The RAC this week (Oct 27)

1. Congratulations to Allen D. -  Everett M. - Katalina Q for attending every October ride with us. 


2. It’s supposed to rain on Sunday. If it does and we need to cancel, we’ll notify you by Saturday evening via email and Facebook. This is an excellent time for a reminder: please don’t make the last ride of the month the only ride with us. 

3. Our next ride 

Sunday, November 1 

The 4SRanch Loop 

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

12560 Senda Panacea, San Diego, 92129. (That’s my house) Please park in the neighborhood. 

Thank you for reading. Have a great week. And this might just be the shortest newsletter ever. Yay. 

The RAC this week (Oct 20)

1. What is an LPI? 

Leading Pedestrian Interval. 

  • The pedestrian light turns green a few seconds before the vehicles receive their green light. 

  • This setup allows pedestrians to step into the road before the cars move. 

  • It’s a fantastic improvement because it makes pedestrians more visible.  

Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI)


As of recently, cyclists are allowed to make use of LPIs. 

But we RAC riders do NOT use LPIs. We wait until the main light turns green.

Why?
5th graders should never have to ask themselves “Is this a red light I can cross?”

Their focus needs to be on power pedal and motorists, not ambiguous traffic signals. 

And we are plenty visible. 

2. Looking ahead. Please prepare now.  

Saturday, December 5 at 3:30 pm 

The Night Light Bike Ride 

  • A flat ride around Mission Bay in the dark. 

  • We decorate our bikes with lights

  • Any light works. Battery-operated ones work best. 

  • Hot chocolate will be served upon completion. 

  • This one is tons of fun and we look so pretty. 

3. Please bring plenty of water to training rides. One bottle is not enough any more.

4. Our next ride 

Saturday, October 24 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.

    • Feel free to walk up the hill. I know I will.

    • 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. 

    • They ask that we please bring carrots and apples. 

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

The RAC this week (Oct 13)

This Sunday we are facing our first real hill. Here are some tips for getting up Torrey Pines. 

Don’t stand up.

Standing up helps for a few seconds. 

But then legs burn out fast .

Then the kids collapse. 

And stop. 

And block the riders behind him/her. 

Now everyone has to stop. 

And you now have to start on an uphill. And you are frustrated. We don’t want that. 

Instead Shift and Stay Seated. 

Shift into a lower gear (low numbers) before you get to the hill. Don’t wait too long 

Stay in your seat

Try to make it to the top without stopping. 

Ride Slowly and Steadily. (Fast and Furious burn out your legs) 

Stay in a low gear and “hamster pedal” . 

You might be in your lowest gears all the way up the hill. 

If your legs are still burning, slow down. 

A Note on Walking up a Hill 

We don’t. (Unless we are injured)

It doesn’t teach the skills we need. 

Our longest RAC hill is 6 miles long. Just saying. 

Stop if you need to. Don’t get off your bike. Breathe. Drink. 30 seconds. Go 

Review: 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 of the pack. 


Our next ride 

Sunday, October 10 The UCSD Art Loop is a really fun one. 

Sorrento Valley Park and Ride. 12791 Sorrento Valley Rd. SD 92121 

If the parking lot is full, please park on Pointe Del Mar Way or in Dr. Curtis Chang’s dentist office parking lot at 12835 Pointe Del Mar Way #3. We have permission.  

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. 

  • On the UCSD campus, we 

    • regroup at the Sun God and take a picture. It’s tradition. 

    • ride through the Talking Trees (though they are usually quiet on weekends) 

    • pass The Fallen Star 

    • and pedal past the Bear. 

    • Click on the links. These art installations are fun to visit (on another day) 

The RAC this week (Oct 6)

1. Here are some tips for the next hot ride. 

  • Hydrate before you leave the house 

  • Bring water in a hydration pack and Gatorade in a water bottle 

  • Your child needs easy access to liquids. He/she will not want to drink if it’s a hassle. 

  • Stop in the shade. 

  • Stop where it’s flat. (So much easier to get going again) 

  • I thought we did great last Saturday! 

