At Pedalheads®, our goal is to provide your child with the right level so he/she will feel safe, excited and challenged by all the skills and activities at camp.
Children are constantly growing, learning and developing so we expect that there may be some moving around to find the perfect match. Try to determine what level would be best suited for your child and if you have any questions, please call the office!
For 2* and 3 year olds, with caregiver, a chance to introduce kids to their first wheels. Run bikes, trikes and ride-on toys are all welcome. Kids and caregivers will play games on and off their wheels, sing riding songs and learn basic bike safety. A fun way to get your little one rolling, riding and gliding!
* Turning two within the calendar year of camp.
Click here for site specific schedule for Trikes ‘n’ Trainers, Riding Rookies and Morning Privates.
We think your kids are dynamite! Trikes and Trainers is an one hour camp for three year olds (must be turning three by the end of 2013) full of pedaling fun and safety. This camp is best suited for children who want to learn to ride but are not old enough for the Newbees level. These riders come with their trikes, run bikes or bikes with training wheels and learn how to start, stop, steer and pedal as well as helmet and traffic safety. We will not be taking of training wheels. We want them to have fun and enjoy pedaling!
Click here for site specific schedule for Trikes ‘n’ Trainers, Riding Rookies and Morning Privates.
This level is for children ages four (turning four by the end of the calendar year) and up. Newbees are beginners. These riders often come with training wheels on their bikes, or if they don’t have trainers, they are learning how to maintain balance and momentum.
While we don’t promise it, our goal is to have the Newbees group experience riding on their own within the week — and have fun, of course! Before we take off the wheels, we ensure that kids have the rudiments of pedaling and steering down. After that we work on the confidence and desire to ride unassisted. Newbees always remain on location. We’re so proud of them! Our reputation has been built on giving these young riders a positive start to their biking careers.
We also have a 90% success rate of getting them up on two wheels!
For more information on the Newbees level, please see the Pedalheads® Parent Guide.
Advanced Newbees are those who have moved beyond training wheels and can balance and pedal for short distances. These riders often need a little help starting off and are building confidence in their abilities. Our goal is to get these bikers consistently riding on their own, becoming less wobbly and stopping without using their feet. Many previous Newbees skip this level, some start here. Advanced Newbees always remain on location. For more information, please see the Pedalheads® Parent Guide on Bike Fitting.
These little riders constantly amaze! They have mastered the basics of cycling by starting, turning and stopping on their own — Pedalheads® seem to tear around like experts. In this level we concentrate on all of the safety requirements a competent cyclist needs to know. Further developing our balance, we ride with one hand so we can display hand signals. We work on control by riding in a straight line, even when executing a hand signal or shoulder-check. We talk at length about street safety, including signs, hazards and rules of the road without ever actually riding on the road.
If going to a trail or another site, Pedalheads walk their bikes across roads. With a mock intersection at our disposal, our goal is to prepare the kids in their cycling skills and safety knowledge for riding on the street.
For more information on our namesake level, please see the Pedalheads® Parent Guide on Safety Awareness
These riders (recommended age 6 and up) are ready to take their bikes out onto residential roads. After a review of the safety rules from Level 3 and completion of a road riding skills course, Advanced Pedalheads® apply everything they’ve learned on quiet, residential roads. Our goal is to get them to broaden their awareness, predicting the potential dangers of riding on the road (doors opening, driveways, balls, etc.) and becoming more confident.
Many take this level more than once to reinforce their cycling skills and increase their safety awareness of their surroundings, before juggling additional skills that may take their attention off the rules of the road. We cannot guarantee your child will be riding on the road; every child will need to pass a road test before they will leave the site. For more information, please see the Pedalheads® Parent Guide on A Child’s Perception of Traffic.
Gearheads are competent riders, who have had some experience on the road. Gearheads have a gear bike and are ready to start learning how to use it — adding another layer of skills to their cycling repertoire. Gearheads always review the safety rules from previous levels and verify that their skills are up to the challenge of concentrating on another element of the cycling experience.
Our goal is to introduce them to gears — how they work, what gear they should choose on various terrain or elevation, how to know what gear they’re in and how to shift gears.
For more information on the Gearhead level, please see the Pedalheads® Parent Guide on Shifting to a Gear Bike. Almost everybody (including adults!) need to take this level more than once and/or practice a lot to master the technicalities of gear ratios and smooth transitions.
For those who can shift gears, Treadheads provides a refresher on shifting gear smoothly and starts building the strength and stamina to get up and down challenging hills.
Treadheads always review the safety rules from previous levels and verify that their skills are up to the challenge of focused riding and climbing, descending and braking techniques.
Our goal is to build strength and stamina in their riding, as well as prepare for any elevation they may encounter on their ride.
For those bikers ready for concentrated time in the saddle — Shockheads ride up to an hour straight and work on their cycling dexterity and maneuverability, as well as realize the importance of traction. Shockheads always review their safety rules from the previous levels and verify that they have the bike-handling skills to be comfortable learning hazard-avoidance techniques on both the road and trails. Our goal is to build on their skills and knowledge, ensuring they are able to predict potential incidents and their outcomes and thinking of their own health & safety at all times.
For strong riders who are capable of riding streets and trails with confidence, Crankheads work on advanced balancing and cornering techniques on both streets and trails. Crankheads incorporate all the skills and knowledge of the levels above into one well-oiled machine. Our goal is to integrate and streamline all of their biking skills; to brake, balance, turn, hop and wave at you simultaneously!