Every rider who comes to Wheel Kids comes with unique skills and aptitudes. Some ride a lot and are quite accomplished, others are just barely comfortable on training wheels. Some wonder which Olympics they'll be eligible for, others would be happy to get to the end of the driveway. To help sort this out and make sure our riders are grouped with others of similar skill we use the following kid-oriented classifications: Novice, Beginner, Advanced Beginner and Advanced.

Novice: novice riders get around alright with assistance such as training wheels or someone holding them up, but they can't ride by themselves. Basic bicycle balance has not been mastered.

Beginner: beginner riders no longer need assistance to balance and are capable of riding independently once under way. Beginners still need help starting and stopping on their own without falling or using help (curbs, rails, walls, your leg, etc.).

Advanced Beginner: advanced beginners have mastered the fundamentals of riding: independent starting, stopping and self-propelled riding. They are capable of riding on most flat or slightly inclined bike paths and are able to stand while pedalling or coasting for short distances. These riders can navigate a driveway curbcut and avoid obvious obstacles. They are not comfortable taking a hand off the handlebars and have difficulty managing right angle and U-turns.

Intermediate: intermediate riders are quite comfortable on their bikes; the bike is almost an extension of their bodies. They can ride on pavement or dirt, go off curbs and small jumps, ride with one hand for long distances and no hands for short distances, ride fast, ride slow, and generally mess around on their bikes. These riders are able to regularly use hand signals and are reasonably comfortable riding in bike lanes and streets. They often have gears on their bikes, but usually aren't efficient using them. Intermediates would sleep with their bike if they could; some probably do.

Advanced: advanced riders have the bicycling skills and mental focus required to ride on-street for long distances and handle a variety of different riding surfaces and conditions. They are comfortable enough on their bikes to be able to navigate city streets, regional roads, fire roads and non-technical single-track safely and efficiently. Use of gears is effective on flats and climbs. Advanced riders will have multi-speed bikes for road or mountain biking, or may have single speed bikes for freestyle or BMX use. A typical advanced road rider can ride from San Francisco to Sausalito, and probably back. To participate in advanced rider activities requires the rider to be of middle school age unless Wheel Kids staff recommends a younger rider for the group based on skill and maturity. Advanced riders will receive higher-level training during weekly skills activities during camps and will be eligible for longer rides. Road or mountain bikes with minimum 24" wheel size and multiple gears (front and rear) are highly recommended - please contact us to discuss exceptions.

Who Rides in What Camp?

• Wheel Kids is suitable for Advanced Beginners and above
  
• Two Wheelers Club is for Novices and Beginners.
  

For some programs (such as mini-camps) a particular skill level threshold will be indicated in the program description based on the kind of activities planned.

If you're not sure where your child should be placed, contact us and we'll figure it out together.