2. Homework. Please practice with your child 

  • Power Pedal and Safety Stop

  • Scanning 

  • Stay in your seat and shift  

3. Questions from Parents. 

Question: Where should we ride on a street with a dedicated bike lane and a right hand turn lane? 

Answer: You continue straight. 

  • (When in the green zone) you make eye contact with possible motorists who want to turn right. They need to wait for you. You have the right of way. 

  • You only merge into the right hand lane if you are making a right turn at the intersection. 

Question: Do you recommend bringing carb gels (like GU) on the longer rides for the kids? 

Answer: Yes, if your child likes them. Alternative carbs are Bananas, PB&J sandwiches, Fig Newtons etc. Please make sure your child eats a protein/carb breakfast before the ride. 

Great questions. We appreciate them! 


4. Our Next Training Ride 

Saturday, October 10 

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.

  • This ride is wild and crazy and takes us into the canyon. 

  • The path is gravel and rutted at times. 

  • And gorgeous. 

  • Please leave skinny tires at home. 

Have a great week. Saturday’s temperatures promise to be lower. 

The RAC this week (Sept 29)

Congratulations to Everett M and Solomon T who attended all four Safety Funs 

Question from a parent. Couldn’t volunteers hold back cars at stop signs? 

Answer: Sadly, we can’t. Volunteers are not authorized to direct or stop traffic because we are not law enforcement or crossing guards. 

Plus, since our groups are always larger than 20 riders, we technically need a permit for training rides. But by obeying every stop sign and staying predictably, we hope to avoid unwanted attention. (Not that anyone would miss our neon yellow vests). 


Our Next Training Ride 

Sunday, October 4 

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

The Hill Climb Clinic   

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

  • We’ll teach you how to get back on your bike on a steep hill. 

  • Not required but highly recommended for new cyclists


Starting now, until the spring, we offer one ride per weekend. 

Sunday promises to be hot. Please bring sunscreen and lots of water. 

Have a great week. 

The RAC this week (Sept 22)

Thank you for coming out last weekend and congratulations to the group who rode the extra miles on Saturday. Please add those miles to your overall mile log because EVERY mile counts and you earned them. 

  • Reposted for your reading pleasures, if you missed it the first time around. 

  • Please practice Power Pedal and Safety Stop with your child. 

Stay Seated. Shift Smart. 

  • Kids love to stand on hills — don’t let them. They wear out their legs

  • Teach them to shift, not muscle through in high gear. (The RAC is a marathon and not a sprint)

  • Most 5th graders can’t climb standing — and our hills are long, up to 6 miles long.

  • Standing = wobbling. That’s tough and unsafe for riders behind them.

  • Shifting keeps things smooth and steady.

  • Parents. Set the example: stay seated yourself.

  • (If your kid stands a lot, the seat’s probably too low — we can help! 

  • And many of you are in the process of buying a bigger bike for your child)

Questions from parents. Keep them coming. We love them. 

Question: Can my partner (who is not coming on the RAC) attend training rides with our child when I cannot? 

  • Answer: Unfortunately, no. Only registered riders may attend training rides. 

  • The person who rides the RAC with the child needs to train with the child.

Question: Can we leave a ride early because we have soccer?

  • Answer: Yes, but …  If you do, the ride doesn’t count towards your “once a month with us” ride. 

Our Next Training Ride 

Saturday, September 26 

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

Our last ….  Safety Fun 4 

  • If you picked up your vests last week, please arrive by 8:45 a.m. 

  • We start promptly at 9 am. 

And a particularly warm welcome to our families who are fresh off the wait list!!! 

Have a great week. 

The RAC this week (Sept 15)

Thank you for coming to Safety Fun 1 in record breaking numbers. It was so great meeting you and seeing you again.  

Here’s what we covered and here’s homework for those who attended.

Power Pedal and Safety Stop  

Please practice with your child. 

  • Power Pedal to get started 

  • Straddle your bike 

  • Pedal at 2 or 10 o’clock. Push down. Hover. Count to two. Sit. 

  • Do not allow your child to start on the saddle. 

