Cycling - Outcome A (10-30)-13

Bicycle Helmet, Hockey Helmet

Every student must have a bicycle and a proper fitting helmet. Teach the students how to adjust the helmet correctly. Have them adjust their own helmets and put them on. Students can check each other for a proper fit. The teacher should do a final check and help out where needed.

Once the helmets are on, talk to the students about general cycling rules. Have the students brainstorm. Depending on the route you are taking, you may want to discuss the rules of shared trails and/or the road crossings.

General rules could include:

• Ride single file even on the trails to allow for oncoming traffic.
• Ensure that all bikes have a bell. Use the bell when passing others and also talk when passing. Tell the person ahead that you are passing on the left so that the person knows what to expect.
• Use hand signals on the road to indicate a right or left turn and stay on the shoulder of the road.
• Wear a safety vest if you are travelling on the road, so that you are more visible.
• Keep up with the group and stop at all meeting points.
• Follow all trail and road signs.

Begin the first class with a shorter route to assess the students’ abilities. Build up to the distance they will be travelling for their final cycling trip. Endurance, speed and distance can all be developed through training. Encourage the students to train more on their own time before the final trip. Include more difficult hills and distances daily. On the final trip the students could cycle to a park or camping area.

After completing the cycle each day, have the students meet to discuss the challenges they dealt with that trip. Encourage them to think about what they could do to pursue cycling as a lifelong activity. Discuss issues such as:

• How many students in high school ride their bikes to school?
• Why don’t more students ride to school?
• What would they like to do to add challenges for the next class?

Introduce students to different types of cycling such as mountain biking and cycle racing at the local velodrome.

These are clues that you have reached the outcomes ...

Students completed the cycling routes set out each class.

They developed and improved their skills in this activity. The students could indicate this by using a journal to record their progress throughout the cycling activity.

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