President's Message THINK SPRING~           THINK CYCLING~                 THINK SAFETY~ LET'S GO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EDITORIAL - This issue is a pot-pourri of past events to get us in the mood for cycling. Some of us have bicycled all winter, weather permitting. Others probably let their cycles (and their bodies) rest. Now is the time to heed our president's message.

Thanks to those who contributed to our winter issue. I look forward to receiving reports of the spring rides or, at least, the sign-up sheet soon after each ride. Don't wait for a due date. I enjoy doing the newsletter, but not not soliciting material. Like, do it now. Huh? Please.      -Marion

Nov. 2 - KNIGHTSVILLE DAM TO CHESTERFIELD GORGE MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE - There were 12 riders including the ride coordinators. We had to change the ride start to Chesterfield Gorge due to flooding. There was a light rain and some mud but it was great fun. This is the ride that inspired Irv Friedman to buy a mountain bike. He rode it on his road bike!

The N.C.C. has become like home to us. We have it all to ourselves, the food and service are good. Attendance gets better all the time - 52 people this year. We were pleased to see many new faces. Whately Inn did the catering and the buffet and desserts were excellent - even my cupcake. (It was my birthday and Al arranged for a surprise. At the end of the dinner the waitresses came in with two cupcakes with birthday candles and serenaded me. Why two cupcakes? One was for Al, of course.)

Al and I had placed small compasses at each place beforehand so that everybody could find their way home and so nobody would get lost on our rides. A small problem; they all pointed in different directions. They made good tiddly-winks, however, and on member was even seen wearing one as a monocle. Where did we get them and how much did we pay? We got them at a tag sale at the Granite State Wheelmen's Seacoast Century; they were free.

We had a great program! Pete and Beth Sutch entertained us with a slide show based on their three-year, around-the-world bicycle trip, cleverly arranged by themes - roads, food, etc. They bicycled from Alaska, where they were teachers, to Florida, their home state, before embarking for Europe and Asia, then back to the states ending in Florida three years later. Quite a trip! After the slide show, each was surrounded by small group of questioners. Their show generated a great deal of interest. Pete and Beth are now Freewheelers. We saw to that; we presented them with a membership and hope to see them out on our rides. They would have joined anyhow but we wanted to make sure of that.

It was a delightful evening. See you all next year. I vote for the same place.     -Marion