The History of the Cape Fear Cyclists

The beginnings – the 70s

The club was started in 1971 by Jim Cobb, an employee at GE in Wilmington.  As a cycling enthusiast, he looked for others who also wanted to ride.  As a result, early members were those who worked at GE, or those with relatives or friends that worked there. The group had a wide spectrum of members, from teenagers to racers, the result of many families joining together, and bringing in friends or coworkers who already had experience.

The first documentation of the club was an article on the new bicycling “boom” in the Wilmington Star News on May 25, 1972.  In it, Jim Cobb explains his interest in cycling, compared to traveling by car: “on a bicycle, you experience hot and cold, wet and dry, sights and sounds; you are part of the world around you.” He had previously lived in a town with extensive cycling facilities, and thought that Wilmington was a great place to have them. He and others in the club became advocates for bicycle safety, and spoke up for new bikeways, including a connection between downtown and Greenfield Lake, working with the city government to gain approval. 

The club’s advocacy paid off.  On June 13, 1972, Wilmington City Council authorized scenic bikeways in Wilmington, and the placement of route and crossing signs marking them. Then on Sunday November 19, 1972 a dedication ceremony was held at City Hall opening the bikeway to Greenfield Lake.  Councilman Ben Halterman (later mayor) read a proclamation signed by Mayor John Symmes naming that day as Safe Biking Day in Wilmington.  This was followed by an inaugural ride of the route by the club.  Photographs by Terry Benjey were used in the November 20, 1972 Star News article documenting the event.

The club’s first “official” meeting was on August 12, 1972, documented by minutes in our archives.  At that meeting, and succeeding ones, the club established its organization similar to ours today - officers, board of directors, and committee chairs including Program, Education, Safety, Youth, Civic Action, Newsletter, Publicity, Activities, Racing, and Sag Wagon.  By-laws were written.  The club named their colors (Forest Green and Gold) and designed a club patch.  It joined the League of American Wheelmen (LAW), now League of American Bicyclists, and members began to receive LAW patches for their rides.  The monthly newsletter (initially called the Spoke) published the schedule of on upcoming rides and races, and results of past ones.  More articles appeared in the Star News on the club’s rides and races.  Arrangements were made for Jim Cobb to appear on a popular local talk show on TV (Jim Burns show on WECT).  The club developed a schedule for weekly rides for all levels, from those training for races to those out for a leisurely ride.  Centuries were common, including twin centuries (to Fayetteville on Saturday, and back on Sunday), and a double century (starting at midnight with one hour rest in between). Weekly Wednesday night time trials began on the road from Castle Hayne to Hampstead. The club was off to a strong start. 

More members joined, and the club incorporated (in 1976).  They joined the ABLA (Amateur Bicycling League of America), which later became the US Cycling Federation, in order to be able to hold sanctioned races. They started Azalea Festival Races, and held the NC Time Trial Championships. Advocacy continued.  Jim Cobb was appointed to the NC Governor’s State Trails Advisory Committee.  Meetings were held with Isabel Holmes, of the NC State Highway Commission, to push for bike lanes.

Toward the end of the decade, the club began to loose steam.  Jim Cobb moved away.  Others got new jobs that required more of their time, or went out of town to college.  The last minutes in the archives from the 70s are from 7/20/1977.    Many members probably kept riding, but the organization had come to a temporary halt, to be revived and continued in 1980, so the hard work of the 70s was not lost.

The members (a short list):

Jim Cobb started the club, and served as its first president, and chair of Civic Affairs.  His two daughters, Lisa and Julie were also members. Terry Benjey was the first vice president, its first Activities chair and organized many of the club’s rides and centuries. He was the first to suggest that the club incorporate. Terry was appointed by Governor James Hunt to the Inaugural NCDOT Bicycle Advisory Committee in 1978, the period that the NC Bicycle routes were laid out.  The NCDOT Bicycle Program started in 1974 with Curtis Yates at the helm. (Terry dropped out of the club and reduced his cycling mileage when he started his own company and suffered some injuries, but has returned in 2001 and is now very active again). Alan Perry was the first racing chairman, and later was president and newsletter editor.  He was a key player in the club’s restart in 1980, and was very active through most of the 80’s.  The Alan Perry Time Trial Trophy was awarded to the most improved time trialer every year from 1983 to 1995.  It is still in the archives. Bob Knapp was an early member, along with his children, Jim, Carol, and Norma, and wife Kathy. Bob was the first Sag wagon chair, and Jim was the first Safety committee chair. Jim did a 1976 cross country Bikecentennial ride.  Harriette Wagner, husband Billy, and daughters Debbie and Becky were also early members.  Becky was on the first board of directors, and was the Youth Committee chair. Becky did a 1976 Bike centennial ride, meeting Jim Knapp at a midway point.   Harriette was on the board of directors and a Sag wagon chair.  Tom Davis was on the board of directors, and later president.  Helen and Al Hinn, along with children Al Jr. and Andrew were members.  Helen and Al were on the board of directors, and Helen coordinated the incorporation of the club in 1976.  Ken Wallace was a racing chairman, and very active in the early racing scene.  Jim Mincher joined in the middle of the decade, and quickly became newspaper editor and member of the board of directors, and is listed as such on the original incorporation papers of 1976.  Jim remained a key member through the 80s and 90s, as board member and treasurer, and is still a member today.  He may have the longest continuous reign of any member of the club.         

David L Staebler    May 5, 2010

to be continued...