- 2 Ten (10) mile rides
- 2 Fifteen (15) mile rides
- 2 Twenty-five (25) mile rides
- 1 Fifty (50) mile ride
Our Troop completed these rides over the course of three campouts and a couple of meetings. Each ride was a bit different, but gave both continuity and variety. I will summarize below the preparation and details for your own idea.
Each 10 mile ride was done after Daylight Savings Time started to allow a little extra light at the end of the day. We rode 5 miles up the Pinellas Trail and 5 miles back. We are fortunate to have a spur of that length right near the church where our troop meets. Two meetings, as we were done with that prep.
The next rides were completed during a campout at the Jay Starkey Park. A great facility with a youth camping area, clean washrooms and quite the adventurous racoons at night! Our boys set up a water soaking trap for the rascals on the second night, and darn it, they did not come around like they did the first night. Anyhoo, the trail in Starkey Park from the start in a parking lot to the rest stop on the Suncoast trail is about 7.5 miles (map says 6.7 miles, we rode a bit more to get to 7.5). A great ride on paved trail, through the pine flatwoods and some wetland landscape. Water coolers were available in the park and very well maintained. So two rides completed this requirement.
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkey-park.html
We completed the twenty-five miler on alternating Saturday mornings. We again used the Starkey park trail and from the trail head we met up with the Suncoast bike trail. North we went until SR52 which was the 12.5 mile mark. A quick snack and some water and back we went, finishing in a couple of hours. More on the Suncoast Trail in a different entry....
The remaining ride was the 50 miler. The boys were pumped as was the adult leadership. We found the perfect ride/campout set up. We would ride the Withlacoochee Trail out of Floral City and stay at the youth camping area at Ft. Cooper State Park.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/crossflorida/trails/with_state.htm
We simply woke up, had some breakfast, did a quick gear test, walked the bikes out to the pavement, then away we went, 25 miles to the south, then lunch. Almost to the trail head at SR50. Then back to camp, for some well needed rest and a pizza dinner from a nearby CiCi's.
All in all 150 miles of riding in about the span of six weeks. All that is needed is some well planned out buildup rides and simple conditioning and the Cycling badge can be achieved with the boys. Herr Frugal, believes this badge was the most planned and worthwhile badge the Troop has worked on over the past few years.
Hopefully this outline will help your Boy Scout Troop plan and ride to a successful Cycling badge too!
Thanks for visiting and please leave a comment. I'll add links to the attractions shortly.
