High Tech Safety!

As I was reading the February 2026 issue of Scientific American, I noticed an advertisement about “Softbiotic” technology, which is being developed by Carnegie Mellon School of Engineering specifically for cyclists. It’s a form of sensory intelligence that will ultimately be used to enhance human experiences in real-time. For those of us that are “intellectually challenged,” when it comes to cycling (Okay, I’ll fess up… on occasion, I’ve been known to pay way too much attention to the cellphone mounted on my handlebars) the rider receives heightened awareness of the space and traffic behind and surrounding the bike through camera images that are transferred into pulsations felt through the clothing. No cell phone or screen is required. How cool is this?

Softbotic technology integrated into the shirt converts long-range visual data into sensory signals allowing the rider to be informed about events beyond their visual field and eliminating blind spots such as traffic behind them. This enables the rider to make quicker, more informed decisions and navigate safely.
Unfortunately we were not able to incorporate this technology into this year’s Spring Classic jerseys, but you can still order your “analog” jersey through theJackroo website. The deadline to order is April 13. Our webmistress and graphic designer, Anita Elder, has truly outdone herself with this year’s design!

Recent Events

Bicycle Maintenance Class

The Bicycle Maintenance class held in February at the Skagit Bicycle Center (SCC) in Burlington was a resounding success! There were four mechanics on hand giving demos and answering questions from our members. Mind you, these guys had just worked a full day repairing bicycles. The class focused primarily on repairing flat tires. Some of our members had their own bikes set on stands for hands-on experience. On top of everything they provided us with soft drinks, snacks, and Costco chocolate chip cookies. The feedback from both our members and the staff at SCC was extremely positive. They wanted me to remind you that Skagit Bicycle Club members get a 10% discount on every item in the store (except on bicycles). In conjunction with the SCC, we plan to host regular events on specific bicycle repair and maintenance topics, so stay tuned for updates.

Do any of your "bits" ever feel sore while riding? It could very well be that you need to have your bike professionally fitted. For a limited time only, during the entire month of April, Skagit Cycle Center is offering a 10% discount on bicycle fittings for all SBC members. Take advantage of this incredible offer in time for the Spring Classic!

Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras Celebration held at the Mount Vernon Library/Commons was also a resounding success! The band commented that the Community Room at the newly constructed Library/Commons was the best space they hadeverplayed. The food was scrumptious and the atmosphere quite festive, evidenced by everyone up and dancing. Special thanks to Julie Kinder for making a big pot of gumbo, Kristi and Larry Blanchard for all the work they put into decorating the space. Kudos to Ray Desy and John Yeager for showing up early to help set up and staying on to help tear down. And, thank you to the Lincoln Theater who graciously loaned staging that gave the band a “rise.”

Upcoming Events Spring – Fall ‘26

Spring Classic

1. Bay Hill Storage:Phil McCloud, who typically leads this team, will be out of town on the day of the event so we need a stand-in leader for this year. The team coordinates pickup of water coolers, signage, pop-up tents, tables, and other equipment from the storage unit on Friday evening and transports everything to Bay View Elementary School. After the event on Saturday, they return all items to storage and neatly put them away. We currently have three volunteers with pickup trucks lined up but may need one more.
2. Donovan Rest Stop:Co-leaders Paul and Laurie Sherman have shared that this will be their final year in this role. They have graciously offered to mentor (“gentle in”) new leader(s) at the rest stop this year. If you are interested in either position, please let me know and I’ll connect you with Phil or with Paul and Laurie.president@skagitbicycleclub.org

If a leadership role isn’t for you but you would still like to help, we can always use additional volunteers—this event simply would not happen without your support. For more information on volunteer openings, please contact me.

Another way to help is by baking cookies for the event. You can sign up to pledge the number you are willing to bake using this link:2026 Bake Cookies for the Skagit Spring Classic.

Ideas for Increasing Rider Participation

“Increasing ride participation for a bike club requires a blend of inclusive planning, effective communication, and social incentives. Key strategies include offering diverse ride levels (especially for beginners), utilizing social media, and fostering a welcoming, community-focused environment.”

We will continue meeting regularly throughout the year to develop new ideas and build on those shared at our recent meeting.

March’s meeting focused on the upcoming ride season, increasing participation, special ride events and routes, and new ride types. We also discussed end-of-season member recognition, ride promotion and communication, and standardizing safety briefings.

Watch for member communications to learn about the exciting club ride opportunities throughout the summer and early fall.

