Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling (classroom session) 6:30 – 9:30 PM Thursday, May 31, at the Center on Vandeventer in the Central West End

Train Your Bike (bike handling session) 8 – 11 AM on Saturday, June 2, on the parking lot of the Church of Latter Day Saints in the Central West End

Tour of St. Louis will begin after lunch (1 – 4:30 PM) on Saturday, June 2 (completion of other two sessions is required to take this one)

Use this form to sign up for the May/June classes

You can go anywhere by bike! We’ll show you how.

Experience cycling empowerment to act as a a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

The William Kerr Foundation is sponsoring Part 1 of CyclingSavvy at no charge for all adults. Parts 2 and 3 will be limited to 10 participants. As part of its efforts to promote the new Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is providing scholarship funding for these participants.

Part 1: Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with videos and animations, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right, ability and responsibility to control their space on public roadways.

Sponsored by the William Kerr Foundation, this session is free to all who are of driving age, but registration is required.

Part 2: Train Your Bike

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

1. Starting, stopping  & balance
2. Understanding gearing
3. Slow balance drill (Snail Race)
4. Acceleration drill (drag race)
5. Straight-line riding
6. Turning: Cone weave
7. Turning: Follow the leader
8. Turning: Rock dodge
9. Turning: High-speed cornering
10. Turning: Snap turn
11. Quick stop

In three short fun hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

As part of its kickoff of the Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class for $15.

Part 3: Tour of St. Louis*

*To participate in the Tour of St. Louis, students must have completed both “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” (the classroom and parking lot sessions). The Tour of St. Louis is about 10 miles long, and will proceed at a pace of 10-12 miles/hour.

Saturday, June 2, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (After “Train Your Bike,” participants will bike as a group to lunch at St. Louis Bread Company, and begin the Tour of St. Louis after lunch. At the end of the Tour, participants will bike as a group back to the parking lot of the Church of Latter Day Saints)

This session is an experiential tour of St. Louis roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (including intersections, interchanges and merges) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. Students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location.

This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter while riding your bicycle in the metro St. Louis area.

Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. Students who have taken the classroom and parking lot sessions may register for the Tour of St. Louis for $15.

Registration available here.

The instructors for these classes will be:

• Mary Ruth Casey, CSI, Herculaneum
• Melissa Brown, CSI, Saint Louis

Discover the joy of human-powered travel.

Experience cycling empowerment to act as a a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

The Jefferson County Health Department’s “Get Moving Twin Cities” grant is sponsoring Part 1 of CyclingSavvy at NO CHARGE for all adults. Parts 2 and 3 will be limited to 10 participants.  JCHD is providing scholarship funding for these participants.  Take the entire three- part course ($75+ value) for just $15!

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Wednesday April 18, 6-9PM
Jefferson Regional Medical Center
Conference Room D
1400 Highway 61 South
Festus, MO 63028

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

JCHD is subsidizing the cost of this class for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class for FREE.

Are you tired of having motorists squeeze past too closely while you are bicycling? This class will show you how to ride so that motorists give you 5-8 feet of clearance!

Train Your Bike

Sunday, April 22, 8:30-11:30am
Parking lot F across from Rehab Building at Jefferson Regional Medical Center
1400 Highway 61 South
Festus, MO 63028

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

JCHD is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class for $15.

In three fun hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

Tour of Festus/Crystal City*

Sunday, April 22, 12:30-4:00pm
Meet at Rehab Building at Jefferson Regional Medical Center
1400 Highway 61 South
Festus, MO 63028

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of Festus/Crystal City

This session is an experiential tour of Festus/Crystal roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through the feature individually and regroup at a nearby location.

JCHD is matching the registration fee for all participants.  A $30 value, students who are participating in the classroom and parking lot sessions may register for the Tour of Festus/Crystal City for $15.

If you register for and COMPLETE all three parts, you will receive a $15 refund, making your total cost for all three parts just $15!

This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Use this link to register today!

