Cycling is not just a fun activity; it’s also a great way to learn about personal fitness and safety. The Bears on Bikes adventure allows Bear Cub Scouts to explore the basics of bicycling, focusing on important safety practices and bike maintenance. By participating in this adventure, Scouts develop a strong foundation in cycling that promotes physical health and responsibility.
As part of the adventure, Bear Cub Scouts are taught how to wear a helmet correctly and what clothing is best for cycling. These lessons are vital as they ensure that each Scout is prepared to ride safely. Knowing how to use a bicycle properly, from adjusting the bike’s saddle to operating the brakes, adds another layer of safety. Scouts also learn about bike maintenance, which helps them keep their bikes in good condition for longer rides.
The adventure includes practical, hands-on activities that reinforce these lessons. For example, Scouts use a pump to inflate tires and learn why it’s important to maintain proper tire pressure. These activities not only teach technical skills but also emphasize the importance of regular equipment checks before biking.
The big event for the Bears on Bikes adventure is a group bike ride using the buddy system. This ride allows Scouts to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting while enjoying the outdoors with their family or fellow Scouts. It’s an excellent opportunity for Scouts to experience the joy of cycling and the camaraderie of riding with others, all while reinforcing the principles of safety and preparedness they have learned.
Requirements for the Bears on Bikes Adventure
Bears on Bikes Adventure Requirements
- Show how to properly wear a bicycle helmet.
- Decide what you should wear when riding a bike.
- Demonstrate proper hand signals.
- Demonstrate how to adjust saddle height.
- Demonstrate how to operate brakes.
- Learn how to use a pump to inflate your tires. Discuss why riding with low-pressure or flat tires is unsafe and can cause damage to your bike.
- With your family, den, or pack, follow the buddy system and go on a 30-minute bike ride.
Printable requirements for Bears on Bikes Adventure
Checkoff sheet to keep track of your den’s progress on the Bears on Bikes Adventure
Resources for the Bears on Bikes Adventure
Helmets
Show how to properly wear a bicycle helmet.
For the first requirement of the Bears on Bikes adventure, Bear Cub Scouts must learn how to properly wear a bicycle helmet. This skill is crucial for safety.
The helmet should sit level on the head and not tilt back or forwards. It must cover the forehead. The straps should form a “V” shape under each ear, and the buckle should fasten snugly under the chin. There should be only enough space to fit two fingers between the strap and the chin. This ensures the helmet is tight enough to stay on during a ride but still comfortable to wear.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 1:
- Helmet Relay
- Cub Scouts demonstrate proper helmet fitting during a relay game.
- Supplies: bike helmets, Helmet Safety Checklist
- outdoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Learning this helps Scouts stay safe while riding their bikes.
What to Wear
Decide what you should wear when riding a bike.
For Bears on Bikes requirement 2, Bear Cub Scouts need to decide what to wear when riding a bike. Here is a simple list of appropriate clothing for biking:
- Helmet – Always wear a helmet to protect your head.
- Bright Clothing – Wear bright or reflective clothing so that drivers and other cyclists can see you easily.
- Gloves – Gloves help protect your hands and improve grip on the handlebars.
- Closed-Toe Shoes – Shoes should be sturdy and closed-toe to protect your feet and give good pedal grip.
- Sunglasses – Protect your eyes from the sun and from any debris.
- Comfortable Shorts or Pants – Choose pants or shorts that won’t get caught in the bike chain.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 2:
- Dress the Cub Scout
- Cub Scouts learn proper bike attire by playing a game.
- Supplies: chalk, various appropriate and inappropriate clothing, orange safety cones
- outdoor, moderate energy, 3 to 5 days prep
Wearing the right clothing helps make sure you are safe and comfortable while biking.
Hand Signals
Demonstrate proper hand signals.
For Bears on Bikes requirement 3, Bear Cub Scouts learn to demonstrate proper hand signals. Here’s a list of the basic hand signals they should know:
- Left Turn – Extend your left arm straight out to the side.
- Right Turn – Extend your right arm straight out to the side, or bend your left arm up at a 90-degree angle with your hand flat.
- Stopping or Slowing Down – Extend your left arm and bend it down at a 90-degree angle with your hand open.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 3:
- Bear Says
- Cub Scouts learn and demonstrate proper biking hand signals by playing “Bear Says.”
- Supplies: none
- outdoor, moderate energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Left Turn, Right Turn
- Cub Scouts learn and practice bike hand signals.
- Supplies: orange safety cones
- outdoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
Using these hand signals helps communicate with drivers and other cyclists, making biking safer.
Saddle Height
Demonstrate how to adjust saddle height.
For Bears on Bikes requirement 4, Bear Cub Scouts learn how to adjust the saddle height on a bicycle. Proper saddle height is important for comfort and efficient pedaling. Here’s a simple explanation:
To adjust the saddle, you first loosen the bolt or lever that holds the saddle in place. This is usually found under the seat or at the top of the seat post. After loosening, you can move the saddle up or down.
The right height is when you sit on the saddle and place your heel on the pedal, your leg should be straight when the pedal is at its lowest point. Once you find the right height, tighten the bolt or lever to secure the saddle in place.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 4:
- Saddle Up
- Cub Scouts demonstrate how to adjust a bike seat.
- Supplies: bike with an adjustable seat
- outdoor, low energy, one week prep
This adjustment helps ensure that riding the bike is comfortable and that the knees are not strained during pedaling.
Brakes
Demonstrate how to operate brakes.
