Cycling Merit Badge

Requirements for the Cycling merit badge:

Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while cycling, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
Clean and adjust a bicycle. Prepare it for inspection using a bicycle safety checklist. Be sure the bicycle meets local laws.
Show your bicycle to your counselor for inspection. Point out the adjustments or repairs you have made. Do the following:
1. Show all points that need oiling regularly.
2. Show the points that should be checked regularly to make sure the bicycle is safe to ride.
3. Show how to adjust brakes, seat level and height, and steering tube.
Describe how to brake safely with foot brakes and with hand brakes.
Show how to repair a flat. Use an old bicycle tire.
Take a road test with your counselor and demonstrate the following:
1. Proper mount, pedal, and brake including emergency stops.
2. On an urban street with light traffic, properly execute a left turn from the center of the street; also demonstrate an alternate left turn technique used during periods of heavy traffic.
3. Properly execute a right turn.
4. Demonstrate appropriate actions at a right-turn-only lane when you are continuing straight.
5. Show proper curbside and road-edge riding. Show how to ride safely along a row of parked cars.
6. Cross railroad tracks properly.
Describe your state's traffic laws for bicycles. Compare them with motor-vehicle laws. Know the bicycle-safety guidelines.
Avoiding main highways, take two rides of 10 miles each, two rides of 15 miles each, and two rides of 25 miles each. You must make a report of the rides taken. List dates, routes traveled, and interesting things seen.
The bicycle must have all required safety features. It must be registered as required by your local traffic laws.
After fulfilling requirement 8, lay out on a road map a 50-mile trip. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in eight hours.

Comments:
Mar 08, 2013 - Stan Duduch

It is being suggested that if the boys want to ride the 50 mile leg of the PanMass Challenge ( huge fundraising effort here in Ma.) that it would not qualify as the route has been laid out by another organization. T or F ?
I was envisioning a group effort riding as a fundraising team.

Mar 08, 2013 - Scouter Paul

Stan - I think it's a great idea to ride and raise funds for a good cause. I also understand the interpretation of the requirement that the scout is to lay out the 50-mile trip. But, when there's a question like this, I try to figure out the Intent vs. the Letter of the requirement.
I would have no problem giving each scout a map and asking him to make a route from Point A to Point B. We would then compare their routes to the PanMass defined route and discuss the pros and cons of each.

Here's something to think about. If four scouts are doing the merit badge with a counselor, do they need to go on four 50-mile trips? One planned by each scout? I expect the counselor would have them work together to make a single route.

May 06, 2013 - Ted Moon

I understood a mountain bike variation was being created for the Cycling MB with more reasonable length rides. Is this forthcoming?

May 06, 2013 - Scouter Paul

Ted - That's correct. It's expected to be available to coincide with the Jamboree this summer. Requirements are not out yet.

Follow Me, Boys