The instructors for these classes will be:

• Gerry Noll, CSI, Ferguson
• Mary Ruth Casey, CSI, Herculaneum

Discover the joy of human-powered travel.

Experience cycling empowerment to act as a a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

The Ferguson Bicycle Shop is sponsoring Part 1 of CyclingSavvy at no charge for all adults. Parts 2 and 3 will be limited to 10 participants. As part of its efforts to promote the new Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is providing scholarship funding for these participants.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Thursday, April 19, 6:30-9:30PM
Ferguson Brewing Company (upstairs)   Location/map
418 S. Florissant Road
Ferguson, MO 63135

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

The Ferguson Bicycle Shop is subsidizing the cost of this class for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class at no cost.

Are you tired of having motorists squeeze past too closely while you are bicycling? This class will show you how to ride so that motorists give you 5-8 feet of clearance!

Train Your Bike

Saturday, April 21, 8:30-11:30am
Parking lot behind 501 Plaza   Location/map
501 S. Florissant Rd.
Ferguson, MO 63135

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

As part of its kickoff of the Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class for $15.

In three fun hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

Tour of Ferguson*

Saturday, April 21, 1-4:30pm
Meet behind Ferguson Bicycle Shop  Location/map
429 S. Florissant Rd.
Ferguson, MO 63135

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of Ferguson

This session is an experiential tour of Ferguson roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through the feature individually and regroup at a nearby location.

Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, students who are participating in the classroom and parking lot sessions may register for the Tour of Ferguson for $15.

This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Use this link to register now!

Please note: If you can’t make all the sessions in Ferguson, sessions can be taken at other times and in other locations.  Please look at the Cycling Savvy calendar for other sessions offered in the Saint Louis area that might fit your schedule better.

Discover the joy of human-powered travel.

Experience cycling empowerment to act as a a confident, equal road user. You will learn strategies for safe, stress-free integrated cycling and come away with the tools to read and problem-solve any new traffic situation or road configuration.

Shaare Zedek‘s Social Action Committee is sponsoring Part 1 of CyclingSavvy at no charge for all adults. Parts 2 and 3 will be limited to 10 participants. As part of its efforts to promote the new Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is providing scholarship funding for these participants.

Part 1: Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with videos and animations, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right, ability and responsibility to control their space on public roadways.

Sponsored by Shaare Zedek Synagogue, this session is free to all adults, but please register so that the synagogue knows what size room to set up.

Part 2: Train Your Bike

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

1. Starting, stopping  & balance
2. Understanding gearing
3. Slow balance drill (Snail Race)
4. Acceleration drill (drag race)
5. Straight-line riding
6. Turning: Cone weave
7. Turning: Follow the leader
8. Turning: Rock dodge
9. Turning: High-speed cornering
10. Turning: Snap turn
11. Quick stop

In three short fun hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

As part of its kickoff of the Gateway Bike Plan, Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, this session is available as a stand-alone class for $15.

Part 3: Tour of Mid-County*

*To participate in the Tour of Mid-County, students must have completed both “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” (the classroom and parking lot sessions). The Tour of Mid-County is about 10 miles long, and will proceed at a pace of 10-12 miles/hour

This session is an experiential tour of St. Louis roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (including intersections, interchanges and merges) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. Students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter driving your bicycle in the metro St. Louis area.

Great Rivers Greenway is matching the registration fee for all participants. A $30 value, students who are participating in the classroom and parking lot sessions may register for the Tour of Mid-County for $15.

Registration available here.

In St. Louis some have asked: We’re in Missouri. Why do my registration fees go to the Florida Bicycle Association? CyclingSavvy began in 2010 in Orlando, FL. Its founders developed a partnership with the nonprofit Florida Bicycle Association, which sponsors CyclingSavvy wherever one takes the course, anywhere in the United States.

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Thursday, November 3, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Center on Vandeventer (map link)
320 N. Vandeventer Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

A coupon for $10 off the purchase of $25 or more at the Ferguson Bicycle Shop will be given to everyone registering for this class.

