Riding Down the Bike Path

Skill: Balance, Cycle
Time Required: 20
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Individual, Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Ensure participants are wearing a helmet at all times.
Make sure the brakes work, the tires have enough air in them, the height of the seat is appropriate for the participants and the bottom of their pants are not baggy.
Equipment: Bicycles and Helmets
Chalk
Large open space to draw the path
Pylons/beanbags (optional)
Objective:
Participants will ride their bikes down a winding path while avoiding the obstacles and following the rules.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Leaders draw a long and winding path using chalk (or could use pylons or something else to create the path). The path can be around 10-15 inches wide or so, depending on the skill level of the participants. The length of the path is up to the leader and the space.
Draw some obstacles along the path for the participants to avoid (pinecones, pedestrians, dogs, garbage cans, puddles and so on), or use pylons and beanbags as the obstacles.
Could also draw in a stop sign for participants to practice stopping and looking both ways before continuing to ride.
Step by Step:
1. Leaders could draw one or two of these paths if the area is big enough.
2. Participants will start at one end and ride their bicycles down the path.
3. They have to avoid riding over the obstacles, and be sure to stop at the stop sign.
4. When participants stop at the stop sign, they have to come to a complete stop, look both ways and then continue riding.
5. After participants have practiced riding down the path a couple times, the leader can time them (could take out the stop sign for this part if you wish).
6. If a participant goes outside the lines of the path or rides over an obstacle, they add 3 seconds to their final time.
7. Relay Race: Have two paths set up. Take out the obstacles to make it easier. Divide participants into two teams. The first participant in each team will ride down their path, when they get to the end the next participant will start. If a participant rides outside the lines of the path, they have to either go back to the start or stop for 2 seconds before they're allowed to start riding again.
8. Slow and Steady: Create paths that are 3-8 inches or so apart from each other. Participants have to ride as slow as they can down the path without actually stopping. This teaches and encourages balance, control and coordination while riding a bicycle.
Variations:
Participants have to ride down the path and then go to a pylon in front and ride around it and go back down the path going the other way.
Create a wider path and have two lanes next to each other. Participants will ride going both ways along this path.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.