Need a little help feeling comfortable riding your bike when you are with friends, going up hills or shifting gears?

Join Anna Luckow every Monday evening at 5:45 p.m. for the “Riding a Bike Can Be Easy” Clinic. Perfect for beginning cyclists who know the basics of riding but are looking to explore road cycling and group riding techniques to gain added confidence having fun on their bikes. These weekly sessions, with a ride to practice what you have learned, are offered free courtesy of OneTen Cycles – Located at 1040 W. Dakota Drive, Mendota Heights, MN 55120. [Map]

Anna,, front left with more of her “Riding a Bike Can Be Easy” students.

Over the course of the summer, each weekly session will cover the basics of a bicycle and how to best utilize it for fun and to stay healthy.

 Topics that will be covered include learning:

• The ABC of a bike: Proper air inflation can make riding easier with less flat tires; inspection of the brakes for better control; and making sure your chain and gears are aligned and lubed for a fun ride
• Riding etiquette on the trail and road: The best practice approach you should use when calling out (by voice or hand signals) your turns and obstacles that may be ahead of you
• The rules of the road: Learning to drive your bike as if you were operating a car
• Hill climbing techniques: Using your gears to make riding easy
• Proper braking/bike control: Learning which brake to use first, back and the front, then feathering or lightly applying the brakes as you prepare to slow down or come to a stop
• Pace lining skills: A race technique that will make it safer and more enjoyable to ride with a friend or two or in a group

With the above skills you perfect, you will discover that riding a bike can relieve some of the stress in your daily routine. Then, every time you are out on your bike for twenty minutes or more you will feel better about riding to the library, a store, or exploring a new neighborhood with the skills you have picked up in the clinic.

At each weekly “Riding a Bike Can be Easy” clinic, no one will be dropped from the ride. To participate you are required to bring a road bike and a helmet with you. Hope to see you there!

Anna Luckow has been cycling competitively for nine years and this is the second year she has been running this cycling clinic at OneTen Cycles. She has raced in criteriums, road races and time trials. As the captain of the St. Olaf cycling team, she promotes cycling and helps new riders learn to love the sport. Before graduating, Anna represented St. Olaf in the USA Cycling Collegiate Nationals in Richmond, Virginia this last spring. She hopes to continue racing, riding and helping others as long as possible.