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Last Weekend’s New Stoker Clinic and Skills Ride

Three riders joined our new stoker’s clinic held among the pine trees in Kensington last Saturday morning. Starting on a stationary tandem before progressing on to riding with an experienced pilot, our trainees were guided through a two-hour basic skills session led by WATCAC tandem pilot Connie. Our shady car park venue provided ideal riding conditions.

Two of our trainees were able to join our Sunday morning riding skills development session where we matched trained new WATCAC pilots with new and experienced stokers, reinforced tandem specific skills and communication and experienced climbs, descents, intersections and light traffic from the perspective of two-up group cycling.

One of our new stokers sits on a tandem fixed as a stationary bike, to go through the operations of starting, riding and stopping in unison with their pilot or front rider.
One of our new stokers sits on a tandem fixed as a stationary bike, to go through the operations of starting, riding and stopping in unison with their pilot or front rider.

 

Saturday's new pilots, together with WATCAC volunteers, are standing around a stationary tandem to discuss its features and develop bike familiarity before their first ride.
Saturday’s new pilots, together with WATCAC volunteers, are standing around a stationary tandem to discuss its features and develop bike familiarity before their first ride.

 

Ten tandems are re-grouping by the roadside before completing the new pilot and stoker skills session on Sunday morning with a short ride through Kensington.
Ten tandems are re-grouping by the roadside before completing the new pilot and stoker skills session on Sunday morning with a short ride through Kensington.