a rear hub will most likely
either be 145 mm or 160 mm. Tandem manufacturers
have split into two camps with regards to rear spacing,
with Santana and a few others in the 160 camp and CoMotion, Burley and Cannondale in the 145 camp.
We've been using 145 for years without trouble.
(Current road standard is 130 mm and off-road is 135
mm). Hubs with larger axles tend to hold up to tandem
abuse better. Due to the added weight and stress,
tandems may also have more spokes - 40 and 48
spokes are pretty common for tandems and loaded
touring tandems. Also tandem rear hubs may have
threading for a drum brake.
After the frame, good hubs are one of the biggest
investments. Phil Wood makes the best, most reliable
hubs for tandems. They are also quite expensive, but
well worth it. Shimano tandem hubs, at a fraction of
the cost are good for the budget minded. And there are
loads of others.
Rims - There isn't really anything tandem specific
about rims for a tandem, except you likely want
sturdier ones, and given that you may want a wider
tire, a wider rim. There is also the issue of spoke count.
Rims in 40 and 48 hole are available, but may be
harder to find in shops that don't regularly handle
tandems.
Cranks - Standard cranks normally have chain rings on
the right side and no changings on the left. Timing
cranks, the ones on the left with chain rings have
reverse pedal threads, as does the captain's right crank
Eccentric - The eccentric goes into the front bottom
bracket shell. The front bottom bracket goes inside the
eccentric. The eccentric is what makes it possible to
tension the timing chain. As the name suggests, it has a
non-round axis, and as you rotate it, the timing chain
can be made tighter or looser. This is a truly tandem
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specific part.
Timing chain - there is nothing special about a timing
chain, except that it is long, and doesn't need anything
to aid in shifting. We have a stash of old pre-indexed
shifting chains that we use as timing chains and on our
fixed gear bikes. But any chains will work. You just
need about 1 and 1/2 chains to work.
Stoker stem - This is another tandem specific part. The
stoker stem attaches to the captain's seat post.
Therefore the size must match the captain's seat post
size. There are a variety of stoker stems, some
adjustable, so you can change the reach easily. One can
usually get the proper height by adjusting up or down
on the captain's seat post, but if there is not enough
post to get the proper setup, some post do have
different angles. If no adjustment is necessary, one can
get a nonadjustable stem in a specific size and save
some grams. Most companies have made adjustable
stoker stems pretty standard, so they are easier to come
by.
Stoker handlebar - The tandem issue here is clearing
the captain's hips. The stoker may use narrow bars on a
single that would be too narrow to clear the captain's
hips, so a wider bar may be necessary. This is highly
dependent on relative positions and varies considerably
from team to team. Many stock bikes do come with
wider bars for the stoker. A stoker also may not need
or want a full drop bar. Bullhorns, like those found on
time trial and triathlon bikes seem quite popular.
Wider captain's handlebar - While they aren't tandem
specific, a captain may choose to use a slightly wider
bar than on a single, simply to gain more leverage, or
control.
Long Cables - Tandems are much longer than single
bikes, so cables need to be longer to get all the way
back to derailleurs and rear brakes. One can avoid the
use of special long tandem cables by using a DaVinci
In-Line Cable Splitter. This little device is designed to
make travel easier with (or without) coupled bikes,
since you can decouple the cables and separate the
handlebars from the rest of the bike, without having to
readjust cables. They also make it possible to use
standard single bike cables on a tandem. This could be
quite helpful if you find yourself with a broken cable
out in the boonies!
Derailleurs and shifters. Modern derailleurs have
become much better in recent years at handling the
wide range of gears demanded by tandems. Tandem
dynamics are such that it is easy to spin out a top gear,
or bog down in a low gear if you don't have a really
wide range. Thanks to microdrive on mountain bikes,
off-road front derailleurs aren't of much use on
tandems, since tandems demand much larger big chain
rings. The Ultegra triple front derailleur is designed for
only a 10 tooth difference in outer rings. But the new
Dura Ace front derailleur is designed for a 14 tooth
difference in outer chain rings. This is great for
tandems, who often want a really big outer ring,
combined with a more moderate middle ring! Off-road
rear derailleurs will work. If you want larger than a 27
tooth cog in the back, go for the off-road rear
derailleur. Otherwise, the road models will work quite
well. So while there are some considerations for
gearing when choosing derailleurs, there is nothing
tandem specific about a derailleur.
