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Cycling Equipment The sport of cycling requires the type of sporting equipment indicated below. It is important for athletes to be able to recognize and understand how equipment for the specific events works and impacts their performance. As you show each piece of equipment, have your athletes name and give the use for each. To reinforce this ability, have the athletes select the equipment used for their events as well.     Bicycle   There are several different types of bicycles used by Special Olympics athletes. Your riders may be using any one of the following bicycles:   Road Bicycle The drop-style handlebars allow the athlete to ride in a more aerodynamic position. Typically, road bicycles have narrow, high-pressure tires better suited for riding on pavement. Road bicycles can have as many as 30 different gears. Road bicycles are most appropriate for athletes who have higher skill levels.     Mountain Bicycle or Hybrid Bicycle These bicycles have upright and relatively straight handlebars offering a more comfortable position. Typically, these bicycles have heavier wheels and tires with more tread, which are slower on the pavement. Three chainrings on the front sprocket is common and allows for up to 27 gears.     Tandem Bicycle This is the classic bicycle built for two people, which is available in both road and mountain bicycle styles.   Hand Cycle and Tricycle A three-wheeled bicycle (tricycle), typically chain -by the athlete, is equipped with one wheel in the front and two wheels in the back. This may allow an athlete with balance challenges to safely cycle. A hand cycle is a three-wheeled cycle with standard bicycle drive train and standard bicycle crank arms. The hand cycle is operated by pedaling and shifting using only the upper body.     Pedals   Pedals can be found in three types: platform, platform pedal with toe clip and strap, and clipless. Coaches should encourage athletes using platform pedals with toe clip and straps to upgrade to clipless pedals. Double-sided mountain bicycle pedals are easiest to use and can be paired with a mountain bicycle or touring shoe that is safe and comfortable to walk in.     Tires   Tires come in a variety of widths, diameters and tread profiles. Each variety of tire, along with its corresponding tire pressure, offers different characteristics. A narrow high-pressure tire offers the least amount of rolling resistance. For athletes using a mountain bike, a high-pressure smooth-profile tire will be most efficient for riding on pavement. Coaches should encourage athletes to have spare inner tubes correctly sized for their tires in case of a flat.       Saddlebag   The cyclist should be ready for small mechanical problems while training. Your cyclist's bicycle should be equipped with a small saddlebag with a few basic tools. Items are listed below.   The Basic Saddlebag   Item Quantity Spare inner tubes Minimum one, two or more. Tire levers Two or three Identification Card with name and phone number Patch kit (tapered edge patches) One kit, but purchase extra glue tubes CO2 Cartridge (to inflate spare tube) One inflator, three cartridges       Tool Kit Portable tool box or bag Spoke wrench Freewheel removal tools Freehub lockring tool, if Hyperglide-type freehub Chain whip Chain tool Screwdriver for derailleur adjustment Crank-arm bolt wrench (3/8" drive ratchet with socket to fit); crank-arm puller Allen keys: 3, 4, 5, and 6mm; 7 and 8mm may be needed for certain parts Combination wrenches, especially 8, 9, and 10mm; adjustable wrenches (6 and 12-inch) Pedal wrench (do not substitute cone wrench for pedal wrench) Metric tape measure (to measure positioning changes) Plumb bob (simply a weight with cord, again to track position changes) Permanent marking pen (for marking wheels, jerseys, underwear, etc.) Bicycle floor pump (needs to fit both types of tire valves: Schrader and Presta) Spare tires and tubes Seat-post binder bolt (spare) Chain lubricant, bicycle grease Electrical tape Safety pins       Equipment Accessories Bicycle computer Frame pump or CO2 cartridge inflator Cones (traffic and marking) Stopwatches Clipboards Whistles Beverage cooler First aid kit Push broom Duct tape

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