Cycling Merit Badge Guide

The Cycling Merit Badge is an elite honor. It is among three badges (cycling, swimming, and also hiking) that a Scout can gain to rise to the rank of Eagle Scout. An Eagle Scout is the highest rank achievable by a Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

The badge requirements are physically challenging as the Scout has to finish two 10-mile rides, 2 15-mile rides, two 25-mile flights, and one 50-mile trip that must be completed in under eight hrs.

A lot of scout soldiers in the Atlanta location use the Alpharetta Greenway or the Silver Comet Path for training as well as prep work.

Along with building up to a 50-mile bike ride over a number of months, scouts should discover a selection of skills from standard bike safety and security to bike upkeep and first aid.

Cycling Merit Badge Requirements

1. Do the following:
   • Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in cycling activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
   • Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while cycling, including cuts, scratches, blisters, sunburn, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebite. Explain to your counselor why you should be able to identify the poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area.
   • Explain the importance of wearing a properly sized and fitted helmet while cycling, and of wearing the right clothing for the weather. Know the BSA Bike Safety Guidelines.
2. Clean and adjust a bicycle. Prepare it for inspection using a bicycle safety checklist. Be sure the bicycle meets local laws.
3. Show your bicycle to your counselor for inspection. Point out the adjustments or repairs you have made. Do the following:
   • Show all points that need regular lubrication.
   • Show points that should be checked regularly to make sure the bicycle is safe to ride.
   • Show how to adjust brakes, seat level and height, and steering tube.
4. Describe how to brake safely with foot brakes and with hand brakes.
5. Show how to repair a flat by removing the tire, replacing or patching the tube, and remounting the tire.
6. Describe your state and local traffic laws for bicycles. Compare them with motor-vehicle laws.
7. Using the BSA buddy system, complete all of the requirements for ONE of the following options: road biking or mountain biking.

Option A: Road Biking

1. Take a road test with your counselor and demonstrate the following:
   • Properly mount, pedal, and brake, including emergency stops.
   • On an urban street with light traffic, properly execute a left turn from the center of the street; also demonstrate an alternate left-turn technique used during periods of heavy traffic.
   • Properly execute a right turn.
   • Demonstrate appropriate actions at a right-turn-only lane when you are continuing straight.
   • Show proper curbside and road-edge riding. Show how to ride safely along a row of parked cars.
   • Cross railroad tracks properly.
2. Avoiding main highways, take two rides of 10 miles each, two rides of 15 miles each, and two rides of 25 miles each. You must make a report of the rides taken. List dates for the routes traveled, and interesting things seen.
3. After completing requirement b for the road biking option, do ONE of the following:
   • The layout on a road map a 50-mile trip. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in eight hours.
   • Participate in an organized bike tour of at least 50 miles. Make this ride in eight hours. Afterward, use the tour’s cue sheet to make a map of the ride.

Option B: Mountain Biking

1. Take a trail ride with your counselor and demonstrate the following:
   • Properly mount, pedal, and brake, including emergency stops.
   • Show shifting skills as applicable to climbs and obstacles.
   • Show proper trail etiquette to hikers and other cyclists, including when to yield the right-of-way.
   • Show proper technique for riding up and downhills.
   • Demonstrate how to correctly cross an obstacle by either going over the obstacle on your bike or dismounting your bike and crossing over or around the obstacle.
   • Cross rocks, gravel, and roots properly.
2. Describe the rules of trail riding, including how to know when a trail is unsuitable for riding.
3. On trails approved by your counselor, take two rides of 2 miles each, two rides of 5 miles each, and two rides of 8 miles each. You must make a report of the rides taken. List dates for the routes traveled, and interesting things seen.
4. After fulfilling the previous requirement, layout on a trail map a 22-mile trip. You may include multiple trail systems if needed. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in six hours.

Cycling and First Aid

While cyclists can prepare for their rides by keeping their bodies and bikes fit and by planning their routes, sometimes first-aid situations will arise, and all riders should be prepared to take action.

Check it out for answers cycling merit badge.

1. Cuts and Scrapes

Cuts and Scrapes (abrasions) Cuts may be caused by knive, razors, or broken glass. An abrasion is a wound that occurs as a result of the outer layers of the skin being rubbed or scraped off.

Surface, for example when bicyclist falls onto the pavement. The wound may not bleed very much. The greatest danger lies in contamination and possible infection of the wound.

To protect your self from cuts and scrapes, dress appropriately for the activity. For intance, boots, jeans, gloves, long-sleeved shirt.

A few simple precautions can help you avoid the pain of the treatment and healing process. treat a minor cut or scrape by flushing the area with clean water for at least five minutes, or until all foreign matter appears to be washed away.

Apply triple antibiotic ointment if the person has no known allergies or sensitivities to the medication, and then cover with a dry, sterile dressing and bandage or with an adhesive bandage.

