Our section of the bike tech classroom where the bikes for our program are stored.
Another successful Tuesday evening although it was quite hot. We had about 8 students and most of them are now bike riders. Our volunteers were especially helpful. They arrive 30 minutes before class begins to remove pedals from all the bikes and stay 30 minutes after to put them all back on. Thank you !! Paul, Leo, Kathy, Lennore.
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.
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:
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.
at H Allen Hight. The first thing students do after they get their bike is the ABCQuick Check.
I had the red group for street rides. One class out of five:
Huge thanks for Rachel, Maria, and Paul who volunteered as sweeps for street rides:
When a student needs to go back to campus, one LCI goes along while two groups are temporarily merged. A “bicycle sandwich” – useful for teaching purposes:
Friday was the final day with three fun bicycle activities. I did the slow race but also tried out a running race where the student only holds onto the saddle.
I worked every day this past week teaching PRS at H Allen Hight School – 38 hours. The fifth grade classes are on the second floor at HAH – 26 steps. Admittedly, I haven’t worked this hard in a long time.
at H Allen Hight Elementary School. Five 5th grade classes with just 5 minutes between classes. Wednesday a day of indoor teaching because of rainstorms. I worked with Deanna:
Thursday and Friday: blacktop drills plus one hour after school to coach beginning riders. Long day of physical work. Before school we take 40 bicycles out of a shipping container plus set out about 100 cones for the course. At the end of the day the bikes are repacked and we get the kids in the final class to pick up the cones. The one hour after-school coaching sessions were quite rewarding.
There were probably 15 kids each day. Some just needed riding time to refresh their skills. Others needed to learn from scratch. Our final success story on Friday: Vincent. We talked about a strong power pedal, eyes on the horizon. I ran alongside, barely holding him upright. After a few passes I told him, “I haven’t been holding you up. You’re actually riding on your own.” Vincent: “I am?” That was all he needed to know. Everyone who came to coaching is now riding a bike. LCIs Gina and Pierson were also there to coach and encourage.
And I’m one tired person. Three days of physical labor.
The last class!
Mellissa came at the end of class to thank everyone and deliver goodie bags to everyone. At far left, is LCI Becky Garrow who assisted today – always great to work with her.
