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Here are some selected articles from the SPOKE 'N WORD newsletter.
History of Rainbow - Birth of Rainbow Cyclists (March 1994)
History of Rainbow - RAINBOW REACHES PUBERTY (April 1994)
History of Rainbow - Forever 29 (May 1994)
Sloan Sez... Cedar Valley Nature Trail Musings (June 1995)
Sloan Sez... CVTP and Brinker Gap (July/August 1995) |
by Sue Hummel (March 1994)
In high school and college, my sole means of transportation was my bike. Apparently, I was destined to end up in Rainbow Cyclists, but what possessed me to appoint myself Historian? Challenge? Dementia? Although I've been a member for over seven years, suddenly I was curious to know how our club arrived at this particular spot. And so it begins. Read, and hopefully, enjoy. (Many thanks to Russ Clarke, John Lueders, Rich Weseman, Duane Wood, Dan Gerken and Frankie Brown for countless interviews.)
The genesis of what is now Rainbow Cyclists began in 1973. At that time, a group of avid cyclists was hanging out in the basement of a house near the UNI bookstore. Among them were Russ Clarke, Randy Gaffney, Jeff Bock, Joel Barry, and Russ and Cindy Dodd. European Imports started there as a bike store, and a year later moved next to the bookstore into an area vacated by a bowling alley. Bob Beach, who owned much of the property in that block, re-named the shop Europa. The cyclists who frequented the store rode together out 27th St. in Cedar Falls, and Kimball Ave. in Waterloo, devising time trials to compete against each other.
Meanwhile, a group of local jr. high and high school students were interested in formmg a bike club, so they ran an ad in the Courier. John Lueders, who was akeady biking a lot on his own, saw the ad and attended the meeting, which was held in a room at the RedCross building. A co-worker of his, Clyde Teeter, came along. The kids held a vote for a leader, and so Clyde nominated John as the 1st official president. John remembers that the group had humble beginnings. No helmets. No sophisticated bikes. They planned a ride in Wisconsin, and only two people showed up! (But, John adds, it must have been a success, because they held it again the next year, and three people came!)
The group of people who were racing together from Europa heard about the other newly-formed group, and discussed combining their racers with the bicyclists who were interested in touring and recreational rides. They also called the local chapter of Rails to Trails and invited any interested members to attend the first meeting. John Riley had followed John Lueders as president of the loosely-formed group and remembered how antiquated things seemed then. Since Europa didn't even sell helmets, many members drove to a bike shop in Ames to buy theirs. Joel Barry had a tandem, which was very rare. Jeff Bock built several of the bike frames himself. Europa sponsored a race called the College Hill Criteria, which was a loop around the Hill. RAGBRAI had started in 1972, and a few of these local riders rented a van amongst themselves to take them out to the start and pick them up at the finish a couple years later.
When the two groups connected, organization fell into place. Until this time, they had no formal meetings, funding, or checking account. Russ Clarke decided to make it a viable club, and several of the early meetings were at his house.
Rainbow Cyclists got its name from Rainbow Drive, because that was the main biking route between Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Ironically, the same route we avoid today. The road, incidentally, got its name from a World War I brigade, called the Rainbow Brigade, who actually laid the brick that is still under the pavement (and can be observed in the potholes at any given time.)
The first Rainbow board consisted of Duane Wood, President; Bill Boss, Vice- President of Racing; Bill Holston, Vice- President of Recreational Rides; Rich Weseman, Vice-President of Touring; Linda Holston, Secretary; and Janet Long, Secretary, Duane Wood designed the logo, and also invented this publication--"The Spoke 'n Word", along with designing the masthead. He would write the newsletter out of his home, and take it to Back Alley Printers. The meetings progressed to such spots as Lookout Park, Hawkeye Tech, the Waterloo Public Library, IPS, and Schoitz Hospital. Dave Burman was one of the early members, and his mom, Millie, who didn't actually ride a bike, nonetheless attended the meetings with hot tea and cookies for everyone.
By this time, the original group of racers from Europa had become sanctioned. They needed to be sponsored by an organization for a year, namely Rainbow, before they could race wearing a jersey with that logo on it. Through Rainbow, they had also met the insurance requirements for the time trials, which had been held unofficially on Thursdays for years. Trek, which was then a small company, actually sponsored Rainbow for a year.
