Education at BikePGH would not be possible without our network of dedicated educators who teach classes, assist at events, work with schools and communities, and give private lessons. We created the Educator Spotlight Series to highlight these individuals and the incredible work they do to promote and teach cycling in the community.

Learn about Fred Zelt’s Zest for Education!

What is your name and preferred pronouns?

Fred Zelt he,him

Do you represent a club or organization? Tell us about it!

I am a member of the League of American Bicyclists, Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club, Western Pennsylvania Bicycle Club, and recently The Wheelmen, who ride antique bicycles. I have also been active as a volunteer in the Ruach Bicycle Club and Ft. Couch Potatoes, am part of the Bike the US for MS family, and am the founder of the Social Distance Cycling Club Facebook group (since 2020!)

What kind of bike education do you specialize in? Do you focus on a certain population or community?

I have done some traditional bicycle education, including teaching Confident City Cycling and assisting in Smart Cycling and LCI classes. By far, most of the cycling education I have done has been through leading around 50 bike excursions on more than 25 bike trails throughout the western Pennsylvania area and teaching the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and Cycling curriculum I invented with the Ruach Bicycle Club in 2020-2021. I have taught STEM and Cycling to about 200 young and adult cyclists, including tabling at a Pittsburgh City youth cycling event and in the finish area of Pedal Pittsburgh last year. I learned a ton creating the six modules of the STEM and Cycling curriculum, the modules all include aspects of bike safety, and it has been especially gratifying to see people learn by doing activities I invented.

How long have you been a bike educator and how did you get involved with bike education?

It made sense to learn as much as I could about cycling safety before the 11,000-mile, 6-month bike ride around the perimeter of the U.S. I was planning for 2020, so in late 2019 and early 2020, I took Smart Cycling in eastern Tennessee and an LCI seminar in Charlotte, NC. During a group exercise in the seminar we were to simulate marketing our own bike education classes. It was then that I thought, “Okay, if I were really going to teach cycling, what would I do?” And I imagined a Friction module in a STEM and Cycling class. The Pandemic canceled the planned 2020 Bike the US for MS Big Loop ride, so I created the Social Distance Cycling Club on Facebook instead. It has become a community, with many new real-life friendships and even a marriage resulting.) I then created the STEM and Cycling curriculum that I’ve taught with the Ruach Bicycle Club, Venture Outdoors youth summer cycling camps, and in other venues. I have shared STEM and Cycling lesson plans with more than 80 other cyclists and educators, including a group in Buffalo that received a large grant from the National Science Foundation for a youth STEM Cycling program. I plan to do a train-the-trainer session with them in a month. In the last few years, I have posted 14 cycling-themed talks on YouTube, which have attracted several thousand views. Most of the talks cover the landscapes and geology of western Pennsylvania bike trail areas (I am a geologist and enjoy doing public science outreach). When leading bike excursions, I have found that people like having a docent who can speak passionately about topics relevant to the area. So I have learned a lot of western Pennsylvania history, geography, and geology to prepare for leading cycling excursions.

Do you give private lessons – how should students contact you?

I am available for private lessons and can be contacted through Bike PGH or directly. I am a frequent Facebook user and am easy to find there. Bike PGH has my contact information, which can also be found on the League of American Bicyclists list of certified bike educators in the Pittsburgh area. I am also available to lead individual or group bike rides on trails and to speak about cycling or Earth science topics like the natural history of climate, and regional geology.

What is one piece of advice you give new bike riders?

For all bike riders, it is important to stay aware of your changing surroundings as you pedal. This goes for cycling on both trails and roads. For example, it is good not to assume that motorists see you, and to monitor vehicles that are approaching from all sides as well as the vehicles you pass. On trails, it is important to watch for pedestrians, dogs and cyclists including those who approach and pass without warning. To do this I recommend a helmet mirror.

What advice would you give aspiring bike educators?

It is helpful for anyone thinking of teaching cycling to realize that you can teach standard classes using already-prepared materials, or you can find ways to incorporate safe cycling into bike activities that you love to do.

What has been your favorite experience in bike education?

A favorite bike education experience happened while I was tabling at a City youth bike safety event at the Bud Harris Bike Track. This was my first time teaching the Helmet module of STEM and Cycling, which includes making mini bike helmets for eggs and sliding them down a steel zipline onto the pavement. The zip line exercise incorporates scientific bike helmet texting protocols that were developed by the Virginia Tech Bike Helmet Testing Lab. A 10-year-old girl made a mini helmet that protected an egg so well, it survived multiple slides down the zip line, from the 9-foot maximum height. She kept wanting to test it, over and over, and it never broke! I had not thought that was possible, but with proper engineering, materials, and fit; helmets can be very effective (BTW did you know you should replace your helmet if it is 5-7 years old because the materials age and become less effective?) I have seen and heard many young people not only be surprised about certain safety-related aspects of cycling, but also be surprised they enjoy science when they experience it in a fun learn-by-doing exercise outdoors and without worksheets, computers, or PowerPoint slides.

Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?

In Pittsburgh, I like to cycle on riverfront trails. I have very good memories of leading rides on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail between the Mr. Rogers statue and Herrs Island on summer evenings when the full moon rises and the city lights reflect on mirrors of calm river water.

Do you have a favorite bike currently or from the past? Why is it your favorite?

Right now my favorite bike is a used reproduction penny-farthing I have had since last August. It is an Excelsior Standard with a 48″ wheel made by Rideable Replicas in California. Before that my favorite bike was the Trek FX that I rode from Maine to Seattle in 2017 with a Bike the US for MS group. But that bike was stolen in Pittsburgh from a supposedly locked bike room. Lesson: lock your bike even if it is in a locked room! And have homeowners insurance, which after some paperwork did cover the loss.

What’s your favorite riding snack?

To keep from bonking I like to carry Clif Bloks, especially the ones with caffeine. They are small, light and they work! For quick lunches peanut butter and honey are great – they don’t need to be refrigerated and have everything you need to keep going!

Anything else you’d like our community to know about you?

I strongly recommend that everyone leading groups or doing much cycling as an individual maintain current training and certification in first aid and CPR. Wilderness First Aid uses hands-on scenarios and is much more effective than online courses. I have used first aid training many times to help others, mainly while on solo cycling excursions when I recognized that someone needed help.

Editor’s Note:

Working with Fred is always revelatory from the tidbits he can share about the science and history of cycling. Follow his high-wheeled bike exploits on Facebook or contact him for private lessons and presentations.

Would you like to be featured or know another educator who should be? Let us know by emailing education@bikepgh.org. If you’re looking for more information on classes and lessons, visit our Education page.