Yes, our campus and city are officially “bicycle friendly” — so designated by the League of American Bicyclists. But, how friendly are you with your bike? The gears, the brakes and all the other parts? And do you know how to fix a flat tire?

Come learn and have fun during the campus’s third annual “Biking With Confidence” series of programs, free and open to staff, faculty, students and retirees.

This year’s series will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on five consecutive Tuesdays: April 2-30, culminating with a Fun Ride during which you’ll have the opportunity to try a Jump bike for free.

The series is sponsored in part by the UC Davis Bicycle Program (part of Transportation Services) and the city of Davis Bike and Pedestrian Program. Representatives of both programs will lead “Biking With Confidence.”

UC Davis’ Aaron Curtin said the campus’s Bicycle Program (he’s the coordinator) and the city’s bike program “pride themselves on working very well together, looking out for the community’s safety on and off campus.”

In the forthcoming series, subtitled “Get Ready to Ride,” the aim is to help people understand how their bikes function, from braking to shifting, to knowing the components and parts of a bike, said Jennifer Donofrio, coordinator of the city's bicycle program.

“We hope people will get to know their bikes a little better, so that when they have an issue and go to a bike repair shop, they can easily identify and state the issue with their bike,” she said.

Other sponsors: Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being Program, Healthy UC Davis, and Transportation Services, along with Jump, the company that makes its red, electric-assist bikes available for rent on campus and in the city.

More information

• Questions about “Biking With Confidence”? Contact the Staff and Faculty Health and Well-Being Program by email or phone, 530-752-6106.
• Jump bikes: Transportation Services maintains a Jump bikes page that includes rates and information about an introductory discount for students and others with @ucdavis email addresses. Earlier coverage: “Bike Share Comes to Campus.”

The series

All five sessions will meet on Hutchison Field. Please sign up here for the sessions you plan to attend.

• April 2 — “Bike Anatomy: Let’s Talk Bike Parts”
  Become a bike anatomy expert! Rotate through our five stations to learn about the different parts of the bike including drivetrain, bike frame components and wheels.
• April 9 — “Gears: What Are They Good For?”
  Learn all about gears: how shifting works, when to shift and how to maintain the drivetrain. Learn how to prevent gear-related accidents.
• April 16 — “Breaking Down Breaks”
  Learn about the different types of brakes, how to maintain them and when to change them.
• April 23 — “Tired of Flat Tires? Learn How to Fix Them”
  Learn to remove, patch and reinstall a bicycle tube. Be prepared to get your hands dirty. Materials and tools provided — you do not need to bring your own bike.
• April 30 — Fun Ride
  Bring your own bike or try a Jump bike for free. You should download the Jump app and register for a free account before arriving. Remember to bring your helmet.

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