Two of many things. Everything else is pretty standard.
You just need two of them - bars, saddles, pedals. Just
choose according to the preference of the rider.
Captains and stokers may use different pedal systems,
saddles, etc. They do not have to be the same.
What kind of brakes?
Good brakes are essential. Many tandems are now
fitted with linear pull (v-brakes). When combined with
an appropriate brake lever, these brakes are very good
on a tandem. I don't actually like v-brakes on a single,
because it is so easy to do an endo with them, but
tandems don't have that problem. The problem is that
lots of folks want integrated brake-shift levers and
these are not designed to work with linear pull brakes,
so some adapter has to be used that ultimately
compromises the advantage of the linear pull lever.
Lots of folks will tell you that they work fine, but they
could be better.
We use bar end shifters, so we can use properly mated
levers and brakes. Bar end shifters are also handy for
telling what gear you are in. Unlike a single, the
captain can't just look down to see. One of our bikes
does have v-brakes, mated with DiaCompe 287 vlevers designed for this purpose. It works quite well.
The road bike uses Ultegra caliper brakes, and they are
fabulous. Our touring bike has old fashioned wide
cantilever brakes, designed to work with the cable pull
of standard drop bar levers.
Finally there are drum brakes. A drum brake is a brake
threaded onto the rear hub, designed to act as a drag
brake to scrub speed on a long or technical descent, so
the rims don't overheat from constant application of
11
rim brakes. Typically, these are set up on a third lever,
ideally some sort of ratcheting lever, so the brake can
be set and left, and the captain's hands are free to
independently modulate the front and rear rim brakes.
Often the third lever is placed on the stokers bars, and
when requested the stoker applies and releases the
brake. We use an indexed shifter and number and
volume system to determine how much to set the
brake. "3" means 3 clicks, "4", 4 clicks, "5", 5 clicks,
and "5" means pull harder! The drum is not an
emergency brake, and not really designed to stop the
bike. It does perform quite well keeping speed under
control on long descents. There is much debate in the
tandem community about where to mount this lever.
There are several ways to mount this on the captain's
bars, a thumb shifter, a bar end, if using integrated shift
-brake levers, or on something like a Kelly Take-off to
keep it close to the brakes. I recommend against the
old setup of having both rim brakes on one lever and
the drum on the other. Independent modulation of rim
brakes is crucial, especially in the wet.
What about suspension?
Tandems have a reputation for being harsh on stoker’s
bums. Stokers can't see the bumps and may not get the
warning to unweight for them. Suspension is widely
used to make a stoker's ride more comfortable. There
are several types of suspension. Suspension seat posts
are among the most economical. A suspension seat
post can be added to any standard frame. There seem
to be two main types, telescoping and parallelogram
style. Telescoping models can have problems with
stiction, and offer less travel than parallelogram types.
They tend to be much cheaper though. Parallelogram
linkage posts offer more travel, keep the distance
between saddle and pedals pretty constant, and don't
have stiction issues. I use a Cane Creek Thudbuster, a
parallelogram style post, on our touring tandem, our
offroad tandem and my fixed gear single.
Softride suspensions are quite popular for tandems,
since they absorb road shock like nothing else. The
frame must be designed to take the beam, so it is a
more expensive option than changing a seat post. (In
the early days, a retrofit kit was offered, but it had
shortcomings - limited tube diameters, and less
stability than a designed for beam frame.) Co-Motion
and Burley both build a stock tandem with a beam, and
most other manufacturers and custom builders offer
beams as an option. A beam adds a bit of weight and it
also may complicate rear brakes and racks. Since the
frame is smaller in the back, wide profile brakes may
present heel clearance issues for stokers. (Linear pull
brakes won't have the same problem.) Also since the
frame is smaller, rear rack mounting can be a
challenge, since rack stays need to be longer.
