Bike Camp Information
for Caregivers

Prior to the start of the iCan Bike Week

• Watch the 10 minute video on the next tab entitled ‘Selecting the Most Suitable Bike for Learning’ to learn what features to look for in purchasing an appropriate bike for your rider.
• Read the tab entitled “Choosing a Bike” which includes a list of recommended makes and models of bikes and take it with you when purchasing a bike.
• Read the tab entitled “Choosing a Helmet” to ensure you know how the bike helmet should fit as you may need to assist your rider with putting on their helmet after camp.
• Rider will receive a free properly fitted bike helmet the first day of camp.

NOTE: If your rider has not worn a helmet before and/or has a hard time wearing one, start practicing now! You can start small and build up the amount of time they wear their helmet. Make ‘helmet time’ fun and this can even be something the whole family joins in on!

During the iCan Bike Week

• Don’t forget your rider’s helmet!  We’ve got this covered for you as we keep the helmet at camp each day!
• Limit anxiety by arriving 5-10 minutes before the session start time to sign in, get a name tag and meet and greet your rider’s assigned volunteers.
• Be prepared – snack, water and restroom stop before your session.
• Make sure to attend all 5 days of the program. Every day is important.
• Bring riders bike to the program as early as possible for transition at end of the week.
• Dress rider for bike riding (shorts, t-shirt, sneakers). No open toe shoes are permitted. Baggy pants, and long skirts or dresses are prone to catching in the gears or chain of the bike and pose a safety hazard.
• Make sure the rider gets adequate sleep & nourishment. It’s hard work riding a bike for 75 minutes.
• Parents/guardians may be asked to leave the riding area if their presence is a distraction to the rider’s ability to remain focused. Please don’t take it personal as our mutual goal is to get your rider riding by the end of the program. We will consult with you and make this decision together.
• No biking at home this week. Only biking at the bike program.
• Do not introduce any new activities this week because we do not want to overload the rider with too many new skills. Learning to ride a bike takes a lot of motor planning and processing.
• Talk about each day’s activities at home. Help set goals for the next day (e.g., number of laps, time on the bike before breaks, etc.)
• Discuss rewards for riding (immediate and long term). Be prepared to offer ideas to the staff if motivation is needed during the week.
• A parent or guardian must remain on site during the program in case of emergency and to offer support to their rider. Also, you won’t want to miss the progress your rider makes and the first time they are on two wheels!
• After the program week many riders will still need the assistance of a person running alongside. Identify this person and have them at camp on Friday, dressed for running. iCan Bike staff will train your family designee to spot the rider.
• Celebrate! It is quite an achievement learning to ride a two-wheel bike in only 5 days. Bring family members on Friday to join in the celebration.

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How Parents & Guardians Can Help

Riders Need a Bike

All riders must have an appropriate personal bike brought to camp and available for use in the iCan Bike program by no later than Thursday (Day #4). Our goal is to transition all riders to their personal bike towards the latter part of the iCan Bike program such that they are comfortable with the bike they will be riding at home after day #5.

Also, to retain and sharpen their newly learned bike riding skill, it is very important that each rider spend at least 15 minutes bike riding each of the three days immediately following camp.

Research shows that for each of the three days immediately following camp that a rider does not ride at least 15 minutes, the chances of losing this valuable skill increases by approximately 10%.

While iCan Bike provides the bikes that the rider will use during the camp week, an important part of our program is transitioning the rider from our bikes to their own family bike. It is important that the rider is comfortable and confident on their own bike in order to begin practicing immediately following the program.

Bike shops offer the best selection of our recommended bikes. A good quality bike is more likely to be ridden as it is more comfortable and less likely to be in disrepair.  Selecting a bike can be challenging. Some basic ideas and design characteristics to consider when selecting the most suitable bike for learning are listed below.

