Reach the Beach 2020 Training Series
Reach the Beach (RTB) 2020 is right around the corner. What does that mean for us as a club? The 10-week RTB Training Series will be hosted by none other than . . . Portland Bicycling Club.
For well over a decade now, our very own bicycle club has had the great honor and privilege of providing a series of training rides to prepare bicyclists to ride safely in a group and to complete a century from the Portland area to Pacific City. It’s helpful for our club name to gain media exposure on the American Lung Association RTB website, but more importantly, for us to welcome and host the cyclists who turn out to train with us. Often, we generate new members as a result of spending time training with them. Win-win. The series is planned to start in February. More details to come.
Thank you, Dick Weber, for being our ride leader for the series. Thanks to the many coleaders who have committed every weekend for ten weeks supporting this venture to provide options at different paces. Thank you to all the ride leaders who add ‘RTB’ to the title of their recurring rides on the calendar to increase opportunities for distance training. Lastly, thanks to all of you future volunteers who may enjoy getting involved in this effort. For without you, none of this would continue to be possible.
RTB will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2020. The American Lung Association even added a new venue to the RTB century a couple of years ago, held later in the fall in Washington state. Donations remain strong. Good for them!
We as a bicycle club know firsthand about the challenges involved in organizing century cycling events. Except for 2019, PBC has held an annual century ride consecutively since 1973. WHOA! That’s awesome! Did you know that our Pioneer Century™ changed its name to Spring Century? This also included a location and route change, along with a date change, hence the name Spring Century. Then, it changed back to Pioneer Century™. Change is good. The old saying goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” We have a great history, folks. It’s exactly this type of risk we take as volunteers participating in cycling-related activities, that thankfully we are passionate about, that makes us a strong club with a rich history.
We are currently working to create a new “event” for our club with high hopes to roll something fun out in 2020. Judging by the history and experience of all of you, I’d say we’re in good shape! In the meantime, thank you PBC members for your show of goodwill and continued efforts in the community helping other local bicycle clubs and organized cycling events with their many needs.
Kathleen Hellem, Club Member