official newsletter of the rapid wheelmen bicycle club

spoke’n word
official newsletter of the rapid wheelmen bicycle club
Dec09/Jan10
Board Members
President
Bob Ayars
president@rapidwheelmen.com
Vice President
Kim Kordecki
vp@rapidwheelmen.com
Director Emeritus
Jeff Festian
emeritus@rapidwheelmen.com
Secretary
Becky Cushman
secretary@rapidwheelmen.com
Treasurer
Ron David
treasurer@rapidwheelmen.com
Head Ride Captain
Greg Blake
ridecaptain@rapidwheelmen.com
Safety Chair
Jochen Ditterich
safety@rapidwheelmen.com
president’s spin
I want to thank the board for doing an excellent job this year in
running the business of the club. You covered all of the bases
and made my job easy. I think we did a good job of selecting
worthy causes to support, along with the great support of our
three major rides. I thank all of the volunteers, who we could
not do without in running those events. They always had a smile
on their face and a positive attitude towards the participants,
some times pulling double shifts. The membership makes the
club and I can say I am proud to belong to the Rapid Wheelmen.
As we end this riding season lets be extra careful of wet, snow,
ice, and leaf covered roads. I know I will. Lets be safe as we
share the roads.
Bob Ayars, President
Membership Chair
Jim Steenwyk
membership@rapidwheelmen.com
Race Team Captain’s
Dennis Hamel (Road) / Jeff Festian (Off Road)
race@rapidwheelmen.com
Special Events & Publicity
Linda Doran
events@rapidwheelmen.com
Newsletter Editor
John Kowalczyk
newsletter@rapidwheelmen.com
Website
John Crankshaw
website@rapidwheelmen.com
Please check your mailing label for membership
expiration date.
Club membership expires on December 31
of each year.
Event Directors
100 Grand
Vacant
100grand@rapidwheelmen.com
Maple Leaf
Mike Burden
mapleleaf@rapidwheelmen.com
Colorburst
Joshua / Amy Duggan
colorburst@rapidwheelmen.com
Time Trials
Carolyn Chapman
timetrials@rapidwheelmen.com
Page 2
December meeting will host the annual
dessert potluck.Bring your best,sweetest
treat to share.
The Annual Ferggie Awards will also be handed out.Come and celebrate
(roast) the colorful events of your
fellow riders. From the amazing, to the downright (smartest).
Don’t be bashful, if they deserve it, then by all means, give it to em.
rapidwheelmen.com
Dec09/Jan10
December meeting
Kentwood Library 4700 Kalamazoo SE
7:30 pm Thursday December 3, 2009
6:00 PM Board Meeting
7:30 PM General Meeting
December Agenda:
Annual dessert potluck
Board Elections
Hand out TT awards
Annual Ferggie Awards
safety
RW holiday 2010
Parrrrrrttttttyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!
Rapid Wheelmen Post Holiday
Mark your calendar for our “Holiday Party” on
Thursday, Jan. 7th, 2010 at 7:00 pm. We’ll be at
the Schnitz Deli, above the Ada Bike Shop again. The club will provide lots of great appetizers and
refreshments. Many of us have had a light, yummy
dinner before or after at the Schnitz, so try and join
us. Hope to see you all at 7:00pm to eat munchies
and share stories with old and new friends. RSVP to Linda S. Doran 616-874-7224 by Jan. 3!!
It is very close to winter and it is a
must, that you can be seen on the
road. Make sure you have a red
blinker at the back of your bike and a
white one on front. No matter how the
weather looks. At this time of the year,
cars do not see bicycles on the road,
you blend in, unless you have a blinker.
Dress warm enough, specially hands
and feet. Take an extra cap or face
mask along, because if you stop for
awhile and then get back on your bike,
it is nice to put something dry on.
Jochen
Page 3
rapidwheelmen.com
Dec09/Jan10
winter spins
underwear
party?
TRAINER MARATHON WITH:
THE MOTION INITIATIVE
SATURDAY DECEMBER 19TH
Please join us at 1035 Godfrey Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 for some interaction with the kids from
the Motion Initiative. The event starts at 10:00 a.m. We
will set up bikes and trainers and start the marathon for
real around 11 a.m. Come and go as you please. The
event will continue into the mid afternoon. Treats will
be provided, but feel free to bring more if you would
like. Bring your bike and your trainer. Please bring any
spare trainers you have so that we can have enough for
the children. A movie will be shown to entertain everyone while we spin. We hope to see the Rapid Wheelmen
there in full force. For directions, call Thomas Fish at
828-3001.
Annual “Underwear” Party to Benefit Mel Trotter
The annual fund raising event is set for Wednesday night
December 16 th. starting at 7 PM. This is an annual
event where cyclists from the area get together to try
