Go Play in Traffic

John Brooking, the founder of the Portland Bike Commuters' Meetup Group, will be leading a 3-part introductory course on how to cycle safely and confidently on busy roads.

Here's John's description of the first class, "Train Your Bike," coming up on Saturday June 11 from 9 am to 1 pm:

In this three hours of fun you will train your bike to perform at low speed, at high speed and in emergency situations.

You will teach your bike to behave:

• As you start and stop correctly
• Stop without putting a foot down
• Maneuver with precision at low speeds
• Communicate with the drivers behind you
• Race sloooowly

You will teach your bike to be frisky at high speed:

• Use your gears efficiently to accelerate
• Avoid obstacles with the rock dodge
• Dance through a slalom course
• Corner with precision

You will teach your bike to get you out of trouble

• Snap turn 90° in a 4ft radius
• Stop on a dime ~ without going over the handlebars

The full course also includes these future classes:

The truth and techniques of traffic cycling (3 hrs):
Classroom session. Discover that bicycling is very safe and that with a few simple techniques, you can make your own cycling virtually conflict-free.

Tour of Portland (3.5 hrs):*
On-road tour. We will show you simple strategies to eliminate obstacles and ride with ease and confidence in places you might never have thought possible. *requires completion of previous 2 classes

A la carte session $30/each; full course package $75. Register online here.