Riding Safely

It is our hope that The Alpena Tweed Ride will be a SAFE and FUN ride for all involved. Since we are just a group of cyclists riding together, and not an organized ride, we do not have the power or desire to require participants to follow any sort of minimum safety standard.

Yet we do have a few suggestions. First, have a bicycle that is in good riding condition, and that you are used to riding. If you have not been in the saddle (fancy bike name for the seat) for a while, you might want to take it for a spin beforehand to make sure everything still works.  Second, make sure you are comfortable in whatever you are wearing. We hope everyone dresses up in some spiffy duds, but it is probably a bad idea to show up with a new pair of shoes, or try to wear a dress for the first time while riding. Even if you don’t want to ride around in your full getup, you might want to make sure you are comfortable with all the parts.

Lastly, there is the question about helmets and other safety equipment. The City of Alpena does not require the use of safety equipment. In fact to quote the City of Alpena News Release dated June 20, 2011 “Common sense and common courtesy go a long way. Use of safety equipment like bike helmets is encouraged.” You know your skill level, and comfort with risk better than we do. Keeping those in mind, and please use any safety feature in accordance to these personal comfort levels.