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Moonlight Ramble tips

I'm reposting the tips that I published last month about safety on big nighttime rides like the Moonlight Ramble in St. Louis and the Tour de'Belleville to help people deal with the ride, plus a couple of new ones. Here goes:

Tip for everyone:

• If you're going to do the ride, pay for it. The Moonlight Ramble is the major fundraiser for the Gateway Council of Hostelling International. The council soon will be opening a hostel on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus, and money from the ride will be used to operate the hostel and to operate cycling, hiking, canoeing and other events. I know there are a number of riders who mooch the ride, but it's not fair to the people who paid their money for you to take advantage of the secured route and other services, but not pay for the ride. It's also not fair to the council's staff and volunteers who have spent countless hours preparing for the ride.
  

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.
• Don't be startled when someone says "on your left." "On your left" is the shorthand experienced cyclists use to tell other people when they plan to pass you on your left.
  
• 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 Moonlight Ramble 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 Moonlight Ramble 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.

Roger 0 comments 11:30 AM