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Cycling · Intermediate · i5

Look after the bike

At home 20 min 1 and a grown-up One room

Ready when: Bike check and helmet (b1) done.

Start a session

What you are learning

Cleaning the bike, oiling the chain, checking the brakes and fixing a puncture. A rider who can mend a flat tyre and check the brakes after can get home on their own.

Words on this card Saddle, Brake lever, Puncture, Inner tube, Tyre lever
Saddle
The seat of the bike.
Brake lever
The levers on the handlebars that slow the wheels. Each lever works one wheel; check which is which.
Puncture
A hole in the tyre's inner tube that lets the air out.
Inner tube
The rubber ring inside the tyre that holds the air.
Tyre lever
A small flat tool for lifting a tyre off the wheel rim.

Set up

A soft brush, soapy water, a rag, chain lube; tyre levers, a patch kit or a spare tube, a pump.

Weather: indoors or dry ground

The base setup for cycling

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Wipe the bike and drip lube on the chain while turning the pedals backwards.
  2. Take the wheel out and slide a tyre lever under the edge of the tyre, not the tube; run it round to lift the tyre off.
  3. Pull the tube out, find the hole, patch it or fit a new tube.
  4. Refit the tyre and wheel, pump it up, spin the wheel and test both brakes.

Your part while they practise

Hold the bike. Leave brake pad and cable adjustment to the bike shop.

Step by step

  1. Wipe the bike clean.
  2. Lube the chain while turning the pedals backwards.
  3. Check the brake pads, cables, chain and lights.
  4. Take the wheel out; find and patch the hole, or fit a new tube.
  5. Refit the wheel and pump to pressure.
  6. Check the wheel spins freely and the brakes work.

How much: 1 clean and 1 wheel refit 20 min a session 1 day a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Name the parts

The parent points, the child names the part and the tool that fixes it.

Who plays: the child against you; swap roles halfway.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. You point at a part: tyre, tube, chain, brake pad, brake lever, cable, saddle, pedal
  2. The child names it and the tool or job that fixes it
  3. 10 parts, then swap
Fair play
A grown-up must also say how often the part should be checked.
Points
1 point for the right name; 1 point for the right tool or job.
Fouls
No points for that part
  • Guessing a tool for a job the bike shop should do (worn brake pads, disc brakes, a bent wheel)
  • Touching a hot or moving part
Winning
More points after 10 parts each.
Stars
  1. 8 points for 1 star
  2. 14 points for 2 stars
  3. 18 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Cleaning and checks only.

Harder

Fix a real puncture with a patch.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the lever pinches the tube Lever under the tyre, not the tubeA pinched tube gets a new hole.
  • the wheel rubs after refitting Spin it, check it runs freeRe-seat the wheel straight.
  • the brakes are not tested after Wheel in, then test the brakesSqueeze each lever and push the bike.

Self-check

3

The child refits the wheel, it spins freely and both brakes stop it, 3 times.

Stop and get a coach when

Worn pads, disc brakes or a bent wheel: the bike shop.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains basic maintenance.

awiseathlete.com/sports/cycling/cycling-i5