Riding Tips
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Below are some valuable tips about  riding in the hills (so you don't *smack* any of us) as well as bridge crossing. Even if you are experienced at both, please read them if you plan on riding with us. That way at least you will know what to expect from the FLCSC crew.

RIDING IN THE HILLS

Riding in the hills (AKA Canyon Carving) is rigorous to both your scoot and you if done at speed. Below are some general rules that should keep everyone out of trouble. Remember, nothing ruins a good ride like getting a ticket, wrecking, or breaking down.

  • FLCSC travels at a leisurely pace and stops at scenic views. Remember, the lure of the hills is not just the curves in the road, but the great views. If you want to ride fast, email us for our weekend rides.
  • Once in the hills DO NOT ride side by side. While it is fun to ride next to your friend on a flat straight street, riding side by side in the hills will surely make you both eat dirt (if you are lucky).
  • If you just have to pass the person in front of you, please only pass in the straight sections. Just because you ride well doesn't mean that person in front of you isn't about to go wide in the next turn.
  • Ride within your ability. If the hills are new to you or if you just don't feel comfortable with the turns and speed set, fall back. There will either be a support vehicle or someone from the club bringing up the rear. You can ride with them.
  • Make sure your scooter can handle the ride. In general, if the group is small, there will be NO support vehicle. If your scoot is a shed, see if you can borrow another or get it working properly. Riding on the back of another scoot is very different in the hills and probably should be seen as a last resort unless the rider is very confident of his or her abilities.
  • OK, call me dad on this one, but if you are planning on drinking before or during the ride, please keep it in moderation. It's pretty easy to wipe out in the hills if you aren't paying attention. The hills wash dirt and fine aggregate (stones) onto the road that can make you slide. The roads are also 2 way traffic, and going head on with a car really sucks. Lastly, I think you would really be bummed if you caused another rider to eat it because of something you did while tanked. There will be plenty of time for heavy drinking once out of the mountains.

BRIDGE CROSSING

Quite a few people are worried about riding across the Bay Bridge. Us Oakland/Berkeley folk do it quite often and it is really not a big deal.

Eastbound Crossing

  • Enter the bridge via the Bryant Street (carpool) onramp. This will put you in the slow lane immediately. Do not get on the bridge via 2nd (or 1st) Street, else you will end up in the fast lane.
  • The quickest exit to the East Bay is to stay right once over the bridge and head to FWY 880. This keeps you in the slow lane. Take your first exit, which is Grand Ave. Make sure you know your streets from there (ie: use Yahoo! Maps or Mapquest).

Westbound Crossing

  • The best entrance for scoots is next to Powell Street overpass in Emeryville. There is also a gas station right next to the onramp. It's a good meeting place. If you stay on Powell westbound, under the overpass, past the gas station, you can hang a U-turn at the first light and enter on the right. You will have your own walled off private lane for a while. If you enter via the signs on Powell, you will still be in the slow lane, but not separated from auto traffic.
  • Have one person be the money person. Ride up to the toll booth all together. The money person pays and you all head out as a group.
  • Stay in the right lane and use that toll booth.

General Safety

The bridge can be windy on the upper deck heading Westbound. Headwinds can slow the smaller scooters down to 30MPH on a bad day. Besides going slow, it can cause your scooter to overheat if you push it too hard. The scooter pack can also break up if the front scoots are bigger. Therefore, you may wish to arrange your group in this order:

  1. Experienced riders on smaller scoots
  2. Newer riders on smaller scoots
  3. Newer riders on large scoots
  4. Experienced riders on large scoots

The experienced rider at the front will keep pace on the smaller scoot, while understanding the ebb and flow of the bridge traffic and wind.

Do not lane split. Lane splitting is permitted only when traffic is moving less than 35MPH and only between the 2 fastest lanes on the HWY. You will be in the slow lane, which negates the laws of splitting. If you have newer riders it is also very dangerous.