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Tour de'Belleville tips

A lot of people were out on their bicycles Sunday night in Belleville, more than I'm used to seeing on the trails and roads in the area. I'm guessing people are trying to get some miles on their bikes -- I suppose those were training rides -- before the Tour de'Belleville this Friday, July 14. My Tour de Belleville "training ride" was more than 20 miles and included a climb of Shiloh Station Road hill.

Hopefully, the event will create some momentum for bicycling in the Belleville area by showing people that bicycling is great exercise and a great way to see their community.

Nighttime rides such as the Tour de'Belleville and Moonlight Ramble draw bicyclists with a wide range of experience, and that can be a recipe for problems. Here's some tips that can make those events more enjoyable for everyone:

Tips for newbies:

• If you're a slower rider, try to ride as far to the right as safely possible so faster riders can pass you. If you have to walk up a hill, walk your bike as far to the right as safely possible.
  
• Groups of cyclists should not take up the entire lane, again so other people can pass.
• If you plan to stop, be sure to give some type of warning. At a minimum, give a verbal warning such as "braking" or "stopping." It's also a good idea to give a hand signal by extending your left hand toward the ground. For a good illustration of that, download the Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road (pdf file).
• If you're stopping for an extended period of time, pull off the road so other cyclists can pass safely.
• Use your gears. Most new cyclists tend to use a gear that's too big for them. Find a gear where you feel comfortable riding 60 to 90 pedal strokes a minute. When you approach a hill, you probably want to shift to a lower gear before you start climbing.
  
• Above all, ride at a pace that's comfortable for you. The Tour de'Belleville is not a race, so don't get tempted to ride at a faster speed than you're used to just because you want to keep up with other people.

Tips for experienced riders:

• Be patient with the less experienced riders. Remember that you once were an inexperienced rider yourself.
• Ride defensively. When approaching a family with young children, give yourself plenty of room to get around them because you never know when someone will suddenly veer to the left or right.
• Use caution on hills. There's a good chance someone will try to climb a hill only to run out of gas and suddenly stop. Give yourself plenty of room to maneuver around them.
• Slow down. This is not the time for a 20-25 mph training ride and long pacelines. Events like the Tour de'Belleville are meant for fun, so slow down and smell the roses.
• Be a good ambassador. The way you behave will influence whether a newcomer will stick with the sport.

Let's hope that everyone with have a safe and enjoyable Tour de'Belleville.

Roger 1 comments links to this post 11:53 AM

Comments:

I enjoyed the Tour de Belleville very much tonight. The event was well organized and everything seemed to click together just fine. Thanks to the Belleville Police for all they did to control traffic along the route. I especially enjoyed all the spectators along the route giving words of encouragement. I hope this turns into an annual event.

# posted by  The Ucster : 11:45 PM

 

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