Depending on brazeon placement and choice of brakes,
it can get tricky. Of course, since the frame is smaller
in the back, it will be stiffer, and slightly lighter to
offset some of the weight of the beam. I was an early
beam adopter, starting with a retrofit, then a custom
frame, and eventually stock frames (both Burley and
Co-Motion). The beam really helped me for long
distance rides, and I still think it is a great option. We
no longer have a beamed tandem though, since we
wanted to eliminate as many potential troublesomehard-to-fix in the middle of nowhere parts on our
expedition bike.
Frame suspension is now quite popular for off-road
tandems. This adds significant cost, weight and
maintenance, but definitely smoothes out the ride over
12
off-road obstacles. Ventana was the first to make a true
full suspension off-road tandem, and seems to be the
most popular one. Frame suspension is pretty much
overkill for road riding.
Finally, an option for the budget minded cyclist is a
suspension saddle. Brooks make a couple of saddles
with springs in the saddle.
The captain already has suspension of sorts from the
frame. The captain's seat tube is between the two
wheels, so the captain doesn't suffer the same battering
as a stoker or single bike rider sitting over the rear
wheel.
A Tandem Valentine's Story
A tandem team I know told me a story I found
interesting and I thought I'd pass it along. They were
on a credit card tour of Scottish distilleries and castles
this past summer. While touring a small distillery, their
parked tandem was backed into by a lorry. None of
their minimal luggage was damaged, but the Santana
tandem's frame was bent at about a 30 degree angle
right in the middle.
It turned out that both the owner of the lorry company
and the distillery manager were touring cyclists
themselves, and members of the CTC. They put the
couple up in a bed and breakfast in the nearest village,
and arranged to have the tandem frame replaced by
Santana. On top of that, they bought them a used
tandem from a local cycle shop to use on tour and take
home to ride until their bike was fixed. So after only a
day lay over the couple was back on the road.
The tandem was a real odd ball. While over 15 years
old it looked like it had never been ridden. The
geometry was basically copied from a Taylor, and the
components were top line but not really optimum for
tandem use. The paint, while uniform, seemed like it
had been put on with a spray can. And the frame was
lugged with the most beautiful ornate lugs either of
them had ever seen. Well, it served them adequately
for the tour and back home until their Santana got
fixed.
In late October they got a call from a man who asked
about the tandem, and then offered to buy it. They
were about to make a deal to sell it for $850 (USD)
when the man said he'd need them to ship it to
England!. Why would someone want to buy an
inexpensive touring tandem and ship it half way round
the world? The guy on the phone was very coy, and
while he never would say why he wanted the tandem,
he jacked his price up to $1500 and then $4000 before
the couple said they weren't interested in selling it.
Intrigued, they began to strip some of the spray paint
off to find out what the brand was. They found that
those beautiful lugs were gold plated! And under the
dark green spray paint they found a royal blue tandem
with the small decal, "Lipscome-Harrowgate Cycles,
London".
13
A call to a large cycle shop in London brought in a
little information on Lipscome-Harrowgate. They were
a small shop that built racing bikes favored by young
British lads that went off to the continent to try their
hand at being professional racers. The bikes were little
known because they were usually painted and decaled
to meet the racer's sponser's requirements. But the shop
said that L-H never build tandems! Later that week
they got another call from a man representing
"investors" who offered 10,000 pounds for the bike!
The couple then called L-H and finally got to talk to
Ian Lipscome. He immediately demanded to know how
they had the bike, so before they got any information,
they had to tell their story. Then Lipscome told them,
"I hadn't thought about the tandem we built in several
years. I guess I had tried to put it out of my mind. I'm
sorry the tandem's story worked out this way, and I
can't help but think that things would have been
different if it had been ridden by the couple we built it
for. Anyway, pull the captain's seat post and fish out
the document rolled up inside, that'll explain things, I
think."
In addition to a receipt for shipping from London to
Balmoral, they found a letter there that said, "Presented
to His Royal Majesty, Charles, Prince of Wales, July,
1981, in honor of his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer"
followed by the motto of Lipscome-Harrowgate
Cycles: "Enfants Perdus"
Tandems and Kids
by Sheldon "Take Them Along" Brown
revised by John "Proud Dad" Allen
The Awkward Years
Life is not easy for the family with young children that is
serious about cycling. There are several awkward years,
when the children are to big for baby seats or even trailers,
but too little to keep up with the adults on their own bikes.
