Dear Parents
Thank you for coming to the Gonzales Canyon Ride. It was gorgeous. Thank you, Lei, for the pic. Thank
you, parents, for participating in our parking lot passing drill.
Riding Hills
Our inclines are getting steeper and longer. You have noticed. This coming Saturday we are meeting our first real hill. Please help yourselves and your kids:
Don’t stand up.
Standing up helps for a few seconds. But your legs burn out fast .
Then you collapse. And stop. And block the riders behind you. Now everyone has to stop. And you now have to start on an uphill. And now you are frustrated. We don’t want that.
The Winning Strategy: Shift and Stay Seated.
Shift into a lower gear (low numbers) before you get to the hill. Don’t wait too long
Stay in your seat
Try to make it to the top without stopping.
Ride Slowly and Steadily. (Fast and Furious burn out your legs)
Stay in a low gear and “hamster pedal” .
You might be in your lowest gears all the way up the hill.
If your legs are still burning, slow down.
Slow and Steady is a lot more efficient than Fast and Furious
For more details on shifting , read Dr. Bob.
A Note on Walking up a Hill
We don’t. Ever. (Unless we are injured) It doesn’t teach the skills we need. Our longest
RAC hill is 6 miles long. Just saying.
Scanning and passing
● Yes, we obsess over it.
● Starting now, you may pass any time you consider it safe to do so (unless we specifically identify a road section as a no-passing zone)
● Scan before you pass—every time. Even if you wear a helmet mirror, scan anyway. By doing so, you signal to the person behind you that you are about to make your move.
● Remind other parents to scan and to pass safely.
● Remind your kids to scan.
● Leave spaces so people can pass safely and merge into the single file line.
● Leave at your speed: Don't be the first to leave if you know you are a little slower or the last to leave when you typically ride in the middle of the pack.
From Dr. Bob.
This week, Dr. Bob tries to demystify the topic of shifting.
On the topic of bikes, some of the fifth graders are on 24” bikes which are too small for them. Usually, we find that a fifth grader over 4’6” can fit on a 26” bike as long as they can safely straddle the top tube. If your fifth grader is taller than 4’6” and they are on a 24” bike, consider finding them a bigger bike. They will go a lot faster due to the geometry of the larger frame and crank. That being said, we have several riders who are too small for a 26” bike, but are looking to move up from 20” bikes. If you would like to sell your 24” bike because you are moving your ifth grader up to a 26”, let me know. We can add your bike to the adoption sheets weekly post as a “for sale” item. This week's class on chain cleaning, lubricating and derailleur adjustment ended up taking to long so we amended it to just chain cleaning and lubrication. Great fun was had by all and chains are looking a lot better. Next week’s class (Sunday, October 12, 3PM) will therefore cover derailleur / shifter adjustments. As always, RSVP mechanic@rideacrosscalifornia.com if you are interested. No need to bring your bike this time. We will provide a couple of bikes to practice on so you won’t screw up your own derailleurs.
Our next ride
Saturday, October 11
The UCSD Art Loop
Sorrento Valley Park and Ride. 12791 Sorrento Valley Rd. SD 92121
If the parking lot is full, please park on Pointe Del Mar Way
Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m.
● We climb Torrey Pines via the outside route.
25/26 The RAC this Week. cs
○ Even though there is a double bike path, we single file.
○ Please encourage your child to “hamster.”
○ Stay in your saddle. Use low gears.
○ The goal is to reach the top without having to stop.
○ If you must stop, please move to the right so others can pass you.
● On the UCSD campus, we
■ regroup at the Sun God and take a picture. It’s tradition.
■ ride through the Talking Trees (though they are usually quiet on weekends)
■ pass The Fallen Star
■ and pedal past the Bear.
■ Click on the links. These art installations are fun to visit (on another day)
Thank you for reading. Wishing you a lovely week.
Christiane
