The RAC this Week (Oct. 30th)

Dear Parents

Congratulations to 

Leysh A

Paulo B

Andrew N

Logan W

Who attended four rides in October 

  1. FROM ALBERT, FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEER. 

“Do you ever wonder what your fellow RAC 2025 Riders look like wearing normal clothes and not cycling gear? If so, come down to our first RAC 2025 Community Dine-Out Night for dinner on Thursday, November 21 at Rubio's at 12002 Carmel Mountain Road—all day. You'll get the chance to get to know another Rider. Moreover, Rubio's is donating 30% of the orders at the Carmel Mountain Road location (only) back to Ride Across California! So please share the flyer with your neighbors and local friends. We'll see ya there!”

Rubio Fundraising Flyer 

2. FROM DR.BOB, BIKE MECHANIC

“Dr. Bob has noticed several flat tires on recent rides.  He wants to remind everyone that they should have two tubes for each bike, even on training rides.  This is also a good time to tell you about about bicycle tires and the RAC.  

The RAC and tires  

As always, we have several bikes available for sale / adoption.  This week we have added a 5th grader sized mountain bike, a nearly new adult fitness bike and a classic teen sized racing road bike.”

Bikes available 

3. OUR NEXT RIDE 

Sunday, November 3rd 

The 56 Bike Path 

13339 Salmon River Rd. San Diego, CA 92129 

  • Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m. 

Daylight Saving ends on Sunday. Thank you for reading 

Christiane 

_______________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The Night Light Bike Ride  Sunday, December 15 @ 4 pm. Bring lights  

The Camp Pendleton Ride. Saturday, February 1, 2025, @ 9 am. Permit required 

The RAC this Week (Oct. 23rd)

Dear Parents

Thank you for coming to the 4SRanch Loop ride. 

  1. THREE FRIENDLY REMINDERS

You may not pass a long line of riders, particularly not on an uphill when a car is behind or beside you. Doing so crowds the riders you are passing and distracts the motorist passing you, who needs to stay three feet away from you by law and might not be able to do so because she has a car passing her. This type of poor riding endangers everyone involved and is against our policies.

Riders who willfully and repeatedly ignore our policies will be removed from the RAC. 


Make sure to bring two tubes per bike.

If you don't, you might have to walk back to the parking lot, and we don’t want that. 

While we are all happy to share tubes, we might not have the size you need. 


Please arrive on time, at 8:45 am. 

By arriving later, you missed the necessary safety instructions and might have missed Julie, our attendance volunteer. Julie does not accept Strava screenshots or you in a group picture as proof of your attendance. 

  1. FROM DR.BOB, BIKE MECHANIC


“Some of you, by now, have probably started to develop neck pain from having to watch behind you all the time.  This week, Dr. Bob shows you three different ways to make sure the way behind you is clear.  (This is also useful for keeping track of your fifth grader!)”

Rear View Mirrors

We still have some bikes available.

Bikes available” 

  1. OUR NEXT RIDE 

Saturday, October 26

Coastal Fun 

  • 12791 Sorrento Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92121

  • Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m. 

  • Parking might be limited. Consider parking near Caminito Pointe Del Mar. 

  • This ride takes us along the coast and on a beautiful newish bike path in Cardiff. 

  • In honor of Halloween, Dennis will tell his first ghost story. 

Have a great week. Thank you for reading 

Christiane 

_______________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The Night Light Bike Ride  Sunday, December 15 @ 4 pm. Bring lights  

The Camp Pendleton Ride. Saturday, February 1, 2025, @ 9 am. Permit required 

The RAC this Week (Oct 15th)

Dear Parents

Thank you for coming last week. The kids had fun, and the goats had an excellent breakfast. 

  1. From Dr. Bob, Bike Mechanic.

“ Do you hear a squeaky noise every time you pedal?  Is it embarrassing you?  Is you chain wearing out faster than normal?  Then this week’s newsletter from Dr. Bob is for you.  This week we discuss the proper way to lubricate a chain as well as types of chain lubricants.”