and benefit those less fortunate. Your ticket for entry is
at least 1 package of underwear, socks, or cash to that
equivalent. Please bring more if you can. The event will
be held downtown at McFadden’s Tavern at 58 Ionia
(454-9105) . We have been given the upper floor for the
event and it will be complete with tables, booths, lounge
chairs, pool tables, and our very own bar.
Please feel free to start getting the date to everyone. The
event is sponsored this year by the Priority Health Cycling Teams. If you have questions you can call Chuck
Grzanka at 291-5712
Carolyn Chapman (868-5217)
timetrials@rapidwheelmen.com
holiday ride
Xmas is Here!
Trainer Nights
Chicago Dr./Kentwood Cycling & Fitness have decided
to begin running trainer nights at the shops. Kentwood
will be hosting on Tuesday's and Chicago Dr. will be
hosting on Thursdays. It will begin at 6:30 in the evening and run for 1-2 hours depending on the crowd and
video that we decide to spin to. We are planning on
kicking this off the first week of December. Feel free
to pass this information along to anyone that may be
interested and we look forward to getting good participation from all types of riders! If you have any question
feel free to shoot me an email or call Chicago Dr. at
616.531.9911 and ask for me.
Geoff Kuyper gbkuyper@gmail.com
Chicago Dr. Cycling & Fitness
Time for a holiday bike ride and gift exchange! December 22 at 7pm. Meet at Founders Brewery, 235 Grandville SW. We’ll go for a 15 mile ride to see the lights and
sights of the season, then return to Founders for a beverage to warm up. If the roads are wet or it’s snowing
hard, we’ll forgo the ride and just meet for some holiday
cheer.
Bring a (preferably used) bicycle-related item of some
sort for a gift exchange. It could be an old jersey which
no longer fits, that green handlebar tape you thought
would look so cool on your singlespeed, or your collection of VeloNews that has been gathering dust in a
closet. Heck, this could even help out those among us
who have procrastinated with our holiday shopping. At
least at our house, the possibilities for these items are
endless.
See you on the 22nd. Call Judy (245-3341) or John
(447-8607) with questions.
Page 4
rapidwheelmen.com
Dec09/Jan10
Jeff Festian (Sport 34-36) at 2:12:57
race’n
Scott Daigle (first race as an RW) (Sport 40-43) at 2:58:57
Tom McGovern (Sport 44-46) at 2:44:34
Iceman Report:
Jerry Behl (Sport 47-49) at 2:12:49
Just a quick reflection here for a minute. Dave George
and I did our first Iceman in 2006. There was no team
(we didn’t even wear a club jersey....GASP!!!). I don’t
think there was 1 RW jersey in the entire race. Just
a couple guys heading north. Some riders like Dave
Staublin, Bill Thompson, Johnn K, Greg Blake, etc had
been doing the Iceman, but like us it was individualized
(no team). At that race I didn’t know what to expect and
I didn’t get much advice about it. We survived though
:-) Had a good time, and Dave and I both brough home
medals that year in the beginner category.
Jeff Scofield (Sport 47-49) at 2:25:30
Lee Boughner (Sport 50-54) = 5th Place at 2:13:05
John Kowalczyk (Sport 50-54) at 2:16:41
Dennis Hamel (Beg.40-44) = 1st Place at 2:13:50
Dave Durkee (Beg.45-54) at 2:35:37
Fast forward to 2009: 18 guys from the RW Team competed. I know of 3 more that had planned on the race
(even had entries) but couldn’t make it. Pretty much half
of the team was going to come out for this one. We’re
hard pressed to find another event that brings out that
many of our racers and I’m glad so many guys made the
effort. The event makes it fun. It’s good racing, mass
bikers, good atmosphere, etc etc.
Full results can be seen at www.iceman.com Official
photos take awhile and are posted at www.icemanphotos.com when they are done.
Jeff Festian
race team
Joel Bierling (Expert 30-34) at 1:57.08
Russ Greenwood (Expert 30-34) at 2:03:31
Tom Scott (Expert 40-44) = 3rd Place at 1:45:27
Bill Thompson (all men 55+) at 2:43:37
Gary Trap (all men 55-59) at 2:39:51
John Crankshaw (all men 60-64) at 3:25:39
Josh Duggan (Sport 25-29) at 2:18:00
Brian “BK” Krause (Sport 30-33) = 39th at 2:28:26
support your race team sponsors
Dave George (Sport 34-36) = 5th Place at 2:02:26
Page 5
rapidwheelmen.com
Dec09/Jan10
Manhattan Park CX Race
race’n
junior race team
We are beginning to organize a Rapid Wheelmen
Junior Race Team for both boys and girls age 1016. Katie and Kevin will be joined by Josh Ball (who
joined us on the last time trial in Alto and loved it),
and Logan Cushman. There is also strong interest
