The Chainlink

Cycling Merit Badge

Did you know that Boy Scouts can earn a cycling merit badge?  

here are the requirements (seems like a good list to me):

  1. 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, snakebites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Clean and adjust a bicycle. Prepare it for inspection using a bicycle safety checklist. Be sure the bicycle meets local laws.
  3. 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 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.
  4. Describe how to brake safely with foot brakes and with hand brakes.
  5. Show how to repair a flat. Use an old bicycle tire.
  6. Take a road test with your counselor and demonstrate the following:
    1. Properly 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 safely ride along a row of parked cars.
    6. Cross railroad tracks properly.
  7. Describe your state’s traffic laws for bicycles. Compare them with motor-vehicle laws. Know the bicycle-safety guidelines.
  8. 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.*
  9. 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.

* The bicycle must have all required safety features. It must be registered as required by your local traffic laws.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by nhylc on August 1, 2010 at 6:28pm
heh... something like that... Scouting made me very fearful of the military, as it basically is soldier-in-training. i am with you on the catholic church thing as well....

Joe TV said:
very patriotic thumbnail there nhylc - did Scouting have the same effect on you as the Catholic church did on me?
nhylc said:
former eagle... i have this badge as well...
Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on August 1, 2010 at 6:33pm
Good thing the Soviet Union didn't have an army.
Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on August 1, 2010 at 7:30pm
"1. 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, snakebites, blisters, and hyperventilation. "

I highly reccomend adding treating saddle sores onto that list. Perhaps dealing with a farm dog chasing you on the 50 miler would be helpful too.
Permalink Reply by dan brown on August 2, 2010 at 11:25am
I volunteered with both my sons and several other boy scouts at the elroy-sparta trail in wisconsin
to have all earn the badge, it was great, we camped at the trailhead.

the coolest part ? at the general store where you got your tent permist - they sold bumper stickers that read "my other car is a bike". seriously.


DB

Not Nathan Fillion (aka Paul) said:
"1. 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, snakebites, blisters, and hyperventilation. "

I highly reccomend adding treating saddle sores onto that list. Perhaps dealing with a farm dog chasing you on the 50 miler would be helpful too.
Permalink Reply by Gecko on August 2, 2010 at 2:44pm
Got the cycling merit badge as well. It was pretty easy for our troop as we all pretty much lived on our bikes already anyway. The parents who went with us for the longer rides were pretty sore though. My favorite rides were definitely our xc mtb excursions though, which is where I fell in love...

...with riding through the woods really fast.

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