  • Safety Stop:

  • Lift off the saddle. Squeeze both brakes gently. Hover. Count to two. Foot steps down. 

  • Do not allow your child to stop while sitting on the saddle 

  • Power Pedal and Safety Stop are a Must 

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

  • You’ll both be asked to show Power Pedal and Safety Stop skills at future rides. 

  • Why is this so important? 

  • If your child can start while sitting on the saddle, chances are his/her saddle is too low. Riding becomes much harder on a too low saddle. And getting started takes too long.

  • If your child can stop while sitting on the saddle, her/his chances of falling over, trying to balance are much harder and that is not safe. 

Take a look at saddle height. 

  • If your child can sit on the saddle and stand on both feet, the saddle is too low. 

  • Please raise the saddle, an inch at the time. We can help you with that. 

  • Why is this so important? 

  • See above and 

  • If the saddle is too low, riders tend to stand up. 

  • We don’t want that. 

  • We want “stay seated and shift.” 

  • Riding behind someone who stands and sits repeatedly is tedious and can be dangerous. 

  • Parents, please be a good example.

Questions from our riders. Thank you. We love these 

How do I avoid saddle sores (aka “diaper rash”)? 

  • Get bike shorts. 

  • They are padded.

  • They don’t have seams in all the wrong places 

  • Affordable bike shorts are available online

  • Don’t wear underwear. (Seriously) 

  • Use anti-chafe cream 

  • Love their brand names:“Chamois Butt’r,” “Happy Nuts,” and Fresh Balls” 

If we attend one RAC training ride each month, will we reach 350 miles by April? 

  • No. Check out this cool graph created by volunteer Charles. 

  • Any mile your child rides between September 13 and April counts towards her/his mile goal.

In February you will asked to submit miles on a spreadsheet. Kids and Parents. Honor system.

I couldn’t make it up the hills on Saturday and now I am worried. 

  • We will teach you how to make it up the hills, how to shift and/or we will help you find a bike with more gears. 

  • Please attend as many training rides as you can. 

How long do training rides last? 

  • Training ride durations are listed on the calendar, are estimates and sometimes woefully wrong.
    Like last Sunday. 

  • The times are based on past experience but the following factors can lengthen a training ride: 

  • Weather. The hotter it is, the slower we are. 

  • Group size. The larger we are, the slower we are. 

  • Your child’s condition that day 

  • Your child’s breakfast that day. (Eggs, not donuts) 

  • We strongly recommend that you don’t plan anything shortly after training rides.

Our Next Training Rides 

Saturday, September 19. 

9 am - 12 pm 

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

Safety Fun 2  and bike path 

Sunday, September 20. 

9 am - 12 pm

Safety Fun 3  and Park Village 

  • If you picked up your vests last Saturday, please arrive by 8:45 a.m. 

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

  • We start promptly at 9 am. 

  • The instruction portion of Safety Fun 2 and 3 is identical to Safety Fun 1. 

Have a great week and thank you for reading. 


The RAC this week (Sept 11)

This is the first of many weekly newsletters.
They usually arrive on Tuesdays. Not this week. Please read each one carefully. You’re responsible for knowing all RAC rules, procedures, announcements, and changes.
Every riding parent must read every newsletter.

1. RAC Requirements

  • Each adult rider + child: 1 Safety Fun Ride (we offer four in September)

  • Each adult rider + child: 1 monthly ride minimum

  • Each adult rider + child: 2 Escondido Hill Rides (spring)

  • Each adult rider + child: 350 miles total before April 6

  • Record your miles. Mileage submitted in February

  • If parents take turns riding/chasing, both must complete all requirements

2. RAC Rules. A friendly reminder 

  • By signing up, you agreed to our safety rules (we’ll review them as we go).

  • Ride predictably—for motorists and kids.

  • Be a role model: ride safely, ride smart.

  • Always single file. No overlapping tires.

  • Stop at every stop sign. Foot down. At the line.

  • Communicate. Pass left. Scan.

  • Helmets, vests, name tags—always.

  • Stay behind the first volunteer.

  • No Airbuds. No phones on bikes of 5th graders.

