from :North Trails District, Detroit Area Council, BSA
The Bike
Rodeo Basic Skills Challenge is self guided by Den Leaders or Parent.
The purpose of these stations are to help the scout learn the skills needed
to control his bicycle. The physical development of the boys in this age
range varies widely. These stations may sound simple but performing them
can be difficult for the boys. The stations also help them develop their
coordination and reflexes.
The instructions for each station are listed below. Please make sure each
boy does his best at the stations and does not just rush through them.
Station#1
- Mounting & Dismounting
Course: 2 parallel lines about three (3) feet apart, each 60 Ft. long.
Purpose: To demonstrate starting and stopping while
maintaining control of their bike.
Instructions: Put front tire at one end of the lane with bike at a dead stop. Rider must mount their bike and then steer it to the other end without losing balance or swerving out of the lines, and then dismount at the end of the lane. Many boys will have trouble controlling their bike when starting from a complete stop.
Station#2
- Circling and Changing Direction
Course: A figure 8 course with a 1.5ft lane. Each circle made up of a
12’ft diameter inner circle and 15’ ft diameter outer circle.
Entrance at one end of the circle 8. Exit can be same end or other end.
Mark route with chalk arrows drawn on pavement.
Purpose: To test balance and steering control while
changing directions.
Instructions: Rider should start to right and maneuver through the circles in a figure 8. This tests the riders ability to control their bike on simple curved course.
Station#3
- Diminishing Clearance (Straight Line Control)
Course: Two straight lines 60ft long, beginning with 18” width between
lines going down to 4” width in the first 30ft. The last 30ft are
at the 4” width between the lines. Small cones can be put down every
10 feet or so along the path. Rider can have 20ft before the lines to
start, if space is available.
Purpose: To test balance and steering control.
Instructions: Rider starts before lines being and then rides between the lines to the end without crossing the lines. The narrowing of the lines requires the rider to steer straight and forces them to be more controlled in riding.
Station#4
- Weaving and Maneuvering
Course: A 40ft course marked about every 8 feet with cones. Mark a starting
area before the course for rider to get started. Mark locations of cones
with tape or chalk in case they get moved.
Purpose: To test balance, steering control and the
riders ability to judge distance.
Instructions: The rider shouldn't hit any obstacles and should weave alternately to the right and left. This tests the balance of the rider and also helps them to control their bike when they need to navigate past road obstacles such as drain grate, trash, or other things found in the road.
Station#5
- Stopping Ability
Course: Two 60ft lines space 3ft apart. 50ft from the beginning (ten feet
from the end), mark a STOPPING line between the two lines. NOTE: The stopping
line can be hard for rider to see, a STOP sign placed at the stopping
line is a good idea.
Purpose: Test judgment and braking control.
Instructions: Rider should
ride through the first 50 feet and be able to bring the bike to a complete
stop before touching either foot to the ground within the last 10 feet.
Rider starts to brake at first line and tries to stop close to end line.
Stop the bike without putting foot to ground. This simulates an emergency
stop and helps the rider learn how to control their bike in that situation.
Station#6
- Short Radius Turning
Course: A 3ft wide course that goes straight for 20ft and then turns 180degrees
to another straight 20’ section and then turns sharply again into
a final 20ft straight section. The straight sections are 4ft apart. (See
Diagram). A good way to mark this out is use 3 side-by-side parking spaces.
The 3ft riding lane and 4ft space are one space, the next lane and space
are another space, then use 3ft of the third space. Now connect with circular
line drawn in chalk.
Purpose: To test balance, speed control and steering
coordination.
Instructions: Rider should maneuver through the course without veering over the lines or putting a foot down to balance. Once again we are teaching bike control over a curved course that may also confuse the rider.
Station#7
– Turtle Crawl (Slow Speed Control)
Course: A 3ft wide straight course that is 60ft long.
Purpose: Rider should maneuver the bike at a slow speed, requiring at least 30 seconds to travel from start to finish.
Instructions: Rider starts and tries to ride to the end under 30 seconds without putting foot to ground or stopping. Rider can begin in runway area. They don't have to start from dead stop at timing line. If a stopwatch is not available have the boys ride as slow as possible. How slow can they go without touching the ground. Ultimate bike control is where it's at.
Station#8
– Tight Turns
Course: Four U-shaped bays of diminishing size. Sizes 12’x10’,
12’x8’, 12’x6’, and 12’x4’. Riders start
at top of each bay and ride down and around making the turn. If successful
they proceed to next smaller bay.
Purpose: To enhance balance and control skills
Instructions: The rider will enter the widest bay first. If they successfully make the turn without putting a foot down or stopping, they move on to the next smaller bay and proceed on until they have gone through all 4 bays.
