Frederick Bicycle Coalition

The City of Frederick, with help from the Frederick Bicycle Coalition and the Frederick Pedalers, will be offering several bicycle classes targeted at improving your cycling. Check below for details on the 3 different classes offered.

Mountain Biking (MTB) 101 for Beginner Adults
• Age: 18 & up
• Dates: Saturday, 8/14
• Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Location: 1775 Monocacy Blvd, Frederick, MD 21701 (Parking Lot by Boat Launch)
• Pre registration at the Wm. Talley Rec. Center – 301-600-1492
• Instructors: Rebecca Bafford & Mic Dunn – The Frederick Bicycle Coalition
• Fee: $25 city / $30 non city
Rain Date: Saturday, August 21st, same time and place.

Call the cancellation / information line for cancellations due to weather 301-600-6970

Introduction to mountain biking, including: basic elements that make a mountain bike different from a road bike, required safety and maintenance tools, advice on preparation for rides (food, drink, extra clothing), demonstration of changing a flat tire, and teaching the basics of dealing with technical trail sections. Training will include a short mountain bike ride that includes general mountain biking challenges. General biking skills, a mountain bike, helmet and water are required.
Minimum enrollment:10 / Maximum enrollment: 20

Mountain Biking (MTB) 101 for Beginner Teens
• Age: 13 to17
• Dates: Saturday, 8/14
• Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
• Location: 1775 Monocacy Blvd, Frederick, MD 21701 (Parking Lot by Boat Launch)
• Pre registration at the Wm. Talley Rec. Center – 301-600-1492
• Instructors: Rebecca Bafford & Mic Dunn- The Frederick Bicycle Coalition
• Fee: $25 city / $30 non city
Rain Date: Saturday, August 21st, same time and place.

Call the cancellation / information line for cancellations due to weather 301-600-6970

A parent / legal guardian will need to sign a waiver the day of class on 8/14.

Introduction to mountain biking, including: basic elements that make a mountain bike different from a road bike, required safety and maintenance tools, advice on preparation for rides (food, drink, extra clothing), demonstration of changing a flat tire, and teaching the basics of dealing with technical trail sections. Training will include a short mountain bike ride that includes general mountain biking challenges. All students will receive written information and references for mountain biking, bike stores, and safety tips. General biking skills, a mountain bike, helmet and water are required.
Minimum enrollment:10 / Maximum enrollment: 20

Basic Bicycle Program
• Age: 13 & up
• Dates: Tuesdays, August 17, 24 & 31
• Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
• Location: Monocacy Village Park Pavilion
• Pre registration: Wm. Talley Rec Center – 301-600-1492
• Instructors: Frederick Pedalers Bicycle Club
• Fee: $25 city / $30 non-city

This program will be an introduction to safe bicycle riding on city and county roads for purposes of commuting, shopping and recreation. Each class session will include one hour of instruction and one hour of riding. First class will cover safety issues including protective clothing / helmets and hand signals. Bike maintenance, including fixing flats and cleaning chains is covered in second session Final class will be on handling techniques such as shifting, braking and traffic control.. Bicycles and helmets required for all classes.
Minimum enrollment 10 / Maximum enrollment 25

(Age 17 & under must be accompanied by a parent from 7:30 – 8:30 pm on the bike ride.)

Call the cancellation / information line for cancellations due to weather 301-600-6970

A parent / legal guardian will need to sign a waiver the day of class on 8/17 for age under age 18.

Want an introduction to the trails at the Frederick Municipal Forest (a.k.a. The Watershed)? Well, two rides are set for June 5th which happens to be National Trails day, so come celebrate with a bike ride.

One ride is a women’s only, casual paced ride while the other ride is an open, moderate paced ride. Don’t be fooled, these aren’t beginner rides as the terrain is fairly difficult. Full details below.

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Women’s Frederick Watershed Ride
Sponsored by: Frederick Bicycle Coalition, The Bicycle Escape and Single Speed Outlaw Factory Team
Ride Leader: Julie Whitehair
Location: Hamburg Road Parking lot, Frederick, MD
Date: June 5 at 10 am, Wheels down at 10:15 am
Ride Level: Casual Pace, Technical Terrain
Description: A good opportunity to improve your rock skills! This ride is for intermediate to advance riders. The pace wiill be casual with stops to regroup and work on some of the tough technical sections. Ride will last approximately 2 -3 hours.

