Keep it simple, ...
"The closer the gears are to the CENTER of the bike the easier it is to pedal."
Ex: the big gears in the back are closest to the center of the bike. Therefore they are the easiest.
Ex: the little gears in the front are the closest to the center of the bike. Therefore they are the easiest.
Once kids know what the gears do, they start figuring out which positions the shifters need to be in to get there.
Also showing Donald Duck in Mathemagic Land explains gears really well. Specifically the part where he jumps on the big gear that is going slow then tries to jump on the small gear but gets spun off.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZHsk0-eF0 On Jul 15, 2014 8:18 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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