The first board set up 1/3 of the club for serious racing, 1/3 for touring, and 1/3 for recreational rides. The first short rides were to Eagle Center and back to Shakey's for carbo-loading. On Saturdays, Breakfast Rides went from Hudson to the Barn Restaurant in Dike, and back. The racers continued their lO-mile time trials on Union Road in Cedar Falls. The first board can also be given credit with the My Waterloo Days Ride, Sturgis Falls Ride, Century Ride, and the People's Bank Races at Byrnes Park, which Duane Wood ran for the first flve or six years. Rainbow also sponsored the Citizen's Races, which were held every Wednesday, usually at River Hills' parking lot. A few of the rides were held in the Crossroads Mall parking lot, and were so popular, that Don Jacobusse and his son drove back and forth from Algona each week to attend. These rides were also the scene of several dislocated shoulders over the years.
The Pine Lake Tour was Rainbow's first annual ride. Camping was at the actual lake, instead of Steamboat Rock where it moved to in later years.
Linda Holston became the first female President of Rainbow. During her tenure, the club had differing opinions on which direction to go. Part of the riders wanted to continue their pursuit of serious racing, and the other part became the nucleus of Rainbow's first fringe group, the Saloonatics. These seventeen riders felt that stopping at taverns was an integral part of touring and recreational rides. Rich Weseman designed the logo, and Pickle (Dan Gerken) invented their slogan, "Bar to bar is plenty far." They only had twenty-five shirts printed up back then, a few of which can be sighted, faded and threadbare, every now and then.
In 1985, Rainbow quit sponsoring the racers, and so they joined the Central Iowa Cycling Club, which was sponsored in part by Sunshine Cyclery in Hudson. Three years later, the racers formed Cedar Valley Wheelmen, and in 1989 that named changed to Cedar Valley Cyclists. Todd Hunemuller was the first President. Today, they are still a USCF sanctioned team, and usually have fifty to sixty members from year to year.
From this point on, Rainbow has existed for the sheer pleasure of touring and recreational rides (or non-rides).
Next month, the saga continues! How did the Chicken bus get its name? How did Team Virgin evolve into existence? Will any of this information drastically alter anyone's axioms?
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First of all, my apology to Joel Berry, whose name I misspelled in my last chapter. If you notice an inaccuracy, or want to add a bit of nostalgia,let me know. With the right amount of input, this article could go on and on into infinity, or infamy - whichever you choose.
The year was 1982. The Waterhawks Ski Club had a l956 Ford bus for sale. Several Rainbow members called an impromptu meeting at the Iron Fireman to discuss the matter. Dan Gerken, Rich Weseman, Kevin Lange, Sue Layman, Frankie Brown and Tony Zelinskas decided to buy the bus for $5OO. Each kicked in $100, with the extra $100 for insurance. They registered it under a fictitious name and address and donated it to Rainbow Cyclists. This bastardized vehicle was not yet known as the Chicken Bus, but it was soon to become our unofficial sag vehicle. The Gary Rausch Birthday Ride was its first foray into a campground, breaking branches as it ventured forth. By the second Backbone Tour, Fast Eddie was at the wheel, shuttling riders from Lamont to the campground, creating a harrowing journey along the narrow, curving roads. It's a scene most of us experienced at one time or another before the bus's demise.
In l985 the bus was ready for its first RAGBRAI, heading for Hawarden. The festive group got as far as Highway 3 before the radiator blew, and they coasted to a stop A patrolman from the DOT stopped and volunteered to take the radiator into Hampton to be fixed overnight. What to do with the 16 gallon keg and case of schnapps at the back of the bus? While this was being pondered, a farmer across the road came over with his 4-wheel drive International, hooked it to the bus with chains, and dragged it to his property. Nearby was a chicken coop, about 200 feet long, no windows, with the words "New Amsterdam Poultry Company" written on the side. As the cyclists pitched their tents in the field, they noticed a short smokestack in the soybean field nearby. Hunger overcame them so they pedaled off to the nearest town. When they returned the wind had shifted, and an offensive odor was belching out of the aforementioned smokestack. They find that the "coop" is actually a processing facility for 350,000 baby chicks! Roosters are also being lured into the furnace! A gallant effort is made to drain the keg, in order to hasten sleep and be oblivious to the stench. Early the next morning the radiator is returned to them by the mechanic, who has tack-welded it with approximately 61bs. of solder. Ii's put back in the bus, filled with water,and the bus proceeds to LeMars where a Quik Trip stop is in order. It is there that Lori from LaCrosse purchases two cans of spray paint and, fueled with emotion, sprays FREE THE CHICKENS on one side of the bus and SAVE THE ROOSTERS on the other. For embellishment, chicken feathers collected the night before are duct-taped to the exterior. The Chicken Bus was christened-articles with pictures appeared in the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times. The Cchicken Bus had her Fifteen Minutes of Fame, and on her virgin RAGBRAI experience, no less.