The ownership of a suitable tandem can make all the
difference, and allow the family to maintain a continuous
cycling tradition.
Adults and children can ride together on solo bikes, but it is
not much fun for either. The child is likely to feel pushed
and overworked; the adult will want to go farther and faster
than the child, and get tired of waiting up.
An adult cyclist will find that a 10 mile ride at 6 miles per
hour with a child is harder than a 30 mile ride at 18 miles
per hour, even though both take the same amount of "saddle
time". The slow pace will cause less of the adult's weight to
be borne by the legs, and more by the tush and hands.
Although the slow, short ride is easy on the legs and lungs,
it is more likely to cause saddle sores, sore wrists, hands and
necks to the adult members of the group.
Children riding with adults on separate bikes start out with
four strikes against them:
Children are weaker than adults, and often have less
physical endurance.
Children's bikes are usually less efficient than adults:
heavier in proportion to a child's weight; often without a
good seated riding position, being designed for acrobatic
riding; often with only one drive ratio, or only a limited
range.
Most children are not good at choosing among what gears a
bicycle may have.
Children lack the experience to know their own limits. They
may start out like gangbusters, leaving the adults in the dust,
until they suddenly bonk, and it becomes painfully difficult
for them to keep up any kind of speed at all. At this point,
you may have to call for a sag wagon.
In addition, a child's "street smarts" and traffic skills will
usually not be up to adult level. This may severely limit
where a family can ride together, if parts of the desired
route are too tricky for the child to negotiate safely.
Having the child ride stoker on a tandem can solve all of
these problems! Depending on the child's strength and
motivation, an adult riding a tandem with a child stoker will
be more or less as fast as the same adult on a solo bike.
14
When cyclists of greatly different natural speed capabilities
and preferences ride together, a certain amount of friction is
inevitable. This friction is largely proportional to the degree
of difference in speed. In contrast, the natural togetherness
and camaraderie that develops between members of a
tandem team can enhance the parent-child bond, and make
cycling a truly satisfying family activity.
The adult will be in a position to teach effective and safe
cycling techniques directly by example. This happens in a
natural, non-threatening way on a tandem. There is no need
to scold or correct the child as is often necessary when the
child is riding solo with an adult instructor.
The sight of a tandem with a parent piloting a child stoker is
uncommon enough and charming enough that is will often
cause bystanders to cheer or offer other verbal
encouragement. The natural "ham" in most kids really eats
this up, and this adds to the enjoyment of the whole
experience.
Conventional Tandems
Since the stoker of a tandem does not need to be able to
straddle the frame, many pre-teens can ride the back of an
adult-sized tandem, even though they need a children's sized
solo. In borderline cases, the use of an old-style straight
seatpost with separate saddle clamp can just make the
difference if the clamp is flipped upside down so that the
saddle rails are under the bolt that holds the saddle clamp
together.
Many inexpensive "cruiser" type tandems have especially
short seat tubes, which make them suitable for use with
children.
The Bike Friday Family Tandem also has a short rear seat
tube, and comes apart to ship in two airline-checkable
Samsonite suitcases. Burley once made a low-priced model,
the Zydeco, designed particularly for this type of use, with a
15 inch rear seat tube; now only available used, though.
Kidback attachment
back onto the tandem.
Gauge your child's ability and choose rides accordingly.
You may be pleased and surprised. Jacob pedaled a bike
club "quarter century" -- 25 miles -- with me at age 2 1/2,
after only a couple months' experience We had to stop three
times, at a playground, an ice cream shop and once for him
to sit in his Mom's lap. At the end of the ride, he was
laughing and running around. He knew that he had
accomplished something very special. -- John Allen]
For smaller children, (or larger tandems) a "kidback"
attachment is needed. This consists of a "bottom bracket"
that can clamp onto the seat tube of a conventional tandem,
so that even a toddler can reach the pedals. Most tandem
manufacturers offer kidback kits as an option, and there are
also aftermarket units available from various sources.
