Bike West Hartford and the Connecticut chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club are co-sponsoring FREE Smart Cycling classes this summer! These classes are led by League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors (LCIs), who combine indoor instruction with outdoor roadway riding to build your skills and confidence to bike on trails and in traffic. Thank you to REI West Hartford for welcoming us into their community room, at no cost, for the indoor portion of this event.
Choose your FREE Smart Cycling class. The $20 deposit fee to reserve your seat will be refunded ONLY when you attend. Since each class is limited to 15 participants, sign up now and encourage your friends to join you!
- Register for Saturday July 26th 2025 10am-4:30pm class, led by LCI Elias Estabrook, Director of Education at the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation
- Register for Saturday August 30th 2025 10am-4:30pm class (Labor Day weekend), led by LCI Marcy Miller, transportation planner at FHI Studio and West Hartford resident
Both classes are located at REI West Hartford, 1417 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford CT, in the Corbin’s Corner shopping center. See further below for an optional bike route to this location if you wish to ride there. Tentative schedule for both classes:
- 10am meetup outside the REI West Hartford front door (which opens at this time). Bring a lock to secure your bike to the outdoor rack.
- 10:15am indoor instruction begins inside the community room (past the tents and sleeping bag section of the store)
- 12:45pm lunch break — use your $20 refunded deposit to buy food at a nearby store, or bring your own food to eat outside the REI store
- 1:30 outdoor on-bike instruction, with skill-building in nearby parking lot, and a group ride on roadways mapped by your instructor
- 4:30pm finish
Be prepared to answer three questions on the registration form:
- What is your current comfort level riding a bike? And riding with traffic?
- In the past year, what is the farthest distance you have biked in one day? (All answers acceptable; not a competition!)
- Check the box if you are taking this class to fulfill the pre-requisite for attending an LAB instructor seminar. (If yes, the instructor will need to collect additional info during your road test.)
Bring a bicycle in good working condition, wear your helmet, bring a lock to secure your bike, and bring your water bottle.
If the afternoon forecast has a chance of light rain or scattered showers, bring rain gear and be prepared to ride during the outdoor portion of the class. If heavy rain or lightning, the outdoor portion may be rescheduled to another date.
Questions about the class or registration process? Email the co-organizers: Jack Dougherty and Leo Pon
Optional bike route from West Hartford Center to REI West Hartford, using Berkshire Road (to cross New Britain Ave at stoplight) and Elmfield Street (to access the back entrance to REI)
