Desperate for a crash course, I went for
WOMBATS Level I Clinic. It's taught by
Jacquie Phelan. I had just read an interview with her in DirtRag Magazine. She in person is as eccentric as she is in paper. Two hours were spent in a court yard and a parking lot in Fairfax learning track stand, tight turns, hopping the front wheel, etc. Then I rode with her into the hills on the back side of Mt. Tam. It is amazing how at ease she is on her bike -- an old bike without any suspension. She then took me to her house. We had a good chat there. Her husband,
Charlie Cunningham, very kindly gave me a tour of his workshop where many innovative bike frames and components were born.
It was a great day.
