CLUB HISTORY
 

Officers 1987-2001

Pre Club History

In the years before the Club there was the Ridgecrest Ice Cream, Tea, and Bicycle Social Club. These rugged prehistoric individuals were truly committed to the one sport worthy of their devotion, bicycling! These individuals, under the guidance of Pete and Elaine Wylie, performed the monthly rite of passage (also know as the Inyokern time trial). These individuals, being as rugged as they were started the time trial at the corner of Bowman and China Lake instead of the corner of Norma and China Lake, as is currently practiced. Twice a year, these bicyclists further punished their bodies by having a College Heights Hill Climb. Part of them helped form the Ridgecrest Roll Committee. Like a dinosaur lost in time, this committee continued only into the first year of the current Club.

The Early Years (1987-1990)

On October 14 ^th , the very first temporary officers elected . Joe Delory was our first president. The Club's very first newsletter was published in December 1987. The meetings were held at either Texas Cattle Company or John's Pizza. In January 1988, the Club's mailing address is established and the Club is incorporated. The seal is shown at the left for those Club members that have never seen it. At this time the Club had a grand total of eight paid members.

At the January 1988 meeting new officers were elected and Marlee Sondgeroth took over the helm of the Club. The Club becomes a member of the League of American Wheelman and a contest is held to establish a Club logo. The logo contest was won by Barbara Frisbee with the logo that we still use.

By March 1988, the Ridgecrest Roll Committee has dissolved and donated it's remaining moneys to the Club. It is my understanding that while the race the committee staged was well attended, racers continued to violate the centerline rule. After several warnings by police, in mid-race the police shutdown the race. The road race was replaced by a criterium which did not continue past 1988. During the summer, Marlee Sondgeroth moved from the area and was replaced by Dieter Weik. The Club's first jersey is planned but appeared to go through several changes before being finally ordered. Plans are made for the very first Picnic in the Park Ride. The cost of club membership is set at $20 for individuals and $30 families. In the fall of 1988, the Club became a USCF member.

The new year, 1989, saw Dieter Weik, reelected to the top spot (after replacing Marlee at mid year). The meeting location was moved to the Heritage Inn. A general meeting for the members was to be held every other month, while the officers would meet every month. The Club logo is used for the first time in the newsletter. As people leave the valley, several offices are left vacant.
 
 

The Dark Ages (1990-1994)

The term "Dark Ages" has two different meanings. The first is the lack of newsletters or other printed information for this period. The second meaning refers to the deep turmoil the Club went through during this period that ended with legal action by the members against the club officers.

The elections for 1990 brought in a mostly new group of officers for the Club. This is the first year for the Desert Classic (organized and promoted by Kem Park for the next ten years) and Panamint Springs ride. A new lower Club membership fee is established at $15 for individuals, $25 for families, and $5 for juniors.

In 1991, the meeting location was moved from the Heritage Inn to the Kerr McGee Center. A Club bulletin board and library were established at Frisbee's (over the years the books in the library slowly disappeared and the library no longer exists). This is the first year for the 9 mile canyon hill climb time trial.

The B Mountain Challenge was held for the first time in 1992. It appears that new jerseys and shorts were ordered. Kem Park and Tim Johsnon in cooperation with the BLM, put together a brochure for the local MTB trails. The year 1994 was the first year that Club members Tim LaFromboise and Dieter Wiek rode in RAAM. Bob Glenn takes over as President. The Club has a road race team.

The Current Era (1995 - Present)

1995

Michelle Killikauskas was elected as the new president. A new Club jersey (designed by Dieter Weik) was purchased. The Club had a road racing team the previous year and was planning for MTB team this year. The Club put on a MTB clinic with Max Jones. Rick Servias performed his now infamous 20 foot plunge into a ravine on the Panamint Springs Ride. This year was better for other Club members. In August, Club member Dieter Weik finished 6 ^th in the men's solo division of RAAM and received Rookie of the Year. Club member Tom Cody won the Military National Cycling Championships. Bob Glenn won three bronze medals at the Huntsman World Senior Games. On a more tragic note, Robert Dow, not a Club member, died from injuries received when he was hit head-on by a car while riding his bicycle on College Heights Blvd. The Club tried to have a memorial sign put up on the College Heights Road but was refused by the city at the last minute when a women complained that nobody wanted to erect signs to mark her daughter's death at an intersection in town.

1996

The Club becomes a member of the Southern Calif/Nevada Cycling Association. A Club web page is discussed, but was another year in coming. The first and only, so far, Sterling Road 40k time trial is held, which was won by Chuck Daugherty. Club members Dieter Weik and Tim LaFromboise again ride as members of a team in RAAM. In the Huntsman World Senior Games, Marla McBride won 4 gold medals making her the overall winner for her age group. Bob Glenn won two gold and placed first in the overall for his age. Larry Gleason won two bronze medals. Bill Wilson won two bronze and a silver. Al Boyack received two 5 ^th places ribbons. Mike Lukich won a bronze and two 5 ^th places. Bill McBride won a gold and two silver medals.

