Olav Schroeder

February 15, 2023

The RAC this Week (Feb 14th)

Olav Schroeder

February 15, 2023

Dear Parents

Congratulations to all who made it up Mt Soledad last Saturday. You are awesome.

Thank you for coming, and thank you to volunteers Sabine and Kate for the popsicles.

_________________________________________

The T-Shirt Contest Dead Line is on February 15th. That is tomorrow.

Here are the RAC T-shirt design contest guidelines.

Submit to Christiane via email or in person.

Please encourage your child to participate.

_________________________________________________________________________

Four friendly reminders.

Please follow our instructions, even when these instructions seem unreasonable. When we ask you to walk the bridge, we are not suggesting you are not capable of riding it. We are suggesting that the 5th grader behind you will want to ride the bridge because s/he sees you riding the bridge, and 5th graders, in the past, have fallen off the high sidewalk at Saturday’s bridge. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please bring two extra tubes per bike. Why?

← This is why. Please bring two tubes per bike to any training ride. The owner of this flat tire was lucky because he was close to the parking lot. If you have a flat and don’t bring tubes, you might walk to the car because volunteers might not carry your size.

A flat without extra tubes on the RAC might be the end of the ride for you. Bob is concerned. So, let’s all bring our two extra tubes per bike and show them to Bob next Sunday.

Need help deciding which size tube to buy?

Look for numbers on the side wall of your tire.

Please arrive 15 minutes early. If you don’t, you miss the oh-so-significant announcements. Announcements are always about safety. Safety is most important to us, so please make sure to arrive 15 minutes before the start of each ride.
In order for a ride to count as your ‘once-a-month ride with us,’ you need to finish the ride with us.

__________________________________________

Our next ride starts at 7:15 am. That is not a typo.

Sunday, Feb 19

The Five Cities Ride

Harbor Island Park. 1875 Harbor Island. SD 92101

is one of our most scenic rides.

Five cities, the longest-running business in San Diego County, parks, yachts, construction sites, a military base, factories, and mansions.

This ride includes a ferry ride from Coronado to San Diego

Ferry tickets cost $7 per person. Bikes are free.

Purchasing ferry tickets:

● Buy Ferry Tickets online

● with your credit card at the dockside ticket machine (which doesn’t always work)

● with exact cash on the ferry.

● The ferry leaves every hour on the half hour.

● We don’t all have to catch the same ferry.

● Harbor Island is a 30-minute drive from PQ.

_________________________________

More existing stuff.

Please make sure that your bike is tuned up before the RAC.

Bob's Bike Tune-Up Details | Please contact Bob directly at rjacques888@gmail.com

Local bike shops that offer discounts

From Olav, our treasurer: The 3rd installment invoices went out and are due on February 15th.

We now have a Venmo account: @rideacrosscalifornia.

______________________________

Upcoming dates

There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39
RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39

Food, pictures, certificates. By then, you will have missed us

_________________________________________

Our next fundraisers:

Thursday, March 9 | Panda Express | online orders only at pandaexpress.com

online order code 912973 | Panda Express Flier

Tuesday, April 4 | Fresco Pizzeria | 13350 Camino Del Sur | Time TBA
Tuesday, May 9 | Chipotle Carmel Mountain | 11134 Rancho Carmel Drive | SD 92128 online order code NCL636B | or show this chipotle flier in the restaurant

Thank you for considering us. Thank you for attending our past events.

________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading. Remember the tubes.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

February 9, 2023

The RAC this Week (Feb. 9th)

Olav Schroeder

February 9, 2023

Dear Parents

Congratulations to

Julia L.

Tagon N.

Tejas P.

Ria S.

who attended all four rides in January. Way to go!

_________________________________________

Looming in the immediate future is the T-shirt design contest deadline.

February 15.

Here are the RAC T-shirt design contest guidelines.

Submit to Christiane via email or in person.

Please encourage your child to participate.

__________________________________________

Our next ride

Saturday, Feb 11 at 9 am

The Long Mt Soledad Ride

De Anza Cove Park 3000 N Mission Bay Dr San Diego, CA 92109

We cycle around Mission Bay and climb up to Mt Soledad where we enjoy the views and take a group picture with the cross.

