About the Full Week, 5-day program
The majority of participants will attend the full-week program. This is for individuals who have disabilities or those who need five days to learn the skills needed to ride typical bikes.
About the Quick Start / Refresher Course, 3-day program
Many individuals learn to ride their bikes, and then how to start and stop. If your child or family member, age 8 or above, can ride yet needs more focus on other skills or confidence, or if they simply haven't learned to ride and need additional support, enroll them in our Quick Start course, which runs the last three days of Bike First!. For those who know how to ride and need guidance with advanced skills, enroll them in our Refresher course also running the last three days. Bicycles will be available for use in the gym as well as our outside riding area. We will have bikes available for purchase and our mechanic will tune up and adjust bikes for the entire family and only charge for parts.
Bike First! 2024 Schedule
Leader Meeting (required): Thursday, June 27, 6-9:00 PM, Ann’s House
Caregiver Meeting (required): Friday, June 28, 7-8:00 PM, Parkrose Middle School Gym
Volunteer Meeting (required): Friday, June 28, 5-6:30 PM, Parkrose Middle School Gym
Staff, Spotter, & Sponsor Lunch Celebration: Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Bike First! Full Week: Saturday, June 29-Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Five sessions per day (riders attend one session daily for one hour and 15 minutes)
Fee: $250
Quick Start / Refresher Course: Monday, July 1-Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Five sessions per day (riders attend one session daily for one hour and 15 minutes)
Fee: $150
Session Times
Is Bike First! appropriate for the applicant?
It’s important to emphasize that this program is built around the premise that riders will learn the skills necessary to ride a traditional two-wheel bicycle. This goal is predicated on the assumption that riders are skilled and comfortable with steering, pedaling, and keeping their eyes forward. A few students learn all these things during Bike First!, but success is most likely when riders arrive with these fundamental pre-skills.
The nature of Bike First! necessitates that the participant must be:
8 years or older (or taller and mature for their age with permission in advance from the director, Ann Donaca, annbikefirst@gmail.com.
Ambulatory
Able to keep their feet on the pedals and maintain pedaling
Able to keep their hands on the handlebars and turn
Able to see sufficiently to avoid obstacles and maintain a path of travel
Willing to follow instructions and motivated to learn to ride
Willing to wear a helmet
Under 180 pounds (weight restriction for our bikes)
Our experience has shown that behavioral considerations are extremely important—participants may be physically able to ride, but if they cannot be persuaded to get on the bike and follow our instructions, they may fail. We have also found that riders aged 8 and older tend to do better than younger children, but even more important is how motivated each rider is to learn. Smaller children will not fit on our specialized bicycles. There is no maximum age level, and some participants attend several years in a row.
Bike First! is a big commitment on everyone’s part, and though our goal is to have fun, we take our commitment very seriously. There is always a waiting list; being on time is critical, and attendance for the full week is highly recommended for adequate time to learn essential skills.
If you or the rider cannot commit to a full week of conscientious participation, please bypass this program and wait until you’re ready.
But, if you believe that the time is now, read on.
For Families & Friends
In our experience, most riders do better when their caregivers aren't in the gymnasium. Riders are often more willing to take risks and are more open to novelty with unfamiliar spotters.
We also recognize that caregivers are the ultimate experts on what makes the rider tick. That's one of the reasons we ask you to provide a full-face photo and some information about the applicant's disability and things that motivate them. We create files for each rider, which our spotters use to familiarize themselves with their assigned rider.
To minimize distractions, caregivers are requested to wait outside the gymnasium until it's time for their session. In addition, parents, family, and caregivers are required to stay outside the gym during their rider's session unless the director, Ann Donaca, grants permission.
In the final days of Bike First!, caregivers should come prepared in comfortable clothing and running shoes. We might need you to help run alongside your rider while the spotter teaches you how to help your child become an independent rider.
Your rider must promise to come every day, be on time, and not practice outside Bike First! until the camp has concluded. In addition, they must not take any other camps this week. Their body needs time to process and memorize what they've learned daily. Also, review the tips for riders section below with the applicant.
For Riders
Is it hard to ride without your training wheels? Bike riding should be fun and easy, so we’re here to help!
Get ready for a wonderful week with our special bicycles. They ride just like regular bikes, but they rarely tip over. Riders get lots of practice with leaning and turning. At least two trained spotters will always be with you, encouraging you to pedal faster and helping you along.
Bike First! is a big commitment
You have to promise to come every day, be on time, and not practice outside Bike First! In addition, you must not take any other camps this week. Your body needs time to memorize what you learn each day.
Talk it over with your caregivers; if you’re unsure, you can always wait until next year. But if you’re ready, we hope you and your caregivers decide to register for our program. If you do, bring your helmet and wear comfy clothes and tennis shoes. Each day, also bring a filled water bottle. You’ll get a Bike First! t-shirt as soon as you arrive. Every day you’ll earn a new prize. At the end of the week, your whole family can come to celebrate your success, which will be held at the end of the session.