​Program Info

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FLYRS groups are age-based following a proven model to ensure the most positive experience for every child. Participating in an age-based all inclusive program with your peers that enjoy riding facilitates team bonding, friendships, independence, and risk taking. A natural extension of this is developing mountain biking skills and fitness that results in a successful rider. Our coaches are trained to challenge each individual rider at their individual level within their appropriate age-based group in a team environment.

Our program is age based first and foremost, and we ask that folks please respect the age groups that we have set up because they are centered around a certain philosophy, experience, proper progression, group management, dynamic, and cohesion framework. When we get outside of this, then it really challenges the experience we are trying to create. 

• Push bikers: This is a group for kiddos on push bikes ages 2.5 - 4 years old. These groups meet for one hour per week and focus on getting kids out on the trails in a team environment and having fun. Coaches will teach basic skills of starting and stopping, proper balancing, and trail etiquette. Coaches will teach a component of independence at practice. Parents are encouraged not to attend practices with their rider. Please communicate any special needs with your coach prior to practice if this is your child’s first experience being left without a parent.

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• 4-6 year old groups: These groups are for 4-6 year old kids who are riding pedal bikes without training wheels, but who are not yet in 1st grade. Kids will focus on some basic skills, games, and short, easy trail rides. These groups are NOT appropriate for children who do not already know how to ride a bike independently.
  Kids should be:
  • Confident on a pedal bike (no training wheels)
  • Able to start and stop on their own
  • Coaster or hand brakes
  • Able to ride on dirt trails

 

• 1st-2nd grade: This group is for kids in 1st-2nd grade at the start of the season. Kids will focus on bike games, developing basic bike handling skills, and short trail rides of around 3 miles each week. This group focuses on improving children’s confidence riding on bumpy dirt trails and on gentle hills. This group is NOT appropriate for children who do not already know how to ride a bike independently.  
  Kids in the 1st-2nd grade group should be:
  • Able to start and stop on their own
  • Hand brakes highly encouraged
  • Able to ride on dirt trails

 

• 2nd-3rd grade: This group is for kids in 2nd-3rd grade at the start of the season who are confident riding more miles on dirt trails. We will focus on gaining confidence on more challenging trails. 
• Kids in the 2nd-3rd grade group should be:
  • Confident with attack position (level pedals with feet equally weighted on each)
  • Confident braking with both brakes smoothly and evenly
  • Able to change gears while pedaling
  • Beginning to stand while climbing
  • On a bike with gears, front and rear brakes

3rd-5th Grade: This group is for kids in 3rd-5th grade at the start of the season.  This is for 3rd-5th grade beginner-intermediate riders. Requirements for this group are: confident on dirt trails, utilize proper body position on bike, confident braking, a bike with gears, and a bike with front and rear brakes. Wheel size of 24 inches or larger is recommended.

3rd-5th Grade Intermediate: This group is for kids in 3rd-5th grade at the start of the season. Kids in this group should be interested in riding more miles, exploring more technical terrain, and working on advanced skills.

• Kids in the intermediate group should be:
  • Confident with attack position (level pedals with feet equally weighted on each)
  • Confident braking with both brakes smoothly and evenly
  • Able to change gears while pedaling
  • Beginning to stand while climbing
  • On a bike with a wheel size of 24 inches or larger (required)

 

• 3rd - 5th Grade Advanced: This group is best for kids who are confident riding around 10 miles on single track trails. We will focus on more advanced bike handling skills and gaining confidence on more challenging trails with longer sustained climbs at a faster pace. If you are unsure about placing your child in this group, please contact Tyler at flyrsmtb@gmail.com.
  Kids in the advanced group should be:
  • Confident in attack/ready position and braking correctly
  • Confident standing while climbing
  • Confident changing gears while pedaling
  • Comfortable on blue/intermediate trails with a faster pace and less stopping
  • On a bike with wheel size of 24 inches or larger (required)

 

• Girls ONLY: While most FLYRS groups are co-ed, and we encourage all children to register in whichever group is the best fit for them based on age and skill level. However, we’ve found that some girls are able to build confidence more readily in a girls-only group, so this group is a mixed-ability group for girls who prefer to ride only with other girls.

 

• 6th – 8th grade: In Spring we offer a 7 week session for middle schoolers split up between boys and girls groups. These groups welcome all abilities and are a great way to build community within your riding peers, increase skills, and increase fitness for the coming race season depending on your goals. 
• Our fall middle school session is the AICL composite team. Kids can join if they are either just interested in weekly practices and/or they want to go to the AICL middle school races with the team. The composite team practices 2 times a week from July through November with 5 races starting September 9 through November 4. For more information contact Tyler Nelson at flyrsmtb@gmail.com 

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• 9th-12 Grade - This group is geared towards competitive riders who are interested in exploring more structured training. The goal of this group is to prepare riders for the racing season and beyond. Please note this is an advanced group for high school aged riders.

All FLYRS groups are led by a head and assistant coach who are trained in the FLYRS approach, first aid and CPR certified, and have passed a background check. We believe that coaches should enjoy working with kids, have expertise in mountain biking skills, trail etiquette, and best teaching practices, so we hire coaches who possess this requisite knowledge. Our groups meet at different locations as we progress through the season. Typical locations include Fort Tuthill, Campbell Mesa, and the “Y” off Elden Lookout Road.

Sessions

• Fall: Our Fall FLYRS sessions generally run from mid-August through mid-October each year. Each group meets once per week over 7 weeks with a final celebration on week 8. Registration for Fall FLYRS generally opens up in late June, and our groups fill on a first-come, first served basis.
• Spring: Our Spring FLYRS sessions generally run from mid-April through mid-June each year. Each group meets once per week over 7 weeks with a final celebration on week 8. Registration for Spring FLYRS generally opens up in late February, and our groups fill on a first-come, first served basis.
• Summer: Our summer camp programs have been expanding each year. In 2019 we offered two full day week long camps and one half day week long camp in June. Summer camp registration opens the first week of April and fills quickly so early registration is required to ensure enrollment.
• Middle School Composite Team: The FLYRS middle school composite offers Flagstaff-based middle school students an opportunity to race in the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) mountain bike races during each Fall. Practice for the middle school composite race group begins in July, and the race season runs from September through early November at locations around the state.