_________________________________

Bob's Bike Tune-Up Details | Please contact Bob directly at rjacques888@gmail.com

From Olav, our treasurer: The 3rd installment invoices went out and are due on February 15th.

______________________________

Upcoming dates

There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39
RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39

Food, pictures, certificates. By then, you will have missed us

_________________________________________

Our next fundraisers:

Thursday, March 9 | Panda Express | online orders only at pandaexpress.com

online order code 912973 | Panda Express Flier

Tuesday, April 4 | Fresco Pizzeria | 13350 Camino Del Sur | Time TBA
Tuesday, May 9 | Chipotle Carmel Mountain | 11134 Rancho Carmel Drive | SD 92128 online order code NCL636B | or show this chipotle flier in the restaurant

Thank you for considering us. Thank you for attending our past events.

________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

February 3, 2023

The RAC this Week (Feb. 2nd)

Olav Schroeder

February 3, 2023

Dear Parents

A big thank you to Cycle Quest for hosting us last Saturday.

Your snacks and kindnesses are very much appreciated. Year after year.

Parents, Click here for a coupon.

___________________________________________

Our next ride

Sunday, Feb 5 at 9 am

The Del Mar Dirt Ride

Mesa Verde Middle School | 8375 Entreken | SD 92129

…includes part of the “Coast to Crest” trail, on packed dirt.

Please leave skinny road bike tires at home.

_________________________________

Bob's Bike Tune-Up Details | Please contact Bob directly at rjacques888@gmail.com

_______________________________

The deadline for the T-shirt design contest has been moved up to February 15.

Here are the RAC T-shirt design contest guidelines.

Submit to Christiane via email or in person.

Please encourage your child to participate.

__________________________________________

From Olav, our treasurer: The 3rd installment invoices went out and are due on February 15th.

_______________________________________

Upcoming dates

There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39
RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39

Food, pictures, certificates. By then, you will have missed us

_________________________________________

Two friendly reminders:

Please single file. Even on the bike path. Even if you are a (now very embarrassed) volunteer.
When one of our riders fell on Saturday, many of you stopped to help. That is so great. We thank you for your kindness; that’s what the RAC is all about. Please make sure we don’t block the bike path when we attend to a rider.

_____________________________________________________

Our next fundraisers:

Tuesday, February 7 | Fresh Brothers Pizza from 11 am - 9 pm.

13490 Pacific Highlands Ranch Pkwy | SD 92130

online order code: FUND | Fresh Brothers Flier

Thursday, March 9 | Panda Express | online orders only at pandaexpress.com

online order code 912973

Tuesday, April 4 | Fresco Pizzeria | 13350 Camino Del Sur | Time TBA

Tuesday, May 9 | Chipotle Carmel Mountain | 11134 Rancho Carmel Drive | SD 92128 online order code NCL636B | or show this chipotle flier in the restaurant

Thank you for considering us.

________________________________________________________

Question: How do we deal with fluctuating temperatures on a typical RAC day?

Answer: You wear layers and shed them as the day warms up.

Example: The Wynola morning is often very cold. Wear sweatpants, sweaters (under your vest, or course), scarves, and gloves. Within one hour, you will not need all these items anymore. Leave your extra layers in chase cars as you pass them. Make sure you label your clothes. Retrieve your items at the end of the day.

For more information on ‘what to bring during the day’, attend the mandatory March 16 meeting.

________________________________________________

Thank you for reading.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

January 29, 2023

The RAC this Week (Jan 24th)

Olav Schroeder

January 29, 2023

Dear Parents

Saturday’s line of riders

Sunday’s group from Allison to Zander

Fun times. Thank you for coming.

_________________________________

If you missed Sunday’s pre-ride announcements.

● Do not allow your child to speed up when another rider is passing her/him.

● By speeding up, your child has now made it harder for the passing rider to merge back into the line of cyclists.

● Speeding up while being passed is extremely unsafe.

● If you see this behavior, please let us know.

____________________________

Four friendly reminders

1. Please bring two tubes per bike. Why? Ask Bob or Sumant. :)

2. Do not carry your child’s water.

○ Your kids need to carry their own water.

○ They need to drink while they are riding.

○ A hydration pack is the best option

○ Get them used to a hydration back now.

○ Hydration on the RAC is different from hydration in San Diego.

○ On the RAC, you won’t sweat. The air is that dry.

○ You dehydrate just standing around.

