Space/etc allowing, you could set up two single-speed bikes identically except for gear ratio, and have the kids try riding both. Maybe paint them differently (say blue and yellow), and once they've started to understand that "the blue bike is better for going uphill" tell them that the benefit of gears is to let them switch one bike between "the blue bike" and "the yellow bike".
This might help some of them remember how things feel different, though of course it requires keeping two bikes around set up for just this occasion.
i've had two successes in teaching gears to kids. one is off the bike, one is on. both, unfortunately, require a short, easy hill students can walk/run/ride up and down safely. on this hill, mark out a "course". this is just a simple start line and finish line. could just be 4 cones or halved tennis balls on the left and right of the course.1. off bike:
without getting into the math of gear ratios, etc, talk about stride. ie, when you're walking or running up a hill, you take shorter steps. when you're walking/running on flat ground or downhill, you take longer steps.have students walk UP the hill taking many many short steps, and count the steps it takes them to go from "start" to "finish. then have the students do the same while taking half as many steps. have students think about which one was EASIER on their legs. (not necessarily faster.)2. on bike:have students line up, on their bikes, at the start line. make sure everyone is in the highest gear. also be clear that it's not a race. have them ride up the hill. once everyone's done or has given up, have them shift into their lowest gear and repeat.talk about how #2 above is related to #1. in a lower gear, it's easier to pedal, but you don't go as far. if you have time or interest from the students, or students who get the above but need more of a challenge, have them calculate the approximate distance their bike goes in one revolution of the pedals in low gear, and the same in high gear. sometimes this helps drive the point home as well.good luck!On Tue, Jul 15, 2014 at 10:18 AM, Carl Voss <carlvoss@mac.com> wrote:
Later this month, the Des Moines Bicycle Collective will sponsor our fifth annual Bike Camp for kids at an inner-city YMCA. The week-long camp is generally a highlight of the year.
Okay, one exception: Gears are our friends, but this has been a challenging message to get through to some kids. The entire notion of shifting and anticipating a shift seems beyond what some middle-school kids can get their heads around. And, those lousy, unreliable grip shift systems on entry-level bikes don’t make it any easier.
What is working in your community for instruction tips? I almost hate to do this, but I’m ready to ride up a moderate hill with each kid to make sure they understand how helpful gears can be.
I welcome your suggestions.
Mucho thanks!
Carl Voss
carlvoss@mac.com
Mobile: 515-210-0237
Des Moines Bicycle Collective, Central Iowa's only nonprofit bike shop
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