Archives West Finding Aid

History of the PNCA, by Toni Sobieralski, originally published in the April 1944 issue of The Blowout

The Puget Sound Wheelmen, a handful of cyclists brought together in 1936 by the Olympic Games elimination race; the opening of youth hostels in Washington in 1938; the U. of W. Hostel Club organized in 1939 by Eyrlis Riste and Doris Koenig; the introduction in quantity of English and American lightweight bicycles to Seattle; a dealer-sponsored "century ride" in October 1939 and impromptu trips throughout the fall and winter by the group brought together on that ride; these are the elements from which the Pacific Northwest Cycling Association was formed. The name was a spur-of-the-moment choice, however. The group of lightweight owners who made those trips in 1939-40 decided to organize a bike-train excursion. Eugene Wilson, when contacting Great Northern publicity agents, to make an impression said he represented the Pacific Northwest Cycling Association. A week after the very successful bike-train trip, the name was officially adopted at an organization meeting which elected Wilson president.

The new club brought together the best riders of Seattle and the resulting ambitious trips scared many ordinary cyclists away. The PNCA became famous for the individual exploits of its members as well as its organized rides. Eugene Wilson was very ambitious and had a talent for getting people interested. The club grew rapidly, spreading through contacts made on trips to Tacoma, Port Angeles and Bremerton. Through the efforts of Toni Sobieralski, a similar cycling group in Portland decided to organize as a chapter of the PNCA and Bud Ware endeavored to form a branch in Eugene.

The Seattle Youth Hostel was the summer meeting place, and interesting contacts were made with visiting hostellers. Aluminous PNCA plates were made and a publication "The Handlebar,' begun. National publicity was gained through affiliation with the L.A.W. [League of American Wheelmen] and A.B.L.A. [Amateur Bicycle League of America], and a racing program started for those who were interested.

At the time of the first annual meeting, the PNCA numbered over 100 members, but "growing pains" came to a head at the meeting. Half the dues were going to national affiliations. The efforts involved in helping small chapters along, maintaining inter-city contacts, organizing races, recruiting new members and seeking publicity became a burden rather than a pleasure. Those members who thought the club should remain a source of recreation rather than a world-beating cycling organization elected Toni Sobieralski the new president. This brought about a split in the membership and Gene Wilson formed the Cascade Chapter and designated the original group the Seattle Chapter.

There followed a period of rivalry between the two groups. Although successful joint rides were held, the two chapters had separate programs, and since "The Handlebar" became the mouthpiece for the Cascade Chapter, the Seattle Chapter elected to start their own paper, "The Blowout," first edited by Rex Clark.

The unfortunate clash of ideas and the effects of the war halted the progress of the PNCA and membership began to dwindle, branches in other cities collapsed and finally the Cascade Chapter disappeared with the departure of Mr. Wilson for Seattle.

During the winter of 1942-43, even the Seattle Chapter nearly came to an end, when trip attendance dropped to a mere half dozen and interest was at a low ebb. But spring days came again and a sudden revival brought new and old members together to form the most enthusiastic group in the history of the PNCA. The percent of active participation and the extent of the program grew. New interests such as folk-dancing, ice-skating and hiking kept the members together when weather made cycling unattractive. When our old members come back from the armed forces, they will find the PNCA now stronger then ever, with a program dedicated to recreation, friendship and good fun through cycling and related activities.