Dear Parents,
This is the first of many weekly newsletters. They typically arrive on Tuesday. Not this one.
Please read each one carefully. You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, announcements, and changes.
1. RAC requirements
Each adult rider and each child must complete one Safety Fun Ride (September)
Each adult rider and each child must complete at least one monthly ride with us.
Each adult rider and each child must complete two Escondido Hill Rides (spring)
Each adult rider and each child must complete a total of 350 miles before April 13.
We will ask you to submit miles in February.
If you and your partner take turns riding and chasing (car support), both of you must complete all requirements.
2. RAC Rules
You have agreed to adhere to our safety requirements by signing up for the RAC.
We will explain these rules as the season progresses.
We ride predictably.
For the benefit of cyclists and motorists.
We ride as a good example for all kids, not just your own
We single file. At all times. Tires never overlap.
Do you need to speak to your child? Get behind and raise your voice, or pull over and stop.
We stop at stop signs. Individually. Foot down. At the line
We communicate with other riders.
We always pass on the left.
We scan.
We wear helmets, vests, name tags.
We stay behind the first volunteer.
We ride with our child.
You are faster than he is? You stay with him
She is faster than you are. She stays with you.
We are polite and respectful to all volunteers, riders, and motorists.
We arrive early for training rides
Unload your bikes, unload your child, and check in with attendance.
RAC rules override Rules of the Road.
3. ABC
Air. Brakes. Cassette. Check these at home.
Air. Do your tires have enough air? Squeeze them. Can you make an impression? If yes, chances are you need air. If you don't have a pump, we will have one at the training rides.
Brakes. Squeeze them. Do they engage? They do? Great. If not, let us know
Cassette. (The round thing with teeth.) Rusty? Crunchy? Full of dirt? Clean your cassette. (Not sure how? Please ask. We will show you)
4. Vests
Are included in the price this year and will be distributed before Saftey Fun rides.
Please arrive extra early to pick out your vest.
Add your first name: front and back. We will provide Sharpies.
Your vest
must fit over any sweater you wear when the weather gets colder.
must fit over any hydration backpack (Camelback)
Unless your hydration backpack is neon yellow
Eventually, all kids will need to carry a hydration backpack
For early training rides, a water bottle is fine.
5. What to bring on all training rides.
Your bikes
Your vest with names
Water. Your child must carry her/his water bottle.
A small snack
A small bike pump, if you have one
Tubes that fit your bike and your child’s bike.
A wrench if your bikes don’t have a quick release.
6. From Dr. Bob, bike mechanic
“Every week, Dr. Bob will try to bring you some bike related content. This week, he sends the “RAC bike purchasing” guide. Take a look before you buy that new bicycle for you or your fifth grader.
Speaking of acquiring bikes, we are going to try something new this year. We are reaching out to Alumni and other people to help locate used bikes that are suitable for the RAC. We will maintain a list of bikes for sale / borrow / donation. Contact Bob at mechanic@rideacrosscalifornia.com if you are interested. Here's a link the currently available bikes. Since we just started, it's rather short. It will grow as we locate more bikes.
If you already have your bike, then it’s not too early to think about getting it RAC ready. The attached document gives lots of good information about how to do that:
7. Waivers
You will receive RAC waivers in a separate email. Please sign and return them before your first training ride with us.
8. Our first training rides. Yay
Saturday, 7 September
Mesa Verde Middle School, 8375 Entreken Way, San Diego, CA 92129
Click on the link. You will see:
Route, miles ridden, and number of feet climbed—the red graph at the bottom shows where the hills are.
Arrive by 8:30 a.m. Pick out vests, write your name, unload the bike, and check in with attendance.
We begin promptly at 9 a.m.
Sunday, September 8
Mesa Verde Middle School, 8375 Entreken Way, San Diego, CA 92129
Arrive by 8:30 a.m. Pick out vests, unload the bike, and check in with attendance.
If you already have your vest, please arrive by 8:45 am. We begin promptly at 9 a.m.
The Safety Fun portions of Safety Fun 1 and 2 are identical.
9. Questions.
Please ask them if you have them. We are happy to answer.
We are excited to embark on our safe and fun RAC 24/25
Your friendly volunteer team:
Albert. Abhi. Ana. Bill. Bob. Clement. Christiane. Frans. Hannah. James. Jeff. Joe. Joel. Julie. Kate. Kirsten. Kumar. Lei. Olav. Phil. Robert. Sabine. Sameer. Shelley. Son and co-founder Dennis Bueker.