Year 3: Clinics with the CHOICE Program

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Each year, students in the CHOICE program at Platt Middle School in Boulder take a class riding trip. This year they’re going to Cortez, CO, and I just helped them get ready. This was my third time with this group, and some of these kids are ripping!

Yesterday: First-timers. We did all the core skills: position, cornering, bumps, etc. We were having so much fun riding over a half-buried log I forgot braking — duh. I’m going back Thursday for a make-up.

Today: Kids from the previous years. Some of them are very good! We revisited the core skills and had fun with the obstacles we found on campus.

The teachers/guides tell me the instruction helps the kids ride safely and have more fun on the trail.

Saving the Youth of America, one bike ride at a time!




How cool is this?

Middle School Braaap!

If you can turn within the paint, you can handle most switchbacks. Interesting: The kids find this way easier than the same drill with cones.

School House Rock!




One man’s debris is another’s skill-building terrain. The goal was to ride over these ledges while keeping a level head.

Get low across the top and extend into the drop. Sweet!

Slalom practice: a gateway to flowing on sweet trails.

Heck yeah the kids get to rock my bikes. Thanks to the folks at Specialized, Fox, Gamut, Sun, Hayes, WTB, Intense BMX, Trail Head Cyclery and The Fix Bike Shop for spreading the love.

Two years ago: https://www.leelikesbikes.com/clinics-with-the-choice-program.html

Know more. Have more fun!

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7 replies
  1. Will says:

    Lee, this is awesome. Our mtb group is going to be doing some outreach work with kids this summer. Where did you get your curriculum for this? Is it something you personally developed or is this from existing sources?

    Our goal is to teach skills in a fun and safe environment so that we create new mountain bikers who can hopefully take the same skills and confidence to incorporate riding in their daily lifestyle.

    Any details your willing to share, would be truly appreciated!

    Cheers,
    Will

    PS traded eamils with you about your shoulder surgery, got the word today, no cutting required for mine! Going to be a summer of Braaaaaaaap!

  2. leelikesbikes says:

    Hey Will, thanks.

    I use the curriculum I developed for my coaching. I started with the goal of creating a sanctioning body for MTB skills coaching, like the PSIA in skiing, but all of my attempts have been met with fierce opposition from established instructors. Which is too bad.

    The curriculum is a detailed progression, where all skills live in a tree. We start with the trunk and work our way up into the branches. Every skill has prerequisites; if you want to learn a certain skill (say a low-speed drop), I take you through the prerequisites and — before you know it — braaap!

    It works really well for all skill levels, from first-timers to pros.

    Much of the basic info is on this site, and all are welcome to use it.

    I hope to share the entire curriculum some day; I’m just trying to find the right medium.

  3. Neil says:

    Ah yeah!
    Choice was a rad middle school.

    Lee, what would you think of a clinic up here in the Springs? There’re quite a few xc racers and other riders (myself included) who would benefit from a clinic.
    I’ll see what I can do about getting you in touch with the right people.

    -Neil

  4. leelikesbikes says:

    I’d love to teach in the Springs. I think a full day would be the ticket. Start with some drills, eat lunch then hit the goods. I’ve heard there are some awesome trails …

    Maybe even a weekend sesh.

    Neil — you help arrange it, and you can rock it for free.

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