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