The "bottom bracket" of a kidback is typically 1 1/2-2"
forward of the seat tube, so it is best to move the stoker
saddle as far forward as possible, either by reversing the
saddle clamp if a "pipe" type seatpost is used, or by using
one of the forward seatpost adaptors made for use with
aerobars. In addition to improving the child stoker's leg
angle, the forward saddle position reduces the reach to the
rear handlebars.
An extra-long stoker stem is also called for with a kidback,
preferably one that is adjustable for length. Many kidback
users use drop type handlebars flipped over so that the child
can hold onto the outside of the "drops". The U-shaped
handlebars supplied with many small-wheel and children's
bikes also can extend back to where the child can reach
them.
A child as young as 2 1/2 can stoke a tandem with a kidback
attachment, although only for relatively short rides. With
time, growth and experience, your stokid will gradually be
able to happily complete longer and longer rides.
[Toddlers can fall asleep at unexpected times. I could
always tell that my son Jacob was falling asleep, because
the tandem would begin to slump to one side. Toe clips and
straps kept Jacob's feet on the pedals. He never let go of the
handlebars. We would stop and rest for a while, and then get
15
Cadence Problems
One of the major causes of friction between members of
tandem teams is difference in preferred cadence. Typically,
the pilot will prefer a faster cadence than the stoker. The
best solution to this problem is to equip the stoker with
shorter cranks than the pilot uses. Shorter cranks make it
easier to spin at faster cadence than longer ones. This is
particularly a concern with a child stoker, who not only is
probably unaccustomed to a fast cadence, but also has much
shorter legs than the pilot.
[A small child who has been riding a tricycle will have been
pedaling very fast to achieve any kind of speed, so cadence
probably won't be an issue. Short cranks are important,
though. Jacob started out with 4 inch (100 mm) cranks from
an old Raleigh child's bicycle-- John Allen]
An alternative to buying short cranks is to use "crank
shorteners", which attach to existing cranks and provide one
or more pedal mounting holes farther up the crank than the
standard holes. These do spread the pedals father apart,
producing a bit of a bowlegged stance for a small child.
Even the youngest stokid should have toe clips (or clipless
pedals), even for stokers who don't use toe clips for solo
riding. Since the stoker can get clipped in before the bike
starts up, it is very easy for even very young children to use
them. Toe clips improve the child's ability to spin, and also
keep the child more securely attached to the bike.
If the child loses contact with the pedals while the adult
continues pedaling, the whirling pedals may bang up the
child's feet or shins fairly badly. For this reason, plastic
pedals are often preferable for child stokers. In particular,
metal BMX pedals with sharp teeth should be avoided.
Although usual tandem practice is to link the front and rear
pedals on each side with a bungie cord to keep the toe clips
right-side-up, this doesn't work too well if one set of cranks
is much shorter than the other.
[I used toe clips and straps for Jacob when he was little. It
may not be possible to find child-size shoes for a clipless
system, or to adjust the pedal release force low enough. For
a small child, you will want to install the shortest toe clips,
but it isn't necessary for the toes of the shoes extend all the
way to the front.
Trailer Cycles
An alternative approach, recently re-popularized, is the
trailer cycle, a "half-bicycle" which attaches to a
conventional single (or tandem) bicycle as a trailer. These
also allow your child to pedal, although not in synch with
you. They don't handle as well as tandems, but are a very
good solution for many families.
5 Unromantically Tricky Tandem Bicycles
Traditionally, ever since the song Daisy Bell entered the public
consciousness in the late-1800s with its famous line, "But you'd
look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two", the tandem
bicycle has, amongst most, enjoyed a reputation as a romantic
mode of transport. Such is its charm, the tandem bicycle is even a
great foundation for a unique date: who can argue with a couplepowered ride down leafy country roads to a secluded picnic site?
However, the brains behind the following, bizarre examples of
said pedal-driven vehicle clearly weren't looking to further that
reputation. Behold, the strangest, most dangerous, funniest,
unromantic tandem bicycles ever created:
1. The Sociable
Is It Worth It?
