Two summers ago I jumped on my shiny new kandy mango Bianchi Eros Donna ... and squeaked down the 500-foot drop at nearby Mt. Tabor with my hands in a white-knuckle death grip. As I squealed along I remember a little boy standing by the side of the road yelling, "Why are you going S-s-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o S-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-w?" Good question, kid.

And the answer was that despite my kick-buns bike, I was afraid. At age 36, I'd forgotten how to ride my bicycle with the abandon and grace of a child. As a result my rides were not only less fun, but also pretty unsafe as I sat rigidly atop my moving vehicle unready to make any last-second adjustments or reactions to my environment.

My husband helped me change all that by helping me train for a big week-long tour called Cycle Oregon. He created a program for me that we followed together every weekend, transforming my riding experience over the course of one summer. His logic was so sound and his methods so fun and effective, we decided he had to write it up to share with others, and thus he createdd the bicycle assertiveness training website.

Sure, I'm biased, but I think that anyone who feels wobbly or unsure on his or her bike, or who wants to improve his or her riding safety and enjoyment, should take a look. And yes, I am the subject "Z" that Martin mentions in his training descriptions. But be kind. I was pregnant in those photos!