Tips for Riding a Three-wheel Cycle
Special Olympics encourages coaches to teach their athletes to ride a two-wheel bicycle, if possible. Spend a little time at each practice section working with the athlete riding the tricycle to try and transition that athlete to a bicycle; when this is no longer fun, go back to the tricycle. Common concerns about tricycle use:
- Three-wheel cycles are heavier than a standard bicycle and require more power to get up to speed.
- At higher speeds, changing direction can be unstable and dangerous.
- Three-wheel cycles are not allowed in non-Special Olympics cycling events.
- Maintenance can be harder due to parts availability.
- Transportation can be more difficult.
There are many methods for teaching someone to ride a two-wheeler. One successful way is to find a bicycle of the right size that your athlete can comfortably sit on the seat while touching the ground with both feet. This may mean using a bike that is normally too small for the rider, but for learning, it can add confidence and security. It is now best to remove the pedals, crank and chain, which allows the rider easy and clear access to the ground with the feet. (It is preferable to have your athlete in long pants and a long-sleeve shirt during this learning phase.) Find a very slight decline and have the rider scooter back and forth using the feet for propulsion. When the athlete is able to go down the slight downhill with feet off the ground, it is time to re-install the pedals so the athlete can learn to use themto move the bicycle forward. If you are frequently teaching someone to learn how to ride a two-wheeler, it may be best to have a small bicycle set up for this purpose. Be prepared to demonstrate; set up a bike for you to use for this drill.
Training wheels are probably the most common method for learning to ride a bicycle. One advantage of this method is that the training wheels make the bicycle more stable, which makes the rider more confident. For example, a stopped bicycle without training wheels will not stand up. As the rider gains balance, the training wheels may be raised up in small increments. Just remember that cornering at speed with training wheels may require more caution.
Different cyclists will best learn different skills by different methods of teaching. It is your challenge as a coach to learn the most efficient way to teach your riders. Some will need much more verbal explanation, while others will learn simply by example. Breaking down the skills into steps will simplify the teaching process as well as provide positive reinforcement to the athlete who has performed some steps but may not yet be ready to acquire the entire skill.