Speaking of virgins, Rainbow had a plethora of them. So many in fact, that they formed Team Virgin for RAGBRAI XIII. Original members were Annie Phillip, Sue Costa, Deb Craig, Russ Gilbert, Lynor Pease, Rusty Easton, Cindy Amhof, Michelle (Mlady) Franzen, Sandy Thalmann, June Blanford and Rebecca Klatt. Rebecca provided the impetus for the creation of the T-shirts; of which a new version has appeared for several summers since, bearing a new virginal slogan and another bite from the cherry. Each of the founders was a first-time RAGBRAI rider on XIII, except Sandy Thalmann, a veteran rider, who was Mother Virgin. This team invented the beer slide, which was no small feat. Lynor paved the way by demonstratin the first forward thrust, and the rest is history.
At this time, Rainbow Cyclists was flouriing. Greyhound buses were not yet taking us to and from RAGBRAI, so Dave Stein organized rental vans to do that. He also approached the Des Moines Register for credentials so that Rainbow could go as a group. Carla Carter (Lown) was President, and membership leapt from 150 to 500 members. Waterloo was an overnight stop for RAGBRAI XIII, and many new, vulnerable converts were swept up in a biking frenzy.
Where would it all lead? Is there cause for concern? What could possibly evolve from the Synapse of the Chiken Bus and the Saloonatics? The bewildering answers lie dormaint until next month's chapter. |
by Sue McMurray Hummel (May 1994)
In 1987, our Cedar Valley Nature Trail was forming. The Illinois Central Railroad, which owned it, had to keep it in use or they would lose the land to the farmers. Rails to Trails rented it from the railroad for one dollar a year. Dan Gerken, and other comrades from Rails to Trails volunteered to work on the trail every Saturday for several seasons. After they cleared brush, pounded in posts, etc. they would head to Mona's in Brandon for sandwiches, and naturally, beer. Obviously, lots of hard work went into the early days of the trail. Rails to Trails asked John Lueders to represent Rainbow Cyclists at a community meeting, concerning the land that contained the trail. County officials wanted the land condemned and turned into a linear park. The farmers wanted their land back, because they thought the deeds said it was theirs. The spirit of Rainbow prevailed, and things were put back on track. Crushed limestone was eventually poured, and the trail became reality. After years of riding on 2 miles of gravel and being chased by Cujo farm dogs, we have now closed the gap of the detour, and pavement on part of the trail is in our near future.
Amidst the festive atmosphere of Rainbow lurked a group which had inadvertently evolved from the Saloonatics and the Chicken Bus. Annie Phillip, Deb Hageman, Bill Koch, Mark Benson, Michelle (Mylady) Franzen, Rusty Easton, Lynore Pease, and Jerry Hageman were determined to add a touch of merryment whereever they appeared. A casual observer, Dave Stein remarked, "You guys have fun at all costs!" and thus, they were baptized. It is rumored that Mark Benson, a Colorado resident, still has Fun At All Costs on his license plates to this day. In later years, members of this group would travel out to Colorado for Ride the Rockies. Frank Brown and Frank Smith were with them in the van taking them to the ride, and reoccurrence of confusion as to which Frank was being addressed forced them into a cataclysmic decision. They would each take the surname of Frank. By the time they returned to Iowa, they were The Frank Family. Many of us count ourselves as second cousins.
In the late '80's, there existed an International bus, an early '70's model. Larry Baumann owned it, and leased it out to groups of policemen, who drove it from bar to bar after hours. The song "Elvira" was a hit at that time, and many occupants of the bus could be found singing that tune at any given time. Elvira was christened. Kevin Lange rented the bus from Larry to take on rides as a sag vehicle. when he was Tour Director, he drove a full-to-capacity Elvira out to RAGBRAI XIII.
The Chicken Bus was on that RAGBRAI too, a Passing of the Gaskets, if you will. Elvira was also used as a baggage truck for a few Rausch Rides. Lyle Mowrey can be given credit for Elvira's striking exterior, after buying various colors of paint at a fire sale for a dollar a can, and letting his right brain go to work. In 1990, Bill Dotzler and Debbie Floyd bought Elvira from Larry for $600. That year, Gert was driving her when the brakes went out on RAGBRAI XVIII. She backed Elvira down the hill at about 40 m.p.h.., and ended up in a ditch. Authorities described it as a Bad Parking Situation. A 75-year-old Australian man was along with Rainbow's charter this year, and mistakenly threw all his RAGBRAI belongings on a bus which he thought was Elvira, but was not. That was the last he saw of his clean, and dirty, underwear.
