don't forget an extra tube and a bike pump. once you fix the flat, you'll still
need to inflate it.





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Anthony So
University of Southern California
anthony.so@...
626. 353. 2738

----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Guyette <tom_guyette@...>
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 11:31 pm
Subject: [bikepaths] Re: Hello
To: bikepaths@yahoogroups.com

> --- In bikepaths@yahoogroups.com, "Miguel" <kempoplayer@...> wrote:
> > I'm not a regular bike rider. I am planning on taking a group of
> about
> > 20 students (who are not regular bike riders either) on the
> arroyo seco
> > bike trail* starting at pasadena and ending at the park by
> figueroa
> > (Ernest Debs* regional park). I would like to know if it is a
> safe bike
> > route, and if anyone can complete the ride. I appreciate your help.
>
> It's safe provided there isn't flooding, in which case the access
> gates will be locked. It's a very small grade (mostly flat), so yes,
> even the least fit folks will make it. Make sure their tires are
> well-inflated so they're not pushing against floppy rubbber.
>
> Things I'd do, if bringing in a big group:
>
> (1) Scope out the ride a day or two before you take your students. It
> takes about 40 minutes round-trip, if that. Sometimes debris gets on
> the trail and it's a bad ride, so you'll want to make sure it's clear.
> It's worse in heavy rain, which obviously hasn't happened this year.
> Designate a responsible pack leader to ride ahead, that everyone is
> expected to stay behind and not pass. Designate a pair of responsible
> pack followers (say, chaperones) to do the same.
>
> (2) Scope out the entrances the morning of the ride to make sure
> they're not chained up. If they are, cancel the ride and call the LA
> bicycle coordinator to ask why.
>
> (3) Bring an orange cone or something similar to place at the off-ramp
> on the Debs Park side. The pavement turns to cobblestone after the
> off-ramp and I've gone right past the ramp and wiped out on that
> stone. You don't want one of your students doing that.
> Alternatively, have the trail leader give a 1-minute warning to the
> end of the trail (watch for the footbridge overhead) "and pass it
> down" from rider to rider. The trail leader can then zip ahead and
> park cross-wise across the gap to guide students up the exit ramp.
>
> (4) In your pre-talk, tell everyone to give plenty of room. People
> won't get lost if they get a bit ahead. It's far safer, with 20
> people, to leave at last 2 seconds worth of space between each person
> and the next. Ride single file, not two by two, unless they're used
> to tandem riding. Give them a briefing on dealing with dogs, as
> sometimes strays wander around (they've been harmless with me, but I
> give them wide berth).
>
> (5) Require helmets and water; recommend pads, sunglasses (for bugs
> more than sun), sunscreen, and bike shorts (which prevent chafing);
> bring at least one repair kit, one first aid kit, and a cell phone for
> the whole group.
>
> (6) Leave before dusk.
>
> I rode this trail a lot when I first moved to the neighborhood. It's
> generally smooth and interesting. I'd be glad to meet and advise you
> if it's at a time when I can make it.
>
>