Train Your Bike

Saturday, November 5, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Parking lot of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
3905 McPherson Avenue (map link)
St. Louis, MO 63108

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class. In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

A coupon for $10 off the purchase of $25 or more at the Ferguson Bicycle Shop will be given to everyone registering for this class.

Tour of St. Louis*

Saturday, November 5, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of St. Louis

This session is an experiential tour of St. Louis roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

A coupon for $10 off the purchase of $25 or more at the Ferguson Bicycle Shop will be given to everyone registering for this class.

Individual sessions are $30 each

A package for all three sessions (taken on these dates, or on future dates) is $75

Click this link to register!

• Gerry Noll, CSI, Ferguson
• Karen Karabell, CSI, St. Louis

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Friday, October 14, 6-9PM
Emerson Family YMCA    Location/map
3390 Pershall Road
Ferguson, MO 63135

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

A coupon for $10 off the purchase of $25 or more at the Ferguson Bicycle Shop will be given to everyone registering for this class.

 Are you tired of having motorists squeeze past too closely while you are bicycling?  This class will show you how to ride so that motorists give you 5-8 feet of clearance!

Train Your Bike

Saturday, October 15, 8-11am
Parking lot behind 501 Plaza
501 S. Florissant Rd.
Ferguson, MO 63135

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

A coupon for $10 off the purchase of $25 or more at the Ferguson Bicycle Shop will be given to everyone registering for this class.

In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

Tour of Ferguson*

Sunday, October 16, 1-4pm
Meet behind Ferguson Bicycle Shop
429 S. Florissant Rd.
Ferguson, MO 63135

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of Ferguson

This session is an experiential tour of Ferguson roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location.

A coupon for $10 off the purchase of $25 or more at the Ferguson Bicycle Shop will be given to everyone registering for this class.

Register for all three classes and you get three coupons…a $30 value!

This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Individual sessions are $30 each.

A package for all three sessions (taken this month, or at different times) is $75.  Sign up for this option if you wish to take all 3 sessions eventually, even if you can’t take them all in October or even in Ferguson.  Sessions can be taken at other times and in other locations.  Please look at the Cycling Savvy calendar for other sessions offered in the Saint Louis area that might fit your schedule better.

Use this link to register now!

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Thursday, August 18, 6-9PM
Jefferson Regional Medical Center
Conference Room A
1400 Highway 61 South
Festus, MO 63028

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

Train Your Bike

Saturday, August 20, 8-11am
Parking lot across from Rehab Buidling at Jefferson Regional Medical Center 
1400 Highway 61 South
Festus, MO 63028

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class. In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

Tour of Twin Cities*

Sunday, August 21, 8-11am: Meet at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, 1400 Highway 61 South, Festus, MO 63028

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of Twin Cities

This session is an experiential tour of Festus and Crystal City roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Individual sessions are $30 each.

A package for all three sessions (taken this month, or at different times) is $75.  Sign up for this option if you wish to take all 3 sessions eventually, even if you can’t make them all in August.

**A limited number of scholarships are available for those who take the full course and become Bike Train leaders in Festus during the coming school year.  To learn more about the Bike Train, contact Melissa at 636-282-1010 x217.**

Use this link to register now!

Here are our course offerings in July:

Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling

Thursday, July 7, 6-9PM
Center on Vandeventer
320 N. Vandeventer Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108

Learn the truth and techniques of traffic cycling. Through guided discussion with video and animation, this classroom-based session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class.

Train Your Bike

Sunday, July 10, 9 a.m. to Noon
Parking lot behind 3853 Lindell Blvd. (enter lot between 3829 & 3853 Lindell Blvd.)
St. Louis, MO 63108

This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students’ control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations. Drills include:

• Start/Stop, Power Pedal & Balance Stop
• Snail Race, Slow-speed Balance
• Drag-race, Gears & Acceleration
• Ride Straight, One-handed
• Shoulder Check
• Object-avoidance Handling, Weave, Snap
• Turning: Slow-speed Tight Turns, High-speed cornering, Emergency Snap-turn
• Emergency Braking

This session is available á la carte for $30. You may take it as a stand-alone class. In three short hours, you will learn to command your bike with precision and confidence.