Elvira can boast of things that her predecessor, the Chicken Bus (now extinct) could not. She has her own clubhouse in Albion, at the Chicken House restaurant. The ceiling tiles were painted by the aforementioned Lyle. She also has her own newsletter, which goes out to anyone who volunteers to be on the mailing list.
Rainbow's membership continues to grow, we have a strong board, and more adventures are on the horizon. Dave Stein started Rainbow South in Cedar Rapids, and since he's moved to Minnesota - maybe Rainbow North. Debby Herman has expressed interest in carrying on this Historian business, and publishing some stories in future issues. I would like to do an article on some rides that are no longer in existence. If anyone has humorous anecdotes on that subject, call me at 266-2819.
Thanks again to everyone who gave me information for these articles. A lot of the pages had smudges of barbeque sauce from interviews at Broosters. Most of them are dog-eared from hauling them to various rides. Gathering stories I could actually put in print was not an exact science! Most bike clubs have a turnover rate of 3-4 years. With all the diverse members we have, it's easy to see why Rainbow is one of the longest surviving bike clubs in the free world! |
Sloan Sez...
CEDAR VALLEY NATURE TRAIL MUSINGS
On June 17, 1995 from 9-11 at the American Legion Hall in Urbana you will be able to join In the official celebration of the completion of the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. If you are on the Cedar Valley Tour you will be part of the celebration. There will be live music, a drawing for a bike, a "thank you" flag you can sign and guest speakers for the 10:00 a.m. ceremony. This marks the completion of the continuous route from Evansdale to Hiawatha.
My perspective on the trail goes back to when it was a railroad. I was raised about a mile from the trail. We lived on the highway a couple miles east of Brandon. I rode my bike on the gravel road between the highway and the railroad tracks. The cars had two or three paths where the gravel was worn off and my Schwinn with its fat tires and coaster brakes had no problems on a gravel road. My Arizona cousins had grandparents that lived across the street from the railroad tracks in Brandon. We made flat pennies on those train tracks. The train was the way to transport grain, cattle, feed, etc. Dad got feeder cattle from out west delivered to Brandon. The elevator shipped grain out of town and probably had grain and feed delivered on the train. Mom and Dad remembered riding the trolley to go to LaPorte or Cedar Rapids or Waterloo. The trolley would even stop out in the country to pick you up. If a freight train was expected it would be a very quick stop, but it provided the transportation for the area. As the highways got better and the trucks got bigger, the railroads seemed to get worse. I remember Dad saying it cost more to ship feeder cattle in from out west on a truck but they got here alive and healthy. So the trucks started taking over.
Dad bought the farm down the highway from the old farmer who sold the railroad the right-of-way across his farm. He had the railroad put a clause in the deed that said he would get the land back if the railroad ever quit operation across the farm. Dad's lawyer told him the railroads sneaked into Des Moines when the farmers were in the fields and got a law passed to void those clauses. Other farmers had wanted the railroad into town and sold their land cheap to get access to good transportation. Others made the railroad condemn the land to get access across their farm. We also know the legislature passed another law to give the landowners title of the condemned land once the railroad was gone. All this left abandoned right-of-ways with several possible legal owners.
So trains got less use and eventually the line was abandoned. This was happening all across Iowa. Railroads connected the small towns when there was grain and other products to ship and people to ride. Now farmers were getting the abandoned right-of-ways back for a small price to the railroad and the cost of a bulldozer to clear and level the railbed. If you had a railroad through your farm it was easy to start thinking about how to square up that field and improve the drainage when you got the land back. In your mind you knew it was only a matter of time until the railroad would come by to sell you the right-of-way. It had been happening all around you so why would it be any different along this railway.
Guess what happened? That's right. A group of civic minded individuals had another vision for this abandoned railway. They bought the land from the railroad and started converting it into a crushed limestone trail. I rode parts of the trail from Brandon south on several occasions. Most of the path had only the cinders left from the railroad and the trees were squeezing the path but it was a change of pace from city streets and county roads. The nature trail was not open between Evansdale and Gilbertville when I was first exploring the trail. Eventually I could get to Brandon. I might drive to LaPorte since I was not yet used to long rides. I was not concerned that a landowner near LaPorte bulldozed the trail because I could use the highway or knew about roads that got me where I wanted to ride. From LaPorte the route used the blacktop to McFarlane Park and once the Spring Creek bridge got rebuilt, you could get all the way to Brandon.
