The Smoky Mountain Wheelmen Bicycle Club is a recreational cycling club
based in Knoxville, Tennessee that schedules approximately 150 group rides a
year on the lightly traveled back roads of East Tennessee. Club members
enjoy sharing knowledge of all aspects of cycling, and we are blessed
with one of the greatest areas of the country for bicycling.
For over thirty years, the Smoky Mountain Wheelmen have been working
actively to promote all aspects of bicycling through education and
example. The membership fee includes membership in the club, a monthly
newsletter, and other benefits such as discounts at bike shops and
additional insurance coverage. We have something to offer the beginner
to the veteran cyclist, so come out and join us.
New Officers for 2009
At the Nov. 17 meeting, members elected the new officers for 2009, including:
President: Keith Webb, 2nd term
Vice President: Tim Patterson, has held almost every office in the Club
Secretary: Cynthia Tipton
Treasurer: Rob Maples, incumbent
Road Captains: Joe Knauer & Franz Eipeldauer
Adopt-a-Mile Coordinators: Candie and Casey Hewgley
Adopt-A-Mile: SMW participates in the Adopt-a-Mile program in
Farragut. Four times a year member Greg Schneck organizes a group effort to
remove litter from a well-traveled mile of Boyd's Station Road , just west
of where Virtue Rd. takes a sharp turn toward the west. There is usually leads a bike ride right after the cleanup.
Helmet Fund Drive: For the last
nine years the Helmet Fund (organized by Tony and Ann Gehl) has been contributing helmets to a local charity.
In all, they have raised $14,787, which purchased 2,692 helmets and 17
bikes. For 2007, the recipient is the
Mission of Hope. They collect and distribute bikes to needy children during the
whole year.
Jeff Roth Foundation: In 2006, the club donated the entire
proceeds of the Fall Century to the family of Jeff Roth, a Maryville
bicyclist that was struck and killed by a driver on Highway 321 near
Maryville. As a result of this tragedy, the state of Tennessee legislature
passed the JeffRoth and Brian Brown Bicycle Protection Act of
2007, otherwise known as the "Three-foot Rule, that requires drivers to
maintain a 3-foot clearance from bicyclists.
Remote Area Medical donation: During the November 2005 Meeting,
the SMW membership voted to donate $2500 to Remote Area Medical, the
Knoxville-based health care provider that has been actively engaged in
Hurricane Katrina relief in the Gulf Coast region. Visit
www.ramusa.org for
more information.
In 2004 the SMW purchased five mountain bikes and donated them to the
Titan's Club at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge. The Titans Club is
a club for students considered "at-risk". Basically this means students from
single parent families, economically disadvantaged, lack of home support,
behavior referrals, low self-esteem, and/or attendance problems. Teachers
also recommend students they see in need of extra support. The most
important function of the Titans Club is the mentoring program. The
mentoring program is used to pair a student with an adult mentor. These
mentors meet with their students on a regular basis providing positive
reinforcement to each students development. (Photo) This adult/student
connection has been proven through research to encourage improved
attendance, attitude, and performance. Here is a
Thank You Letter.
Anchor Park Facility Improvements: Recently the Smoky Mountain
Wheelmen voted to donate money to improve Anchor Park in Farragut, where
many of our club rides begin. In February 2004, our president, Brian
Southard, presented a check to Mayor Eddie Ford to pay for winterizing the
restrooms. This ensures that in years to come, the rest rooms at Anchor Park
will remain open even in winter. This improvement will be a benefit not only
to bike riders, but to anyone who uses the park facilities.
In 2004 the SMW presented the Tellico Plains Teen Center with a donation
of $300 . The funds for this donation were from the Cherohala Challenge
which starts in Tellico Plains. SMW plans to return to the Teen Center to
teach a class in bicycle Safety and Maintenance. The Teen Center is open to
youths in at least the 8th grade or from 13 to 18.
On Nov. 29, 2004 the SMW presented Lynn Kilmas Petr (I) of Shangri-La
Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) with a check for $920. This was a
donation from our Fall Century ride.For
information about STAR click here.
