"Who thinks they can live without their brain?" he asked the students. "Well, when you crash, you can hurt your head. And though many parts of your body can be fixed when they are injured, when you hurt your brain it's hurt forever."
Before Ollerenshaw's presentation, Cross Principal Denise Clemons-Graham urged students to pay attention to his remarks. "When you ride your bicycle, you have to be safe," she said.
Ollerenshaw, 25, races as many as 100 days a year at internationally sanctioned events. The Oregon resident, a recent graduate from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, plans to race professionally for a few years.
Ollerenshaw gave away T-shirts with riding tips printed on them, and photo cards of the Health Net racing team. Many students asked for his autograph after he spoke.
Ollerenshaw told students riding a bicycle is a great way to get around without needing to buy gas or insurance, and also a good way to stay in shape.
His safety suggestions included checking to see if a bicyclist's brakes work before riding, making sure a bike is the right size for the rider, and following the same rules of the road as drivers of cars and trucks.
Ollerenshaw told students to always ride with traffic on the right side of the road because this allows motorists to more easily see a bicyclist in advance. Use hand signals to indicate turns, and wear bright clothing when on a bicycle.
He said bicyclists should avoid highways or very busy roads. "Be aware of where you're riding at all times," he said. "Don't go where you feel like you don't belong."
His most important message to the youngsters was always to wear a helmet when on a bicycle. He emphasized the importance of putting a helmet on correctly, and demonstrated how to use a chinstrap.
Last year, while riding in a competition in Chile, Ollerenshow said he collided with a motorcycle that stopped suddenly in front of him. He fell on the pavement, but because he was wearing a helmet he was able to get up and complete the race.
Ollerenshaw urged the youngsters to go home and tell their parents to buy them a helmet if they didn't already have one. "All of you are young," he said. "You don't want to be in a wheelchair your whole life."
He said that after a helmet is damaged in an accident or fall, the helmet should be replaced because it won't offer the same level of protection in the future.
The students asked many questions, including the need for elbow and knee pads (helpful, but not mandatory), his favorite race to ride in (San Francisco), and whether he had ever appeared on television.
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