Category Archives: President

Cycling Hall Of Fame, Member News, Officers, President, Volunteer Opportunties

President’s New Year’s Message & Invitation

Thank YOU for being a member of the Chattanooga Bicycle Club, for loving cycling and riding your bikes; for leading and riding in Club rides; for helping with rest stops, marshalling, and marking routes for CBC-sponsored rides, especially Cycle Sequatchie; for organizing and attending club events; for serving on the Executive Board of Directors; and for everything else you do to promote cycling. The Chattanooga Bicycle Club exists because of you and for you.

Annual Meeting, Dinner, and Hall of Fame Ceremony

The CBC’s Annual Meeting and happy hour, followed by dinner and Hall of Fame (HOF) ceremony take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025. The meeting begins at 4:30 at the Finley Stadium Skybox, with social hour starting at 5:30 at the Ultra Club at Finley Stadium. The annual CBC dinner and HOF ceremony follow from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. Register HERE for the Annual Meeting and/or Dinner/Hall of Fame ceremony.  

Why attend the Annual Meeting? There are two very important aspects of the Annual Meeting. First, you’ll hear from your current Board members, who will give their annual report—the State of the CBC, and second, you’ll elect your Board for 2025. These are the folks who keep the CBC ticking and you should be active in their selection. (A third reason to attend is for a chance to win one of the door prizes—a Garmin Varia radar, a set of Continental Grand Prix tires, and a gift certificate of $125 for the Club team store). Members who attend the annual meeting also get a free drink coupon for the social hour that follows the meeting.

The following members are running for re-election or election to the 2025 Board of Directors.  Please note that we still need candidates for Social Media Director, Membership Director, and Social Director.

Elected Positions

  • President                                 Thomas Hand
  • Vice President:                     Sharon Russell
  • Treasurer                                 Jennifer Fiori Kreafle
  • Secretary                                 Kevin Whiteside
  • Event Coordinator              Deborah & Sam Beck
  • Road Ride Coordinator     Peggy Olsen
  • Social Media Director      TBA (very important – we need you!)
  • Membership Director       TBA
  • At Large                                   Rich Rudner
  • At Large                                   Bill Jennings

Appointed Positions

    • Advocacy Director               Ben Richards
    • Social Director                      TBA (very important—we need you!)           

Why Attend the Annual Meeting + Dinner and HOF? It’s a fun, gala evening for only 20 bucks. The dinner is a natural extension of the Annual Meeting. Spend the evening with your friends and fellow riders celebrating the CBC and the sport of cycling. 

We Need You to Take a Pull in 2025 – Please

 You Too Can Run for the Board of Directors!  We are especially eager to have candidates for Social Media Director and Social Committee Director.  The Social Media Director promotes Club interests and markets Club events on social media, while the Social Director lead the committee that plans and implements CBC social events. Candidates for president and vice president must have been members for two years. Please step up to serve in one of these important positions for 2025. Please email your expression of interest to Tom Hand ([email protected]) and Sharon Russell ([email protected]).

Cycle Sequatchie & Other Cycling Events. Those of you who have been CBC members for a while know that the 3 Mountain 3 State Century, which was a fantastic ride, was a rallying point for member contributions and volunteer efforts and kept us in the black for many years. That ride is gone, but today we have the Cycle Sequatchie Century and Three Mountain Challenge, which the CBC co-presents with Velo View Bike Tours. The brainchild of Shannon Burke and Celeste Cyr, Cycle Sequatchie has become one of the premier organized road rides in the Southeast. If you’ve ridden it, then you know what a wonderful ride and event it is. Cycle Sequatchie is also the only thing keeping the CBC in the black today. 

In 2025, the CBC will be much more involved in every aspect of Cycle Sequatchie, providing all volunteers needed for the event–from marketing and registering riders to route marking, rest stops, marshalling, and other logistics. We will be calling for and will need your help in 2025–both before, during and after the event. Please make time to serve. It’s good for cycling and essential for the CBC.

Once again thank you for being a member of the CBC and the cycling community in the Chattanooga area. I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting, Dinner and HOF. It really is about the bike…and the rider!

See you on the road,

Tom

President

Thank You!

Many thanks to all of our CBC members and others who helped achieve this year’s Cycle Sequatchie (CS).  With more than 400 motivated riders and great weather, it was a fantastic day and a hands-down success. Not only were your efforts pivotal in making CS the phenomenal ride it has become, but you truly promoted cycling in the most positive way.   

