Drilling skills into their minds

Mary Castillo

Learning to ride a bike is not as simple or as safe as it may

seem.

Driven by the story of a local Laguna girl’s bike accident and the

loss of a personal friend, Linda Yadao hopes that her bike safety

workshops leading up to the Laguna Grand Prix will help children

learn that riding a bike is more than learning to balance on two

wheels.

“I started bike riding 15 years and got into a very serious

accident,� she said. “If I as an experienced rider could get into an

accident, I imagined others could too.

Determined to prevent other riders from injury, Yadao launched the

Youth Bike League in 1989 to bring awareness to children and adults

about the need to learn skills and wear safety gear before hitting

the road or trail. Although she retired the business, she seized the

opportunity help organize the first Laguna Grand Prix when she was

approached by members of the Laguna Beach Rotary, Patrick Fetzer and

Bill Parrish. But on one condition: that the race spotlight bike

safety.

“I am absolutely passionate about bike safety,� she said. “Every

day a child dies in a bike accident and most children are killed

riding out of their driveway because they don’t think to look and

they’re hit by a car.�

Through Parrish, Yadao met with David and Gaye Brobeck, whose

daughter Heather, 32, had been struck by a car near Thurston Middle

School 25 years ago. The accident left her with permanent brain

damage.

The Brobecks vividly remember the hands-on and financial support

from the community. To demonstrate their gratitude and support for

the bike safety events, they donated funds to purchase 300 bicycle

helmets that will be given away at the Drills and Skills event on

Saturday.

“Back in 1977, bike helmets for children weren’t available,�

Brobeck said. “We’re convinced that Heather’s injury couldn’t have

been so devastating if she’d been wearing a helmet.�

The events will not only honor Heather Brobeck but also Yadao’s

good friend Nicole Reinhart, who died in a racing accident two years

ago.

“I hope when parents and children learn about the range of what

kind of injuries can happen will inspire them to be safety

conscious,� she said.

According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, one in eight

cyclists injured has a brain injury and 88% of those brain injuries

could have been prevented by a helmet.

The first bike safety event will start at 7 p.m. tonight with a

presentation of Yadao’s video, “Ready To Ride.� Children will need to

take a quiz after the video to be eligible for a drawing for a bike,

helmets and other prizes. The event will take place at Thurston

Middle School, 2100 Park Ave.

Drills and Skills will challenge young riders with nine practice

stations in which they’ll hone skills in hand-signals, proper stops

and balancing on the bike while looking for traffic. All riders must

pass each skill to earn an official rider’s license and can get a

professional helmet fitting. They will also need to have a bike

safety inspection to ensure that everything is in working order.

Representatives from the Laguna Beach Police Department and Laguna

Beach Fire Department will be on hand. The event will take place from

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Lumberyard off Forest Avenue.

There will be more events for children and teens on Grand Prix

Day, including a race series for riders 14 years and younger as well

as a teen celebrity relay race at the Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club.

“We stress participation not winning,� Yadao said. “Everybody

wins.�

The upcoming events have exceeded what Rotarians had imagined when

they first discussed the idea two years ago.

“The education and safety events have separated our race from

most,� Parrish said. “The commitment to child safety was instrumental

in gaining support from community and City Council.�

Now an honorary Rotarian, Yadao hopes that the success of this

first grand prix will pave the way for future events that will

include mountain biking events, group rides and a whole day dedicated

to women races.

“This is just the beginning,� she promised.

For information about the Laguna Grand Prix, call (949) 494-5052

or visit www.lagunagrandprix.com.