2. Sunburn

Sunburn is a common injury among people who enjoy being outdoors. Most sunburns are first-degree burns, but prolonged exposure to the sun can cause blistering a second degree burn.

Repeated sunburns over a long period of time can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.

People with lighter skin are most at risk, although others are not immune. Treat painfun sunburn as for any heat burn or with cool, damp or wet cloths, change the cloths frequently.

Prevent further injury by getting the person under shade. if no shade is available of you are out on a hiking or boating trip, have the person wear a brimmed hat, pants, and a long sleeved shirt for protection from the sun.

3. Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body is losing more heat then it can generate. Exposure to the cold and dehydration are a couple of contributing factors to hypothermia.

Wind, rain, hunger, and exhaustion can further compound the danger. A biker caught out in a cold, windy rain shower without proper rain gear can be at great risk.

A hypothermia victim may experience numbness, fatigue, irritability, slurred speech, uncontrollable shivering, poor judgment or decision making, and loss of consciousness.

After calling for help, use any or all of the following methods to help rewarm the person:

• If fully conscious and able to swallow, have the person drink warm liquids (soup, fruit juices, water; no alcohol or caffeine).
• Move the person to a shelter, replace wet clothing with dry, warm clothes or wrap the person in anything handy like jackets or a sleeping bag.
• wrap towels around water bottles filled with warm fluid, the position the bottles in the armpit and groin areas.

4. Frosbite

Frostbite occurs when the skin is exposed to temperatures cold enough that ice crystals begin to form in the tissues. The ears, nose, fingers, or feet might feel painful or numb, though the person may not notice any such sensation.

Grayish-white patches on the skin signal the first stage of frostbite or frosnip. To treat frostbite, remove wet clothing and wrap the injured area in a dry blanket.

Get the victim under the care of a physician as soon as possible. Do not massage the area or rub it with snow.

Rewarm the area only if there isno chance of refreezing. Expose the area to warm (100 to 105 F) water until normal color returns and it feels warm.

Bandage the area loosely with dry, sterile gauze between fingers and toes. To treat frostnip, move the victim into a tent or building, then warm the injured area.

To rewarm an ear or cheek, remove a glove and cover the area with the palm of your hand. Slip a frostnipped hand under your clothing and tuck it beneath an armpit.

Treat frost nipped toes by putting the victim’s bare feet against the warm skin of your belly.

5. Dehydration

When we lose move water than we take in, we become dehydrated, Symptoms of mild dehydration include increased thirst, dry lips, and dark yellow urine.

Symptoms of moderate toserve dehydration include severe thirst, dry mouth with little saliva, dry skin, weakness, dizziness, confusion, nausea, cramping, loss of appetite, decreased sweating (even with exertion), decreased urine production, and dark brown urine.

For mild dehydration, drink a quart or two of water of sports drink over two to four hours. Rest dor 24 hours and continue drinking fluids.

See a physician for moderate toserve dehydration, which requires emergency care; the victim will deed intravenous fluids.

6. Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion can be brought on by a combination of dehydration and a warm envirinment. Symptoms include a severe lack of energy, general weakness, headachem nauseam faintness, and sweating like cool, pale, moist skin , and a rapid pulse.

To treat heat exhaustion, get the person in a shady, cool spot. Encourage the victim to drink small amounts of fluids, such as cool water or a sports drink.

Apply water to the skin and clothing and fan the person. Raising the legs may help prevent a feeling of faintness.

Usually after two or three hours of rest and fluids, the victim will feel better bu should rest for the remainder of the day and be extra careful about staying hydrated.

7. Heatstroke

In heatsroke, the body’s cooling system begins to fail and the person’s core temperature rises to life-threatening levels (above 105 degrees).

dehydration and overexertion in hot weather, especially in high humidity, can lead to heatstroke.

Symptoms can include an symptoms of heat exhaustion as well as hot, sweaty , red skin, confusion, disorientation, and a rapid pulse.

If you suspect someone is suffering from heatstroke, call for medical assistance immediately. Then quickly work to lower the victim’s temperature.

Move the person to a shady, cool area. Loosen tight clothing, fan the victim, and apply wet lowels. If you have ice packs, wrap them under the armpits and against the neck and groin.

If the person is able to drink, give small amounts of cool water.

8. Blisters

Blisters are pockets of fluid that form when the skin is aggravated by friction. A hot spot-the tender area as a blister starts to form-is asignal to stop immediately.

To help prevent foot blisters, wear shoes or boots that fit, change socks if they become swaty pr wet, and pay attention to how your feet feel.

To help prevent blisters on the hands, wear gloves for protection and pa attention to how your hand feel. To treat a hot spot, cover the pinkish, tender area with a piesce of moleskin or molefoam slightly larger than the hot spot.

Use several layers if necessary. If you must drain a blister, wash the skin with soap and water, the sterilize a pin in the flame of a match.

Prick the blister near its lower edge and press out the fluid. change bandages every day to help keep wounds clean and avoid infection.