The CS survey results are in and the overwhelming–and I mean overwhelming–majority of comments clearly demonstrate that the overall ride and the rest stops were outstanding. With more than a quarter of riders responding, 95% rated CS as either “Awesome” or “Great”, while a full 97% rated the rest stops as either “Excellent” (93%) or “Good” (6%). Cycle Sequatchie riders sung your praises in every area–from course marking and road marshaling, to organization and rest stops. The New Orleans theme, the cheese sandwiches, and the SKRATCH hydration were all called out for excellence…all the products of our own CBC members!

SHOUT OUTS:

Route Marking:  Scott Self. Scott almost single-handedly market the routes. Thank you, Scott. One CS rider commented:  “Great job by all involved! Rest stops were amazing, course markings were clear and the after party was a great finale!!“

Packet Pickup:  William Daley & Alan Serotta (Owen), Beverly Short, Rich Rudner, John Pound, Cindy Pape, Lou Pape, Patty Nihells, & Gray Fletcher (Dunlap).  “Fantastic experience from registration to all the post-ride party afterwards. This ride remains the best biking event in East TN.“

Road Marshals: Scott Self, Rich Rudner & Tom Jamison. “Very impressed with a fabulous ride! Well supported, well organized, excellent route.” 

Rest Stop – Faith Baptist.  Beverly Short, Sharon Russell, RIchard Russell, & Patty Nihells. “Great selection on snacks and locations were well placed…Skratch hydration mix was CLUTCH!“

Rest Stop – Pikeville Church of Christ: Marjorie Whiteside, Kevin Whiteside, Joseph Unjakoti, Tom Hennie, Sam Beck, & Debbie Beck: “They go above and beyond!! I mean, grilled cheese?!?! Wow!”

Rest Stop – Stephen’s Chapel:  Peggy Olson, Donna Killian, Gray Fletcher, Michelle Anderson, & Michelle Gossett.  “Got some beads at the last stop and will cherish them with the memories…Friendly people, great refreshments, Jambalaya!!”

Set Up/Break Down/CBC Table:  Athena Moundalexis, John Pound, Team Beck (Debbie & Sam), Team Russell (Richard & Sharon); Rich Rudner

LEST WE FORGET….more Shout Outs

*  Town of Dunlap. For hosting CS and providing such a wonderful and welcoming venue!

* Sequatchie & Bledsoe County Authorities  – for welcoming CS and for their vital support and assistance.

* Faith Baptist Church, Pikeville Church of Christ, & Stephen’s Chapel for graciously letting us use their facilities and helping make our rest stops the awesome places they were.

* Arron Curtis & Owen Cyclery – for wonderful and essential SAG support.  “Great choices, excellent cycling assistance and volunteers”  

...AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST

* To Shannon Burke and Celeste Cyr for their amazing talent in creating and orchestrating an awesome ride with some of the best road cycling anywhere. 

If I missed anyone, it’s purely accidental. You all rock! Thank you…Thank you…Thank you. 

Also, don’t forget the CBC Fall Social and rides on Saturday, October 19, 2024, in Dunlap!

See you on the road,

Tom

Cycling Hall Of Fame, President

Owen Cyclery to be Cycling HOF Presenting Sponsor

The Chattanooga Bicycle Club is pleased to announce a new partnership with long time bicycle community supporter Owen Cyclery as Presenting Sponsor for the Chattanooga Cycling Hall of Fame Classes of 2025 and 2026.

Founded in 1973 by Tom Owen, Sr., Owen Cyclery is a full-service bike shop in Hixson and the go-to place for high-quality bicycles such as Cannondale, Scott, BMC, and Salsa.  Aside from  selling bikes and giving sound advice to all comers, Erik Hunt and his experienced team continue the company’s 50+ year tradition of actively promoting bicycling as well as supporting a wide array of cycling initiatives in the Chattanooga area.

This tradition had its origins in 1967 when Tom Owen, Sr., an early cycling safety advocate and innovator, co-founded  the CBC.  Moreover, for nearly three decades Owen Cyclery has been a sponsor for the CBC’s 3 State 3 Mountain Century as well as the current Cycle Sequatchie Century and 3 Mountain Challenge. We are honored to have Owen Cyclery as an ongoing partner and Presenting Sponsor for the Chattanooga Cycling Hall of Fame.

The Chattanooga Cycling Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of those individuals who have distinguished themselves as members of our local cycling community; positively impacting the sport of cycling.  Although only established in  2022, the HOF has quickly become an institution in the local cycling community. Eleven area cyclists in three classes have been inducted so far. 

Nominees are now being accepted by the Cycling HOF Nominating committee for the Class of 2025.  If you know of someone who should be recognized please contact Forrest Simmons via [email protected].

More information on the Chattanooga Cycling Hall of Fame can be found under the Cycling Hall of Fame tab at ChattanoogaBicycleClub.com.