CRBC is pleased to announce its Wheel Lee Fun summer courses.
Since 1988, the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club has advocated for safe cycling in Lee County and beyond. Through the dedication of our members, we are excited to expand our efforts to include summer bicycling skills programs. Our goal is to not only teach young riders cycling skills and laws, but also to reinforce life skills of cooperation, teamwork, and communication.
Kids Learn the Passion for Riding
Bike riding is a child's rite of passage into neighborhood independence. In our classes they will learn to ride with confidence; how to communicate with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists; bicycle parts and the basics of bicycle maintenance; different kinds of bicycling; and safer riding skills for different environments.
Among the benefits of this sport is stimulating contact with nature and developing self-assurance. On a bicycle, the rider is the decision maker and is solely responsible. Bicycling helps motivate youth to overcome failures. And bicycling is one of few sports where boys and girls follow the same rules for competition and can compete together.
State law requires children under age 16 to wear a helmet every time they mount their bicycle and ride, and we require all instructors, volunteers, and participants to follow suit. The curriculum is based on the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling classes, embellished to include state law and local guidelines. Our instructors are also trained in Bike Skills 101, CPR/First Aid, and Safe Sport Training
On the first day of class, participants will be assessed on basic physical and cognitive skills for class placement including balancing on two wheels, safely stopping and navigating an assigned course. Based on this assessment, they will be placed into one of four groups*
Learn to Ride - This level will teach children how to balance on two wheels, how to start, how to stop, how to ride a straight line, how to turn, how to ride safely with supervision, and how to wear their helmet.
Beginner - This level will create stable, confident bicyclists who, with supervision, can enjoyably ride within their neighborhoods and demonstrate the ABC Bike Safety Check.
Intermediate - This level will create confident, skilled bicyclists who can safely, enjoyably, and independently ride moderate distances to and from pre-determined destinations, lock their bikes, and perform basic bike maintenance.
Advanced - This level will create confident, safety aware, and independent bicyclists who will successfully navigate riding with traffic on multi-lane roads enjoying distance and group riding, plus perform emergency bike repairs.
Instruction is geared to all levels of bicyclists, with special emphasis on beginners.
Each participant must bring:
- an appropriately fitted, bike shop certified working bicycle
- a properly fitted helmet
- plastic bottle of water
- a bottle holder or backpack
- a snack
- sunblock