From the President

Every year as signs of winter loom and I start thinking about snapping on my cross-country skis I take my bike out less often.  Last year between November and February I didn’t do any bike riding so needless to say in March I wasn’t in McClinchy shape. 

This season I hope to balance skiing with biking and take advantage of lower-elevation dry days.  Club rides are scheduled for December weekends leading up to Christmas so layer up and come out and keep your legs in shape.

If you’ve never draped twinkle lights and bells and garland on your bike and paraded with fellow club members, check out the ride scheduled for December 19.  Don’t have a headlight?  Some club members have spares and are happy to share – let us know you need to borrow. 

If lights and dusk are not your thing, come out for the Java & Mud ride on Sunday morning, December 13.  It promises at least three excellent coffee stops that offer lots of other beverage choices and pastry options for everyone.

In addition to rides, there are some fun social events on the agenda this month.  The annual Club Holiday Party on December 5 offers mostly food and fun with some club business mixed in and on Wednesday, December 9, Willie Weir is presenting at the Everett Library.  

It’s exciting to find this kind of event coming to Everett and that it can also benefit Sharing Wheels.  See page 5 for details and mark your calendar so you don’t miss out.    If you usually read only the first page of the Chainwheel Chatter or zero in on the ride listings page, take a moment to scroll or thumb thru the others, you might learn something new or spot a fun photo of yourself or another club member.

Remember that at the holiday party on the 5^th we’ll be voting on a Club constitution amendment – details were in the November newsletter.  So please RSVP and don’t forget your potluck dish and those while elephant gifts!

Pedals Up,

Debby Grant

Members of Cyclists of Greater Seattle (COGS), BIKES Club of Snohomish County, Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club and West Sound Cycling  Club met at a bike-themed pub in October for a bike tour of Tacoma and great food and camaraderie afterward.

These clubs, plus Capital Bicycle Club of Olympia, are the "five sisters" that organize the annual  Ride Around Puget Sound bicycle ride, a fundraiser for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington.  Watch for an upcoming “Sisters” ride in our area. Click here to view the picture.

___________________________________________

How to Be an Organ Donor
(Comments Are Welcome - SEE Bottom )

Most people know or realize that a motorcyclist or bicyclist that doesn’t wear a helmet has a good chance of being fatally injured in an accident. Some of us refer to someone not wearing a helmet while riding a bike or motorcycle as an “Organ Donor”.

If you are riding and get into an accident while wearing a helmet there is a very good chance you will live, though you may have broken bones or skin abrasions. But get into that same accident without wearing a helmet and you have no protection for your brain. Yes, that thing that you use to live, function and make decisions. No decision making, no functioning, no living. The next thing that can happen is to donate your organs so someone else can live a better life.

We all know that helmets are important while cycling. Do you know what else is important while cycling? Stopping at stop signs and red traffic lights. That’s right, automobiles are supposed to stop at them by law and so are bicycles, for the same reason; there may be another vehicle coming!

I understand that some cities and states have changed their laws so bicyclists don’t have to stop, but they need to slow down. I wonder how many drivers know about the law and agree with it? I have been with several bicyclists that ignore the stop sign and I have seen a lot of close calls where they‘ve almost been hit.

So here’s my advice; STOP. Stop at all stop signs and red traffic lights and I can almost guarantee that if you get hit at the intersection, it won’t be your fault. It will be an inattentive driver that blasts through the stop or another rider (that doesn’t want to stop).

Don’t be an organ donor, but then again, an organ donor is always thinking of how they can help others.
Want to comment? Send me an email. chinstrap@bikesclub.org

Ride Safe, Chin Strap