Spare Parts (Tidbits of Important Information)
submitted by Ann Morrow, Club Member
Tidbit Topics:
Save the Dates!
June board Elections
PBC merch
Thank You (from a donation recipient)
Save the dates!
Portland Bicycling Club has events and activities that are part of our history, our image, our unified membership. You will want to use your red sharpie to enter these dates on your calendar as you won’t want to miss out:
June 13: Pioneer Century
July 11-12: Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic
August 9: Annual Club Picnic
Our own Pioneer Century is on the 13th of June. It’s usually on the first Saturday in June, but that date just didn’t mesh with plans the Canby Fire Department had for Sawtell Road, a key part of our route. There will be no other club rides that day. Please either register to ride (and bring your friends) or volunteer to help us put on our signature event.
Cascade Bicycle Club contracts with us to run the finish line for STP. Thousands of riders head down from Seattle on Saturday and join us at the finish line later that day or on Sunday. There are also buses on Friday and Monday and lots of organization and setup to do. Many volunteers are needed. You can work more than one shift. As always, you are encouraged to ride the event if you choose — otherwise, please come help. There will be no club rides on July 11 or 12 as our members will be helping out at the finish line.
Finally, August brings our annual club picnic, with bike rides prior to the meal, raffle prizes and good food. Usually this event is on the first Sunday of August but when Arden Sheldon tried to sign up at Columbia Park, that Sunday was already taken. We have enjoyed Columbia Park and so we moved the date back one week to the 9th. I hope you will join us for the picnic.
June board elections
In June of each year we elect one Road Captain and two Members at Large to serve on our board. That way, if there is a lot of personnel change at the December elections, the entire brain trust isn’t drained. Three board members with experience presumably remain to help steer the ship, or bike, as the case may be. Up for reelection in mid-2026 are one Road Captain and two Members at Large. Current Road Captain Rob Schroeder has agreed to run for his position again. Member at Large Ron Stein has not yet shared his intentions. Member at Large Bob Glascock is ready and willing to run again. Remember, this is a democratic organization and incumbents may be challenged. We will conduct a secret ballot if that occurs.
Duties of the Road Captain: Solicit, receive, and review Club sanctioned rides. Maintain and oversee the Ride Calendar. Disperse the Rider’s Digest as necessary. Oversee ride leaders and promote adherence to rules of the road and ensure ride leaders have materials needed such as ride sign-in sheets and envelopes. Recruit and train ride leaders. Maintain a catalog/database of rides. The Board may, by a majority vote, cancel any proposed ride.
Duties of the Four Members-at-Large: Serve as a conduit between the Board and Club members.
PBC merch
Get your club socks at meetings or let Ann Morrow know you want some. Only $10! Cash is preferred, no plastic. A second version of the sock includes the words “Ride Leader” on them and will be gifted to our 2026 Ride Leaders at the annual club banquet next February. Lead a ride, get some cool socks!
Non-club rides approved for club mileage
The club ride calendar continues to populate with non-club rides that will earn club mileage for 2026. Our policy has changed and is now much more liberal. Watch our club calendar for rides.
Please participate in these rides. Several include options at different distances, so there should be a fun ride for everyone. We want you to expose yourself to new experiences, new scenery, new people and new porta potties! You pay the registration fee, and agree to behave yourself out on the road, and a whole new world opens up for you! You got this! Some of your faithful club members will be there to support you through your anxieties.
We want members of other bike clubs to come and ride with us on our Pioneer Century. We need to show up for them and their events in return.
Thank you!
Gratitude for our charitable donations
Earlier in the year checks were disbursed to those organizations which the PBC board agreed to share our 2025 profits with. The Community Cycling Center was one recipient, and we received a nice thank-you e-mail from their Executive Director, Ruben Alvarado:
Portland Bicycle Club,
You are amazing! Thank you for your donation of $1,000.00 received on 1/20/2026 to support the Community Cycling Center and all the work that we do. There are so many important and worthy causes, so we take your decision to invest in our mission with great responsibility. It’s always humbling.
When you give to the Community Cycling Center, you’re investing in a team that deeply values Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Through programs like after-school Bike Clubs, Bike Camps, the Repair Hub providing free repairs to the community, and community bike giveaways, our programs staff are there to learn of the active transportation challenges confronting some of our most vulnerable community members. Then, we aim to co-work solutions alongside the people we serve.
What we find, consistently, is that bicycles can be a vehicle for social change when they become accessible. Cycling provides utility, joy, connectedness, and an economical transportation option. Anyone, regardless of income, should have access to these benefits.
Because of supporters like you, we’re entering our 32nd year of enacting our mission to broaden access to cycling. But we simply cannot do it without your support.
Ride safely,
Ruben Alvarado, Executive Director