Lubricating your Chain 

If you are still looking for a bike, we have several available.  Keep checking back.  We are continually finding new bikes for sale / adoption.”

Bikes Available

  1. Our next ride 

Sunday, October 20 

The 4SRanch Loop 

Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m. 

12560 Senda Panacea, San Diego, 92129. Please park in the neighborhood. 

This ride includes an optional Starbucks stop at the 4SRanch Starbucks. 

Thank you for reading. Have a good week. And a warm welcome to the families who got off the waitlist. 

Christiane 

___________________________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The Night Light Bike Ride  Sunday, December 15 @ 4 pm. Bring lights  

The Camp Pendleton Ride. Saturday, February 1, 2025, @ 9 am. Permit required 

The RAC this Week (Oct. 9th)

Dear Parents

  1. Future rides. Please prepare for them now.  

  1. Sunday, December 15 at 4 pm. 

The Night Light Bike Ride 

A flat ride around Mission Bay in the dark. 

We decorate our bikes with lights and look fantastic. 

Any light works. Battery-operated ones work best. 

Hot chocolate will be served upon completion. 


  1. Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 9 am. 

The Camp Pendleton Ride 

A 40-mile out and back to Orange County

Unless you are military, you need a permit for this ride. 

Where: In person at the Camp Pendleton Visitor Center. Main Gate 

             20250 Vandegrift Blvd, Oceanside, CA 92058

             Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 3:30 pm

             Bring your ID, passport, green card, etc.

 Kids get in with their parents.   

            Camp Pendleton Bike Access Rules 

2. From Dr. Bob, Bike Mechanic 

This week, Dr. Bob discusses a good way to protect the fingers of your local bike mechanic.

Don't Ignore Frayed Cables

Also, we still have bikes available if you are looking:

Bikes Available

3. Our next ride 

Saturday, October 12 at 9 am

The Road to Riches 

Mesa Verde Middle School | 8375 Entreken Way | SD 92129

Please arrive by 8:45 am.  

  • Mile 5.1 begins a steep, ½ mile-long uphill on a dirt road. 

    • Most of us don’t have the gears or tires for this kind of terrain, so 

    • feel free to walk up the hill 

    • No need to single file as you walk up the hill. 🙂

Mile 5.6 - 6.1 is on gravel. 

  • Mile 6.8: Welcome to Hootersville, Del Mar Mesa’s very own farm 

    • Goats Lenny and Squiggy are friendly and love carrots and apples. 

    • Please bring carrots and apples. 

    • The owners kindly ask that we don’t overfeed their goats.

Thank you for reading. Have a good week. See you soon 

Christiane 

___________________________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The RAC this week (Oct. 1st 2024)

Dear Parents 

Happy October. Thank you for coming to the Gonzales Canyon Ride. It was gorgeous. 

  1. 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. 

  1. From Dr. Bob, Bike Mechanic



  1. Question. Where do I start a right turn? 

You want to turn right. But the bike lane goes straight. 

 Do you  

A 

  • stay in the bike lane

  • proceed to the intersection 

  • scan 

  • make a right turn from the bike lane

  • cross the right turn lane? 

or B 

  • scan 

  • merge into the right lane 

  • make the right turn from the right lane?  

The answer is B. Option A will confuse motorists. We don’t want that. 

  1. Our next ride 

Sunday, October 6 

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. 

    • 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 

Thank you for reading. Have a good week. See you soon 

Christiane 

___________________________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The RAC this week (Sep. 24th 2024)

Dear Parents 

Thank you for coming to our hillclimb clinics. It was fun, and we did well. 

  1. Homework. 

  • Power Pedal

  • Scanning 

  • Stay in your seat and shift  

 

  1. Chase 

Do you have questions? Please contact Sabine directly. chase@rideacrosscalifornia.com 

  1. Our Next Training Ride 

Saturday, 28 September 

The Gonzales Canyon Ride 

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

Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m.

Make sure your vests display your names, front and back, first names only, clearly visible. 

This ride takes us into the canyon. The path is gravel and rutted at times. Please leave skinny tires at home. 

