The Prez Says

Mark your calendar, Feb 12th is the next B.I.K.E.S. meeting date. Stop in and pick up a handful of McClinchy registration forms. Carry them with you to give to friends that cycle, cyclists you work with and people you meet along your favorite route.

Encourage them to visit our booth at Bicycle Expo on March 14th and 15th. It will be their last chance to register early and save $5.00 each. We will have our custom McClinchy Mile Jersey Bin (waterproof carrier) on display.  Jersey Bins will be free to anyone who carpools or rides to the McClinchy Mile. 

While you are at the meeting, sign up to help with part of the ride. You will receive a free McClinchy entry and post-ride meal as well as that warm feeling that comes from helping to put on one of the best organized rides around.

We finally got our lighted ride in after the snow melted away. Dan and Elaine Scott sported some festive decorations on their tandem, Debby Grant had her Friday decked out in its Sunday finest, Warren Bare showed off his assortment of headlights and tail lights and Tom stoked behind me on our well-lit tandem. We took a short and chilly trip to the north end of Everett then back to Yupa’s Thai Cuisine for dinner with a cup of hot tea.

February is also the official beginning of cycling season as Cascade Bicycle Club hosts its annual “Chilly Hilly” on Feb 22nd.  So oil up that chain and pump them tires back up and get ready to ride.

For those of you that forgot to put your bike up for the year, disregard that last part.
See you on a ride soon
Bill Weber

 $4300  Returned to our Community

McClinchy Mile rider participation, the efforts of many club volunteers and Sponsor support allowed BIKES to donate over $4300 for advocacy and cycling promotion in Snohomish County in 2008.

   This includes funding for  Snohomish County bike maps; printing information fliers for Bike to Work Day; a dollar a rider on McClinchy plus a separate grant to Bicycle Alliance of Washington, the state umbrella advocacy organization; and grants to five service organizations including Christmas House and Sharing Wheels, for refurbishing bikes and supplying helmets to youngsters with limited resources.

 Chilly Hilly  February 22, 2009

With chilly February weather and 2,675 feet of hilly climbing, the name says it all! Chilly Hilly has been kicking off the cycling season in the Northwest for the past 35 years. Go to Cascade Bicycle Club for more information: http://www.cascade.org/Home/

1. Next Club Meeting
Thursday, February 12, 7:00pm

At this meeting we figure out volunteer opportunities for the McClinchy Mile Ride and more.

Meeting location:
Snohomish County PUD Building
2320 California Ave,  Everett

Pre-meeting dinner will be at 5:30 at :
Yupa’s Thai Kitchen 2725 Colby, Everett

A BIG THANK YOU

To our Newsletter Angel, Mary Andrews, who for the last two years made sure the Chainwheel Chatter arrived at the post office on time.  Alas. she is stepping aside and our newsletter printer will do the whole job.

And Thank You to Doug Andrews, (not related to Mary—newsletter angel) for acting as editor last year.  Say Thanks when you see them on a ride

2009 Seattle Bike Swap
Saturday, February 21, 2009
9 AM to 2 PM
Location - Magnuson Park Hangar #30

The Seattle Bike Swap, now in its 13th year, is a bike bargain hunter's paradise with up to 100 vendors under the same roof! Expect great deals on new and used bike related goods of all types and sizes. Don't miss this one.