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July 2025 Saddle Post Intelligencer Newsletter

Anita L Elder | Published on 7/1/2025
Skagit Bicycle Club
Saddle Post IntelligencerNewsletter
July 2025
President's Report
President's Report
by
Warren Tessler

July is happening. 4th of July parades, Tour de France on TV and some of the best riding weather of the year.
It’s also the time of year when I start seeking a few new folks to help lead the club. This year the list is on the shorter side in that the openings that we have coming up are for Vice President and one board position.
Barry Antler is currently VP and he’ll be moving up to president in January. The basic job of the VP is to shadow the president, so as to be ready to take over as president the following year. The VP chairs the board meeting in the president’s absence. All board members and officers are asked to contribute at least one article to the newsletter each year. The VP may assist or take the lead on various aspects of organizing club events such as the Spring Classic, the summer picnic and Mardi Gras party. The VP may assist or take the lead on special purpose committees or projects that may come up (revising the club’s bylaws, etc.) The VP’s term is one year after which time they are expected to move to the president position for another year, making it a two year commitment.
The board position coming open currently belongs to Bill Boettcher. Bill has put in quite a few years as president, past-president and board member and feels that it’s time to make way for someone new. Board members are expected to regularly attend board meetings which are held at 6:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month via Zoom. Board meetings involve a review of club activities, planning for events and conducting club business, i.e. deciding on appropriate use of club funds, new club apparel, deciding the club’s position on regional projects that affect cycling, etc.. Board members are expected to participate in such discussions and vote when necessary in order that we have a fully informed consideration of the matter at hand. As noted above, board members are asked to contribute at least one article per year to the newsletter. As a board member you may help with club events, or special purpose committees or projects. The board member term is for three years, starting in January.
Both positions are important - we need members to step up to lead in order to keep the club moving forward. New people bring new ideas and new ways of doing things. Neither office is terribly time consuming. The monthly meetings generally last about an hour and time beyond that is generally up to you depending on what you opt to become involved in. Admittedly, the VP needs to be prepared for greater engagement once they transition to president, but we’re talking about a handful of hours per month. Really.
If you think you might want to get more involved, please let me know. We can talk on the phone or meet for coffee to discuss it to answer any questions you may have before committing.
One other thing…each year when we have the discussion amongst the board members about recruiting new board members and officers, I’m told that some people just need to be asked. The problem is identifying those people. So, let’s try this…if you are one of those people waiting to be asked, let me know and I’ll ask you. Just email me (wtessler48@gmail.com), text (360.941.3014) or call. Just let me know who you are and, I promise, I’ll ask.
Cycling News

The Art and Science of Riding in a Group


ByRoxan Kraft and Phil McLoud

Part of the joy of being in a bike club is group riding and the camaraderie that comes of riding together. For some it is the chance to chat and catch up with friends. For others it can be to learn a new route or riding in a different neighborhood. For others it is a chance to push themselves just a bit harder and test fitness. I am sure there are as many reasons as riders, but in the end the goal is to have fun, be safe and sweat a bit!

There is an art and science to riding in groups. We see the science best when we watch the team time trials in professional bike races (such as the Tour de France starting in July). Drafting behind another rider can reduce your effort by as much as 30%. By rotating who is in front, the entire pace line can go faster. However, if there is not great communication and riding etiquette followed it can all end in disaster, such as a touch of wheels or a missed piece of “road furniture” i.e. pothole, gravel, etcetera hit.