  • Stay with your child.

  • Be respectful to all.

  • RAC rules override standard road rules.

3. ABC Bike Check at Home 

  • Air – Tires firm? If not, pump up.

  • Brakes – Squeeze. Working? Great. If not, tell us.

  • Cassette – Rusty? Dirty? Clean it. Not sure how? Ask—we’ll show you.

4. Vests

  • Included in your fee. Distributed before Safety Fun rides.

  • We will help you add first name front + back (parent + child).

  • Must fit over sweaters or hydration packs.

  • Hydration backpacks required eventually. Water bottle OK early on.

5. Bring on Every Ride

  • Bike(s)

  • Vest with names and helmets

  • Water (kids must carry their own)

  • Small snack

  • Small pump (if you have one)

  • Tubes that fit both bikes

  • Wrench (if no quick release)

7. Waivers

  • Sent by Sabine in a separate email. Sign + bring to your first ride.

8. First Training Ride 🚴

Sunday, Sept 13 – Safety Fun 1

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

  • Ride starts 9 a.m. sharp

  • Safety Fun 1  Click here. 

  • Download the ridewithgps app. (Basic features are free). 

  • 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 and will teach you the basics. Then we go for a short ride around the neighborhood. It will be fun

  • Full ride calendar: The Ride Across California. Calendar

9. Questions?

Just ask—we’re here to help.

Congrats again—we’re so glad you’re here. 

Christiane and your friendly volunteer team. 

P.S. Future newsletters will be shorter. No, really

The RAC This Week (March 31st)

Our last newsletter before the big day. So very exciting. 



Starting now, all communication goes through the RAC Announcement What’s App page.  

Please make sure you have downloaded the app. 



B. Our latest qualifiers are Kai - Rishi - Cadence - Brigham - Sydney - Srijon and Aston. Congratulations!

C. Please take note of changes made to Day 5 and Day 6 of the RAC. 

D. From our sponsors, a $5 Cycle Quest Coupon for last minute merchandise. 

They are typically closed on Sundays but will open on Day 7 just for us.

E. Our last Really Cool People are Meeting for a Bike Ride 

  • Is cancelled. Sorry. Nobody has time to go.

And now the big event. Drumroll please.


 F. Our Next Rides  

 

  • Congratulations on all your training.

  • We know what’s involved to get yourselves and the kids ready for this ride. 

  • We applaud your efforts and dedication. 

  • Because of work, I won’t be able to join you until Day 5. 

  • Have a fantastic time. 

  • It was a pleasure having been your newsletter.

  • P.S. The weather looks good so far.

The RAC This Week (March 24th)

A. Our latest group of qualifiers. We are all so happy. 

Sebastian   Thatcher   Katerina   Griffin   Ozzy   Zoe   Aldrich   Ella   Bryan   Hailey   Youcheng 

B. The T Shirt contest winner and 2nd place winner (licence plate design)

  • will be revealed at tonight' s meeting. 

  • The winners have been notified in advance.

  • A big THANK YOU to all who participated. 

C. Communication during the RAC week. 

Please download the What’s App app  if you have not done so already.

D. From Dr. Bob, Bike Mechanic 

Get Ready to Ride 

Check out Smudge, the cat. 


E. Our next RAC meeting. 

Tonight. Tuesday, March 24. MANDATORY. 7 pm

Design 39 school 17050 Del Sur Ridge. San Diego, CA 92127

F. Our last Really Cool People are Meeting for a Bike Ride 

  • takes place on Tuesday, March 31 at 4:30 pm 

  • We will ride down and up the bike path for some  extra miles 

  • Come meet us in the gravel lot across from Wynston’ Ice Cream Co. 

  • 8250 Merge Avenue. SD 92129 

  • No attendance will be taken. This ride does not count towards your monthly ride with us 



G. Our Next Ride 

Saturday, March 28 at 9 am. 

The Home Stretch 

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

  • Upper YMCA parking lot. 13339 Salmon River Road. SD 92129 

  • Our last training ride. 😞

  • The first 20 miles of this route are identical to the last 20 miles on the RAC.