Pedal Power Club Promotes Two-Wheel Harmony

In what could have been a bicycling nightmare, Gordon Savatsky joined members of the Spokane Bicycle Club (SBC) on an organized ride shortly after resuming the bicycling he abandoned in his youth.

The route description in the club newsletter seemed to fit his skill and endurance level. But then, how was he to know. He’d been out of bicycling for years.

Just a few hills into the ride along the Centennial Trail, Savatsky realized that both the riders and the ride overmatched his abilities.

Club riders seemed to glide effortlessly ahead. Savatsky sagged behind. When it became clear to ride leaders that their guest couldn’t keep pace, SBC President Barbara Hinzman turned around. Meeting Savatsky, she rode alongside, coaxing him to the finish, telling him about the SBC and other club rides.

She reassured him that being at the back of the pack occasionally was not a reason for discouragement. The club had numerous rides for bikers of all abilities.

“Somebody cared,” Savatsky said. “So I joined.” He is now the club’s secretary. This friendly support is what helped SBC gain national recognition for its annual fall biking event.

The Inland Empire Autumn Century, scheduled this year for Sept. 17, was the only ride in Washington selected by the League of American Bicyclists and Bicycling Magazine as one of the top century rides in the United States.

The ride and club were singled out for providing a challenging, safe and well-supported ride with a wide choice of routes.

Once again this year, cyclists will have a choice of routes ranging from 15 to 100 miles that leave from and return to Wandermere Mall.

Recreational riding forms the nucleus of the club and its activities. But bicycle safety and advocacy have become stronger club roles in recent years.

“We try to act as ambassadors for bicycling where we ride,” Savatsky said. “We also do our best to promote safe cycling.”

SBC members promote a bicycle education program for students in area schools. The Basic Bicycle Program developed by club member Eileen Hyatt targets fourth-grade students with a series of riding clinics on how to safely and legally ride bikes. The program has two goals according to SBC member Margaret Watson:

Give children the skills to ride safely and within the law, understanding that bicycles must follow the same rules of the road as cars.

Give kids the mindset that cars and bikes can share the road, so when they drive, they’ll be familiar with the needs of cyclists.

Another of Watson’s goals, partly as a representative to the League of American Bicyclists and partly as a dedicated cyclist, is to educate car drivers and bicyclists that the bike is a reliable, efficient and clean mode of transportation, deserving as much consideration from transportation engineers as cars, trucks and buses.

Though they do not officially represent the SBC, club members sit on groups such as Spokane’s Bicycle Advisory Board, providing advocacy for bicyclists. Watson likes the idea of citizens, the club and local government getting involved in partnerships to reduce congestion and pollution.

SBC had a role in persuading the Spokane Transit Authority to outfit city buses with bike racks.

Watson currently is exploring Portland’s “Yellow Bike Program,” in which donated bikes are painted yellow and left around for anyone to ride anywhere. The only requirement is that riders leave the bike for someone else to use, which means no locking it to the nearest bikerack or fence. She would like to see the bikes painted Lilac should the program be adopted here.

But recreational riding remains the core of the club’s interest and financial stability.

The Autumn Century is the main fund-raiser. Proceeds from this year’s ride once again will go to improving the Fish Lake Trail, an abandoned railroad right of way between Spokane and Cheney.

The club also sponsors the Midsummer Nightmare, a double century - that’s 200 miles in a single day - with more than 8,000 feet of climbing. This year, a few dozen riders took the challenge to ride from Spokane to Colville via Loon Lake and Chewelah and back through Rice, Hunters, Springdale and Tum Tum.

Perhaps it’s not a ride for the masses, or the first choice of a cyclist just returning to the sport. But you can bet that anyone taking on the challenge had the volunteers of the Spokane Bicycle Club backing them all the way.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: The Inland Empire Autumn Century will offer five catered options for bicyclists who are ready to ride from Wandermere Mall the morning of Sept. 17. Distances include 100, 75 and 50 miles, plus two family rides of 15 and 25 miles. Entry forms are available at bike shops, or leave a message on the Spokane Bicycle Club hotline, 325-1171.