Help Brian get kids on bikes!
Donation protected
One sentence pitch because we're all busy people: I'm going to teach poor kids how to ride mountain bikes, help me get them bikes to ride.
Every trip to the mountain bike trails brings me two things. First, the total, unadulterated joy of racing and jumping a bike through the woods. 10/10, can't recommend highly enough.
But second, heartbreak at the complete lack of access poor kids and children of color have to the sport. This map shows where Black residents live in King County, and the pink dots represent our major bike parks and trail systems.
And the sad truth is that anyone who rides our trails doesn't need a map to know of the unbelievable disparity in access. Our BIPOC neighbors born and raised here simply do not get to enjoy our natural gifts in the way that I do. So I want to do something about it.
I recently completed an instructor training course with Fluidride, one of the country's premier mountain bike instruction programs (questions about off-camber turns, managing undulating terrain, body position on drops? Fire away!) And I'm in contact with a local single mothers group to identify a couple of kids who could use some structured recreation this summer, and who otherwise wouldn't have access.
That's where you come in. Bikes capable of handling advanced riding safely can cost many thousands of dollars, and protective gear is hundreds of dollars more. I know the goal here is ambitious, but it's realistically what it will take to get two kids outfitted with bikes and gear for a season of riding.
Once the kids are selected and I know their size, I'll find used hardtail bikes (front suspension only), which are both less expensive and better for learning, as they don't hide your mistakes in the way a full-suspension bike will. The bikes will need to be taken to a bike mechanic for tune-ups to ensure that they are safe to ride, and it is likely parts may need to be replaced or upgraded.
From there we'll take the kids to a local shop to customize the bike as their own and pick out protective equipment. They'll pick out grips and pedals in the colors they like (dear non-bikers: this is very important, we are a vain bunch about our bikes), and will get a full-face helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, padded shorts, and shoes (this may seem silly but there are very specialized mountain biking shoes with particular flex and rubber compounds which keep your feet gripped to the pedals, which turns out to be important when flying through the air). Additional protective gear may be needed as kids advance, such as chest and neck protection for jumping.
From there I'll provide coaching and ride with the kids for a couple of hours every Sunday at Duthie Hill, a bike park in Issaquah that is perfect for learning and progression. I'm working with a community organization on transportation for the kids eventually, but with COVID restrictions it is likely we'll need to pick kids who are able to get to the trails independently for now. I can store and transport all the bikes and gear if the kids' living situation doesn't accommodate them bringing everything home. (Note: I'll be fully vaccinated this week, 4/19)
We shouldn't live in a world where kids don't get to experience joy because they were born into poverty. We can't fix that overnight but we can start to pull kids up one at a time until then. Please give if you're able to.
(and as a thank you to those who made it this far, here is the most incredible two minutes of bike riding you will ever see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqTgj_UCeI)
Every trip to the mountain bike trails brings me two things. First, the total, unadulterated joy of racing and jumping a bike through the woods. 10/10, can't recommend highly enough.
But second, heartbreak at the complete lack of access poor kids and children of color have to the sport. This map shows where Black residents live in King County, and the pink dots represent our major bike parks and trail systems.
And the sad truth is that anyone who rides our trails doesn't need a map to know of the unbelievable disparity in access. Our BIPOC neighbors born and raised here simply do not get to enjoy our natural gifts in the way that I do. So I want to do something about it.
I recently completed an instructor training course with Fluidride, one of the country's premier mountain bike instruction programs (questions about off-camber turns, managing undulating terrain, body position on drops? Fire away!) And I'm in contact with a local single mothers group to identify a couple of kids who could use some structured recreation this summer, and who otherwise wouldn't have access.
That's where you come in. Bikes capable of handling advanced riding safely can cost many thousands of dollars, and protective gear is hundreds of dollars more. I know the goal here is ambitious, but it's realistically what it will take to get two kids outfitted with bikes and gear for a season of riding.
Once the kids are selected and I know their size, I'll find used hardtail bikes (front suspension only), which are both less expensive and better for learning, as they don't hide your mistakes in the way a full-suspension bike will. The bikes will need to be taken to a bike mechanic for tune-ups to ensure that they are safe to ride, and it is likely parts may need to be replaced or upgraded.
From there we'll take the kids to a local shop to customize the bike as their own and pick out protective equipment. They'll pick out grips and pedals in the colors they like (dear non-bikers: this is very important, we are a vain bunch about our bikes), and will get a full-face helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, padded shorts, and shoes (this may seem silly but there are very specialized mountain biking shoes with particular flex and rubber compounds which keep your feet gripped to the pedals, which turns out to be important when flying through the air). Additional protective gear may be needed as kids advance, such as chest and neck protection for jumping.
From there I'll provide coaching and ride with the kids for a couple of hours every Sunday at Duthie Hill, a bike park in Issaquah that is perfect for learning and progression. I'm working with a community organization on transportation for the kids eventually, but with COVID restrictions it is likely we'll need to pick kids who are able to get to the trails independently for now. I can store and transport all the bikes and gear if the kids' living situation doesn't accommodate them bringing everything home. (Note: I'll be fully vaccinated this week, 4/19)
We shouldn't live in a world where kids don't get to experience joy because they were born into poverty. We can't fix that overnight but we can start to pull kids up one at a time until then. Please give if you're able to.
(and as a thank you to those who made it this far, here is the most incredible two minutes of bike riding you will ever see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqTgj_UCeI)
Organizer
Brian Flaherty
Organizer
Seattle, WA