One incredible workshop by two credible men on the important pieces that hold your front end together.  What’s between your forks and bars? The Mystery revealed, the Headset! Two kinds to consider and just one chance to learn both in one night on the 1^st of February.

… then …

Pack up your leftovers and a fresh apple pie, for a pot-luck and bike-story-time.   Read some classics like Flann O’’Brien, or share your own half-exaggerated tale of a tour gone awry and how it ended mostly well, but in the dark, and probably involving the police.

What the law says: California Vehicle Code Section 27400 prohibits motor vehicle operators and bicyclists from wearing headphones or earplugs on the road. Exceptions are made for those who wear hearing aids and those who use gear designed to protect against harmful noise levels.

Bicyclists who ride with headphones are often cited and fined for violating the prohibition, although a few communities offer the option of attending a bicycle safety class in lieu of paying the fine.

The rest of the story: A study released last year showed that 80% of vehicle crashes and 65% of near-crashes involve some form of driver distraction. Cell phone use by drivers gets the most attention, but any activity that distracts roadway users from what's happening around them is potentially dangerous.

Headphones or earbuds keep a bicyclist from hearing the sound of horns, bells and approaching traffic - all vital cues when riding on the road. They also take one's mind off the road. For most bicyclists, that's the point: listening to music is entertaining, even energizing. But enjoying the music interferes with one's cognitive ability to monitor and respond to roadway conditions. Besides putting themselves at risk, distracted bicyclists endanger other bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as motorists.