First Group Ride

[coyote]

We have free bike classes here. They are thru a bike association. They give you a bunch of free stuff -helmets, lights and water bottle. Last year they started offer Women's Road I classes. It was awesome. They are having a Women's Road II class in Oct. I'm going for that. I don't know what it will be like.

After the Road I class, I had a much better understanding about safety which also gave me more confidence on the road. And I could properly patch a tube (apparently you should not put your finger on the glue to see it is dry).

Cyclesome, sounds like you are doing awesome. I can't believe you went 30mph! I haven't gone that fast yet. I'm sure classes will help but so does time and experience.

[Cactus Flower]

Hey Coyote - I'm taking my first group ride tomorrow morning and am NERVOUS! But excited, too...

I'm in Scottsdale - if you're ever in the area, let's do a ride!

Cheers!

[PscyclePath]

We have free bike classes here. They are thru a bike association. They give you a bunch of free stuff -helmets, lights and water bottle. Last year they started offer Women's Road I classes. It was awesome. They are having a Women's Road II class in Oct. I'm going for that. I don't know what it will be like.

After the Road I class, I had a much better understanding about safety which also gave me more confidence on the road. And I could properly patch a tube (apparently you should not put your finger on the glue to see it is dry).

Cyclesome, sounds like you are doing awesome. I can't believe you went 30mph! I haven't gone that fast yet. I'm sure classes will help but so does time and experience.

Road I and Road II are the two basic classes offered by the League of American Bicyclists thru their Bike Ed program and certified instructors in many bike clubs and advocacy groups. Road I is an excellent way to improve your riding skills and confidence in handling yourself and your bike out on the road. Nearly 2/3rds of both courses entails butt-on-the-bike riding practice.

Road II builds on the basics of Road I to cover more complex (& heavier) traffic situations, bike maintenance and simple repairs, fitness training, distance riding, nutrition for cyclists, and riding in less than ideal conditions, suxh as bad weather or at night. Handling skills expand from the basic emergency drils to track-standing, bunny-hopping, and low-speed proficiency & balance.

The League instructors also have a special group riding course that's a good intro if you're not used to, or not comfortable riding in a pack or in close proximity to another rider, as well as some useful pack skills like how to organize a paceline or similar tactics. They're well worthwhile. Skills I learned in the Bike Ed courses saved my rear end several times this summer, as recently as this morning's mass ride when two riders crashed badly about 6 feet in front of my wheel... and I was able to dodge the whole mess.