This may seem like a lot of trouble and expense to go to for
a bike that may not see that many years of use, and it isn't
for everybody. Nevertheless, for parents who care about
cycling and want to share it with their children, I believe it
is well worth it.
It is not necessary to buy a $2000 bike to ride with kids, in
fact much less expensive machines will do the job. The fact
that kids are small and light causes them to put much less
stress on a tandem than an adult does. Tandems that are
only barely acceptable for use with two adults may be
perfectly satisfactory with child stokers. Keep an eye out for
a used tandem in online classified ads and through bike
clubs. They do show up. If you are handy with tools, you
could even build your own out of two single bikes.
My wife and I have two kids and two kidback tandems. We
have put thousands of miles on them together, including
several multi-day tours. They are our favorite bikes. The
opportunity to share cycling with our children this way has
been beyond price.
[Amen -- my son wanted to ride the tandem so badly, that
when we first tried it out and the chain fell off, he cried and
cried. When I fixed it and we went out for our first short
ride together, a half-hour later, he was in seventh heaven.
This is not to speak of our being able to get out of the house,
get some exercise and stop at a local delicatessen for lunch
when we would otherwise have been housebound or had to
pile into a car -- John Allen]
16
Okay, so the sociable isn't technically a tandem bicycle as the
seats are situated side-by-side rather than one-behind-the-other,
but it's a bicycle made for two nonetheless. Presumably, balancing
on such a bicycle is no easy feat, particularly if its riders are of
wildly varying weights. Below is a not-very graceful video of a
sociable in action.
2. Tandem Unicycle
In combining two vehicles - the tandem and the unicycle, both of
which are already difficult to ride - the creator of the tandem
unicyle has in effect given birth to what I can only assume is a
mode of transport which is nearly impossible to control at all, let
alone romantically with a loved one. An attempt by its inventor to
ride the thing can be watched below.
3. SeeSaw
If you've ever had to sit the wrong way round on a moving train,
you'll know just how odd and sometimes sickening that feeling is;
so imagine just how stomach-churning it must be to ride reverse
on a back-to-back tandem bicycle. The example in the photo
above goes by the name of a 'Bi-Cycle', whilst the video below
shows a different back-to-back tandem in action, and at quite a
speed.
5. Face-2-Face
The mind boggles when attempting to come to terms with the
design of the SeeSaw Bike. As if riding a tandem bike face-toface with your partner wasn't off-putting enough, with the SeeSaw
both of you are sitting at different angles. Guaranteed carnage.
Unfortunately no video of the bike in action could be found;
maybe because such a thing is impossible, but hopefully not.
4. Back-2-Back
17
Built in 2008, Chen Yugang's bizarre but technically impressive
transforming tandem bicycle has the best/worst of all three
worlds, in that you have the option of riding conventionally, faceto-face or back-to-back. Due to its clever design, the bike's frame
can be shifted around to accomodate either set-up.
Texas Hell Week is as common to spring as are
daffodils and wildflowers. Nicknamed "The Rides of
March," TXHW features 8 days of incredible riding
and stunning scenery in Texas Hill Country. For 2015
we're returning some old favorites and adding many
new variations. You can register online, by phone, or
by mail. Entry fees and online registration are available
now. Early registrants can get on board for as low as
$99 with our a la carte registration program.
Returning at Texas Hell Week in 2015 are our brevets,
including a 200K on Monday, a 200K and 300K on
Wednesday, and 200K/300K on Friday. See the
Brevets page for more information.
Texas Hell Week routinely brings in hundreds of
cyclists from all over the US, Canada and beyond. Our
philosophy of Hell Week is that riding is the first and
foremost activity, regardless of one's speed or
endurance on the bike. Thus, it is no surprise that Hell
Week attracts riders of all skill levels, all with the same
basic goal: to have fun. It makes little difference if
you've ridden 3000 miles by March, or are just dusting
off the bike for the first time.
The camaraderie you will find at Hell Week is the
thing that will linger the longest in your memories of
the event. Don't be surprised if you find yourself
keeping touch with other Hell Weekers throughout the
year.
