By 9:00 Saturday morning, we were set up to fit and sell helmets and locks. I worked with Michelle and Elaine:
Nearby, Bike Doc was taking in bikes for repair:
The third area had strider bikes (no pedals) ready for children ages 2-7 to learn how to balance and scoot on a bike.
Happy customers! When I asked to take a picture, the boys struck a pose – lol.
Tuesday at Witter Ranch, I volunteered with Jane to sweep the street rides. At the end of the day for one class, I subbed for Deanna who needed to leave early. With LCI Doug, I rode with the yellow group:
Wednesday, I subbed for Deanna for the first two classes. Hurray! Emiliano learned to ride.
Thursday, the last day of street rides. I rode sweep for Doug.
Class #2. Another evening with many successful new bike riders.
There was enough of a chance of rain that my first Pedal Up Natomas class was canceled this morning. However, that meant I would be able to do the Jibe Joy ride. We met at the Jibe office at 8:30. There were about 20 of us who decided to take the risk of rain. It wasn’t really rain, more a heavy mist or light sprinkle. Pierson, Jim, Paul, Leo, Brenda:
Also riding from our group, Cheryl, Stephen, and Chris.
At mile 16, we stopped at Valley Oak Park for breakfast. A wonderful spread from Panera. Thank you Jibe!
As we left for the final 4 miles, the heavy mist turned into a downpour. I had a good rain jacket, but I was soaked from the waist down. The joys of riding a bike. Warm shower and hot beverage ahead.
at Witter Ranch. Deanna and Gina needed a bit of help when 18 fifth-graders signed up for session one.
Only four will be invited back for session two. Many just needed to refresh their skills.
Tuesday, class #1. A bit of rain at the beginning of class. A team of volunteers – Kathy, Lennore, Paul, Elaine – removed pedals and labeled each pair, pumped up tires and adjusted seat heights. In addition to our volunteers, there were 4 students and 3 instructors: me, Deanna and Anya. There were a variety of bikes to choose from. For adult beginners, there are 3 basic stages to being a independent bicycle rider. 1-Balance. Using this very gradual slope helped gain the necessary speed which improved balance. 2-Brakes. Use brakes like a dimmer switch to slow down and stop.
3-Add one pedal and practice. Add the second pedal and .. ta da! Congratulations Polly, the first to be successful.
Within 1 1/2 hours, three of four had become independent bike riders. The 4th person needs just needs a bit more practice. LCI Deanna explaining what happens with 2 pedals.
Big thanks for our volunteers, Paul and Kathy, and Lennore:
May is Bike Month is here! Ten of us met Pierson at the bike/ped bridge near Peregrine Park at 10:30 am. Yes, there were 10 of us: Agueda is in the background calling out to Minerva to hurry up.
SABA and Breathe California had a kickoff event at River Park in West Sacramento .. which is directly across the river from Old Sacramento. The brown lumps at the end of the dock are two local sea lions.
Stowing our bikes at Bike Valet:
Gina, today a vendor – Gadget Girl Goods – was the instructor for Jibe’s Earn-a-Bike which is how BarbaraL met her.
A big Jibe event. Mellissa Meng, Executive Director at Jibe, and Missy Alfranji from City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan’s office:
From Mayor Steinberg’s office:
A blender bike being assembled:
My station with co-workers, Terri and Cathy, was Ready to Ride mostly for ages 2-7.
Strider bikes with no pedals or smaller bikes with pedals. We taught one girl how to ride for sure, another girl was 7/8 successful until the final spill with scraped hands. She worked for over an hour and definitely gets an A for perseverance.
Special thanks to Rachel, Lillie and Brenda who rode along on the 4-mile family ride. Coletha and Diana monitored an intersection.
at Regency Park Elementary. On Friday morning, I had so much fun riding with the first Red group. They improved so quickly, we were able to leave the park trail and practice signaling and right turns on the street.
On Monday morning, I got to ride with two Yellow groups. Great kids and it’s clear they learned a lot. Special thanks to the parent who rode sweep for us. She was so good, I soon had her monitoring an intersection while I coached from the opposite side of the intersection.
Sunday morning – time to sell. The early crew arrived at 6:30 to begin defining the space. Then over 200 bikes were wheeled out from the ballroom and grouped according to type.
So many kids bikes, most in very good condition and priced from $20-$50.
Ms Steele, the Bike Tech teacher at Inderkum High School took a picture of her students who volunteered:
Jibe staff manned the cashier station:
Volunteers from Arlete’s BIG: Jim, Cheryl, me. Jim designed the flow of the event and sorted bikes into types. Cheryl, who rides more miles/month than anyone else, worked in the “bike pit” assisting buyers in choosing the right bike. I worked near the test ride area, making sure under-16s had a helmet fitted properly. I also taught one young girl how to ride, despite her doubtful parent.
Twenty minutes before opening, early shoppers arrived:
Kids bikes, a very popular section and most of them sold within two hours.
arletelouise 