TRAINING WHEELS
CRANBERRY TWP — Children checked in, tuned up and rolled out at the fifth annual Bike Rodeo in Community Park Saturday.
The free event offered parents a yearly bicycle safety check for their children.
Helmets were checked for proper fit and condition, bicycles were tuned up to working order and the children themselves rolled through an obstacle course designed to test and improve their skills.
The course is designed by Sgt. Bill Ahlgren of the Cranberry Township Police Department. Ahlgren rides a bicycle through the township as part of his police duties. He used ideas from official police bike training to design the course.
“At our bike rodeo, we use a continuous course that allows the kids to have fun and work on their skills,” Ahlgren said. “The course is designed to work on balance and control of the bike.”
The event is a collaboration between five groups: Ahlgren's police department, Cranberry's Elks Lodge, AAA, Cranberry Township EMS and Trek Bicycles.
First, participating children visited a tent where volunteers checked their helmets. Terry Liersaph, an Elk member, said they routinely shock parents when they inform them of their child's ill-fitting helmet.“They're even more surprised when we give them a new one for free,” Liersaph said.Then, public safety workers gave a quick lesson on hand signals and other commuting tips. From there, participants lined up for a free bicycle tuneup before hitting the course.
Caroline Schmitt of Cranberry Township said she brings her children every year.“The kids love the challenging courses,” Schmitt said. “I don't mind the tuneups, because they're hard on their bikes.”One of her kids got a new helmet at the event this year. Workers found that he had outgrown his old one.That kind of catch is the goal of the event, according to Ahlgren. Well, that and enjoying a nice ride.“They've honed their skills, and they're learning at the same time,” Ahlgren said. “And they don't even realize it.”