○ You won’t feel that you need to drink, but you have to

○ “Drink before you are thirsty” is the rule

○ Your children need to drink all the time, all day long.

○ For your children to drink all day long, it has to be easy for them.

○ Stopping, getting off the bike, digging the water out of the parent’s backpack, putting the bottle back, putting vests back on … is annoying …. and makes the day longer

○ We want you in camp as soon as possible because often the winds pick up in the late afternoons.

○ We would like to avoid the winds if we can.

3. Stay seated while riding. Do not stand up.

○ Standing up is often a sign that your child’s seat needs to be raised

○ We want your child to practice shifting, especially on uphills. Standing might make sense on short hills, but we are practicing for long hills. The Banner Grade is six miles long.

○ Your standing up makes it very hard for people to ride behind you.

○ (A quick stand-up to stretch or to rearrange one’s underwear is perfectly acceptable.)

4. You need to ride with your child.

The faster rider waits for the slower one.

_________________________________

Bob's Bike Tune-Up Details | Please contact Bob directly at rjacques888@gmail.com

_______________________________

The deadline for the T-shirt design contest has been moved up to February 15.

Here are the RAC T-shirt design contest guidelines

Please encourage your child to participate.

__________________________________________

For an additional 40% off the Columbia Sportswear Company employee store pricing, Click here

_______________________________________

Our next ride.

Saturday, Jan 28 at 9 am

The In 'n Out Ride

Sorrento Valley Park And Ride | 12791 Sorrento Valley Rd | San Diego 92121

This ride includes an optional snack stop at In n Out and is very popular with the kids.

_______________________________________

Upcoming dates

The RAC meeting on Feb 2 has been canceled.
There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39
RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39

Food, pictures, certificates. By then, you will have missed us

______________________________________

Fun list of alternative bike part names the kids came up with during Saturday’s regroup:

bike = “Watch me go”

brakes = stoppers

chain = the linky dinky

chain wheel = big circle

derailleur = small spinner

fame = triangle thingy

fork = not the spoon

handlebars = grippers

pedals = foot pushers

saddle= butt rest

saddle bag = butt rest storage

shifters = pressy buttons

tube = the endless straw

wheel = spinning pies

____________________________________________

Our next fundraiser: Fresh Brothers Pizza Carmel Valley on Tuesday, February 7. Exact time TBA

________________________________________________

Thank you for reading.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

January 18, 2023

The RAC this Week (Jan. 18th)

Olav Schroeder

January 18, 2023

Dear Parents

Last weekend’s canceled ride will be offered on

Saturday, Jan 21 at 9 am

The Three Witches Ride

Mesa Verde Elementary School | Entreken Way | San Diego 92129

We are also riding on

Sunday, Jan 22 at 9 am

The Mira Mesa 56 Loop

Upper YMCA parking Lot | 13339 Salmon River Rd | San Diego 92129

Come to both. It will be fun. The weather should be great.

________________________________________________________

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

January 12, 2023

The RAC this Week (Jan 11th)

Olav Schroeder

January 12, 2023

Dear Parents

A recap of last week’s RAC meeting, because some of you asked.

Camping:

● Unless you plan on future camping trips, borrow from friends. Don’t buy. Good camping gear is expensive.

● Practice setting up your tent before the trip

● For a list of camping items we will not accept on the RAC, please attend the mandatory March meeting.

Youth Support:

● We cannot promise Youth Support or Volunteers at every corner.

● We often place Youth Support in groups of two, for their safety, which means we might be short.

● Makes sure you know the route (on ridewithgps, in this newsletter|on the website)

● If in doubt, wait. You will never be the last rider. There is always a volunteer behind you.

Bob’s Bike Tune-up

● Please contact Bob directly: rjacques888@gmail.com.

T-Shirt Design context

● Included in the price of the RAC is a T-shirt for every participant (child, parent, chase child, chase parent, volunteer, Youth Support).

● Your 5th grader may submit a design and the volunteer committee will vote anonymously.

● The winner will be announced at the March 16 meeting.

Guidelines and tips

● The design must be submitted to Christiane by March 1.

● It needs to include “Ride Across California” or “RAC.”

● It needs to include “2023”.

● Do not add your child’s name to the design.

● Please limit the number of colors.

○ The exact number of colors has not been determined yet.

