Cycling Skills

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Contents Cycling Special Needs Bike Safety Bike Trip Planning Bike Helmet Cycling Equipment Bike Riding Skills Bike Repair Kit Bike Setup Bike Maintenance Bike Tires Bike Chain Bike Gears Bike Handlebars Bike Brakes Bike Seat Bike Headset Bike Rodeo

Cycling Skills and bicycle maintenance are important parts of the Cub Scout, Webelos, and Boy Scout programs:

• Cub Scouts can earn their Cub Scout Bicycling Belt Loop and Pin.
• Webelos learn how to care for their bikes as a part of the Webelos Handyman Activity Badge.
• The Cycling Merit Badge is an option for Eagle Scout.

Resources

While your handbook is your primary resource, the links below can help you learn Cycling Skills. The only resources recommended by the BSA are those in the BSA materials. See the Disclaimers. See the Cycling Merit Badge pamphlet and Guide to Safe Scouting.

Cycling Special Needs

Shortcut: Cycling Special Needs

Cycling can be an excellent activity for Scouts with Special Needs depending upon limitations set by their medical professionals that should be noted on their Medical Records.

The Boy Scout Cycling Merit Badge does not specify the type of cycle that is to be used. Scouts have completed Cycling Merit Badge using traditional bicycles, specially adapted bicycles, handcycles, three-wheel bicycles, and quadracycles. Local riding clubs, national organizations, and manufactures can assist those who are blind, deaf, paralyzed, or who have other special needs.

• US Handcycling Federation • a non-profit corporation designed to create integrated cycling opportunities for wheelchair users and athletes with lower-mobility impairments.
• Manufacturers of specialty cycles: Freedom Ryder • Lightning Handcycles • Bike-On.com • The Bike Rack • Freedex Trikes • Intrepid Equipment LLC • Trail Mate

• Organizations: Disabled Sports USA • Special Olympics • United States Association of Blind Athletes • USA Cycling Local Clubs • United Cerebral Palsy • United States Deaf Cycling Association • 

Bike Safety

Shortcut: Bike Safety

• BSA Bike Safety Guidelines • Guide to Safe Scouting: Bike Safety • Bicycle Safety.com • Center for Disease Control • Oklahoma University Tips • WebMD Bike Safety

Videos

• League of American Bicyclists Riding on the Road: Traffic Laws • Lane Changing • Intersection Positioning • Where Should I Ride • Bike Lanes • Sidewalk Riding • Trail Sharing
• Video: Bike Safety

Cub Scouts

• Kids Health Bike Safety • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • Bicycle Safety for Kids • Safe Kids USA

Bike Trip Planning

Shortcut: Bike Trip Planning

• REI: Basic Cycling Checklist • REI: Day Touring Checklist • REI: Touring Basics-Trip Planning • REI: Touring Tips • REI: Overnight Touring Checklist

Videos

• Plan a bike tour

Bike Helmet

Shortcut: Bike Helmet

Videos

REI Video: Helmets • Fit a bicycle helmet • Bicycle Safety: Helmet

Cycling Equipment

Shortcut: Cycling Equipment

• Bicycles: REI Video: Types of Bicycles
• Hydration: REI: Hydration •  REI: Water Bottles • 
• Clothing: REI: Clothing • REI: Shoes
• Other: REI: Locks • REI: Daypacks

Video

• Video: Selecting a Bike

Bike Riding Skills

Shortcut: Bike Riding Skills

• REI: Riding Downhill • REI: Riding in Traffic • REI: Riding Skills-Balance, Pedaling, Shifting, etc. • REI: Riding Uphill
• League of American Bicyclists: Riding on the road with traffic.

Videos

• Brake on a bicycle • Change gears on a bicycle • Maintain good cadence while pedaling a bicycle • Use hand signals on a bicycle • REI Videos: Basic Cycling Basics-Helmet, Seat Height, Hand Signals, Shifting • Video: Cycling & Fitness
• International Police Mountain Biking Association: Emergency Braking
• League of American Bicyclists Basic Riding Skills: Starting and Stopping • Shifting Gears • Scanning • Signalling
• League of American Bicyclists Riding on the Road: Traffic Laws • Lane Changing • Intersection Positioning • Where Should I Ride • Bike Lanes • Sidewalk Riding • Trail Sharing

• Mountain Biking: Video: Trail Riding • Video: Mountain Biking • Video: Mountain Biking 2

Bike Repair Kit

Shortcut: Bike Repair Kit

• REI: Tool Kit Essentials • REI: Tools

Videos

• Stock a bike repair kit

Bike Setup

Shortcut: Bike Setup

Videos

• Unpack a bike and put it together • REI Video: Fitting Your Bike

Bike Maintenance

Shortcut: Bike Maintenance

• REI: Maintenance Basics & Cleaning
• League of American Bicyclists: Basic Bicycle Upkeep
• Park Tool: Repair Help and Education. Step by step how-to's with photo and video demonstrations

Videos

• Take care of your bike • Maintain your road bike • Maintain your bicycle with the basics • Do bicycle repairs • Video: Maintenance
• League of American Bicyclists: A-B-C Quick Check

Bike Tires

Shortcut: Bike Tires

• REI Video: Fixing a Flat Tire

Videos

• Bicycle Maintenance: Tire Pressure • Repair a punctured tire on a bike • Change a bicycle tire • How to Change a Bicycle Tire • How to Change a Flat Bike Tire • Video: Fix a Flat

Bike Chain

Shortcut: Bike Chain

• REI: Maintaining Your Chain

Videos

• Lubricate and clean your bicycle chain

Oil a bicycle chain • Fix a bicycle chain • How to Fix a Bike Chain That Has Fallen Off • Bicycle Maintenance: Chain Lube

Bike Gears

Shortcut: Bike Gears

Videos

• Adjust bicycle gears • How to Fix a Poorly Shifting Bicycle • Bicycle Maintenance: Gears

Bike Handlebars

Shortcut: Bike Handlebars

Videos

• How to Adjust Bicycle Handlebars

Bike Brakes

Shortcut: Bike Brakes

• REI: Checking Your Brakes

Videos

• Adjust brakes on a bicycle • How to Replace a Bike's Brake Pads • Bicycle Maintenance: Brakes

Bike Seat

Shortcut: Bike Seat

Videos

• Adjust your saddle to the correct height • Set the correct seat height

Bike Headset

Shortcut: Bike Headset

• REI: Headset

Videos

• Adjust the headset on a bicycle • How to Adjust a Bike's Headset

Bike Rodeo

Shortcut: Bike Rodeo

• How to Have a Bike Rodeo • Bike Rodeo Guide from eHow • ACEP Bike Rodeo Guide • Bicycle Rodeo of America • Baloo's Bugle Cub Scout Bike Rodeo • Bike Rodeo Info

See also

• Cub Scout Bicycling Belt Loop and Pin.
• Webelos learn how to care for their bikes as a part of the Webelos Handyman Activity Badge.
• Cycling Merit Badge is an option for Eagle Scout.
• Skills: Outdoor skills • First-aid skills • Swimming skills • Cycling skills

Disclaimers

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, or formal training. Please note that the only materials recommended by the Boy Scouts of America are those found or listed in official BSA materials such as the current Cycling Merit Badge Pamphlet or the Boy Scout Handbook. Cycling Skills recommendations are constantly being revised. Neither MeritBadge.Org, nor its contributors make any recommendations. See the Guide to Safe Scouting.

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