Tour of St. Louis*

Sunday, July 17, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Meet at Center on Vandeventer, 320 N. Vandeventer Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108

*Registrants must have completed the sessions “Truth & Techniques of Traffic Cycling” and “Train Your Bike” to participate in the Tour of St. Louis

This session is an experiential tour of St. Louis roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his or her travels. The students travel as a group, stopping to survey and discuss each exercise location. After observing the feature, discussing the traffic dynamics and the best strategy for safe and easy passage, the students ride through individually and regroup at a nearby location. This session is designed to give you the confidence and skills to handle any situation you might encounter.

Individual sessions are $30 each

A package for all three sessions (taken this month, or at different times) is $75

Use this link to register now!

From left: Kris Schell, Keri Caffrey (CS founder), Andy Cline, Mighk Wilson (CS founder), Matthew Brown, Mary Ruth Casey, Gary Cziko, Gerry Noll and (a very pregnant) Melissa Brown

A last gathering at the end of an extraordinary weekend

CyclingSavvy grew stronger with this weekend’s training in St. Louis of a new group of instructors. The newest CyclingSavvy instructors are:

• Matthew Brown of St. Louis
• Melissa Brown of St. Louis
• Mary Ruth Casey of Herculaneum, MO
• Andy Cline of Springfield, MO
• Gary Cziko of Urbana, IL
• Gerry Noll of Ferguson, MO
• Kris Schell of Festus, MO

Congratulations!

Riding with John Brooking of Maine in the Orlando CSI Training

It was a conversation with Ann Mack that made me get off the dime. Ann, the executive director of Trailnet, and I were sitting on my back deck one glorious afternoon last fall, discussing our mutual passion: Bicycling in St. Louis. We who care about such matters constantly puzzle over how to encourage more people to ride. Forty percent of all U.S. auto trips are less than two miles. This distance often is traversed just as quickly on a bicycle as in a car (not to mention more joyously and healthfully, both for the person and the planet).

Both Ann and I recognized that while we had plenty of people in town working on infrastructure and trails, our city’s meager offerings for bicycle education were—let’s face it—pedantic and dull. “But there’s this program in Florida, Ann, that’s worth looking at,” I said. I ran into my house and retrieved a copy of an article from the February 2010 issue of Adventure Cycling: “Revolution in Key West: Tired of the Nerd Factor in Safety Education? A Cure is Hatching in the Deep South.” This article described a new program—CyclingSavvy—being created by Keri Caffrey and Mighk Wilson.

Their work and worldview resonated with my experience on the streets of St. Louis: Bicycling is safe. Motorists will treat you with courtesy if you do the same. But still, most St. Louisans, even those who would consider using their bicycles for transportation, don’t believe this. How could we change their minds? Whether they ride or not, how do we encourage all St. Louisans to respect cyclists’ equal rights to our roadways?

The answer always circles back to education, but what kind of education? I told Ann that I believed there was an answer being revealed in the work happening down in Florida.

A group photo from our first St. Louis CyclingSavvy class

“Go for it, Karen,” Ann said. “We will support you.”

OK. I was turning 50 later in the year. If not now, when?

So I spent my winter back and forth to Florida (poor me!). First I took CyclingSavvy in Orlando. This course was even more dynamic and interesting that I imagined it could be. Then I realized that we would need a co-instructor to teach CyclingSavvy in St. Louis. I enlisted my husband, another longtime bicycle commuter. I simply “had” to go back to Florida with him when he took CyclingSavvy (I got to take it a second time). We went to Orlando together for instructor training. We offered our first class in St. Louis in late April. I am still over the moon by what a powerful, useful and liberating experience CyclingSavvy offers.

I can’t wait to teach it again.