○ We’ll let you know asap.

The design that wins is typically

● hand-drawn (and not computer-generated)

● bold (and not fine, detailed, intricate)

● a design that was clearly done by a 5th grader (and not a parent)

● You will receive the t-shirt on the RAC. We wear it for our group picture.

● Please encourage your child to participate.

It is great fun for the winning child to see her/his design on a few hundred people in a group picture (and around town for decades to come).

Q&A | Where do we charge our phones?

Volunteers will bring power strips

We also recommend power banks.

Q&A | Are there bathrooms along the road?

Not always

● The campgrounds have bathrooms or portable toilets.

● During the day, you will often have to use the great outdoors and those can be traumatizing for kids.

● Here are some educational websites

● A Woman's Guide to Peeing outside.

● How to teach your kids to do 'their business" in the woods

RAC training is hard. Presentation by RAC volunteers

○ Sometimes it looks as if other parents and other kids are breezing through training rides.

○ Not so. Training rides are hard for most of us.

○ Many volunteers had never undertaken an athletic endeavor close to this scope before we began training for our first RAC.

○ We often wondered if we could make it. And when we made it, somehow, we were so proud of ourselves. We want that sense of pride for you.

○ Please reach out to us if you need encouragement. We can help you. We have been where you are.

That said…congratulations to all who came to last Sunday’s ride. That was a tough one!

_______________________________________________________________

Our next ride.

Saturday, Jan 14 at 9 am

The Three Witches Ride

Mesa Verde Elementary School | Entreken Way | San Diego 92129

might get rained out again.

Should we have to cancel, we will notify you by 9 pm the night before via email and Facebook.

______________________________________________________

Why we don’t ride in the rain.

● Wet participants are not our main concern. (Sorry)

● Reduced visibility and slippery roads are.

○ And we all know how San Diegans drive in the rain.

Why we don’t reschedule rides that we canceled.

● Parents and volunteers block their calendars months in advance

● Rescheduling rides on relatively short notice becomes stressful.

What do we do when it rains on the RAC in April?

● If roads are safe, we ride in the rain.

● If roads are unsafe, we cancel the ride for the day, arrange to go home that night, meet up again the next day at that day’s starting point, and complete the stretch that we skipped a week or two later.

● Rain on the RAC typically happens in Julian or Ramona or Rancho Bernardo: getting a ride home from those areas is not too difficult.

● Rain on the RAC is rare.

● Should you not be able to attend our makeup ride, you still receive full credit for completing the RAC.

____________________________________________________________________

Please don’t walk up steep hills

Why not?

● You don’t get stronger if you walk, even if walking is faster now.

● The Banner Grade on the RAC is six miles long. We need to ride it.

● Read below for what to do if you feel you need to walk a hill.

What to do when you are ‘done.’

● Stop where it’s flat (top of the hill, at a side street).

○ Starting back up will be so much easier.

● Step out of the way of riders behind you.

● Catch your breath.

● Drink a few sips of water.

● Check your gears.

○ Is your chain in the very lowest gear?

■ Largest chain ring in the back. Smallest in the front

● These breaks should be short. 30 seconds. Stay straddled on your bike.

When you are ready to ride again

● Start where it’s flat-ish.

● Slow down.

○ Slow and steady is the mantra

○ Fast and furious wastes energy.

○ Get your mind off the agony.

■ Count to 8. Repeat.

■ Sing in your head.

● “The Wheels on the Bus go round and round….”

● “Why are there so many… songs about rainbows?”

● “Freude schöner Götterfunken. Tochter aus Elysium.”

● You get the point. The choice is yours.

● Find a pace that YOU can maintain. Don’t compare yourself with others.

● Don’t worry about being last.

○ “The heroes are born in the back.” Dennis Bueker

That is true for parents and not just for kids.

Water

● Rides are tougher now. Bring plenty of water.

● Bring one 20 oz bottle of water per hour you are riding

● For some training rides, we have water for refills. But for some rides we don’t. Be prepared

● Consider sports drinks.

○ We typically don’t push sugary drinks, but our training rides are now “strenuous exercise.”

○ Check out this article by Harvard’s Public Health. Sports Drinks

● Children need to carry their own water supply.

○ Most children do best with a hydration backpack.

○ They will not want to stop to ask you for water out of your backpack.

