I was the only LCI available to lead the final day of Project Ride Smart and H Allen Hight – the bike “rodeo”. Three 10-minute rotations. Charlie did the Slow Race:

BarbaraL led a weaving course called Rattlesnake Rumble:

Kathy led the Bottle Cap Drop:

I was the timer and general organizer. Four very excited classes of enthusiastic 5th graders who were just a couple of hours away from the beginning of spring break. If you’re a retired teacher, you know what I mean by “enthusiastic.”

at H Allen Hight on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. I volunteered to ride sweep for BarbaraL’s Yellow group.

Becky’s Red group:

ABCQuick Check:

Project Ride Smart will be starting soon. Every couple of years, Jibe provides a refresh of the best teaching methods for the 5th grade bicycle driver education program. Deanna presented information on the classroom lessons.

I presented the best strategies for planning and teaching a street ride.

We rode from the Jibe office to nearby Natomas Park Elementary. After lunch in the park, we rode Yellow 1 and Green 2 routes several times. I am so glad Jibe is recruiting and training new LCIs for their bike-related programs.

at Westlake Charter. Prepping the students for their first street ride. Gina, Deanna, Kathy, and a parent volunteer:

Kathy and I worked with the Yellow group, three different classes. Great cyclists who know how to safely ride on the street.

Tuesday and Wednesday. BarbaraL and I met at 6:45 am to ride and rode 3 miles to Natomas Park Elementary. We were nearing the end of our time at NPE, time for the best part – street rides. BarbaraL and I worked with the Blue group – they had excellent bike-riding skills. Two left-hand turns across busy N Bend Dr and they had to complete the turns as individuals.

This was the second class of the day on Wednesday getting their jerseys and helmets on to go out for their first street ride. However .. I did not go with them. While teaching the first class, I stepped in a grass-covered hole and turned my ankle. I was able to ride back to school, but it was not safe for me to go out with the second class. Darn. Gina quickly put an ice pack on my ankle.

While everyone went out for their ride, I texted friends to find someone who could pick up me and my bike – thank you Cheryl.

at Natomas Park Elementary. This week, two days of blacktop drills. Before doing any riding, ABCQuick Check including adjusting the seat height

Monday and Tuesday: ride in the right lane position, use hand signals.

Wednesday and Thursday: Left turn which requires nine specific steps, plus evaluation by Gina and me.

At Natomas Park Elementary. Monday and Tuesday – blacktop drill day #1, two classes each morning.

Wednesday: after-school coaching. Barbara, Anya and I got 6 of 7 students riding.

Wednesday and Thursday: Classroom instruction.

The team. Mrs Byrd is the PE teacher we work with. Gina is the lead instructor.

Thursday and Friday at Natomas Park Elementary – NPE. Early arrival time – 7:15, two fifth-grade classes each day. Before helmet-fitting, a couple of videos.

While Gina, Jeff and I individually fit helmets, everyone else worked on a bike parts worksheet.

After school on Thursday, BarbaraL and I did a one-hour coaching session for non-riders. Success for the one student who showed up at 2:00.

What did I do this past week? After the ride across the Golden Gate, I has a sore throat. But Monday it was a full-blown cold. Ugh. On the mend a week later. About 95% today .. and well enough to do an after-school coaching session for Project Ride Smart at NP3 (Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep) – a 5-minute walk from my house.

Unfortunately, the temps were in the high 90s and running around on the even hotter blacktop was not good.