1997

This is Club's 10^th anniversary and also the 10^th Picnic in the Park ride. New Anniversary jerseys and shorts (designed by Laura Daugherty) are ordered. The First Annual tandem ride to Lone Pine is staged. Monthly beginner rides are put on (I believe beginner rides were put on before but it has been many years). A ride survey is conducted (the results of which are included as part of the local road ride page of this site). In May, the Club goes on line with it's own homepage. Tim LaFromboise wins the Southern California district road time trial championship and placed 6^th at nationals. Dwight Ball won his second Military National Championship (he had previously won in 1993).

1998

A new year and a new Club president (Frank Foust) is elected. Bob Glenn opened a bicycle shop in Inyokern and did not want continue as an officer. Tim LaFrombosie continues his winning ways and again wins the Southern California district road time trial championship and placed 4^th at nationals. Not to be out done, Matt Roberts wins the Military National Championship and Dwight Ball finishes second. Tim, as part of Team Action Sports, also wins at RAAM. At the Huntsman World Senior Games Marla McBride and Lou Carboni get first overall. This year marks the 25^th Anniversary for the Death Valley to Mt. Whitney race (a Club sponsored event) and Dieter Weik designs the jersey. The tandem ride to Lone Pine is run for a second year. The Club puts in some community service work by setting up a short obstacle course for kids at the 23^rd Annual Kids Fair.

1999

Frank Foust retires the top spot, and opts for the Vice President job. Bill McBride is elected the new President. Laura Daugherty as Club secretary becomes the longest serving officer in the Club's history (this is her 4^th consecutive year). Bernard, only four weeks after having a valve repaired in his heart returns to riding. In September, 9 months after his surgery, Bernard wins the silver medal the Downhill Masters 40-44 World Mountain Bike Championships. In March, Marla McBride is thrown from her bike on the Trona-Red Mountain Road and has to be air lifted to the San Bernardino Trauma Center. In September Jim Charlon is killed while riding into the sun on west Ridgecrest Blvd. (a reminder that we are all vulnerable). In April, riders are being stopped by the China Lake Police for not riding single file on one of the government roads. This prompted inviting the California Highway Patrol and a local Traffic Court Commissioner to a Club meeting to discuss this. The text of what was discussed can be found here. Bob Glenn works with BLM to layout a new MTB time trial course and starts holding a monthly mountain bike time trial again. Kem Park had previously held a monthly MTB time trial behind the college but it had slowly died out. Speaking of Kem Park, he put on the 10^th annual Desert Classic MTB in October. For insurance reasons this was possibly the last time it will be held. Andrea Atkins, Lou Carboni, Bob Nagy, Bill McBride, Bob Glenn, and Ron Farris qualify for the California Triple Crown by riding three double centuries. Bob Nagy and Bill McBride continue on make it into the 1000 mile Club by riding five double centuries. Some talk of a rail to trails program takes place but nothing becomes of it. Some discussion for saving money by emailing the Club newsletter takes place.

2000

As we start the new year we keep Bill McBride, Frank Foust and Laura Daugherty, but get a brand new domain name, treasurer (Tim Tyson) and a Millenium jersey designed by Chuck and Laura Daugherty. Pam Harris starts the new year by teaching a spinning class on base. She is joined in teaching by Brandy Corley and Frank Foust.

It was a great year and several time trial records were broken: Tim set a new course record at Piru; Ken was the fastest in his age group at Piru; Colette set a new women's record on the Nine mile hill climb, but never got to enjoy it as Pam finished ahead of her with even a faster time; and Bill McBride rode the MTB course and got a new record for the old guys (55+); Pam broke the course record several times for the Inyokern Loop road TT.

Tim LaFromboise was again the Southern California Time Trial Champion! Tim raced Cat 1&2 to a 54:07 finish, which was 3 minutes faster then the next single rider. Pam Harris also had a great time and placed second by 11 seconds to the national champ in her age group. Bill McBride was 4^th and Mike Lukich placed 3^rd (or 4^th?). Tim placed second at nationals.

With the help of Club member, NAWC Commander Rear Admiral Bert Johnston, the city is convinced to repave the southern part of China Lake Blvd. The road was fairly wide but very rough and shoulders were unrideable with fairly heavy traffic, at least for Ridgecrest. Because of the repaving, the monthly road time trial is changed to a 20k on Sterling Road for three months. The event is liked so well that discussions to hold it four times next year occur. A desicision is not made until a later date.

Again cyclists run afoul of the China Lake police. It appears to this writer that this problem is never resolved and is doomed to be repeated over and over again.

Four High Sierra cyclists compete at the Huntsman World Senior Games: Larry Gleason and Bob Glenn in the licensed men 55-59 category, Bill McBride in the Public men-A 54-59 category, and Mike Lukich in the Public men 60-64 category. Mike also competes in the MTB races and wins all 3 of his events (hill climb, downhill, and cross country) setting new course records in two of them.