Introduction to the Frederick Watershed Part II
Sponsored by: Frederick Bicycle Coalition, The Bicycle Escape and Single Speed Outlaw Factory Team
Ride Leader: Joe Whitehair
Location: Hamburg Road Parking lot, Frederick, MD (http://bit.ly/hamburgparking)
Date: June 5th at 10 am, Wheels down at 10:15 am
Ride Level: Pace: Moderate. Fitness: Moderate. Terrain: Technical.
Description: Maybe you’ve wanted to ride the Frederick Watershed but the lack of blazed and signed trails and the thought of getting lost has kept you away. Or maybe you aren’t sure if you are up to the technical challenge. If so, this it the ride for you. This is part II to the earlier ride I led at the end of April, we’ll cover entirely new terrain than we did on that one.

This loop will be 10 – 15 miles with a few options to bail. This is an introduction ride, but not a beginners ride. You’ll need decent fitness and a few technical skills: getting over logs and being able to ride some gnarly rock. We’ll probably stop a few times to play on the rocks if the group wants but otherwise will keep moving at a moderate pace. Questions about whether this ride is for you? Email me and ask!

Looks like a weekend full of bike polo will be going on in Frederick, MD on Memorial Day weekend. The League of Bike Polo has the details about Polo Camp here.

Photo snagged from Ricky d

Our Frederick bicycle usage survey is getting ready to wrap up. If you ride your bike in Frederick City or County and haven’t taken it, please take 5 minutes to fill it out.

To all those who have already taken it, Thank You! We’ve had a great response so far.

A recent letter to the editor voices concern about bicycle transportation in Frederick. Do you want a Bicycle Friendly Community? On June 3rd the Frederick City Board of Alderman will be voting on a resolution to adopt an action plan for becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community. Remember, public comment is allowed at all Board of Alderman meetings, so if you want to ask your elected officials for support on improving bicycle transportation initiatives, there’s a venue to do it.

The squeaky (bicycle) wheel gets the grease…

Great turn out for Frederick City’s Bike To Work day this morning. The Frederick News-Post has some good video coverage including interviews with the FBC president Tom Rinker, Mayor McClement and transportation planners Tim Davis and John Thomas. I saw lots of City and County workers participating as well as all of the City Alderman and some of the County Commissioners. Thanks for supporting the bicycle transportation efforts!

Good news, Maryland has earned an honorable mention as a Bicycle Friendly State. There’s still a lot to do, but baby steps help.

The FBC has set one of it’s goals as working with the City of Frederick to get a Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Currently none exist in Maryland. It’s going to take some work but we are committed. We’ve already met with the Mayor and he was receptive and supportive of improving cycling infrastructure. Of course, funding some of the projects to move towards that goal is a challenge. Let the elected officials know that cycling improvements are vital to our transportation needs and you want them to include them when reviewing budget items.

Friday is Bike To Work Day. The weather is looking perfect! Who’s in?

The Frederick Bicycle Coalition gets some more press as the Frederick News-Post covers Bike to Work Week. You can see the article here. And don’t forget to take our bicycle usage survey if you haven’t already.

Today the Frederick Pedalers will be doing the Ride of Silence.

FBC was contacted for help in tracking down more information for a cyclist that was hit in our area. Here’s the info we were sent: Keith Krombel, an experienced long distance bicyclist and Race Across America veteran, was struck while riding in an organized bicycle ride on May 30, 2009 near Frederick, MD on Yellow Springs Rd near Bethel Rd at 11:37 pm. The driver fled the scene leaving Keith in a neighborhood yard with severe physical injuries. Keith has still not fully recovered. If you have any information about this incident, please call the Hit and Run Tip Line or visit www.BikeHitandRun.com. Frederick Co. Sheriff’s Office Local Case No. 2009-053839 You can download a flier with this info as well.
Hit and Run Flier

Stay safe out there!