● Exhaustion is often dehydration.

● “Drink before you are thirsty. Eat before you are hungry.”

Saddle height

● If you have been told your or your child’s saddle is too low, please adjust it. We will help you.

● A low saddle means you are working harder than you have to (because your leg is not extended).

● We don’t want you to work harder than you have to.

● If your child resists a higher saddle because her/his feet can’t reach the ground, please teach your child ‘how to stop and how to start’. We will help you.

Single File. Again. Yay.

Please single file. Even on the bike path

Why?

● If you ride next to your child or friend, another parent will want to do that.

● If parents ride next to their child or friend, kids will want to do that.

● We have found in 30+ years of RAC experience that 5th graders are not always great decision-makers. Yet

○ We want them to focus on the road, the people in front of them, cars behind them, riders up, riders back, slowing, stopping….

○ They have a lot to think about.

○ They do not need more to think about.

○ They should never have to make the decision “is this a good place to ride next to my friend or not.”

● We cannot stress enough how concerned we are about your child’s safety.

_____________________________________________________________

Upcoming dates

The RAC meeting on Feb 2 has been canceled.
There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39
RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39

Food, pictures, certificates. By then, you will have missed us

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for coming to the Panera Bread RAC fundraiser.

________________________________________________________

This newsletter got long. Sorry. Thanks for reading.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures, and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

January 5, 2023

The RAC this Week (Jan. 4th)

Olav Schroeder

January 5, 2023

Dear Parents

Happy New Year. We wish you health and happiness and hope your roof does not leak.

_______________________________

Our next ride.

Sunday, Jan 8 at 9 am

Le Tour de French Oven

13339 Salmon River Road. San Diego 92129

16.9 miles | 1340 feet climbed

Our rides are getting steeper.

● While it’s our goal to make it up a hill without stopping, sometimes stopping is inevitable.

● And often, when kids stop suddenly, they fall over.

○ A reminder: the correct sequence for stopping:

■ Scan

■ Break and slow down

■ Stand up

■ Lower one foot to the ground

■ Stop

Do not attempt to stop while seated

a) if you can do this effortlessly, chances are your saddle is too low

b) if your child is pivoting on the seat while trying to reach the ground, they might fall

Would you like to practice? Come a few minutes early on Sunday and we’ll practice with you.

This ride includes a stop at the French Oven Bakery where you have the option to buy a snack.

______________________________________________________

Attendance

During December, we were lenient with attendance because of the holidays, people traveling, and two rides were canceled. That was then. Now is now. Please plan on attending at least twice a month. Kids get sick, rides are canceled, grandma visits unexpectedly.

Please do not get behind. Riding once a month is not enough.

_____________________________________________________________

From Bob, our Bike Mechanic

It’s a new year and time to start thinking about getting your bikes ready for the RAC. We highly recommend that you get your bikes tuned up between now and the RAC. At the latest, you should have it done a few weeks before the RAC. This is so that any problems not completely solved by the tuneup can be addressed in time. You can take your bike to a local bike shop or, if you know how, you can do it yourself. If you are going to do your own tuneup, make sure to pay attention to the items in the following list. These are the most common problem areas we see on RAC bicycles.

1. Clean and lube the drive train (chain, gears, derailleurs).

2. Adjust derailleurs and brakes.

3. Make sure the ends of the brake and derailleur cables are not frayed and are properly capped.

4. Make sure your tires have good tread.

5. Check crank and head set for damage, wear and lateral movement.

6. Make sure wheels are in good condition and true.

7. Make sure brake pads have plenty of life left.

8. Check chain wear

This year, we are pleased to announce that our bike mechanic, Bob, is offering to perform tune-ups on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cost of the tune-up will be parts and a donation. If you are interested, please contact Bob at rjacques888@gmail.com. We thank Bob for his generous offer.

______________________________________________________________________________

Please mark the dates

Thursday, Jan 5 at 7 pm

RAC Meeting

Design 39 School | 17050 Del Sur Ridge Rd. San Diego 92127

Topics include

● Camping

○ What to bring

○ How to set up a tent

● RAC T-Shirt fashion show and competition guidelines

● Payments

● Bob’s Tune-up Service | details

● Simon says

● Youth Support

● Q&A

Bring the kids. It shall be fun.

This meeting is not mandatory but highly recommended.

