ABOUT THIS EVENT

Event Category

Education

Event Overview

The vast majority of bike crashes do not involve a motor vehicle! Most crashes are solo falls. Many are with fixed objects, pavement hazards, pedestrians, animals or other cyclists. These crashes can be avoided with better bike-handling skills.

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
Ride Straight, One-handed
Shoulder Check
Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
Emergency Braking

In three short hours you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

What to Bring

Bicycle in good working condition, water bottle, helmet (see prerequisite details for more info).

Minimum age

All ages welcome

Prerequisites

Bring a bicycle: multi-speed preferred; fixed gear is not recommended for drills (unless you’re really good with stopping and high-speed turning); street-worthy tires—avoid knobbies (they don't corner well, but if that's all you have, we'll work around it)

A helmet required for all on-bike classes (this is an insurance requirement).

Bring at least one water bottle, two if it is hot out.

Snack recommended (granola bar, sport bar, nuts - something with protein).

To get the most from class, be sure your brakes and gears are in working order. When you pull the brake lever, it should stop a thumb's width from the handlebar. If it touches the handlebar, it needs a cable adjustment. When you shift gears, the chain should move smoothly with each shift and not grind or clunk. Make sure your chain is lubed. Check your tires to make sure they have no cuts or defects that could result in a flat, and inflate them to the pressure indicated on the sidewall. We can help with minor tweaks, but we're not mechanics.

Eat a balanced breakfast; biking is no fun when your blood sugar crashes.

What's Provided

Tire pump and basic bike tools--though I and my co-instructor are not bike mechanics! After the class we will provide a handout detailing the skills we have covered so you may continue to practice on your own.

Cancellation Policy

Location