Official Kids Mag

landing. The other piece of advice would be to practice, practice, practice. There is no substitution for getting out there and riding lots to improve. And lastly, have fun. Riding is all about fun. what do you like about the sport? I like the sense of being connected to the bike as one, being in touch with nature, and of course, the adrenaline of high speed or pulling off a rad line. Riding has always been a way for me to get exercise and have a sense of mastery over something when everything else in life can get chaotic. do you like performing? Performing on my mountain bike is one of my favorite things to do! Most people can relate to the simple joy of riding a bike, but have never seen trial riding in person before. I really enjoy seeing people's reactions who are seeing my show for the first time. how often do you ride? I usually ride an average of 2-4 times a week, at least. In the winter I ride less but train in the gym to stay fit. In the summer I ride more often. where can kids and their parents find more information about cycling? There are a ton of YouTube channels that have videos on mountain bike skills, maintenance, and anything else. It's also fun to watch videos of pros to get stoked on what's possible out there! what will you be doing at the Benton county fair? I'll be performing Mountain Bike Trials Stunt Shows at the Fair. The shows go for about 30 minutes, followed by a meet 'n greet session where you can say hi and grab an autographed poster! It's gonna be a super fun time and I look forward to meeting everyone! Robbie Pfunder puts on a thrilling 2-wheel stunt show on his mountain bike! The action- packed show is for audiences of all ages and features gravity-defying stunts, jokes and more, set to family-friendly music. And don't forget to bring your bike for the Bike Rodeo and enter Bike Decorating contests too! Have your adult visit bentoncountyfairar.org or Facebook @ bentoncofairar for more details. bright colors when riding day or night, so that you can be easily seen by cars and other riders. Don't wear long or loose clothing that can get caught in your bike chain or wheel spokes. Carry your items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike so your belongings don't get in the way. don't ride at night. It's much more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others, like a reflective vest or jacket. rules of the road Street or sidewalk? Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk. Check the rules in your town about sidewalk riding. Watch out for pedestrians and pets. If you ride on the street, ride in the same direction as traffic on the far right-hand side. Obey the laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you're a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. Be visible. Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, "Excuse me," or, "Passing on your left," or use a bell or horn. Be predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others. Use hand signals to let others know your moves. Extend your left arm out for a left turn; make a 90-degree angle with the left arm to indicate a right turn. Put the left arm down with the palm facing backward to let others know you are stopping or slowing down. Watch out for cars. Just because you can see a car, doesn't mean a car can see you. Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers see you before crossing. Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways. Stay alert. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don't wear a headset or ear buds when you ride. For more information on bicycle safety, have your adult visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov. "My lifelong passion for mountain bike trials has blossomed into something that I'm thrilled to share. whether it's entertaining a crowd for a day, or giving one kid a dream to pursue, I feel like I'm doing something deeply worthwhile." ~ pro rider robbie pfunder For more about Robbie, ask your adult to go to www.robbiepfunder.com. Facebook: @robbiepfunder www.facebook.com/robbiepfunder Instagram: @robbiepfunder www.instagram.com/robbiepfunder Youtube: robbiepfunder robbie pulls out all the stops, showcasing his bike- handling skills for audiences of all ages. officialkidsMag.com • June & July 2020 • 41

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