I live in “The Suburbs of London”, a tiny burg SE of Indianapolis, for 3 seasons each year. Most of my cycling is on endless country roads, that may be flat, gently rolling, or very hilly. We joke that we know every person, horse, llama, goat, and dog within a 25-mile radius. Whether we encounter local motorists on narrow lanes, farmers on oversized farm equipment, or simply wave to people on their porches or working in the fields, communication is one of the most valuable tools in our safety-toolbox. On one ride a bike friend was startled by three critters chasing across a field to intercept us. They turned out to be two friendly dogs and a goat. Cycling should be fun, not filled with fears of sharing the road with motorists, changing lane configurations, or an absence of dedicated bicycling infrastructure.
We ride in an urban environment in Florida during the winter months, where we find urban motorists to be as considerate as motorists in rural Indiana, if we clearly demonstrate our intentions and expectations. Communication is paramount to reach our destinations safely. My wife and I are CyclingSavvy Instructors. Wherever we drive our single bicycles or tandems, we use CyclingSavvy strategies, showing respect, and observing the rules of the road. We frequently ride tandem in a variety of different states and countries. Our stable includes BMX, track, touring, triathlon, tandems, mountain, antique, and e-bikes. No matter which bikes we ride we practice CyclingSavvy strategies.
We are available for group or individual instruction to Central Indiana Bicycling Association members, St. Petersburg Bicycle Club members, or anyone who wants to acquire safe cycling skills. We instruct cyclists who commute to work, tour, ride solo, ride in groups, or want to train in pacelines. We support Bicycle Indiana, Bike Florida, and The American Bicycle Education Association in addition to helmet fitting and FBA’s Ride Leader/Ride Marshal training.