Now for the ART – Communication is Key. Our Job in a group of riders is to keep ourselves and our friends safe. That’s the number one objective. Here are some widely accepted actions we can all take, which amount to good bike etiquette.
  1. Communicate!
  2. Be steady and predictable on your bike – Ride a straight line and hold a steady speed. Don’t go fast and then coast. If you need to fill a gap, do it gradually.
  3. If you are slowing or stopping signal with your left hand, palm open pointing to the ground. Call out – “Slowing or Stopping”
  4. Call out cars passing from behind – “Car Back” and Cars approaching from the front – “Car Up”
  5. If you are crossing a road and there are no cars coming you can call to the other riders – “clear” indicating, it is safe to cross.
  6. Always pass on the left. Let the person you are passing know you are there, say “Pacing on your left”. Do not Pass on the Right.
  7. Call out hazards – point with your hand at the hazard and call out - “pothole”, “Curb”, “Gravel”, etc.
  8. Signal if there is something in the road to go around such as a garbage can, parked car. Do this by signaling to move over by pointing the direction behind your back. Use your voice to communicate the hazard – “parked car”.
  9. If you are in the front of the group and want to move to the back, the pro’s flick their left elbow. With a more casual group, you can point left and check to see if it is clear and that no cars are coming. Then it is safe to move left and slow. This allows the next person in line to pull through.
  10. If you are following someone (Drafting) you are typically withing 3 feet of their rear wheel. You need to be on high alert for any sudden changes in speed and direction. NEVER CROSS YOUR FRONT WHEEL BEYOUND THE REAR WHEEL OF THE RIDER IN FRONT. Even a gentle touch of wheels and the rider behind goes down and may take anyone behind them down.
  11. If you are the last rider in the group, let the person coming to the back of the line know this. Say, “I’m last”. This helps keep the group together and not drop someone.
So, as you can see there is ART to riding in a group and just a bit of bicycling etiquette can go a long way to keeping everyone safe.
If you want more info on riding in pace lines just go online and search for - How to ride in a pace line. There is lots of information out there!

Enjoy the Ride!

Fun bicycling events and facts!

By Ray Desy
In case you missed the celebrations, International World Bicycle Day was celebrated on June 3, 2025! This date was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to acknowledge the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries and is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally sustainable means of transportation. For further information follow this link:https://www.un.org/en/observances/bicycle-day
Not to be outdone, the United States celebrated National Bike Month during the month of May and National Ride a Bike Day on May 4th. Here’s a link for further information:https://bikeleague.org/events/bike-month
In line with these recognitions of the important role that cycling plays here is a brief listing of many amazing feats in cycling. Some are recognized in the record books, while others are simply incredible displays of strength and endurance. Here are some of the most unusual cycling accomplishments:

Endurance and distance records

  • Cycling to the South Pole:In 2012, Daniel Burton made a solo journey to the South Pole on a specially made fat bike, becoming the first person to do so on a bicycle. He traveled 780 miles in 50 days without a support vehicle.

  • Cycling the most vertical meters in 48 hours:In 2011, Wolfgang Mader cycled up and down a mountain in Austria 46 times in 48 hours, covering a vertical distance of 25,346 meters (83,156ft).

  • Deep sea cycling:In 2008, Vittorio Innocente broke his own record by cycling 49 meters further than his attempt three years prior, mounted on a bike at a depth of 28 meters.

Unique Trophies and Prizes

  • Winner's Bodyweight in Gummy Bears:The Classic Haribo race in France, sponsored by the candy company, awarded the winner their body weight in Haribo gummy bears.

  • Stuffed Donkey:At the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne race in Belgium, the winner receives a stuffed donkey, in reference to the town's historical reliance on donkeys to carry goods to market.

  • Piglet:The Tro-Bro Leon race in France, known for its difficult terrain, awards a piglet to the winner.

Other noteworthy accomplishments

  • First person to hold all three major world championships: In 2015, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot became the first and only cyclist, male or female, to concurrently hold the cyclocross, XC mountain bike, and road world championship titles.

  • The fastest bicycle speed: Fred Rompelberg reached 167.044 miles per hour (268.831 km/h) on a bicycle while drafting behind a specially designed dragster in 1995.

These are just a few examples of the unusual and impressive feats that have been accomplished on bicycles. Many other cyclists have pushed the boundaries of what is possible, demonstrating incredible endurance, skill, and even a sense of humor.

Bike Infrastructure and Culture
in Central Pennsylvania

By Anita L. Elder

I recently loaded up my bike and drove cross-country to spend time with my family in Pennsylvania. I had planned to ride a GranFondo event as well as checking out some trails in the area.

