4-H Bicycle Rodeo Builds Skills Confidence and Safe Riding Habits

By Andi Anderson

The 4-H Bicycle Rodeo provided young participants with an exciting opportunity to demonstrate their cycling skills, safety knowledge, and sportsmanship before the county fair. Held in June outside the Extension Office Building, the event highlighted the hard work and preparation of 4-H Bicycle Club members, leaders, and volunteers.

The Bicycle Rodeo is one of many activities that take place before fair week. Club members spend months preparing through regular meetings where they learn important road safety rules, bicycle handling techniques, and riding skills. These lessons help participants become safer and more confident cyclists.

Before the event, club leaders and volunteers prepared the riding area by painting lines, placing cones, and installing miniature road signs. These features created realistic riding situations that allowed members to demonstrate their understanding of bicycle safety and traffic rules.

On the day of the Rodeo, participants completed registration and were assigned identification numbers for judging purposes. Members then took part in a written knowledge test covering bicycle safety and road rules. Following the test, junior and senior participants rotated through a variety of riding challenges.

The obstacle courses tested different cycling abilities. Riders completed activities such as maneuvering through cones, riding within marked boundaries, completing a figure-eight course, traveling as slowly as possible while maintaining balance, and performing controlled stops. Another popular challenge was the city block course, where riders followed miniature road signs and demonstrated proper signaling and safe riding practices.

Judges evaluated participants throughout the event. Riders were scored on accuracy and safety, with penalty points given for mistakes such as knocking over cones, leaving designated riding areas, using incorrect signals, or missing answers on the written test. The goal was to finish with the fewest points.

When the competition concluded, ribbons and awards were presented. Senior participant Aiden Kelly, Senior Grand Champion, earned top honors in the senior division. A six-year club member, he credited club meetings and practice sessions for helping him improve his cycling skills and sportsmanship.

In the junior division, Rose Leeper, Junior Grand Champion, received the highest honor, while Leander Hartman, Junior Reserve Champion, was also recognized for outstanding performance. Leeper, a five-year member, enjoyed the figure-eight and cone challenges and appreciated the friendships built through the club.

The 4-H Bicycle Rodeo continues to be a valuable educational experience, helping young people develop safe cycling habits, practical knowledge, confidence, and responsibility while enjoying a fun and rewarding activity.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotografixx