Spring weather, fun and prizes will inspire you to ride

Post originally published at CarolinaCyclingNews.com

This time of year brings weather that beckons you out to enjoy the breezes and sunshine on a walk or a bike ride. If you are new to bike riding or have been limiting yourself to the trail, the City of Greenville Parks & Recreation is offering a Traffic Skills 101 course on Sunday, April 29 at McPherson Park from 12:30 – 5:00 pm. Adults and youth above the age of 14 years old can participate so families can learn together. Registration is $20 for residents ($25 for non-residents).

Jean Crow Crowther one of the nationally certified instructors leading the class explained that the course is a “great opportunity for every level of bicyclist – from novice to advanced. The on-bike portion of the class might sound intimidating to newcomers to cycling, but the activities are structured so that everyone can participate and learn something new.”

If you noticed it is a 4 1/2 hour class and thought you haven’t done that much riding before, don’t worry. Jean says that there will be a short group ride that focuses on “understanding the rules of the road, not on speed” with a route that will be “rideable for a wide range of ability levels.”

After taking this class you can add some extra fun and motivation by joining others in South Carolina who are signing up for the National Bike Challenge which starts on May 1st. You can sign up as an individual or create a team with your friends. The League of American Bicyclists, Bikes Belong, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and Endomondo have partnered to create the Challenge with the goal of encouraging people to get on their bikes and ride! There’s no charge and you can win prizes. Experiencing the benefits of cycling is what is important, but seeing your team, community or state winning on the leaderboard is fun too!

Watch this video for more details.