Routes are challenging, but not overly difficult. On
average, our century routes have between 4000 and
5000 feet of vertical climbing on each route. Texas Hill
Country features countless short, steep hills that when
taken cumulatively can be just as demanding as riding
in the mountains.
Travel: If you are flying to Texas, you can fly into
either Austin (90 miles east) or San Antonio (80 miles
southeast). Rental cars are available at both locations.
You may also link to bus lines that will take you to
Fredericksburg (ask your travel agent for more
information). Past Hell Weekers have shared rental car
expenses, and car-pooled from the airport to
Fredericksburg.
If you plan to ship your bike to Fredericksburg, you
must make your own arrangements with the post
18
office, UPS, your place of lodging, or Hill Country
Bicycle Works. We cannot be responsible for your
bike.
Weather: Bring a good supply of sunscreen, or plan on
buying it in Fredericksburg. The March sun is very
intense in Texas, and riders routinely get savage tans
(and sometimes burns). Normal highs and lows for the
period are low- to mid-70s by day, and mid-40s by
night. Sunrise is at about 7:00 a.m., while sunset is at
about 7:00 p.m. Some variability in the weather is
normal; we may have some cool days, while we almost
always have at least one day at or above 90-degrees.
Come prepared for anything.
Details:
• Ride 14th-21st March 2015
• HQ: Sunset Inn, 900 S. Adams
• Check in Fri 4-9; Sat 7:30-9
• Late check-in at Room 118
• Rides start at 9am daily
• Three distances each day (90-105, 60-70, 40-55)
Tuesday 6pm Banquet::Celebrate 25!
New For 2015:
• Drive & Ride: Blanco
• New A-B-C Routes D Routes for "those days"
http://www.hellweek.com/texas.html
FEBRUARY MEETING
A New Easy to Carry Bike Lock
Foldylock is a premium folding Bike lock that combines
high security level with great look and fresh design.
Foldylock is offered in 3 different colors, Peaceful Green,
Crazy Red or Calm Cream.
Foldylock is a premium folding Bike lock that easily
unfolds into a 90 cm sturdy lock.
When folded it is easily carried in its designated case on the
bike frame or in rider’s back pack.
High Quality
Foldylock is made out six hardened steel links covered with
plastic in order to protect bike frame from scratches.
Connecting rivets are designed with the VSR Rivet
technology against drilling.
Foldylock is rust free and has an anti-drilling Cylinder that
protected in a hardened steel housing.
Easy installation
The Foldylock can be easily carried in its designated case.
The case can be mounted on to the bike frame using the
bottle holder fixing screws or with two specially designed
straps. The case has a rattle free mechanism to prevent lock
from tilting while riding.
Go to the Market
The Foldylock retail at 95$/75Euro.
For more info you are welcomed to visit our site
www.foldylock.com or contact us at [email protected]
Or at our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/
Foldylock
19
February’s FWBA mee ng was originally
planned to focus on the benefits of using
spin class to stay in cycling shape, but a
more urgent need has come up. As
most of you know, our own Sandy
Dalton was the vic m of a hit and run
driver while cycling last week. Kimball
Smith will be at the mee ng to give us
an update on the crime, inves ga on,
the reward being offered, and Sandy’s
recovery status. Please try to make it to
the mee ng to show your support and
to see what else can be done to solve
this crime.
Time permi'ng, Cindy Edmison s ll will
cover spin class basics...
Monday February 2nd @ 7:00
@ the University of North Texas Health
Science Center, Building #2 Room 100 Fort
Worth
ADVERTISE IN THE PACELINE
Bicycling and sports related businesses
WEEKLY RIDES
business card size
ad…………………………………………………..$25.00/month
¼ page ad…………………………………………..$45.00/month
½ page …………………………………………..$80.00/month
full page ………………………………………….$150.00/month
DISCOUNTS
If your business offers a discount to FWBA members please send
details and layout similar to those in discount list in this issue.
Tuesday Mornings. 9:00
֠ At Christ Lutheran Church at 4409 Sycamore
School Road, 76133
The Rusty Chain Gang Ramble
Sherwin Rubin 817-483-8385
. Ride the many roads south of Fort Worth towards Crowley
and Rocky Creek Park at Lake Benbrook. Depending upon
the weather, ten to twenty cyclists are normally present to
ride.
