Bike I Road Course in Bloomington

[Melalvai]

Silver, how was the class? All I know is that Mr. Silver didn't make it, it rained, and it was brutally cold all Saturday. I saw a group of you downtown when I took my daughter to the post office that morning (in a car) (with a heater) (in a heated car) (did I mention the car was heated?)!

I also heard there was a fierce argument between the St. Louis cyclists and the Columbia cyclists about whether "taking the lane" means you ride in the right tire track, or smack between the right & left tire tracks of where a car would be. Personally my vote is (usually) for the middle (depending on circumstance), but I also don't think it is worth getting my panties in a wad over, and I know if I had been there I would have been very irritated at those involved in the argument for wasting my time.

(I heard that from my bike-shop friend, Todd, who helped me put together my bike yesterday, he took the course with you.)

So, are you ready to go out and teach Road I and Bike Pro to everyone? I'll tell my sister to keep an eye out for classes scheduled during her breaks!

[PscyclePath]

I also heard there was a fierce argument between the St. Louis cyclists and the Columbia cyclists about whether "taking the lane" means you ride in the right tire track, or smack between the right & left tire tracks of where a car would be. Personally my vote is (usually) for the middle (depending on circumstance), but I also don't think it is worth getting my panties in a wad over, and I know if I had been there I would have been very irritated at those involved in the argument for wasting my time.

(I heard that from my bike-shop friend, Todd, who helped me put together my bike yesterday, he took the course with you.)

"Taking the lane" means riding far enough to the left that you are clearly visible to motorists behind you, and that it requires them to change lanes or cross the center line to get around you with safe passing distances. Just where that is on the street depends on the size of the lanes/roads. Me, I tend to take the center as well. Riding too far to the right, whether that be in the tire track or closer to the lane striping just temps a motorist to try and squeeze by you in the same lane, regardless of whether he's supposed to stop at that red light just 60 feet ahead ;-)

Also anxious for news from the Columbia course...

Tom

[Melalvai]

"Taking the lane" means riding far enough to the left that you are clearly visible to motorists behind you, and that it requires them to change lanes or cross the center line to get around you with safe passing distances. Just where that is on the street depends on the size of the lanes/roads. Me, I tend to take the center as well. Riding too far to the right, whether that be in the tire track or closer to the lane striping just temps a motorist to try and squeeze by you in the same lane, regardless of whether he's supposed to stop at that red light just 60 feet ahead ;-)

Yeah, seemed like a silly thing to argue heatedly about. Then again, as cold as it was, I suppose they had to have something to heat them up, poor things!

Also anxious for news from the Columbia course...

I heard 15/16 were present, which is (I guess) an awfully large class. (The 16th being Mr. Silver, presumably.)

[Mr. Bloom]

Although I passed Road I, my "points off" were for not being aggressive enough in "taking the lane". I was very comfortable with my position...but after having my perspective changed, I see the virtue.

I'll let Silver respond with detail, but she was exhausted. On Saturday, it was 8AM to 10PM. She wound up having to put on jeans and a down coat to stay warm. She doesn't have much "insulation".

Here's a picture of their group:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...-March2008.jpg

I'm sad that I couldn't make the glass...but I have to admit that I may not have had the stamina to survive the 38 degree, windy, rainy rides on Saturday. I may have been Private Benjamin in boot camp!

[Melalvai]

Which one is she?
I recognize a lot of the faces!
Eric is the guy who rides in the gorilla suit on the tandem behind the mayor, unless the mayor's wife is riding with him.
Eric works in a bike shop.
So does Todd (in a different shop). He helped me put my bike together yesterday. And many other times.
No sign of MUPedalPusher, guess she wasn't around for the picture.

[silver]

Hi, just checking in quickly! I'm still exhausted! I'm in pink next to Todd. He was great and helped calm me down on our rides. I was so nervous about not knowing the course.

I think that MU pedal pusher took the picture. She was the LCI that graded my road test.

It was great and awesome and very exhausting. I didn't find the "argument" too tedious. There is a bit of variation in just exactly how taking the road is defined. And there are some things that appear to be different based on local custom.

I can't wait to get my number and know that everything is official!


It was so cold on the first ride that I thought I was going to hae to go home and not complete the course. on the the second outing, I got so cold that the instructor was concerned that I was hypothermic.