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On this patriotic bike coloring page, a girl pedals down her street in a neighborhood bike parade. Paper streamers fly from her handlebars and big stars are tucked in the wheels. A small American flag stands up on a pole behind her seat, and a basket full of balloons bumps along in front.
Houses and a low fence run along the road, with a neighbor's mailbox at the side. The bike is the star here. Ages 5 to 10 will enjoy the page. It takes about half an hour.
Dress up the bike before anything else
Kids who have decorated a real bike will know what to do. Streamers can follow a color order, like red, white, blue, then again. Ask your child to pick a pattern and stick to it, since that small rule makes the whole bike look planned.
The wheels hold ten stars each, set between the spokes. Those can be gold or left white, and the frame might go bright blue. Stay away from red on the frame, so the streamers can stand out.
Patriotic bike coloring page ideas
A red helmet is a nice touch. It brings the color up to her head and ties the picture together. Keep her shirt plain, because there is plenty of pattern going on already. For the road, a light gray lets the wheels show up, and you may want a pale green for the grass.
The balloons can be any shade at all. Six of them bob over the basket, which makes a fine spot for a little kid to work while an older sibling does the wheels.
The flag has the true 13 stripes, even at this small size. A sharp pencil will help you there.
Small helps for thin lines
- Color the spokes last, or leave them white and fill the gaps behind them.
- Rest your wrist on the table when you get to the small stars.
- If a streamer crosses the frame, finish the streamer first and then go around it.
- Add a shadow under the wheels with one soft stroke of gray.
How to plan a street bike parade
Many towns and streets hold a kids' bike parade on the Fourth. It is cheap and it takes very little planning. Pick a short loop with a parent at each corner. Set a meeting time, ask everyone to bring their own bike and helmet, and have some crepe paper on hand.
Weave the paper through the spokes with care, and keep it clear of the chain. Use tape, not string, so nothing gets caught in the wheels. This page can be your flyer. Color one in, write the date on it, and stick it on a neighbor's door.
Spokes, helmets and a bit of science
The bicycle has been around for a long time. Early ones in the 1800s had no pedals at all, and riders simply pushed along the ground with their feet. You can follow the changes in this history of the bicycle.
Spokes are stronger than they look. They hold the rim in shape while pulling against each other, so a light wheel can carry a heavy rider. Show your child a real wheel. Let them feel how tight each spoke is. Then go back to the drawing and see if they want to add a bell, a horn or a name plate of their own.
More rides and more stars
Kids who like this one may also want the girl on a bike for a calmer ride. Then join the crowd on the Main Street parade page, or see everything in our summer holiday set.
Questions
Is this an easy page?
It is a medium page. The girl and the bike frame are large, while the spokes and stars take more care.
Should the flag show 13 stripes?
Yes, and it does. Have your child start at the top with red and go back and forth, ending on red.
Can it be used to plan a real bike parade?
Yes. Hand it out with the date and route written on the back, and kids can color it before the event.