Thursday Mornings. 9:00 am
֠ From the Benbrook ball Fields
The Rusty Chain Gang Romp
Sherwin Rubin 817-483-8385
All skill levels are welcome! Meet at the ball fields
behind the YMCA in Benbrook. Exit off I-20/820
(Exit 29) at Winscott Road. Go south about 1.5
miles. Please arrive early enough to get you and your
steed ready to pedal at the start time.
Thursday Mornings. 9 AM
Burleson and Beyond
Commerce St. Across from Babes,
Burleson
Neil Sawyer 817-426-0922
[email protected]
֠ Wednesdays; 6:00 p.m. Watermelon Waltz.
Jerry Trimble
Enjoy the quiet, beautiful rural roads of Johnson
County with lots of shade in the hot summer
months. Routes of 40-54 miles are available and no
one gets left behind. Take I-35 South to Exit 36,
Renfro St., in Burleson (10 minutes from loop
820/20). Turn right (West) onto Renfro and left on
Commerce just before the railroad tracks. Park
across the street from Babes. We usually eat after the
ride at "The Porch" just a couple blocks from the
start point. Fun had by all. Come join us.
Every Wednesday from March to November at 6:00
pm
The address is 105 W. Barron, Everman Texas. Take
I-20 to Wichita and go South; make a left on Roy C.
Brooks Blvd.; take it about a mile until dead ends at
Enon Ave. Make a right and go one block and make a
left on Cunningham which dead-ends into
Barron. The entrance to the parking lot is just to the
left of the bus barns.
֠ Saturday Mornings. 9:00 am
Ride until close to dark, then celebrate with
watermelon.
Joe Pool Lake Marina; 5700 Lakeridge Drive,
Grand Prairie. Optional 9 am start.
Andy Sadowski, 817-919-3101;
[email protected].
Eat at Joe's afterwards. If rain or not Daylight Savings
Time meet at Joe's at 7:00 p.m.
Ride with the Rusty Chain Gang through the beautiful Lake Ridge
development, through Britton, toward Mansfield, then back to the
marina for rides of 26 or 32 miles (longer routes are available). All
types of cyclists are welcome. We travel slow and stop often, and
have lunch at the Oasis after the ride. To get to the marina, take I-20
west (stay in the 3rd lane from the left) to I-360/Watson Rd. Go south
to the 2nd light. Go left to the stop sign., then south/right for a half
mile The marina is on the left
20
For the latest information about FWBA
activities check the always up to date web page
at:
http://www.fwbaclub.org
To be put on the FWBA e-mail list, send a
blank e-mail to
FWBA– [email protected]
DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
IS THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH!!
If you wish to put an article in the newsletter,
please send it to Mark Poulson , by snail mail at:
4115 Kingsferry Dr. Arlington Tx, 76016
or by e-mail: [email protected]
phone: 817-561-1221
FWBA Officers
Monthly Board meetings are held on the first Monday of the
month at 6:30PM (Gener al meetings ar e at 7:00) at the
University of North Texas Health Science Center, Building # 2.
If this conflicts with a major holiday the meeting May be
rescheduled and announced well in advance.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER MAP
Build #2; Room 100
President
Jerry Trimble
Vice-President
Steve Gray
[email protected]
[email protected]
817-851-8597
817-692-7228
Secretary
Vicky Kaftan
Rides Coordinator
Ronnie Bryant
[email protected]
817-907-8750
[email protected]
Webmaster
Casey Gordon
Newsletter Editor
Mark Poulson
www.caseygordon.com
[email protected]
817-312-9689
817-561-1221
Treasurer
Cindy Edmison
Membership/Mailing
Lucia Howorth
[email protected]
[email protected]
817-991-4571
817-675-2944
Publicity/Special Events
Cheri Brown
[email protected]
817-996-1094
Other Contacts
Clothes
Vernon & Lorraine
Leonard
[email protected]
817-938-6454
21
817-925-6632