LCI Training

[Geonz]

Whew! I spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday doing the League of American Bicyclists' training to be a "league certified instructor," so's I could teach folks how to ride their bikes with an official stamp of "she kinda maybe knows what she's doing" ... and insurance if you go out and get yourself killed and blame me (tho' I have to have covered the "need to know" stuff).
I almost passed, even Since I was carpooling, I had to bring my folding bike and... I didn't really get the emergency maneuvers down. (That also had a whole lot to do with the fact that I was exhausted and hungry by that third day -- food options were pathetic, and we were doing stuff 5-9 Friday, 9-9 Saturday and 9-4:30 Sunday... the road test was Sunday morning.) Everybody has to "team teach" twice with somebody already certified and I'm going to have to demonstrate those maneuvers before I teach 'em (there was no problem with my slow-mo walk-through and explanation...just the speedy execution of that instant turn).
I'd say that if a person wanted to do it, s/he shoudl make sure that at least some parts of the curriculum were automatic already. Since I'm a ride leader for a beginner level ride and daily commuter, the parts of the course where we were out on the road and supposed to "lead from the back" and tell people how to ride and where to go were second nature; even the "teachy" parts were things I did all the time. I'm not sure I wouldn't have just gotten too tired for words and gone home, otherwise -- it really is too much crammed into too little time unless you already know lots of it. That said, it woudl be worth getting to where chunks of the course were second nature...

[Crankin]

It sounds poorly planned in terms of good teaching. People need rest and a full stomach to learn.

[Geonz]

Indeed -- other than the food, it was excellently put forth. At least two of us noted the problem in our evaluation. It was a striking contrast to Thursday's League of Illinois Bicyclists' meeting, where we met at the library and traipsed across the street to Common Ground Food Coop where there was grab and go food that people *knew* was seriously healthy... and labeled with all the ingrediments. We *don't* need to go with corporate food just because we're feeding a group, and the half or so of our folks who had special dietary needs were, I think, rather pleased.

[Melalvai]

I do not envy the people who put on that program...well, I do actually, but they do have a difficult job. It is a lot to cram in to such a short time, but it's hard to schedule it when you have people traveling quite a long ways to do the training. Who did your training? Mine was Chris Daigle from Louisiana (the training was in Kansas City). I had to travel a bit (not nearly as far as he did!) to get to Kansas City and it would have been difficult for all of us to take more time off to accommodate a more relaxed pace. I was actually surprised at how smooth it did go. When I saw that schedule I wondered how on earth they were going to stick to it.

I just loved the training. It was a long and difficult weekend, but very rewarding. You do have to be well versed in vehicular cycling and very proficient before the weekend begins, in order to pass the class. We were on our own for food, but there were enough options nearby. I believe stuff like the food is taken care of by the local host, not the LCI trainer(s). Too bad they didn't do so well on that.

If the only thing you missed is the emergency maneuvers, you could probably re-take that part with a local LCI. There were one or two in our class who passed everything but some of the bike skills, and I believe they were given that option. There was one person in our class who was taking the training for her third time! I think they finally gave her a provisional certification, so she can lead group rides (which is all she needed) but she can't teach TS101.

Personally I think the emergency maneuvers could be omitted from the class without losing much. You get over 90% reduction in crash risk with the first 2 layers (control your bike and obey the law), and another big chunk with "Discourage driver's mistakes". I've never had to use an emergency maneuver. I guess it's like my helmet, I wear it all the time even though I have NEVER used it (ie I've never had a crash that hit my head). Good to be proficient in emergency maneuvers just in case. But the first three layers are where the meat of the class is at, and I think emergency maneuvers detract from that by taking up time. The main reason to include them is because they're fun and attract students. It's a little difficult to explain how the bike class is about learning confidence on the road, it's easier to say "and we'll teach you bike maneuvers".

I hope you get your LCI and can teach TS101 some time. I finally taught it this summer. It was every bit as rewarding as I anticipated (though it was 3 years after I got my LCI before I finally had a chance to teach).

[luvmyguys]

So where can the average new cyclist actually find these classes (not the instructor sessions, but the TS101 and similar classes)? I gather that I *should* be able to find one in my area (there's a bunch of instructors in my city), but every search turns up nada. I searched here, entered city, state, zip and a 100 mile radius. Got resources - including 50+ instructors - on everything BUT classes. Is one supposed to be a member?

[Geonz]

So where can the average new cyclist actually find these classes (not the instructor sessions, but the TS101 and similar classes)? I gather that I *should* be able to find one in my area (there's a bunch of instructors in my city), but every search turns up nada. I searched here, entered city, state, zip and a 100 mile radius. Got resources - including 50+ instructors - on everything BUT classes. Is one supposed to be a member?

You don't have to be an LAB member to take the TS101 course (but you do to become an instructor). We are *required* per "you have to do this if you want to be insured" to post when we're teaching classes on the website, so if they're not there, they're probably not happening. On the other hand, navigating the site isn't that easy -- but when I clicked on the classes tab, I got ours.

It's sometimes hard to get enough people interested in a course to make it happen, which discourages instructors... it would be worth letting the instructors know you're interested. It's set up so you can actually take the "knowledge" part online (though IMO actually talking to people about stuff is 'way better, because so many things depend on specific circumstances and talking about what you do at *this* intersection or in that kind of weather is really helpful).

You might also consider trying to get enough people together who want a course to make it happen, say, through some local entity. Our Adult Basic Education folks are sponsoring a class -- I don't know if it's full TS101, or maybe just the Commuting module -- the next two Thursdays... one in classroom, the other on the road. Then, I'm afraid, that's it 'til spring (which stinks because I have a conflict Thursday so I can't co-teach).

I actually got the "certification" -- I can co-teach (which I have to do twice), but before I can teach those skills I need a full LCI to see me do those maneuvers right. I had to laugh at myself on my commute. I had told myself that I didn't know those maneuvers because I just go straight all the time, but there are a couple of key points in my commute where actually... I could and should ride a little more bravely. There's a place where I have to go around a pillar that I tell myself *every day* that I should be able to ride throuigh, yet *every day* I dab my little feet (after forcing myself not to riding through the little patch of mud that gets me up that driveway). We'll see if I can convince myself to Just Do It. (I have the same conversation when I remind myself that no, little bits of gravel do *not,* honestly, do *not* gather themselves together, grab my bicycle and throw it to the ground. I really can keep pedaling...)