During this time, there were legal battles to determine who had clear title to the trail. Anyone who has bought land knows you don't own it without clear title. All the trail developers bought from the railroad was the railroad's claim to the land. Some adjoining landowners had claims on the land too. I heard angry farmers who had expected they would buy the land from the railroad. I heard angry trail supporters who thought they owned the whole trail. Are they angry at the railroad about not getting clear title: No. They decide to get angry at the landowner who is pursuing his clear title. It only seems logical to keep your eyes on the goal of getting a trail and not worry about who owns the land. Unfortunately, too many loudmouths were heard on both sides. All the attacks only make the farmer more resolved to pursue and get clear title. I know if I was being defamed for merely pursuing my legal rights to my property, I would have bulldozed the trail back into farmland and ignored the jerks too. Fortunately, there were people who kept trying to find a way to make the trail work for everyone. It took time for them to overcome the problems caused by the jerks on both sides of the issue. It also took time for the trail to develop into the recreational asset it is today. We have the complete trail now. It is time to quit claimmg one side or the other was "right" and making snide remarks. It is time to celebrate what we have.
Bob Sloan |
CEDAR TRAILS PARTNERSHIP
This is the new group being organized to support the growing trail network in Black Hawk County. We have met enough to establish the group, decide on officers and move forward on the initial organizational issues. In July, we hope to have a meeting where the speaker will tell us how to be a good trails advisory group. The board is established but there is plenty of room for volunteers and members. If you can help or want more info, let me know. (link to CTP Web Site)
A REPORT FROM THE WATERLOO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
On June 5th several of us went to the regular session of the City Council of Waterloo. We were not there to address the issue of leaf burning or to see the myriad of things the council must approve. We were there to lend any support we could to a resolution from the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) to start condemnation proceeds on the property needed to complete the trail between George Wyth Memorial State Park and U.S. 218 (Greenhill Road). The family spokesman/negotiator was at the meeting. No public comment was allowed but Mr. Brinker was allowed to speak his concerns on the issue. He thought the property was worth much more than was being offered and asserted the family would pursue legal action to oppose the condemnation. He claimed bicycling is just a fad like the Hoola-Hoop. Apparently he lives near the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and does not believe it is getting the use claimed by its proponents. He also pleaded for more time to work out a negotiated settlement. It takes a long time to get all the family together whenever an offer has been made or a new negotiating issue arises. At the same time, he complained people he has worked with in the past did not have the authority to make a deal. He mentioned the time it takes away from his work to try to negotiate a deal. The family has owned the property for a very long time so it is not as if they are just land speculators. Mayor Rooff replied that it has been seven years of negotiations and there is nothing to make us believe a negotiated settlement is imminent. The council approved the resolution.
Now I can give you my take on the issue. I suspect there are many people who do not know the "trail" is not public property. We have all been riding across the Brinker property for years. I certainly thank the Brinker family for letting us use their property for an unofficial bike trail. I have even seen roller bladers walking across the property. The number of riders has been increasing every year for the past several years. It used to be rare to see another cyclist when on the "trail." Now it is rare if you do not see other cyclists. I have heard about land swaps to protect the Brinker's financial aspirations and other deals to acquire this property for several years. I have been expecting a deal for five years. After hearing Mr. Brinker at the council meeting, I think I know why no deal can ever be struck without condemnation. It appears the various cousins and nieces and nephews and their husbands and wives all have veto power over every deal Mr. Brinker trys to work out. I feel sorry for him. He has tried to do what is best for his family but someone has put dollar signs in their eyes. The land is too close to the river to be any good for development or to be mined as a quarry. As many of you know, I am opposed to condemnation unless it is not possible to work out an agreement. In this case, there is no possible way to get an agreement without either the condemnation or at least the real threat of condemnation. The trail exists. Now it is time to get it graded and paved. The court date is set for September. Only some injunction could postpone the inevitable. We can thank the Waterloo City council for their action to acquire the trail. Their action means a real trail is now in sight.
One immediate problem with the "trail" is the safety issue. Some of the "trail" is so narrow only one bike can easily negotiate the mud puddles or the sand. We all know the "trail" is getting more and more use. Sooner or later someone will have a serious accident. One of our own did crash over his handlebars and onto his helmet. Apparently it was a concussion since his neighbors found him on his lawn and had to take him inside. Fortunately his wife got him to the emergency room and he is O.K. Unfortunately, he had to find someone who could tell him what happened because his memory of the incident is gone. This only proves the need to wear your helmet whenever you ride and watch out for these trail hazards.
Bob Sloan
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