A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » Mountain Biking
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Scouts "merit" badge for mountain biking: This is a form of child abuse



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 16th 14, 06:32 PM posted to alt.mountain-bike
Mike Vandeman[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,755
Default Scouts "merit" badge for mountain biking: This is a form of child abuse

http://scoutingmagazine.org/2014/08/...g-merit-badge/

MTB related excerpts:

Craig McNeil is another good example. An early proponent of adding a mountain-biking component to the Cycling merit badge, McNeil, who lives in Littleton, Colo., has introduced hundreds of Scouts to the sport at Timberline District camporees.

[That's right, prey on naive kids who can't foresee the harm that mountain biking will do. He's the mountain biking industry's dream come true. This is a form of child abuse. Mike]

Basic maintenance is even more important with bikes that go off-road.

"When you're out, you're going to get flat tires," he says. "It's more likely to happen in the woods than on the road."


In the world of mountain biking, essential skills are balance, dexterity and focus. McNeil recommends spending time in a parking lot working on "skills and drills." For example, you could create a slalom course out of traffic cones or build a small obstacle with 2-by-8 boards that riders must bunny-hop over. He also likes to have riders pick up water bottles from the ground or limbo under a rope hanging loosely across their path.

Skills and drills can continue once you get on the trail. McNeil suggests finding spots to practice water-bottle pickups or climbing hills in your lowest gear without stopping.

For mountain-biking trails, McNeil recommends starting with the International Mountain Bicycling Association website (imba.com) or simply doing a Web search for trails in your area. "I don't care where you live -- Kentucky, Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma -- there are plenty of places you can go and get elevation gains," he says.

"You can find some really mild and easy stuff, and you can find other stuff that's downright gnarly," McNeil says.
Ads
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The best editorial I have ever read about the "cult of biking"(especially mountain biking)... Mike Vandeman[_4_] Mountain Biking 0 February 9th 13 04:44 PM
Unicycling Merit Badge? joemarshall Unicycling 10 November 27th 07 02:05 AM
The Times blog- Is Cycling With Children a Form of Child Abuse? spindrift UK 1 October 19th 07 08:30 AM
"Mountain biking is no more damaging than other forms of recreation, including hiking." Edward Dolan Recumbent Biking 127 July 7th 06 07:41 PM
Pinarello "P" Headtube badge (seat-tube) Scott Morrison Marketplace 0 February 14th 05 08:36 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:17 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.