For Bears on Bikes requirement 5, where Bear Cub Scouts need to demonstrate how to operate brakes, a fun activity could be organizing a “Brake Test Relay.”
Brake Test Relay
- Set up a starting line and a stopping line about 20 feet apart.
- Have the Scouts line up at the starting line with their bikes.
- One at a time, each Scout rides from the starting line towards the stopping line.
- They must pedal and then use their brakes to stop as close as possible to the stopping line without crossing it.
- After each Scout completes their turn, they go to the end of the line.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 5:
- Brake Test
- Cub Scouts demonstrate how to operate their bicycle brakes.
- Supplies: bikes, helmets, orange safety cones, chalk
- outdoor, very high energy, one week prep
This activity teaches Scouts to control their speed and use their brakes effectively, all while making it a fun and engaging challenge.
Tires
Learn how to use a pump to inflate your tires. Discuss why riding with low-pressure or flat tires is unsafe and can cause damage to your bike.
For Bears on Bikes requirement 6, Bear Cub Scouts learn how to use a pump to inflate their bike tires. This skill is important for keeping bikes in good riding condition.
When tires are not properly inflated, it can lead to several problems:
- Harder to pedal – Low-pressure tires make it more difficult to ride, requiring more effort to pedal.
- Increased risk of accidents – Tires without enough air might not respond well when turning or stopping, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Tire damage – Riding on flat or low-pressure tires can harm the tire and even damage the wheel of the bike.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 6:
- Pump It Up
- Cub Scouts learn how to pump up their tires safely.
- Supplies: bike tire pump, tire pressure gauge, bike
- outdoor, moderate energy, 3 to 5 days prep
By learning to use a pump correctly, Scouts ensure their bike tires are at the right pressure, making biking safer and more enjoyable. They also help prevent damage to their bikes, ensuring they last longer.
Go for a Ride
With your family, den, or pack, follow the buddy system and go on a 30-minute bike ride.
Organizing a den bike ride can be a fun and safe activity for Bear Cub Scouts. Here are some simple tips to help you plan a successful 30-minute bike ride:
- Choose a Safe Route: Pick a route that is safe for biking, ideally with little traffic, such as a park or bike trail. Make sure the path is suitable for beginners.
- Check Equipment: Before the ride, check that all bikes are in good working condition. This includes checking tire pressure, brakes, and chains.
- Use the Buddy System: Pair up Scouts so that each one has a buddy. This ensures everyone has someone looking out for them throughout the ride.
- Set Ground Rules: Explain the importance of staying together as a group, following the leader, and obeying all traffic signs and signals.
- Bring Essentials: Make sure everyone brings water, wears a helmet, and applies sunscreen.
- Plan for Breaks: Have a few short stops planned to rest and hydrate, especially if it’s a hot day.
- Have Emergency Contacts: Make sure leaders have a phone in case of an emergency and know the nearest exit points from the route.
Here is an option for fulfilling Bears on Bikes Adventure requirement 7:
- Bear Bike Ride
- Cub Scouts go on a 30-minute bike ride while using the buddy system.
- Supplies: Cub Scout Six Essentials, bikes, bike helmets, safety gear, Activity Consent Form
- requires travel, very high energy, more than a week prep
Following these tips will help ensure the bike ride is enjoyable and safe for everyone involved.
Before any activity, check the SAFE Checklist to make sure everyone is safe. Everyone involved in Scouting America activities should know the Guide to Safe Scouting and other relevant guides or books. Also follow any state or local rules that are more strict than Scouting America rules and guidelines.
Before starting this Adventure:
- Review the Bicycle Safety guidelines on the BSA Sports and Activities page.
During the Adventure:
- Perform an “ABC Quick Check” on the bicycles before riding. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center provides a checklist for air, brakes, cranks, chain, and cogs.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Bears on Bikes Adventure
What is the Bears on Bikes adventure?
The Bears on Bikes adventure is a program where Bear Cub Scouts learn about bicycle safety, bike maintenance, and cycling skills.
Who can participate in the Bears on Bikes adventure?
Any registered Bear Cub Scout can participate in this adventure. It’s designed for Scouts who are in the third grade.
What do Scouts learn in the Bears on Bikes adventure?
Scouts learn how to properly wear a helmet, what clothes to wear for cycling, how to use hand signals, and how to maintain their bikes. They also go on a group bike ride.
Why is it important to learn bike maintenance in the Bears on Bikes adventure?
Learning bike maintenance helps Scouts keep their bikes in good condition, which makes riding safer and more enjoyable.
Do Scouts need their own bike for the Bears on Bikes adventure?
Yes, Scouts should have their own bike that fits them well and is in good working condition. If this is not possible, reach out to your den leader for assistance.
Rolling into Fun
The Bears on Bikes adventure is a fun way for Bear Cub Scouts to learn about biking. This program teaches them how to be safe on a bike and how to take care of it.
Scouts learn to wear a helmet the right way and pick the right clothes for cycling. These steps are very important to keep them safe while riding. They also learn to fix and check their bikes. They find out how to adjust the seat, use the brakes, and pump air into the tires. These skills help them keep their bikes working well.
Scouts also practice hand signals and ride bikes together using the buddy system. They learn how to show turns and stops using their hands. This helps them stay safe and lets other people know what they are going to do next. The adventure ends with a 30-minute group bike ride. This ride lets them use what they have learned and have fun biking with friends or family.
Bears on Bikes is a great way for Scouts to start enjoying biking. It teaches them to ride safely and take care of their bikes. This can help them enjoy biking for many years.
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