Our kids school holiday programs and also term programs are facilitated using four different rider levels called; ‘Dirt Riders’, ‘Rad Riders’, ‘Flow Riders’ and ‘Shred Riders’.

These groups are formed based on; bike set up, confidence, current riding experience, and current skill level.  Age is always a consideration but generally only used for guidance.

Our programs and the below rider groupings, provide opportunity for kids to move across groups as they progress and build skill!

If you are unsure of your kids rider level please contact us to discuss. 

Dirt Riders 

Bike setup: 

• 12-20inch wheel size
• Pedal and or hand operated brakes
• Single speed or geared bike
• Balance bike
• Sorry no training wheels as these are not appropriate due to the nature of the terrain we access, along with inhibiting the ability to develop the fundamental skill of stability and balance!)

Experience:

• Beginner friendly
• New to riding off road – unsealed surfaces of varied terrain (loose surfaces, uphill and downhill gradients).
• May be transitioning from the balance bike to a pedal bike or moving between wheel sizes and bikes with controls – hand operated brakes and gears
• Please note this is not a ‘learn to ride’ program, riders should be able to glide on and or pedal their bike. Being a group session we don’t have the capacity to work 1:1 with brand new riders. Private coaching sessions are a good place to start for new riders in preparation for our group programs. 

Rad Riders

Bike setup: 

• Preferably has at least 3 gears 
• 20-24 inch wheel size
• Preferably has hand operated brakes (pedal brakes can be challenging for riders to maintain good balance and stability off road riding)  
• Tyres suitable for off road terrain (to provide extra grip and stability) 

Experience:

• Beginner friendly
• May have been exposed to riding gravel roads/unsealed surfaces of varied terrain (loose surfaces, uphill and downhill gradients).
• Is new to riding dedicated MTB single trails (green beginner rated) but is still developing the fundamental skills of stability and balance to do so comfortably.
• Is learning to use brakes to stop and/or manage speed 
• Can ride up and down small hills but sometimes gets off and walks
• Mental energy required to process what they are learning
• Needs extra support with confidence and trying new skills and accessing dedicated MTB single trail.

Flow Riders

Bike setup: 

• Preferably has between 4 to 10 gears
• 24 inch wheel size or above
• Has hand operated brakes 
• Tyres suitable for off road terrain (to provide extra grip and stability) 
• May have front suspension but not essential

Experience:

• Can comfortably ride dedicated MTB single trails (green beginner rated) and safely navigate varied terrain (rocks, uphill and downhill gradients) 
• Uses both front and rear brakes to stop and/or manage speed 
• Can successfully ride up and down small hills 
• Uses a tall body position (neutral) on descents or basic terrain; Uses low body position (ready) as required on steeper descents
• Mostly confident / needs support to implement skills learnt / sometimes overestimates ability / decision making and judgment may need to be developed for safer riding 

Shred Riders

Bike setup: 

• At least 9 gears or more; 24 inch wheel size or above
• Has hand operated brakes (disc brakes preferable)  
• Tyres suitable for off road terrain
• Has front suspension as a minimum

Experience:

• Can ride dedicated MTB trails (green beginner / blue intermediate) and navigate more challenging terrain (green/blue beginner and intermediate rated trails)
• Developing skills to ride roll downs, small drops, jumps and ‘pumping’ the trail (creating momentum through pressure control) 
• Can operate controls (brakes & gears) to maintain/control speed and efficiency on steep terrain and or technical terrain.
• Ready to be challenged with longer rides, (40-60min moving time) on dedicated MTB trails
• Maintains balance and flow through mobility using both tall (neutral) and low (ready) body positions 
• Developing skills to to be more successful climbing steeper, more technical terrain 
• Beginning to identify with their peer group and learn well through feedback through both peers and adults
• Developing confidence / Refining skills learnt / sometimes overestimates ability / decision making and judgment may need to be developed for safer riding