___________________________________________________

Other dates

The RAC meeting on Feb 2 has been canceled.
There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39
RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39: Food, pictures, certificates

_________________________________________________________________

Our next RAC fundraiser will take place on Jan 10 at the Pacific Highland Ranch Panera Bread.

________________________________________________________

See you this weekend.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures and announcements and for sharing all information with your family.

You are responsible for reading all weekly newsletters.

Olav Schroeder

December 30, 2022

The RAC this Week (Dec. 29th)

Olav Schroeder

December 30, 2022

Dear Parents

We hope you all had wonderful holidays and got to ride your bikes a lot.

_______________________________

Our next ride.

Saturday, December 31 at 9 am

The Short Mt Soledad Ride

South Shores Park Dr. San Diego 92109

is one of our most memorable rides.

● A fun loop around (flat) Mission Bay,

● A 900+ feet climb up to Mt Soledad

● An iconic group picture

● An epic 900+ feet downhill to Mission Bay.

● and for the rest of her/his life, your child will point to the Mt Soledad Cross from anywhere in the city and announce that “I rode my bike up there when I was in 5th grade.” Crowds will hush in admiration.

Currently, the weather forecast for Saturday is iffy. Should we have to cancel, you will receive an email on or before 9 pm the night before.

______________________________________________________

Should Saturday’s ride be canceled or should you be unable to attend, please make sure you and your child ride on your own. Your private routes should be of similar length and similar feet climbed as our planned group rides. If you keep training on the same easy routes (a mistake at least one volunteer made during her first RAC season), you and your child will be immensely frustrated with later rides as they become harder and steeper, and the RAC itself might be more miserable than it needs to be. We don’t want that.

_____________________________________________________________

Please mark the dates

Thursday, Jan 5 at 7 pm

RAC Meeting

Design 39 School | 17050 Del Sur Ridge Rd. San Diego 92127

Topics include

● Camping

○ What to bring

○ How to set up a tent

● RAC T-Shirt fashion show and competition guidelines

● Payments

● Simon says

● Q&A

Bring the kids.

This meeting is not mandatory but highly recommended.

___________________________________________________

Other dates

The RAC meeting on Feb 2 has been canceled.
There is a mandatory RAC meeting on Thursday, March 16 at 7 pm at Design 39

Topics include

● The RAC Route

● What to pack

● What to leave at home and why we are so strict about it

● The (not altogether serious) RAC Quiz

● Announcement of T-Shirt design contest winner

● Payments

● Q&A

RAC reunion and potluck: Tuesday, May 2nd at Design 39

Food, pictures, certificates

_________________________________________________________________

Our next RAC fundraiser will take place on Jan 10 at the Pacific Highland Ranch Panera Bread.

________________________________________________________

See you this weekend.

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures and announcements and for sharing all information with your family. Please forward this newsletter.

Olav Schroeder

December 24, 2022

The RAC this Week (Dec. 22nd)

Olav Schroeder

December 24, 2022

Dear Parents

Happy Holidays and welcome to

our next ride.

Monday, December 26 at 9 am.

The San Luis Rey River Trail Ride

Via Manos, Oceanside, CA 92057

The parking lot at this location is small. Via Manos is a private road and parking is not permitted.

Please consider parking a mile down the road at Guajome Regional Park. 3000 Guajome Lake Road, Oceanside CA 92057. A volunteer will ride with you the one mile to the trailhead. Please arrive a little early. Parking at this location costs $3.

We will stop at Oceanside Harbor Village for a short break where you may buy a snack or hot chocolate, if you wish.

______________________________________________________

Make sure you bring name tags. They are mandatory. __________________________________________________________

Our next RAC fundraiser will take place on Jan 10 at the Pacific Highland Ranch Panera Bread.

________________________________________________________

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures and announcements and for sharing all information with your family. Please forward this newsletter.

RAC Jerseys are now available for purchase

They are not required.

They run small.

Especially kids’ sizes should be ordered one size up

Future training ride dates are on the calendar on Rideacrosscalifornia.com

● And here RAC 22|23 training rides

Homework: “power pedal” with your child.

○ Pedal at 10 or 2 o’clock.

○ Don’t start on the seat. Don’t stop on the seat

Arrive at t 8:45 am

● You need to unload and check your bike, check helmets, sign in etc.