The last time I rode a bike in PA was about 55 years ago when I was a kid....and without a helmet or even a notice of cars passing me. With so much time that had passed, I wasn't sure what to expect.
The GranFondo event was on rural roads in the Lehigh Valley. It seems just like any other organized event ride except Outriders were called Ambassadors. There were a lot of signs announcing bikes on the road and police had a big presence at intersections.
My other rides included trails I found onTrail Link. All of them included a lot of pedestrians. My nephew, who is not a bike rider, rode these with me and I wanted to set a good example by calling out "on your left" and ringing my bike bell as I proceeded to pass someone. The majority of people gave me puzzled looks, but one couple called out "Thank you! You are the first bike rider that has ever alerted us to your presence!" What? Really? Now I knew why others gave me puzzled looks. Did bike riders in PA not have the courtesy of calling out? That was the first big difference I noticed between biking in PA and in WA.
The other thing I noticed was bike trails that crossed busy roads in Harrisburg (along the waterfront) with no way of stopping cars. There were signs saying bike crossing, but there was no light or even a stop sign. You just had to hope and pray an observant driver would stop and let you cross, but you still had to worry that the other lanes would stop, too (four lane road). This made me even more thankful for our state's infrastructure!
Riding in the Hershey area on mostly roads, I was nervous at first, because my brother told me drivers didn't give a crap about bike riders (and he's lived there for many years). I was pleasantly surprised to prove him wrong...at least around Hershey. Drivers seemed to be mindful and kept their distance when passing. They would also stop to let me cross with my bike.
On one of our rail trails we happened upon the Harrisburg Bicycle Club at one of the trailheads and just starting their ride. Before they could take off, I introduced my brother who wanted to do my riding with others instead of by himself. The club told him that they have weekly rides in his area and gave him a card with the website. I looked them up and they seem to have an active free group ride schedule each month. They also offer bike maintenance classes. I think my brother will be in good hands.
If you ride in other states, what differences have you noticed? Are you a good ambassador during those rides?
What's Happening

SBC Summer Picnic


The SBC summer picnic is coming. Saturday...August 9th. Everyone is invited. We provide the BBQ, you bring a dessert and whatever you choose to drink (alcohol not permitted). There will be 3 rides of varying length/intensity beginning at 10am. Riders should be returning to the picnic area around 12 when the eating will commence. If you're not riding, just come at noon.
As in past years, the picnic will be at Riverfront Park in Sedro-Woolley. Please register on the event calendar so that we know how many folks to plan for.

Share your voice!

Skagit Council of Governments launches Move Skagit planning effort


We’re strategizing to improve transportation mobility, safety and resilience in Skagit County

Move Skagitis a comprehensive initiative beginning in 2025 to improve the mobility, safety, and resilience of the transportation network for the people of Skagit County.
These plans are being developed through data-driven analysis on transportation conditions in the region and by collecting feedback from local communities and interested organizations.

When completed by March 2026, these plans will include recommendations for projects, programs, and funding strategies that would improve the transportation system for everyone traveling through Skagit County.

Our Goals and Priorities

Share Your Voice!
Here’s how you can get involved:

Join our Project Mailing List:Get the latest news and developments.
Contact the Team:Reach out to project team members by phone or email.
Interactive Map Activity:Share your specific transportation needs and concerns.
Review and Comment:Draft plans will be published in late 2025 and early 2026 for public feedback.

We've got new SBC jerseys, vests, etc available for purchase.

 

The person who used to provide our club jerseys discontinued his business last year. Club member and newsletter editor Anita Elder is a graphic designer in real life and has designed a new line-up of clothing for us. Click on the link below to order from Jakroo.com. You'll be connected to the SBC store and can order any quantity at any time. Orders will be delivered directly to you. One caution...pay attention to their size charts.

Now, once you’ve got your new SBC jersey and bibs/shorts added to your Spring Classic socks you’ll have the complete kit. Be the first kid on your block with the perfect cycling outfit.
To view the clothing selections and to order, click the link below or go to the SBC web site at any time and click on the “Club Store” button on the home page.

Upcoming Events in WA

Find even more events athttps://westcoastcyclingevents.com/

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