Safety First Stations
These stations are designed to provide practical experience for the boys on how to ride safely on the road. From learning how to safely ride out of their driveway, to how to watch for traffic at stop signs, and the correct use of hand signs, these scenarios will reinforce the need for safety. Parents and leaders are expected to assist the station leader at this event.
Station#9
- Scanning (Looking Behind)
Purpose: To teach children to look behind for traffic
Instruction: Ask kids why they need to look behind them while riding?
(They need to look for cars, trucks and other cyclists, or pedestrians
for those who ride on sidewalk). Explain that this station will help them
learn to look behind them without swerving.
Each child will ride next to the line and you will be walking about 10 feet behind them holding the cardboard car sidewise so they can not see the front of it. Tell then when they hear their name they are to look behind and tell you whether there is a car coming. You will hold the cardboard car in front of you when there is a car coming and sideways when there is no car.
Make sure the kids look over their left shoulder. Watch to see if the child veers when looking behind; if so, have him/her practice again straight using the line as a guide. Call their names several times, sometimes showing the car and other times not showing the car to them.
Materials: One car silhouette made up of cardboard, chalk to mark the start and finish lines.
Station#10
– Crazy Crossroads
Course: A 4-way intersection with 10’ with traffic lanes. Each side
runs 20’ out from intersection. Stop Sign at intersection where rider
starts.
Purpose: To teach children to stop at stop signs
and watch for cars.
Instructions:
a. Tell kids this is a street intersection. Have them get in line and
approach the stop sign, where they stop, look both ways, the proceed,
making hand signals as appropriate for left and right turns.
b. Have two volunteers hold the cars (car facing means traffic coming; car turned away, traffic is clear). Make sure kids stop at sign then move far enough to see traffic and again look both ways before proceeding.
c. Watch for these errors:
· Child does not stop, or looks only one way before proceeding.
· Child sees a car and waits, but does not check again before proceeding.
· Child making left turn places self too far to the right while
waiting (or vice versa for right turn).
d. Ask what else they should
stop for (red lights, yield signs, uncontrolled intersections). Ask what
yield means, and explain that stopping means putting both feet on the
ground.
Station#11
– Rock N’ Roll Alley
Course: Set up course similar to diagram below. Use sponges for Rocks
and cardboard for a drain grating. Course is approximately 20’ long.
Purpose: To teach children control and balance,
and how to avoid hazards.
Instruction:
· Tell kids that this station is to help them practice missing
hazards like rocks in the road so they won’t fall from their bikes
or swerve in front of passing cars.
· They are to ride between the sponges and avoid the middle sponge
by riding around it. The trick is to stay between the sponges and not
swerve through them.
· Have them wait at the other end and practice going back in the
opposite direction. As they become more skilled (and time & crowd
permits), move the side sponges in a little.
Station#12
– Street Course Maze
Achievements:
Wolf: Achievement 9d, Bear: Achievement 14a&b, Webelos Readyman #7
Course: A 3ft wide course that features right & left turns, a stop
sign, and emergency stop. (Try and make corners like intersections and
draw in chalk the way the turns should go)
Purpose: Riders must use proper hand signals with making turns, must stop at stop sign, and must make emergency stop when signaled without losing control.
Instructions: Course Leader directs the riders through the course. Riders negotiate the street course making the proper hand signals at the turns. When Course Leader signals, the rider must make a safe emergency stop.
Station
#13 – Driveway Rideout
Course: A driveway going out to a street. Driveway is 10’ long and
has something simulating a bush or fence blocking view to left as you
leave the driveway.
Purpose: To teach children to stop at the end of
their driveways and safely check for cars before turning onto street or
sidewalk. Then stopping correctly at intersection.
Instruction:
a. Explain to kids that this is their driveway. Ask what they should do
at the end before entering sidewalk or street (stop and look both ways).
Ask them what to look for; cars, trucks, other bicycles, dogs, cats, and
pedestrians.
b. They are to ride to the end of the driveway, stop, look both ways, and then give a hand signal for a right turn. (Have the group practice right hand turn signals: either extend the right hand out horizontally or extend the left arm straight, bending the elbow and pointing upward).
c. Have a volunteer hold the car (if facing the driveway, traffic is approaching; if turned away, traffic is gone). Use the fence/bush as a sight obstruction: children will have to move forward to see around it.
d. Watch for these errors:
· Child looks only one way.
· Child gives turn signal while riding out of the driveway, riding
with one hand only.
· Child fails to look for traffic.
· Child looks to left, then right until clear, then rides out without
final check for traffic.
e. Ask kids which side of the
road they are supposed to ride on. Ask if they ride with or against traffic.
Remind them that it is illegal and dangerous to ride against traffic because
cars are not expecting them there. Make sure they stay to the right as
they proceed into the street.