by at least two others at this time as well. If you
know of a boy or girl who is interested in racing
road bikes, please have them contact Dennis, the
Race Team Captain (race@rapidwheelmen.com) for
information on joining the team. Requirements for the Jr. Team include:
1. Member of the Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club
2. You need to buy a Rapid Wheelmen Team Jersey 3. USA Cycling Race Licence
4. Commit to train and participate in Jr Team activities
when possible
5. Good attitude, good sportsmanship, and a desire to
learn.
The weather Sunday was great with a little chill during the preride. Lots of wheelmen racing and watching.
Jeff was spectating and coughing up lung. The course
was different compared to the last 2 years and I thought,
more enjoyable.
Gone was the big plunge down the sledding hill which I
never really liked. I did the B masters with Jerry, John,
and Lee. I really liked the course because there was no
great risk of bodily harm other than the short single track
through the woods. I almost railed it right into a tree.
What saved me was the single Jagwire cable housing
cap I got from Brian at Village. The course was tough
because you never got a chance to rcover, unlike Richmond Park. I never figured out how to ride the sand pit
which was about 20 meters long and I couldn't ride
the short steep hill, either. I liked the longer hill because
it was steep but quite rideable. In the past, there was a
barrier at the bottom so it was a forced run up the hill. I
passed Lee when he dropped his chain but he passed me
again very quickly and Jerry on the 29'er was so far
ahead I never saw him. I take it Scott also had some mechanical issues. Bill T raced the C's and the Krause man
raced the tandem in the C's and came back for the B's.
I watched Dave gut out the A race which was incredibly long and I also watched Tom Burke duke it out with
another incredible rider. They made it look so easy
while lapping a good part of the field. It was amazing
watching them sprint up the long hill and fly through the
sand pit.
A great weekend. Kim Lee
Being on the team will allow you to train and race
with other kids your age who are also interested in
cycling. You will also have the opprotunity to learn
from some very experienced racers. volunteers needed
(Please note that the regular race team is still open to
adult club members interested in racing.)
Dennis Hamel-Race Team Captain
me..me..me..pick me
100 grand
(race@rapidwheelmen.com)
maple leaf
colorburst
Page 6
rapidwheelmen.com
Dec09/Jan10
cadence
10.17.09
What a day, really cold in the morning, but the sun was
out, did not make it any warmer, but it sure was pretty.
The wind came from the right direction. The colors are
really something, I hope all of you who did not not ride,
had a chance the next day. We went to Howard City, to
the old Place in down town, just like I remembered, from
years back, new owners, but they know how it is done.
Jim S. wanted to see the grave of his brother , in Trufant,
all of us went, it was 12 miles more, but what is 12 miles
among friends. He found the Grave site. We got home
late, but it was one of those rides, we will remember for
a long time.
On this ride we had, Linda M., Rick P, Jim S., Scott
C.,Lisa H., Jim V. , Alison G. and the RC. Jochen
11.03.09
A nice day sunny a bit of wind and cool, we went to
Ravenna, on this ride we had Bob A, Dennis H, Jim V,
Dave M and I we went up Post Rd, up to 9mile, then to
Division and north to Sparta across M37. then west on
15mile Rd. Cal H met us there, had a great lunch, then
back on the trail, Cal left us at Arthur Ave and we went
on to 6 mile then back up on the WPT. All went well till
we came back to my place, Bob crashed very hard, broke
his helmet and did a good job on his hip. I took him to
first Aid and then home, if you want to know about it
you have to ask him. The RC Jochen.
10.20.09
Where to go? It was cool, but not cold, gray clouds,
not much wind. Dennis H, Jim S. Bob A. and I met in
Belmont. As Post Rd. was not open, we had to find a
different way to get across the Xway. we went up to
12mile Rd. and went west. We were just on the County
line, when Cal H. showed up, we could not have timed
it better. We rode to 24Th St, then south, took the Bike
trail to 16Th and then in to Marne, had a great lunch,
then back home. It sure was a nice ride it got as warm
as 52.The RC. Jochen
Page 7
rapidwheelmen.com
Please check your mailing label for membership
expiration date.
Club membership expires on December 31
of each year.
Dec09/Jan10
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


