KIDS: Let's Go Biking!

TY: Get Ready to Ride!

SYDNEI: Riding is fun. Everyone knows that.

TY: It's great to ride your bike just for fun

TY: around the neighborhood,

TY: on a greenway or on a trail at the park.

SYDNEI: But there are lots of other reasons

SYDNEI: why riding a bike is a great idea.

TY: Can you think of some?

DREW: It's good for me!

TY: That's right.

TY: It's good for your heart and muscles,

TY: and makes you stronger.

SEAN: It gets you where you want to go!

SYDNEI: Correct! Biking is a great form of transportation,

SYDNEI: it's faster than walking, and for short distances,

SYDNEI: it can even be easier than taking a car.

CYRANI: It's good for the environment!

TY: Absolutely! Riding a bike produces no pollution.

BRANDON: It gives me freedom!

SYDNEI: So true!

SYDNEI: Riding a bike is a great way

SYDNEI: to learn the rules of the road

SYDNEI: so you'll be ready when you learn to drive a car.

TY: So now we have all these good reasons to ride our bicycles

SYDNEI: What's the first thing we should do before we ride?

KIDS: Ask an adult!

CYRANI: Hey Grandma,

CYRANI: can we ride our bikes

CYRANI: instead of taking the car?

NOELIA: Hey Tito,

NOELIA: can we ride our bikes

NOELIA: to the new Nature Research Center?

DREW: Mom,

DREW: can Brandon and I ride our bikes

DREW: to the new science museum?

MOM: Sure.

SEAN: Hey Dad,

SEAN: can we ride our bikes

SEAN: to the new nature center?

DAD: Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

SYDNEI: Talk to an adult

SYDNEI: about where you want to go by bicycle,

SYDNEI: around the neighborhood,

SYDNEI: to visit a friend, to school, the park,

SYDNEI: or to the cool Nature Research Center.

TY: Your parents or adults in charge

TY: will decide if they need to go with you

TY: or give you permission to go by yourself.

SYDNEI: In Let's Go Biking,

SYDNEI: you are going to learn how to control your bicycle

SYDNEI: while thinking about traffic.

SYDNEI: You'll learn how to interact safely with traffic.

TY: You should practice these biking skills

TY: with an adult on driveways, sidewalks,

TY: or greenway trails until you can do them really well.

SYDNEI: Then when you have confidence in your skills,

SYDNEI: talk with your parents

SYDNEI: about whether you're ready to ride in the street.

SYNDEI: It is up to your parents

SYNDEI: to help you decide

SYNDEI: where you should ride.

SYDNEI: So you have permission to ride your bike somewhere.

TY: What's your next step?

KIDS: Plan a safe route!

SYDNEI: Think about the best way

SYDNEI: to get where you are going.

SYDNEI: Look at maps.

SYDNEI: Choose a route away from busy roads.

SYDNEI: Is there a greenway that you can use?

TY: If you're going to ride your bicycle

TY: to someplace often, like school or the library,

TY: plan the route you will take

TY: with your parents and follow it.

SYDNEI: Even if you have permission

SYDNEI: to bicycle without an adult,

SYDNEI: practice riding any new routes several times

SYDNEI: with a parent or older rider before doing it alone.

TY: Now you know where you're going,

TY: but before you go,

TY: you need a bicycle that is right for you.

KIDS: Have a bike that fits!

CYRANI: I love your bike.

SYDNEI: It's really important

SYDNEI: that you have a bicycle that fits you,

SYDNEI: and there are easy ways

SYDNEI: to check and see if your bike fits.

TY: If your bicycle has a diamond frame,

TY: you should be able to stand over the frame

TY: with 1 to 3 inches between you and the bike.

SYDNEI: If you have a step-through frame,

SYDNEI: adjust the seat up or down

SYDNEI: until you can sit comfortably.

SYDNEI: If you're just learning to ride a bicycle,

SYDNEI: both feet should be touching the ground

SYDNEI: when you sit on the seat.

TY: If you have more experience bicycling,

TY: set your seat so that when your foot is on the pedal

TY: in its lowest position, your leg is slightly bent.

TY: It's always ok to ask an adult

TY: to help you adjust your bicycle.

SYDNEI: So what are the first three important things

SYDNEI: that you need to do

SYDNEI: before you ride your bike?

SYDNEI: See if you can remember them all!

TY: Before you ride your bike you need to:

KIDS: Ask an adult!

KIDS: Plan a safe route!

KIDS: Have a bike that fits!

SYDNEI: Now it's time to do the "ABC Quick Check"

NOELIA: A is for Air.

ELLIE & CYRANI: B is for Brakes.

DREW & BRANDON: C is for Cranks, Chains, and Cogs.

SEAN: Quick is for Quick Release.

TY: You should do the "ABC Quick Check"

TY: every time you ride.

TY: First, A is for Air.

TY: Make sure your tires have enough air in them.

TY: If it's full, it should bounce back.

TY: If it needs air, it will sink in.

TY: You can find correct pressure

TY: written on the side wall of the tire.

TY: Make sure your pump fits the valve on your tire;

TY: then pump it up until you reach the right pressure.

TY: Next, spin the wheels.

TY: Each wheel should spin freely without much wobbling.

TY: Look for broken or missing spokes

TY: and bulges or bald spots on the tire.

NOELIA: My tires and wheels are ready to go!

SYDNEI: Next, B is for Brakes.

SYDNEI: Make sure your brakes will stop your bicycle.

SYDNEI: If you have coaster brakes,

SYDNEI: you check them by spinning the back wheel

SYDNEI: and pushing the pedal backwards.

SYDNEI: The wheel should stop.

SYDNEI: If you have hand brakes, squeeze the levers.

SYDNEI: They should work smoothly

SYDNEI: and be able to stop your wheel

SYDNEI: when you push your bike forward.

SYDNEI: Make sure the levers don't hit the handlebars.

SYDNEI: Check that the pads are clean,

SYDNEI: straight, and touch the rims properly.

SYDNEI: Brake pads that touch the tire

SYDNEI: can cause a blowout.

SYDNEI: Pads that go under the rim

SYDNEI: and contact the spokes

SYDNEI: can cause a crash.

ELLIE: My brakes are working great!

CYRANI: My brakes are ready to go!

TY: Then, C is for Cranks, Chains, and Cogs.

TY: Make sure your bicycle chain

TY: and gears are working smoothly.

TY: Grab the crank arms

TY: and try to wiggle them from side to side.

TY: There should be no movement.

TY: Make sure your chain isn't too loose or full of dirt.

TY: On a bike with hand brakes,

TY: spin the pedals and cranks backwards

TY: to see if the chain runs smoothly over the cogs.

TY: The chain should look like metal,

TY: not rust or black gunk.

TY: If your bike has more than one gear,

TY: shift between gears

TY: to make sure they work properly.

DREW: My cranks and chain are all set!

BRANDON: My gears are running smoothly!

SYDNEI: And last, Quick for Quick Release.

SYDNEI: Make sure any quick releases

SYDNEI: are tight and properly closed.

SYDNEI: You may have a quick release

SYDNEI: on the seat post or on the wheel.

SEAN: Our quick releases are tight!

TY: And that's the ABC Quick Check.

TY: Can you remember what each one