● You will be asked to read and sign the RAC Agreement Form

○ if you have not done so already

● Always bring

○ helmet

○ water (your child should carry her/his own)

○ a snack

○ a vest with a name tag .

Train with your child

● The parent training with the child must be the person accompanying the child on the RAC.

● The parent accompanying the child on the RAC must be the person training with the child.

● A parent may not interrupt training for a few months and send the child with someone else during those months.

● All riding parents and children must complete the requirements.

○ 350 miles trained between September and April 10

○ At least one monthly training ride with us

■ including : One Safety Fun

● Two Escondido Hill Rides (next year)

Splitting riding and chasing: If parents are taking turns riding and chasing, both parents must complete all RAC requirements.

Name tags

are mandatory. Starting in December, riders will not be allowed to leave the parking lot without a name tag. Please arrive with name tags, front and back.

Passing

Only pass when it is safe to do so.

Don’t pass more than two people at a time.

Don’t pass when you are ahead of sharp turns

Don’t pass when there are people coming towards you on the bike path.

And please wear a name tag so that we can identify you and can talk to you privately and not have to put this comment in a newsletter.

You need to ride with your child.

You shouldn’t be ½ mile in front or behind your child.

You should always be within eyesight of each other.

Olav Schroeder

December 15, 2022

The RAC this Week (Dec. 14th)

Olav Schroeder

December 15, 2022

Dear Parents

Thank you for participating in last week’s Night Ride Bike Ride. We were beautiful.

And we are proud of all the younger siblings who rode 10 miles around the bay.

A big thank you to Volunteer Sabine for the hot chocolate and cookies.

____________________________________________________

Our next ride

Saturday, December 17 at 9 a.m.

The Carmel Country Hill Ride

Mesa Verde Middle 8375 Entreken Way, San Diego, CA 92129

On Saturday morning, the 56 bike path is closed for an event until 10 am. By the time we arrive on the bike path, it will be reopened. Some roads in PQ might be closed. Please plan accordingly.

Make sure you bring name tags

___________________________________________________________

A big thank you to those who supported the RAC by visiting Pizza Rev last week. Our next RAC fundraiser will take place on Jan 10 at the Pacific Highland Ranch Panera Bread.

______________________________________________________

From RAC volunteer and discount expert Jeff. https://www.bikesonline.com/ BikeOnline has a big bicycle sale. It ends today.

________________________________________________________

Your friendly RAC volunteer team

__________________________________________________________________________

You are responsible for knowing RAC rules, procedures and announcements and for sharing all information with your family. Please forward this newsletter.

RAC Jerseys are now available for purchase

They are not required.

They run small.

Especially kids’ sizes should be ordered one size up

Future training ride dates are on the calendar on Rideacrosscalifornia.com

● And here RAC 22|23 training rides

Homework: “power pedal” with your child.

○ Pedal at 10 or 2 o’clock.

○ Don’t start on the seat. Don’t stop on the seat

Arrive at t 8:45 am

● You need to unload and check your bike, check helmets, sign in etc.

● You will be asked to read and sign the RAC Agreement Form

○ if you have not done so already

● Always bring

○ helmet

○ water (your child should carry her/his own)

○ a snack

○ a vest with a name tag .

Train with your child

● The parent training with the child must be the person accompanying the child on the RAC.

● The parent accompanying the child on the RAC must be the person training with the child.

● A parent may not interrupt training for a few months and send the child with someone else during those months.

● All riding parents and children must complete the requirements.

○ 350 miles trained between September and April 10

○ At least one monthly training ride with us

■ including : One Safety Fun

● Two Escondido Hill Rides (next year)

Splitting riding and chasing: If parents are taking turns riding and chasing, both parents must complete all RAC requirements.

Name tags

are mandatory. Starting in December, riders will not be allowed to leave the parking lot without a name tag. Please arrive with name tags, front and back.

Passing

Only pass when it is safe to do so.

Don’t pass more than two people at a time.

Don’t pass when you are ahead of sharp turns

Don’t pass when there are people coming towards you on the bike path.

And please wear a name tag so that we can identify you and can talk to you privately and not have to put this comment in a newsletter.

You need to ride with your child.

You shouldn’t be ½ mile in front or behind your child.

You should always be within eyesight of each other.