Grip Levels

Grip Level Self-Assessment

Not sure which class to sign up for? Start here!

Grip Academy redefines the process of learning to ride a bike by breaking down complex movements into deliberate progression, rewarded with colored grips inspired by the martial arts belt system. Below is an overview of each Grip Level to help you self-assess your child’s grip level. We will perform an assessment on your child’s first day to ensure proper placement.

Grip Academy serves kids age 3 – 8th grade of all skill levels. Kids must be pedaling without training wheels in order to participate in Grip Academy. If your child is not yet pedaling on two wheels, please register for one of our Get Rollin’ Learn-to-Ride Classes.

• Not Yet Pedaling

  Got a kiddo that isn’t pedaling yet, or is only pedaling with training wheels? Check out our Get Rollin’ Learn-to-Ride Classes, which is a prerequisite for joining Grip Academy if kids aren’t yet pedaling.

  Learn More

• White Grips

  Your child can pedal a bike without training wheels and can confidently start and stop on a paved flat surface. Goals include learning how to properly fit a helmet and identifying basic bike components, mastering turning and stopping on small hills and avoiding collision with others or objects.

• Yellow Grips

  Your child is pedaling comfortably on pavement. Their feet always stay on the pedals while moving, they pedal without looking down, and can stand up on pedals for a few rotations. Goals include riding comfortably on dirt, braking and shifting, controlled skids, pedaling through a slalom course of cones, and introducing basic traffic safety.

• Orange Grips

  Your child is pedaling confidently on both pavement and dirt. They are beginning to understand gear shifting and braking skills, can pedal standing up indefinitely, and can safely navigate a stop sign or stop light intersection. Goals include moving the bike independently from the body, developing airborne skills such as wheel lifts and basic drops, riding closely with other people, improving body position, and performing basic bike maintenance.

• Green Grips

  Pedaling, balance, turning, gear shifting, and braking are second nature for your child. They can navigate small climbs and downhill descents. Their skills have expanded beyond bike handling to include paved and dirt trail etiquette, pumping up their own tires, and performing a bike safety check. Goals include navigating steep uphill and downhill terrain, maintaining appropriate body position in different riding scenarios, learning in-depth bike maintenance and traffic safety, and introducing first aid/wilderness skills.

• Blue Grips

  This rider is starting to look like a natural when they ride on and off road. They’re able to ride berm turns smoothly and lean the bike well, know how to pump the bike and clear obstacles with wheel lifts and body control.  They have good braking control on steep descents and good use of gearing on tough climbs.  They can land evenly off a 6-10 inch drop and have started to tackle jumps.  They know how to wash their own bike, know how and when to adjust tire pressure and the process to change a tube.  Goals include learning to fix chains, traffic hand signals, navigating tight spaces, learning to track stand, and being able to wheelie up a curb.

• Purple Grip

  Coming Spring 2025. Join our email list to stay in the loop!

• Brown Grips

  Coming soon. Join our email list to stay in the loop!

• Red Grips

  Coming soon. Join our email list to stay in the loop!

• Black Grips

  Coming soon. Join our email list to stay in the loop!

  Advanced riders who begin to lead rides and coach lower grip level classes, are competent in all aspects of bicycle maintenance, learn wilderness and navigation skills, competes and volunteers at special events, and knows his/her abilities and is comfortable riding black and some double black trails.

Program Impact

Grip Academy aims to impact kids age 14 and under in our community by engaging them in the sport of cycling to boost physical and mental health, cultivate personal responsibility, and give them a place to belong.

• Physical Health

  Empowering kids to engage in a lifelong, healthy activity and an alternative (or compliment) to traditional sports.

• Mental Health

  Teaching problem solving and creating opportunities for achievement, leadership, and belonging. The program meets participants where’re they’re at in their ability, surrounding them with others at the same level where all can grow together in a positive environment.

• Personal Responsibility

  Giving kids the tools to navigate their community with confidence,  situational awareness, bike repair skills, and knowledge of traffic safety

• Community

  Providing a space that nurtures connection through activity, uplifting others, and promoting responsible utilization of community resources.