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.
Wednesday, day 2 of street rides. Becky reviewing hand signals while Gina gets the jerseys ready.
Thank you to all volunteers: a parent of a 5th grader, Paul, and Laura.
I rode in the park with the first Red group while Becky worked one-on-one with a student.
For the next group of students, Becky went for a ride in the park with a group of students while I stayed on campus and … hurray … got Ramon riding independently. When Becky got back, and came around the corner, Ramon set off from the opposite corner of the blacktop. Such a sweet boy, his classmates cheered him on, so did Becky. Ramon was so happy and proud.
Thursday, day 3 of street rides. Today’s team: Laura/volunteer sweep, LCIs Gina, Deanna, Pierson:
I rode with the Pierson’s red group.
A great picture to demonstrate the importance of having a sweep. This wobbly rider was far behind the rest of the red group.
at Witter Ranch Elementary, about 1.5 miles from my house. I was a volunteer sweep for street rides today. BeckyG and Deanna were the lead LCIs.
ABCQuick Check before leaving campus.
Laura was a new volunteer and I trained her by riding with her for Deanna’s yellow group.
Last Friday, I led the first day of street rides for Project Ride Smart at Regency Park Elementary. I had the Blue group – excellent cyclists, ready to learn more on our rides. Every one of the four classes was great and I had no sweep and a couple of groups with 9 students. I forgot to take pictures, but no problem, I would be back on Monday and Tuesday.
However, on Monday morning, as we were getting all the bikes out of the classroom where they were stored, I tripped on a kickstand and fell. HARD on my left knee. Not good. The PRS team and school personnel moved into action. Cheryl picked up me and my bike and took “us” home. I was able to drive myself to a Kaiser urgent care. Whew! Nothing broken. Two days of rest and I would be just fine (really?). This was me Monday through Wednesday doing RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevate.
Thursday. Nope, I am not 100%. In fact, I need two more weeks of RICE. Sigh.
Friday and somewhat rainy. And cold if you forgot to wear a jacket. I brought an extra rain jacket and loaned it out a couple of times.
Our intrepid team for the day: Diana, a parent volunteer who stayed for the entire day (!), Laurie, Charlie.
In front of the classroom: Pierson.
Uh-oh, a mishap at the skate park had an unfortunate result for LCI Doug – a broken ankle.
Doug’s explanation about the picture: “Weel … Scots are an optimistic people always looking for the silver lining. So here you go! I no longer need to put on kilt hose and garters just to carry my Sgian Dubh. I ken that will come in handy if I’m attacked by a wild haggis!”