Starting now until February, we offer rides on Saturdays or Sundays.


What a delightfully short newsletter. Happy Fall. See you soon. 

Christiane 

___________________________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The RAC this Week (Sep. 17th)

Dear Parents 

Congratulations to Silas D. and Ian U. They attend three of four Safety Fun Rides. 

  1. More RAC Rules. 

Please stay in your seat 

Kids like to stand (and sit and stand and sit and stand and sit), particularly on hills. 

Please encourage your child to stay in her/his seat and shift instead. 

Why? 

  1. Standing and sitting waste energy. The RAC is a marathon and not a spring. 

  2. Riding behind someone who stands and sits and stands and sits is difficult and unsafe. Every time your child stands up, he/she lurches forward. Every time she/he sits down, she falls back. The rider behind has to watch your child and can’t focus on all she/he has to focus on. 

  3. A child that keeps standing up might need a raised saddle. We will help you. 

  4. Parents, please be a good example, stay in your seat, and shift. 

2. Homework. Power Pedal 

 

3. RAC Fundraiser this coming Saturday and Sunday 

               Bobapop in the Vons Center 

               Thank you for considering us. 

5. From Dr. Bob, bike mechanic 

This week, Bob talks about two important adjustments for your bike: tire pressure and seat height.  These are easy to adjust, but they can make a big difference:

Seat height and tire pressure - Google Docs

Don’t forget, we still have donated bikes and bikes for sale.  Worth a look if you are still trying to find the right ride for the RAC.

Bikes Available - Google Docs

6. Our Next Training Rides 

Saturday, 21 September 

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

The Hill Climb Clinic  #1 

Sunday, 22  September 

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

The Hill Climb Clinic  #2

Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m.

We will practice Power Pedal on a hill. Not required but highly recommended.

This ride includes an optional stop at Starbucks 
7. Questions. 

Question: How long do training rides last? 

Answer: The duration of the training ride depends on miles, hills climbed, the size of the group, and the weather. In other words, we are not sure. Please don’t plan any other activity until the afternoon. 

We are looking forward to seeing you this weekend. 

Christiane 

___________________________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

Power Pedal 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The RAC This Week (Sep 10th)

Dear Parents 

Thank you for coming to last weekend’s hot rides.  It was a pleasure to meet you and see you again.  

A special welcome to the families of Xavier, Jack, Paulo, and Annabelle, who made it off the waitlist. 

1. RAC Requirements. Correction from last week.  

  • Each adult rider and each child must complete two Escondido Hill Rides (not one) in the spring. 

2. More RAC Rules. 

  • A yellow light means ‘stop’. 

    • Don’t run yellow lights. The 5th grader behind you might follow you blindly.

3. Homework. Power Pedal 

  • Please practice with your child. 

  • Starting: pedal at 2 or 10 o’clock. Push down. Hover. Count to three. Sit. 

  • Do not allow your child to sit on the saddle when starting. 

  • Stopping: Stand up. Squeeze both brakes gently. Hover. Count to three. Put foot down. 

  • Power Pedal is not optional. 

  • It’s essential for quick starts to get a long line of riders across the street.

  • It’s essential to make it up steep hills. 

  • Come early to training rides, and we’ll practice with your child. 

  • You and your child will be asked to demonstrate Power Pedal during future training rides. 

4. RAC Fundraiser this coming Saturday and Sunday 

               Bobapop in the Vons Center 

               Thank you for considering us. 

5. From Dr. Bob, bike mechanic 

“This week, Dr. Bob discusses bike seats and other issues. Give it a read if you are noticing that your rides are a literal pain in the butt.

Bike Saddles 

Also, we currently have seven children's bikes and two adult bikes available.  Take a look:

Bikes Availability “ 

6. Our Next Training Rides 

Saturday, 14 September 

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

Safety Fun 3 + Bike Path 

Sunday, 15 September 

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

Safety Fun 4 + Park Village 

If you picked up your vests last week, please arrive by 8:45 a.m. We start promptly at 9 a.m. 

If you need to pick up your vests, arrive by 8:30 am. 

