Back to The 2014 SIG & STS

Registration is now closed for the 2014 C-SIG.

Information about the 2015 C-SIG will be posted in early 2015.

C-SIG on the Move!

Think of It as Cycling College
Learn the basics of cycling from experienced ride leaders with a passion for the sport. Whether your interest is touring, competitive cycling or group riding, the C-SIG provides 8 weeks of intensive training and practice during all-day group rides in the following areas of competency:

Essential Riding Skills – efficient pedal stroke, cadence, using a cycle computer, maximizing use of gears, balance/coordination, passing/acceleration, hill ascent, breaking on fast down-hills, short stops, hairpin turns, etc.

Road and Group Riding Skills – hand signals (stopping, turning, road obstacles), safety skills for riding in traffic

Bike Maintenance and Repair Skills – changing a flat, care and lubrication of chain and crank, adjusting brakes

Nutrition and Hydration – timing, quality, quantities

Bike Fit – for maximum efficiency and injury prevention

The Best Cycling Clothes – for riding in comfort in cold, hot, wet and everything in-between weather

Emergency First Aid Response – basics for acting quickly in case of emergency AND much more!

Build a foundation of cycling skills that will last a lifetime. Learn to ride safely and stronger with groups and develop as a cyclist beyond your wildest dreams. The C-SIG is a stimulating and supportive environment for developing endurance, stamina, and friendships.

This is a progressive series, with each week taking us a little farther and a little faster. Each week, we build on what we have learned in the previous weeks. As much of our course material is presented in the early weeks, attendance at the first three sessions is particularly important.

Note: Participants are required to attend at least six of the eight sessions in order to graduate. Those who miss two out of the first three sessions will not be allowed to continue with the series.

Dates We start with a Classification Ride (one day only) on the morning of Saturday, March 1st (Rain date: Sunday March 2nd). More details are in the confirmation email when you register for the C-SIG, and there will be another email toward the end of February with more information as well. The course itself takes place on Saturdays, all day, starting March 15 to May 3, 2014. Sundays are back-up days.

There is more necessary and important information in the C-SIG FAQs at the top of the page. If you are interested in taking the C-SIG, please read the FAQs, which may answer many of your questions.

You may also like to get a headstart by looking over the following C-SIG materials, especially articles on clothing, nutrition, exercises, checking your bike.

Towards the end of the C-SIG, your Leaders will make suggestions on organizing and leading club rides. While the SIG is “free”, at the end of the SIG, we expect that each participant give back to the club, preferably by leading a ride or by volunteering for a club activity in 2014.

C-SIG Handouts

Below is a collection of educational handouts used at various times by all the C-SIG groups. You may find it useful to look at them before taking the C-SIG, or you may find it more useful to receive them in context of our talks on the road. Some are easier to follow than others without the talk. However, we encourage you to read the first three right now for a safe bike, pumped up tires, and adequate clothes!

If you would like to read a comprehensive rider's handbook, check out the B-SIG Rider's Guide.

ABC Quick Bike Check: from Transportation Alternatives

Tire Care Before and After Each Ride

Clothing and Accessories

Coordinated Emergency Response

Nutrition for Cycling

Amelia's Strength and Diet Tips

Riding in Traffic: from John S. Allen. Street Smarts: Bicycling’s Traffic Survival Guide

• Don't Weave in Traffic
• Left Turns in Traffic
• Right Turns in Traffic
• Rotary Intersection
• Roadside Hazards
• Stretching Chart p. 1 : from Bob and Jean Anderson.
• Stretching 2000 Stretching Chart p. 2 : from Bob and Jean Anderson. Stretching 2000
• Bike Fit : from Bicycling magazine, April 2002
• Gear Chart
• Cleaning and lubing your bike: from T.K. at Larry’s Second Avenue Bicycle Plus (since updated)
• Changing a Rear Tire : from Larry and Benny at Larry’s Second Avenue Bicycle Plus

Bike Handling

• Cornering and straight lines
• Pedaling, spinning, gearing and hills
• How to Ride the GW Bridge ramp and corner turns
• Taking your bike where you can't ride it
• Shifting and Gears – by Jim Reaven

Cue Sheets

Here is a typical schedule of cue sheets to routes for a C-SIG, starting with the shortest routes, along with some alternates and variations. These are some of the cue sheets that we use, but they may not be exactly the same week-by-week for each group within the C-SIG. The routes below are roughly arranged by distance starting with the shortest.

• Inwood Hill Park via Greenway
• Cresskill (Kent and E. Clinton)
• Back Street Brooklyn
• Demerest
• Closter via Columbus
• Closter via Knickerbocker (Kent and E. Clinton)
• Northvale Diner from Eleanor Roosevelt Statue
• Northvale Diner/Tappan NY
• Piermont via Rockleigh
• Kingsland Park/Tarrytown
• Pascack Brook Park
• Park Ridge
• Nyack via Bradley
• Oyster Bay

Attendance

Signing up for the C-SIG means you have made a commitment to spend 8 consecutive Saturdays cycling with us this spring.  You are required to attend at least six of the eight sessions in order to graduate. Those who miss two out of the first three sessions will not be allowed to continue with the series.

Dates

The C-SIG starts with a Classification Ride (one day only) on the morning of Saturday, March 1st (Rain date: Sunday March 2nd). More details are in the confirmation email when you register for the C-SIG, and there will be another email toward the end of February with more information as well. The course itself takes place on Saturdays, all day, starting March 15 to May 3, 2014. Sundays are back-up days.

Signups closed for this Event