Riding Skills
Basic Skills
- Balance Beam: Using chalk, draw two straight lines about 30’ to 50’ long approximately six inches apart. This will give you a path six inches wide that you will follow. Ride the course while staying inside the two parallel lines from one end to the other as slow or fast as you want. The goal is to stay between the two lines of chalk for the entire distance of the course.
- Long Roll: Find a paved area that is either flat or is slightly uphill. Draw a start line and them another line about 25’ past the start line. Begin by pedaling at the start line and continue to pedal as hard as possible until you reach the next line. When the front tire of your bike hits the second line begin to coast. The object of this event is to roll (coast) as far as you can.
- Slow Race: Lay out a long straight course. Find another rider with approximately the same riding ability as yourself. Line up next to each other and start at the same time. The object of this drill is to ride as slow as possible without stopping.
- Paper Boy: Use clothes baskets, large tubs, or trash cans as targets. Start riding while holding a rolled newspaper in one hand. You must ride toward the target while holding the newspaper and then throw it into the target.
Advanced Skills
- Braking: In a large vacant parking lot, begin riding next another athlete at a moderate pace. Assign one rider to randomly yell “stop”. It is the goal of both athletes to stop as quickly as possible while maintaining control. The difference in stopping distance between the two riders is a good visual test of reaction time for the athlete who is stopping on the command of the other rider.
- Cornering: The key here is to choose a line through each corner by clipping the apex of the turn. It is important to keep the inside crank arm in a vertical position with the pedal at the top. You should practice inside and outside cornering in both directions. As you become more proficient with cornering, challenge yourself to increase your speed through the corner and sprint out of the turn.
- Looking: It is extremely important for you to be aware of your surroundings while riding at all times. For this activity have another athlete ride a few bike lengths ahead of you. The rider in the back will be riding with one hand on the handle bars while holding up the other hand displaying a random number of fingers. You will have to look back and shout out how many fingers your partner behind you is showing while continuing to ride straight and not veering off to one side or swerving.
- Bumping: This activity should be performed on a grassy area. Practice bumping into another rider while riding next to them. This can be done using elbows or shoulders. This activity will help you become more comfortable while riding or racing in packs.
