Eagle Scout candidate plans bike safety clinic

Date: 6/21/2010

June 21, 2010.

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- When it came time to select a project for his Eagle Scout bid, East Longmeadow High School sophomore Robert Holden was thinking summer -- and safety.

On June 26 from 9 to 11 a.m., this member of Boy Scout Troop 275 will conduct a bicycle safety clinic and raffle in the parking lot of St. Michael's Church, located at 128 Maple St.

Participants are asked to bring their own bicycles and helmets to this clinic. No one would be allowed to participate in the clinic without a helmet.

All participants will be entered into a raffle for bicycle-related prizes that include a bicycle tune-up from The Ski Haus, a bike repair book and helmets.

"Everyone will be riding bikes in the summer. I wanted to teach kids how to be safe and safe biking," Holden told Reminder Publications.

His mother, Donna Holden, added that Robert's interest in medicine -- he's considering becoming a doctor -- were also a factor in his project choice.

Holden explained that this clinic -- one of several requirements he must complete to achieve Eagle Scout rank -- would be divided into three stations, one focusing on helmet safety, another on road safety and a third on simple bicycle repairs.

"Anyone can participate [in the clinic], but it will be geared mostly toward kids," he added.

At the helmet safety clinic Holden said he's planning to have fellow scouts explain how to properly fit a helmet -- including the correct positioning on the head and how tightly a helmet should be worn -- as well as outlining the reasons riders really need this piece of bike equipment.

At the road safety clinic participants will learn about proper hand signals, the right way to ride on roadways and safe routes for bike rides.

"We're also going to set up a demonstration course so [kids] can practice what they've learned," he said.

The third station, hosted by Competitive Edge, will demonstrate the steps in basic bicycle repairs, such as how to mend a broken chain or fix a flat tire.

Holden said he wanted to thank St. Michael's Church, which agreed to let him use their parking lot for the clinic, the Ski Haus for donating raffle prizes and Competitive Edge, Family Bike, Taylor Rental, Panera Bread, the East Longmeadow Police Depart-ment as well as fellow members of Troop 275 for their help with this project.