Tour de Cure

Anita Elder, recently lost her dad, Donald L. Sweger. Diabetes was one of the illnesses that contributed to his passing, and in his honor Anita is Riding to End Diabetes by participating in the Tour de Cure® and raising funds for the American Diabetes Association® (ADA). As Anita shared, “I know that diabetes hurts too many people and too many families, and I'm happy to help the ADA fight back with research, education, and advocacy.”

Tour de Cure® is the ADA's premier cycling fundraising event that creates a sense of unity and shared purpose in the fight to end diabetes. The event increases awareness, connects communities, contributes to diabetes prevention and management, and supports the ADA’s vision of a life free of diabetes and all its burdens.

Anita would appreciate your support in reaching her fundraising goal. Every dollar you donate will go directly toward funding critical research, diabetes prevention programs, and community outreach initiatives. Your contribution, no matter the size, will profoundly impact the lives of millions affected by diabetes.

“As I prepare myself both physically and mentally for Tour de Cure, I can't help but feel gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference.”

Please consider supporting Anita by visiting theTour de Cure website. Thank you.

New Members

Low Tech Bicycle Safety with Butch Cassidy and Etta Place

by Barry Antler

At a recent screening ofButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidat the Historic Lincoln Theater, there’s a memorable scene in which the local sheriff attempts to round up a posse to chase down the Wild Bunch—also known as the Hole in the Wall Gang—after they’ve just robbed the town bank. A group of respectable city folk gathered in the street want nothing to do with it.

Instead, an overly enthusiastic traveling salesman seizes the moment to launch into a sales pitch for the latest technological marvel: the “Safety Bicycle.”

“It’s the future of transportation!” he proclaims. “This strange new machine will revolutionize travel!”

In the following scene, back at the ranch, Butch (Paul Newman) is trying to impress Sundance’s (Robert Redford) woman, Etta Place (Katherine Ross), by performing daredevil stunts on his newly purchased bicycle. Etta hops up onto the handlebars, clutching her dress to prevent it from getting tangled up in the wheel, while Butch reaches up, grabs an apple out of the tree in passing, which they share to the score of Burt Bacharach’s “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” The story goes that Paul Newman’s stunt double was not able to stay on the bike, so Paul did most of them himself.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_JPDEHU1ok

Fun with Safety

The History of Bicycle Safety Through the Ages

Early Experiments (1810s–1860s)

• 1819:The first “dandy horses” (pedalless bikes) arrive in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. These early machines spark curiosity but remain novelties.

The Velocipede Craze (1860s–1870s)

• 1860’s: America’s first cycling craze arrived with thevelocipede, nicknamed the “boneshaker” for its rigid wooden frame, iron tires, and punishing ride. Pedals were attached directly to the front wheel, and comfort was not a design priority.

High Wheel Era & Industrial Growth (1870s–1880s)

• 1870s–1880s:The velocipede evolved into the high‑wheel “ordinary,” more commonly known today as the penny‑farthing. Its enormous front wheel allowed greater speed but came at a cost: riders sat high above the ground, and sudden stops often resulted in dramatic—and dangerous—“headers” over the handlebars. Cycling was largely a pastime for athletic, well‑off young men.
• 1880:Cycling clubs and the League of American Wheelmen form, building a national cycling culture.
• 1880’s:Bicycles become a symbol of mobility and independence, especially for women. Susan B. Anthony famously credits the bicycle with advancing women’s rights.
  
• Late 1880s:Engineers began designing a safer alternative. The result was the safety bicycle, featuring two equal‑sized wheels, a chain‑driven rear wheel, and a much lower center of gravity. This design dramatically reduced crashes and made mounting and stopping far easier.
• 1888: The Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycling Club began. A Ladies’ Bicycle Club formed soon after. These clubs were advocates for bike riding, teaching new riders, and creating good paths for bicycling. The clubs raised money to build and improve roads, sidewalks, and bridges in Tacoma.

Image from the Job Carr Cabin Museum

• 1890s:The safety bicycle (Butch’s bike) triggered a nationwide bicycle boom. With the addition of pneumatic tires and improved brakes, bicycles became practical, affordable transportation for everyday Americans. Women, workers, and rural riders embraced cycling, and bicycle clubs, touring, and advocacy flourished across the country.
• By the turn of the century:The modern bicycle’s basic form was firmly established. While horses still ruled the range and outlaws like Butch Cassidy rode the frontier, the bicycle had already reshaped American mobility—and quietly paved the way for future technologies, including the automobile.

For anyone interested in exploring this topic in more detail, and seeing some vintage photographs, go to:https://americanbusinesshistory.org/the-american-bicycle-industry-a-short-history/