2009






www.rapidwheelmen.com


joshuajduggan
@gmail.com




 

judydy@
comcast.net


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
gbkuyper@gmail.
com

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
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

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
 
mwb@
mwburden.com 
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 
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

gbkuyper@gmail.
com
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
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

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

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






 






bikebudy@
aol.com
 

joshuajduggan
@gmail.com




joshuajduggan
@gmail.com
mike@velo-city
cycles.com
mike@velo-city
cycles.com
mike@velo-city
cycles.com
mike@velo-city
cycles.com







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
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





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
 


 

mike@velo-city 

cycles.com
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
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
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

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
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new members
address corrections
If you move, change phone numbers or email addresses, let me know ASAP at membership@rapidwheelmen.com. Don’t ask another member, please
contact me directly, as I maintain the club’s database,
of which the newsletter mailing labels are generated.
If you know you’ll be moving and have an advance
address, let me know ASAP, so I can either update the
DB immediately, or put in a reminder for when I need
to change your address.
This has been mentioned before, but I’ll bring it up
again. We now bulk mail the newsletter, a big savings
to the club. The PO DOES NOT forward bulk mail,
it gets tossed (hopefully recycled someplace). If you
move and don’t let me or future membership chairs
know your new address, you won’t receive a newsletter.
no new members
Please check your mailing label for membership
expiration date.
Jim Steenwyk Membership Chair
Club membership expires on December 31
of each year.
membership@rapidwheelmen.com
Jim Steenwyk
Rapid Wheelmen Membership Chairman
Join the Rapid Wheelmen Yahoo Group
RW news & views every day!
Rw shop’n
T-Shirts
: $12.00
Shorts
: $65.00
Bib shorts
: $70.00
Jersey’s
: $60.00
Water Bottles : $5.00 or 2 for $8.00 Dennis Hamel race@rapidwheelmen.com
…Support your club, ride in club colors…
Items will be available for purchase at club meetings/events
or contact Dennis Hamel race@rapidwheelmen.com
Page 11
rapidwheelmen.com
Dec09/Jan10
PO BOX 1008 • GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN 49501
WWW.RAPIDWHEELMEN.COM
u
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m de rw
fe em ca e
el rg be len ar
ec gi rs d pa
ti es hi ar r
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ar
Address Service Requested
PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE
PAID
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
PERMIT NO. 1233
Rapid Wheelmen Membership Application
Name ___________________________________________
Address _________________________________________
City ________________________________ State _______
Zip __________Phone _____________________________
E-mail address _______________________________________
Family members ______________________________________
& birthdates__________________________________________
New address? Y
N
What year did you first join? _____________
Do not include my name in the printed membership list ____
Membership year: Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Join after September 1 and you’ll
be a paid-up member until Dec. 31 of the following membership year.
Membership
___new
___renewal
$20.00
Three-year membership
$50.00
Club jersey
$60.00
size (circle) S M L XL XXL
Club short
$65.00
size (circle) S M L XL XXL
Club bibshort
$70.00
size (circle) S M L XL XXL
Add $4 shipping per item unless you pick up at meeting $4.00ea.
Donation
$_____
Total
$_____
Make check payable to and mail to: Rapid Wheelmen, Inc.
PO Box 1008
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
Waiver and Hold Harmless Agreement
I acknowledge bicycling is an inherently dangerous activity and that group rides may increase the risks. I agree not to sue, and hereby
waive any claims, and release, absolve and hold harmless Rapid Wheelmen, Inc. and its officers and members, and any other parties
connected with the organization, from any blame or liability for any past or future injury, harm, loss, damage or death sustained as a
result of participation in Rapid Wheelmen, Inc. activities. I shall abide by the rules and regulations of the Rapid Wheelmen, Inc., and
traffic laws and regulations, and I shall practice courtesy and safety in bicycling.
Signatures of all adult riders
Signature of parent or guardian (if applicant is under age 18)
date
date
date
date