9. Bites and Stings

Snakebites. The nonvenomouse snakebite caises minor puncture wounds and can be treated as such. Scrub the bite with soap and water then apply an antiseptic, and cover with a sterile bandage.

However, the bite of a venomouse snakebite requires special care like:

• Step 1 – Get the victim under medical care as soon as possible so that physicians can neutralize the venom.
• Step 2 – Remove rings and other jewelry that might cause problems should the bite area swell.
• Step 3 – If the victim must wait for medical attention do drive, wash the wound. For a coral snakebite, wrap the area snugly (but comfortably) with an elastic roller bandage.
• Step 4 – Have the victim lie down and position the bitten part lower than the rest of his body. keep him calm and assure him that he is being cared for.
• Step 5 – Treat for shock. Do not give the victim alcohol, sedatives, or aspirin. Do not apply ice to the snakebite, ice could damage the skin and tissue. Do not make any cuts in or apply suction to the bite, apply a tourniquet, or use electric shock such as from a car battery. Thes methods could cause more harm to the victim or are not proven to be effective.

BSA Bike Safety Guidelines

BSA has a listing of bike security standards on the Scouting.org website. The guidelines and procedures are related to all BSA systems, council, and also national program activities including biking.

Right here is a summary of several of the bike-specific standards to complete cycling merit badge requirements.

1. Qualified Supervision

All unit, district, council, and national event activities must be supervised by a mature and conscientious adult at least age 21 who understands and knowingly accepts responsibility for the safety of children in his or her care.

Who is experienced with the skills and equipment involved in the activity and who is committed to compliance with these BSA safety guidelines.

2. Physical Fitness

Biking is strenuous. Long treks and hill climbing should not be attempted without training and preparation.

For scout activity, all participants must present evidence of fitness assured by a complete health history from physician, parent, or legal guardian.

The adult super visor should adjust all supervision, discipline, and protection to anticipate any potential risk associated with individuals health condition.

Should any participant have a significant health problem, the adult leader should require proof that the participant has been examined by a physician.

3. Helmets and Clothing

All cyclists must wear a properly sized and fitted helmet approved and stickered by either the snell memorial foundation or the American National Standards Institute.

On cool days, cyclists should dress in layers so they can adjust clothing to avoid chilling or overheating. When skies are clear, cyclists should cover up for protection from the sun.

4. Buddy System

When the program activity is a bicycle expedition or trek, the buddy system must be used. When there is program activity emphasizing individual performance skills, one buddy observes while the other takes a turn.

In competitive activity must be directly observed by the adult supervisor.

(Scouts should be taught that biking with a buddy is best. When biking alone, apart from scout activities, the scout should be encouraged to tell someone their route, schedule, and destination before departing)

5. Position in Traffic

Cyclists should ride with the flow of traffic, as far to the right as possible. They should avoid curbs, storm drains, soft or loose gravel on shoulders, and other hazards.

6. Safety Rules

Cyclists should obey all traffic laws, sign, signals, street markings, and should watch for changes in road conditions.

They should ride only one to a bike and should not ride after dark. They should not attempt stunts-trick riding is only for professionals using special equipment.

Even when cyclists think the have the right-of-way, the should yield to motor vehicles. No cyclist should ever hitch a ride on another vehicle and do not wear headphones while riding.

7. Turns and Intersections

Before turning, cyclists should look left, right, back, and ahead. They should stop and look in all directions when entering a street from a driveway, parking area, sidewalk, or alley.

All turns must be signaled using universal hand signs. Cyclists should walk their bikes through or across busy intersections.

8. Equipment

Cyclists should ride only bikes that fit their size. Select a bike that permits you to put both feet on the ground while standing over the top tube.

The handgrips should be no higher than your shoulders or lower than your seat.

9. Bicycle Accessories

Every bike needs a horn or bell and reflectors (front, back, and sides). Items should be carried only in baskets or saddlebags or in a rear carrier rack.

A bike or helmet-mounted mirror is recommended for those who must ride in traffic. For long trips, a bike-mounted container for drinking water is recommended.

10. Maintenance

Bikes must be kept clean and maintained especially the brakes and drive chain, check and change brake pads if necessary. Don’t forget to learn how to fix a flat tube.

11. Racing Right

Open street racing is dangerous. racing should take place only with the supervision and on marked courses that have been set up to exclude other vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

This is intended to eliminate fall hazards, minimize collision risks, and to define clearly the starting and finishing points.

12. Planning

Plan both the route and timing of bike trips should be planned to avoid heavy traffic and hazardous conditions.

Biking is unsafe in wet pavement and on windy days. Plans should include hourly (at least) rest stops and a maximum of approximately six hours of time on the bike er day.

13. Discipline

All participants should know, understand, and follow the rules and procedures for safe biking. Then all participants should conscientiously and carefully follow all directions from the adult supervisor.

Maybe that’s all for the first time about the cycling merit badge, for other information material, you can see the pamphlet.