Have you ever been on a group ride or organized event and felt like a salmon swimming up stream? All overlapping wheels, riders passing on the right, pressure to roll the light so as not to be left behind or otherwise be in a messy, unorganized school of bikes piled up at the stop light?
You’ve probably seen this behavior in action and it doesn’t feel right or safe. The Cascade Bicycle Club continually strives to remedy this situation by providing ride leaders and new riders with training that addresses these issues in order to create a safer environment for our daily rides and event participants.
Enter the Group Riding Skills clinic or GeaRs. This clinic teaches cyclists the skills to do group rides and big events more safely. Riders will learn techniques such as: how to rank up at traffic lights, how to re-group and practice good group communications in addition to some Ride Smart Tips and practical on-bike skills practice.
This Saturday, Cascade Ride Leaders and Ride Refs will take the GeaRS clinic to prepare for Chilly Hilly and the upcoming riding season. Ride Leaders and Ride Refs model courteous behavior (as well as keeping an eye on the whole school), in addition to honing skills such as shepherding a group through intersections in an orderly way, moving cyclists safely down the road in large or small groups and hazard avoidance maneuvers — all of which create a safer environment for event riders and other road users we encounter.
Then, on Saturday, March 6, we’ll host a specially priced GeaRS – Group Riding Skills clinic for cyclists who want to participate in the upcoming CTS-Cascade Training Series. There is still plenty of time to sign up, and for just $35 $15. GeaR up and have a great – and safer – ride!
