The total mileage for a week of bike camp—92 miles—only begins to tell thestory of this year’s weeklong bike camp sponsored by the Des Moines Bicycle Collective and the Des Moines Police Department.

For Kittie Weston-Knauer and me, organizing this camp (our sixth year) is one of the highlights of our bike year. Sgt. Tina Kalar, youth activities coordinator, was our primary contact. During the week, additional police officers assisted: Brookelyn Budd, Von Breise, Bill Lu, Adam Herman, John Saunders, and Tim Fricke. Chief Dana Wingert carved time from his schedule to ride with us on Friday morning’s capstone ride to the Saylorville Dam.

We—the Des Moines Bicycle Collective—couldn't be more grateful for Dave Freylack's generosity. A significant from his foundation make many youth programs possible.

· pedaled metro streets many had never seen before

· experienced first-hand how steep Cassidy Drive is while pedaling to the Blank Zoo. And what a blast to ride down that hill!

· brushed up on the elementary rules of Ultimate Frisbee in Union Park, taught by former national player and bike friend Angie McBride

· practiced loading their bikes onto a DART bus rack

· learned how to patch a tube at the Collective shop

· took turns leading the group—fabulous to hear them shout “Clear!” at intersections

· picnicked in two parks and swam in two pools

· survived “slow races” in the Iowa Cubs parking lot—it was an all-female semi-final.

· soaked up the spectacular view of downtown Des Moines from the Saylorville Dam (a 29-mile day). We were so proud—every kid pedaled to the top, even one grinding away through the switchbacks on a BMX bike.

· staged a female-only breakaway on the Neal Smith Trail. More smiles!

· churned their own pedal-powered homemade ice cream at lunch in the Culinary Loft at the Des Moines Social Club

· savored ice cream at Van Dee’s in Johnson, Smokey Row, and Zombie Burger

· learned about door zones, predictable cycling, scanning before changing lanes, and hand signals. It was a pleasure to hear “Biker up!” and “Hold your line!” on trails.

· tried their hand at silk-screening “Please Don’t Run Me Over” T-shirts at RAYGUN

· stopped at the George Washington Carver Bridge, Simon Estes Amphitheater, “Shattering Silence” sculpture on the Iowa Capitol Complex and Johnny Bright Field at Drake University. (Can you figure out the uniting thread?)

Here’s what the kids learned in their own words:

· Joselyne: “How to use gears to go up hills. Right hand equals rear gears and brake!”

· Elena: “I learned a new word—derailleur!”

· Destinee: “I didn’t know there was a tube inside a tire. And I learned how to patch a tube.”

· David: “I learned how to walk and control bike with one hand on the handlebar and stem.”

· Lizzie: “I learned the A-B-C drop to check my bike before riding.”

· Alexis: “Gears are your best friend!”

· Sergio: “I learned how to remove a tube from and tire. Elena and I patched my brother’s tube in Johnston.”