Safety Fun 3 & 4 include mini lessons on passing and scanning. 


7. Questions. 

Question: Can I make a right turn on a red light? 

Answer: Yes. If you stop first. And check for traffic. You are a car. 

We are looking forward to seeing you this weekend. 

Christiane 

___________________________________

Our Facebook page 

The Ride Across California calendar. 

RAC requirements 

RAC rules 

The RAC this week (Sept. 5th) - Safety Fun 1 & 2

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.

RAC bike purchasing guide 

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.

Bikes available 

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:

Making your bike RAC ready “ 

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

Safety Fun 1 

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

Safety Fun 2 and Bike Path 

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.  

The RAC This Week - The RAC Next Week

DEAR PARENTS 

Our last newsletter before the big day.  

________________________

Congratulations to more qualified kids 

Aron - Abel - Adrian - Aidan - Abigail - Adreesh - Andy - Blake - Candice - Cormac - Elle - Gavin - Grady - Hallie - Harrison - Indira - Jack - Jackson - James - Jameson - Jane - Julia - Julian - Kade - Kara - Landon - Levi - Lucas - Luke - Maya - Cinco - Nathan L - Noah - Odin - Ollin - Owen - Peter - Reeve - Ryan L - Ryan N - Samia - Samuel - Selena - Siyona - Sofia - Vibhi - Vincent - Wyatt  

___________________

Keep uploading your kids’ miles.  This is the home stretch. 

Miles your child has ridden so far.

______________________

Meet the Volunteers: Dennis Bueker, co-founder 

  • From Chicago 

  • Studied at SDSU 

  • Married to  the lovely Gwen 

  • Father of two, grandfather of four, great-grandfather of one 

  • Retired 5th-grade teacher at PUSD 

  • 1971 - 1993 Cofounder and leader 

    • Poway Backpackers  

    • A hiking group for high school students. They are still going strong. Check them out 

  • Rides RAGBRAI every summer. This will be his 29th year. 

    • The Register Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa 

1990 - present | Co-founder and leader 

  • The Ride Across California 

Organizes touring rides to Idaho, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Dakota …

Teaches watermelon helmet safety classes to elementary school students 

Can fix a tire on the side of any freeway 

Has cycled across the US three times 

Tells ghost stories 

Dennis, thank you, for everything 

______________________________

Our last rides. Long awaited. Here they are 

Sunday, April 7 

24 RAC | Day 1 | River to Gold Rock Ranch 

Monday, April 8 

24 RAC | Day 2 | Gold Rock Ranch to Cattle Call Park 

Tuesday, April 9 

RAC 24 | Day 3 | Cattle Call Park to Ocotillo 

Wednesday, April 10 

24 RAC | Day 4 | Ocotillo to Vallecito

Thursday, April 11 

24 RAC | Day 5 | Vallecito to Wynola

Friday, April 12 

24 RAC | Day 6 | Wynola to Escondido 

Saturday, April 13   

24 RAC | Day 7 | Escondido to Mission Bay 

_______________________

  • Thank you for coming to Rubio’s Fundraiser. 

  • We are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday. 

  • Please let us know if you have any questions.

  • Next week will be so much fun!!! 


YOUR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEER TEAM 


Abhi | Ana | Bill | Bob | Christiane | Frans | Hannah | James | Jeff | Joe | Julie | Kate | Kristen | Kumar | Olav |  Phil | Robert | Sabine and co-founder Dennis Bueker 

Youth Support: Annika | Bryce | Caroline | Evan | Grace | | Jadon | Kendall | Kiki |Michael | Nikhil | Nolan | Olive | Ryan | Sadhika | Sawyer | Sienna | Sophie |


____________________________________________________


All participants are responsible for being familiar with RAC rules, regulations

Failure to follow RAC rules will result in your family's removal from the program.


RAC 24 | A Typical Day 

RAC 24 | Sunday - Saturday 

RAC 24 | What to Bring and What to Leave at Home


Donate — The RAC

Previous newsletters

RAC Calendar 

Rules of the RAC 

Riding Requirements 


___________________________________________________