DISGreece
veteran
Reged: 26/01/2009
Posts: 1261
Loc: Greece
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after an extremely busy couple of months at work (among other things), I found myself volunteering for the local summer activities camp the local council runs through the summer.
It's directed at (parents who need somewhere to dump their young ones while at work) kids between the ages of 7 and 13 and involces a variety of sporting activities.
I've volunteered to do a couple of MTB sessions per week.
Soooooo.....
WHAT DO I DO????? 
I've thought of the first meeting. Check bikes and inform about necessary equipment. And even talk about right of way etc on the local tracks.
Im trying to get the cops to organise a road awareness thing too.
Then... off we goooooo!!!!
Hopefully, this will attract a few more to the sport and even get the older kids round here to take a more serious interest in the sport.
I also plan to organise Saturday morning rides for the more advanced kids and eventually get a proper club up and running (with the help of the local council of course!)
Got a LBS interested in giving us a short intro to bike maintenance and cleaning too.
Any ideas on what else I could do would be much welcomed.
and does anyone know of any track design books (especially for raised wooden sections)??
Thanks
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Ride hard but avoid the hikers 
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fredmundo
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 30/06/2008
Posts: 2629
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... nice plan. Getting paid to employ child labour to custom build you a noth shore section!
ermm.. I think that a bit of basic trail side first aid would also be useful.. beinghonest.. you will fall off and if you are unlucky then you might find that you get injured a little more than a bruise.
You may be able to get some st john to volunteer to help? it may cost though... defo worth a try.
For road awarenes look into bikeability.. i know that sheffiled city council pays for a private 1-1 2hr session, maybe your council does too. Maybe you can organise it so that several kids are in one place at the same time...
...errm just realied you are in greece, so it may be a bit of a waste but surely you greeks must have something similar.
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"Duct tape is like the force: It has a dark side and a light side and it holds the universe together."- Carl Zwanzig
Edited by fredmundo (16/06/2009 12:50)
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DISGreece
veteran
Reged: 26/01/2009
Posts: 1261
Loc: Greece
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Getting paid!!! No chance - I've volunteered and will probably end up sponsoring the team too!!!
as for the child labour bit...Mmmmm????
Thanks for the first aid tip.. had overlooked that...
I usually just leave my wounds open to the elements and forget about them, but some of the parents might not like that attitude!!
as for road safety course - they used to be run free in the UK in the school playground by Mr Plod!!!
There are specially designed playgrounds here but nobody seems interested in running the course properly.
QAny more suggestions welcome
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Ride hard but avoid the hikers
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tricks
old hand
Reged: 17/05/2008
Posts: 853
Loc: Durham
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Teach them how to fall, to save getting a bad injury.
Don’t know if this is silly but what about some sort of treasure hunt but on bikes. Teach them how to read maps 1st (just basic map reading) then let then lose to find all your clues and have a little prize at the end. If you did it in say 2 groups if would help with team building and teach them the main rule in bike riding - not to leave anyone behind, you would only need 2 adults one for each team to make sure they don’t act up or try and kill themselves.
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Caution this b**ch bites!!!!
HIT LIST!! 
*Sir_Queuesalot (Due to spitting his dummy out for not being on the hit list)
*VT1_DOC
*TF90 (weaker sex HA)
*The bird in off beat bikes (Fort Bill)
*Gorehound - for the Rachel Stevens comment!!
FRIENDS LIST
*Tango - As he has joined the nice side!
*Sir_Queuesalot - I couldn't handle seeing more Puss in boots!
*Fredmundo - admitting girls are far more superior than boys
*DISGreece - sick of being hit by his dummy!
*Greeneye - Cause of the guilt trip you sent me on
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DISGreece
veteran
Reged: 26/01/2009
Posts: 1261
Loc: Greece
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Dont know about the falling off bit - prefer teaching them how not to fall (like I did earlier this morning!!  )like how to ride through ruts etc.
As for the treasure hunt.. sounds fun and it shouldnt be too difficult to organise. Thanks
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Ride hard but avoid the hikers
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tricks
old hand
Reged: 17/05/2008
Posts: 853
Loc: Durham
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When I say fall of I mean in a safe way so if they do get into as situation when they are going to fall at least if they know how to fall safely then they won’t hurt themselves as much. It’s something gore is about to teach me as I’m making a habit of falling at the moment and it bloody hurts.
I use to go to something similar as a kid but it was horse riding and one of the 1st things we had to learn was to fall off and get out of the way of the horse. Not much difference in a horse standing on you to 3 or 4 other bikers!
Something else we use to do was little competitions and you would get marks out of 10 for different skills (skills we had been taught by the camp) you could do the same with bikes.
--------------------
Caution this b**ch bites!!!!
HIT LIST!!
*Sir_Queuesalot (Due to spitting his dummy out for not being on the hit list)
*VT1_DOC
*TF90 (weaker sex HA)
*The bird in off beat bikes (Fort Bill)
*Gorehound - for the Rachel Stevens comment!!
FRIENDS LIST
*Tango - As he has joined the nice side!
*Sir_Queuesalot - I couldn't handle seeing more Puss in boots!
*Fredmundo - admitting girls are far more superior than boys
*DISGreece - sick of being hit by his dummy!
*Greeneye - Cause of the guilt trip you sent me on
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fredmundo
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 30/06/2008
Posts: 2629
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The treasure hunt bit is a great idea, map skills are invaluable. As well as tips like how to use your watch as a compass in case you have lost yours.
Of be interested to know the proper way to fall off a bike, my technique generally involves flailing limbs... I know the basics of how to roll, but I'm not sure if it will work from a bike.
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"Duct tape is like the force: It has a dark side and a light side and it holds the universe together."- Carl Zwanzig
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joespencer33
enthusiast
Reged: 18/08/2008
Posts: 327
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I've seen people doing bike orienteering (theres a whole like legue around here). You could even put bike kit as the "treasure"-only small things like puncture repair kits etc.
I would my falling technique is more-urgghh urrrghhhh arggggghhhhhh TREE! 
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There are 3 types of people in this world-Those who can count and those who can't
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greeneye
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 4418
Loc: occupation: unemployed!!
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hi DIS, top marks from me for volunteering in amongst a busy scheduel.
i think tricks has a cracking idea there, a treasure hunt is fun and stimulating to keep the kids interested.
kids love to get there hands on stuff to fix and in my experiance a bike is no different, a few simple checks on there bikes before they get on them will leave them feelin they know what there doing. it works for me 
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ONE LIFE....LIVE IT!!
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DISGreece
veteran
Reged: 26/01/2009
Posts: 1261
Loc: Greece
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Thanks to all for your ideas.
Am already working on a route for true MTB beginners, and have a few ideas for the treasure hunt.
Still working on the PC Plod thing... may even do it myself!!
Dont know if Ive learned Basic Falling 1.0 yet - got far too many scratches and bruises to set a good example
Im a lot further forward than I was - so the post worked!!!
Just one more question though... trail building ideas - are there any good books you can recommend?
Thanks again!! 
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Ride hard but avoid the hikers
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rb2000
old hand
Reged: 25/09/2008
Posts: 784
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http://www.imba.org.uk/Trailbuilding/Manuals.html
thats all you'll ever need
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Keep it pinned...
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DISGreece
veteran
Reged: 26/01/2009
Posts: 1261
Loc: Greece
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Have been looking at the trailbuilding manual - have you seen one? 272 pages and loads of pics etc... Have to order one!
Thanks
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Ride hard but avoid the hikers
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rb2000
old hand
Reged: 25/09/2008
Posts: 784
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ye, its an awesome book, enjoy
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Keep it pinned...
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