By: Sue Bialson
The Spring session of the ACTC Academy starts…well, before spring, actually. Believe it or not, it starts in February! But even with this early start, there’s still time to sign up, especially if you’ve taken the winter off and are feeling just a little bit rusty about hitting those streets again. Here are a few reasons why you should:
You will conquer your nervousness when having to fix a flat tire while an ENTIRE group of riders waits for you.
You will eagerly go from Grizzly Bear rides to Billy Goats after you learn how to use all those gears to ascend…and descend.
You will SEEK OUT those 2-left-turn lanes on a 6-lane thoroughfare, because you’ll learn how easy it is to make that left turn, instead of 3 right turns.
A 32-mile ride (an investment of 6 weeks) or a 64-mile ride (an investment of 12 weeks) will become second nature to you, and you’ll be looking at those ride listings with confidence!
All of these reasons, plus the many more things you’ll learn in the Academy, means you can check off your new 2020 Goal to ride more miles and to do it more confidently.
At the Academy, riders of all levels learn something new to improve their cycling skills. An experienced rider said, “This class is good for the seasoned cyclist who may have forgotten some of the skills needed to be safe. I know I got a lot out of the avoidance exercises.”
The cost: six or twelve consecutive Saturdays (subject to weather-related changes), membership in ACTC, and a modest $35 for each six week session. (Scholarships are available.)
The reward: The smile on your face as you realize you feel more secure on your bike, you have ridden further than you ever have before, and you can easily go even further.
The next Academy starts Saturday February 22, 2020. Sign up online at academy.actc.org or send an email to academy@actc.org. You can also contact our Academy Registrar, Sarah Conover, directly at 408-990-3936.
Did you start the Academy in the past but didn’t finish? Or just want to repeat? Contact Sarah for details on how to do this.