• Choose the largest bike upon which your rider can place both feet flat on the ground while sitting on the seat. This gives the rider the ability to put both feet down when they feel insecure or when the bike comes to a stop, helping them feel safe and confident.
  • Bikes are sized by the diameter of the tire, not the frame. This means your rider might not fit the same on all bikes even if they have the same tire size. The best way to find the right sized bike is to bring your rider with you and have them sit on the bike.
• Choose a low-slung and compact frame. This is for ease of getting on and off the bike while still promoting an upright riding posture. The handlebars should be noticeably higher than the seat. The smaller bikes (16” & 20”) may be called a youth or junior style bike. The larger sized bikes (24” & 26”) may be referred to as cruiser bikes.
• The pedals, at their highest point, should be no more than ¾ the height of the tire. Pedals higher than this cause the rider’s feet and knees to elevate too high with each rotation. This results in the rider’s weight shifting from side to side making it more difficult to maintain balance.
• Choose a bike with handbrakes. It is easier for most riders to differentiate the two motor skills of “feet go forward” to make the bike go and “squeeze with the hand” to make the bike stop. However, not all bikes will accept handbrakes, but many can have one installed. Consult your local bike shop to determine that. Be sure to understand the return policy on your bike, especially for Big Box Stores, if later you find that you cannot install an appropriate handbrake.
• 16” and 20” bikes should have a handbrake connected to the back wheel. A front wheel handbrake can be dangerous and may cause the rider to fall over the handlebars with an abrupt stop. All front handbrakes on 16” and 20” family bikes will be disengaged at the program.
• 24” and 26” cruiser bikes are safe with a handbrake to either or both tires.
• Avoid competition (BMX), freestyle, and mountain bikes. They are difficult to ride and not suitable for learning. The frame is taller and stretched out making it difficult for riders to get on and off. The length of the frame, along with the seat and handlebars being at the same height, forces riders to lean forward to reach the handlebars. This can be a difficult position for novice riders to balance. The pedal cranks are also too long, again making balance more difficult. BMX bikes are designed for riding while standing and mountain bikes are for riding in extreme steeply inclined environments – neither good for learning riders.
• As long as the bike is the correct fit and allows your rider to sit in an upright position with handlebars higher than the seat (NOT leaned forward pushing down onto the handlebars) bikes with gears usually do not cause riders any issues. There is a slight chance riders may pedal backwards or play with the gears while riding but your iCan Shine staff will be able to give you insight on your riders pedaling and if they think a bike with gears would be too difficult for your rider.

NOTE: Be sure the rider likes the selected bike!

Modifications to get the perfect fit

• Change the bike seat to be wider and/or softer for comfort.
• Change the seat to be smaller or narrower to help the rider’s feet completely reach the ground if needed. This will potentially provide the needed reach to allow the rider to fit on a larger bike with both feet flat on the ground.
• Remove the seat post reflector, allowing the seat to be adjusted lower.
• For riders that appear to be leaning forward reaching for the handlebars, consider adding a stem riser which will provide a more upright riding position, making it easier to balance.

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Selecting the Right Bike & Helmet (includes Recommended Bikes List)

A properly fitted bike helmet is required for all riders at iCan Bike programs. We strongly recommend that all individuals riding a bicycle wear a helmet, regardless of how short the ride may be. Even a low-speed accident can result in a serious head injury. Be a good role model and always wear a helmet when you are riding a bike.

• There are different helmets for different recreational activities. Each type of helmet is made to protect your head from the impacts common to a particular activity or sport. Skateboard helmets protect the back of your head, which is the most common location for skateboarding head injuries. They are designed for multiple low speed impacts. Bike helmets are designed to protect the front of the head, the most common area of most biking injuries. Bike helmets are designed for higher speed single impacts.
• Buy a helmet that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards for biking. There should be a sticker inside the helmet or identified on the helmet box.

Bike Helmet Fit

The two-finger rule is an easy guide for proper fit. You should be able to:

• Place two fingers between the eyebrows and helmet. This ensures proper placement on the head, not too far forward or backward. Helmet should fit firmly and level on the rider’s head.
• Hold two fingers in a peace sign “V” with the bottom of the “V” just below the ear lobe. This is where the side straps of the helmet should be when the helmet is on the rider.
• Insert two fingers between the chin strap and chin. The strap should be tight enough to secure the helmet, but not so tight as to constrict, pinch, or be uncomfortable.
• Helmets should be adjusted to fit each individual’s head. After adjusting, the helmet should fit securely and not shift on the head.
• Before each ride, a helmet should be checked and adjusted, if necessary.
• Helmets should be replaced if subjected to a severe blow, even if it doesn’t appear to have damage. One cannot often see if the structural integrity has been compromised. Some manufacturers use the mantra “one crash and it’s trash.”

Post Camp Riding Tips

By the end of the iCan Bike week, some individuals are still developing and improving skills such as maintaining balance, self-starting, turning both directions easily, or coming to a controlled stop on their own. In our experience, individuals with disabilities go through a longer learning process, as compared to their typically-developing peers, in becoming comfortable and proficient bike riders. New riders coming out of our program require assistance and nurturing.

Key things that should be considered include the following:

• Make sure the rider has a bike suitable for learning.
• If recommended by the iCan Bike Floor Supervisor, purchase a bike training handle to facilitate proper spotting after the program.
• Initially practice on a large flat surface, such as an empty parking lot or running track.
• Schedule frequent and fun bike rides. Daily is ideal.
• If your rider falls, get them right back on the bike as quickly as possible. The more time that passes, the more difficult it is to overcome their fear.
• Always wear a helmet. This includes all family bike riders! Be a good role model and protect yourself as well.
• Select a time of day where the temperature will be comfortable.
• Make the biking activities a social event and include family members and friends whenever possible.

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Post iCan Bike Spotting Tips

Home Remedy for Struggling Riders