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Rider? Click hereThe mission: If you would like to ride a bike more often, more safely, or more skillfully, Bike Memphis can help.
Did you know that the bicycle is the most efficient form of transportation ever invented? Or that more people use bikes to get around than any other vehicle on planet Earth? If you ride often, especially for regular transportation, you will get it.
At Bike Memphis we are dedicated to helping people ride their bikes more often and more safely. Through education and awareness, cycling can become a fun, safe way for you, your kids, and your friends to have fun, exercise, run errands, commute to work, and become leaner and greener-- a win-win-win-win solution!
That helps our mood, our waistlines,
Why bikes? When we bike more, we usually drive less. Biking is fun. Also, biking is good for you, your bank account, your waistline, your community, and your planet. Check out the links page for some perspectives on why bikes are a great way to get around.
The League of American Bicyclists has developed bicycling classes that you can take in the Metro Memphis area. If you are not too far from Memphis, we will come to you if there is a demand. E-mail cliff@bikememphis.com or call at 763-0999 for more information.
We primarily offer seminars and classes. Seminars are free mini-classes that are about an hour or so long and that are designed for you, your workplace, family, club, or any group that is service-oriented, social, athletic, political, religious, ---whatever. Classes are longer (two to nine hours) and will have a charge for materials, etc. This depends on the class. See our current class list below.
In addition to seminars and classes, Bike Memphis offers consulting and expert commentary on bicycle issues for the public, government agencies, and the media.
Do you love cycling? Would you like to help others ride better? Want to be an instructor for Bike Memphis? You can-- the more the merrier. Two things-- You have to pass the League of American Bicyclists' Road 1 course, and you then must pass the League Cycling Instructor certification program. You can Take Road 1 here in Memphis. Visit the League of American Bicyclists website to find out more about training seminars and the LCI certification process.
These two parts of the Road 1 curriculum are the foundation for our Adult Bike Education program in the Memphis area. Road 1 provides the knowledge and practice needed to be comfortable riding in traffic and in handling typical challenges that arise when riding. The classes are open to adults and teens 14 and over. Pre-registration is required. Under 18 requires parental consent/waiver form. Under 16 requires a parent or guardian in attendance, or permission of the instructor. This is the League of American Bicyclists Road 1 course broken down into 2 sessions. Successful completion of both part 1 and part 2 will earn the student certification for completing the League of American Bicyclists Road 1 course.
Part 1-- Street Cycling Skills: About 4 hours in the classroom using discussion, demonstrations, computer presentations, and videos. Street Skills covers the basics for skilled and enjoyable cycling, including riding in Memphis and the suburbs, necessary equipment, crash avoidance, and legal rights and responsibilities. A bicycle is not required for this course.
Part 2-- Street Cycling Skills Practice: About 4-5 hours. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Part 1- Street Cycling Skills. Most of Part 2 will be on the bike. Street Cycling Skills Practice provides an opportunity to apply what was learned in the Street Cycling Skills course. We will be learning and practicing emergency maneuvers. We will ride in a variety of urban and suburban Memphis traffic conditions to practice and demonstrate your knowledge and performance of vehicular cycling skills. Open to adults and teens 14 and over. Pre-registration is required. Street Cycling Skills Practice includes a written multiple choice test and a riding skills evaluation on the streets of Memphis. For this course, you will need to show up with a helmet that fits and a bike that fits and is in good working order.
A traditional road or mountain bike with multiple speeds is an ideal bike for the class. However, any type of bike is ok-- if you have to ride a recumbent due to injuries, bring your recumbent. Some of the emergency drills are best learned on a traditional road or mountain bike with front and rear brakes. Fixed gear bikes are ok, too, if that is your only bike, but a freewheel bike is easier to learn on and is less likely to cause you to crash.
Bike gloves and bike clothing might make you a little more comfortable on the bike, but are by no means required for the class. We aren't going to ride a long distance at a strenuous pace. We are just going to do some riding practice at an easy pace. Anything you can ride in is fine. Be aware that the road test will happen even in light rain. If there is rain in the forecast, come prepared. Relax, it is just part of the ride.
1-2 hours. A multimedia presentation for parents of young cyclists (Pre-K and up) explaining how children are different, the actions/decisions that get them in trouble and the measures parents can use to keep them safe. Instructors help parents understand how to teach a child to ride a bike. Parents learn how to perform a bicycle safety check, helmet fitting and bike sizing. This class includes a brief 10-minute 'Kids Eye View' video and handouts for parents. No bike is required for this class.
2-3 hours. For cyclists who wish to explore the possibility of commuting to work or school by bike in the Memphis area. This three hour class covers topics including route selection, bicycle choice, dealing with cargo and clothing, bike parking, lighting, reflection, and foul weather riding. Included with the class are handouts and student materials. No bike is required for this class.
Bike Memphis will come to your location to give a presentation about any of the topics we teach to your group or organization at no charge under most circumstances. We will set up a booth at your health fair, Farmer's Market, Retail Store, etc. Contact us and we will start a conversation about what you need and how we can help.