Announcing the launch of our Mentorship Program!

A crew of mentors teaching campers.

At FXCC, we understand that healthy connections are critical for children (and adults!) to safely learn, grow, and develop self-esteem - this is true in the classroom, and on the bike. This year, all of our Counselors will get more training and guidance via our Mentorship Program. 

When our regular campers reach high school, they are given the opportunity to become counselors, and our community grows bigger and stronger. We select our Counselors because of the innate capacities they have, and enhance those through sharing our years of expertise working with children in a variety of educational, athletic, and therapeutic settings. Because we value our Counselors, we are making a greater commitment to provide them with training which will serve them throughout their academic and vocational careers. 

Graduates of our Mentorship Program gain experience with:  

• Responsibly caring for groups of children
• Safety & First Aid  
• Understanding and managing group dynamics (we teach specific techniques)
• Social/Emotional Development
• Building Curriculum
• Successfully managing a variety of personalities and abilities

We get to know our Counselors pretty well over the course of their participation and happily draft recommendation letters for all participants to use as they enter college and the workforce. Please email us if you have additional questions.

Volvo Lifepaint? Thanks!

We just came across this YouTube vid about Volvo Lifepaint. Apparently, those Swedes have decided that, even though they're a car manufacturer, they care about the safety of everyone on the roads. They put some R&D into creating LIfePaint. Available only in the UK for now, the paint is water based and highly reflective. 

Watch this video and be amazed! 

Epic Ride on President's Day!

We are all about providing campers with fun adventures which bring out their grit and challenge them in just the right ways. Yesterday was no exception!

We covered 25 miles and climbed 3,500 vertical feet as we led a group of riders up to the West Point Inn and (the best part) back down on a beautiful President's Day. This was our first day-long ride during a school holiday, and we decided to break away from our typical summer camp curriculum. It was a lot of climbing (!), but that gave us time to chat and get to know our cool campers. 

We were so impressed! Not only was this a group of talented riders, but they were kind and supportive, with hugely positive attitudes. The kids kept on truckin' and we enjoyed our lunches, and a spectacular view from atop Mt. Tam! After spending 5 hours (with breaks) getting up the mountain, we cruised back into Fairfax in one hour, enjoying an exhilarating downhill, including watching four river otters frolicking in Bon Tempe Lake! It was a truly magical day.

Upon arriving back in town, smiles and high fives ensued, along with some amazed expressions from the parents. After re-fueling on ice cream, smoothies and slices of pizza, everyone went on their way, and, we are certain, slept very well.

Marin City & Safe Routes to School

James, from Safe Routes, teaches the riders about safe riding.

We spent Valentine's Day volunteering with Safe Routes to School in Marin City, teaching kids how to bike safely. Turning Wheels for Kids donated brand new bikes for kids in grades 2-5, while Safe Routes showed up to help get them rolling with confidence and skill.

We helped with a playground skills course, and their first neighborhood ride - practicing stopping at stop signs, riding single file, and most importantly, sharing the road with cars. We loved seeing the excited smiles on all of those cute faces, and hope to return to Marin City to continue this important work with Safe Routes!

Weekend, Summer & President's Week Rides Open for Registration

We are again offering weekend rides, which are calendared through April on our Kids' Weekend Rides Page. Read more about it there, and register online.

We also have our Summer Mountain Bike Camp dates and registration form now up and running. Check it out and enjoy our early bird special now through April 15. All campers receive a t-shirt with registration.

We are assembling our team for mountain bike camp in Fairfax, and are excited to have many returning staff, and some new folks we are excited for you to meet. Stay tuned!!

Stolen Bikes Recovered

In case you missed it, the SF Chronicle recently reported on the recovery of many stolen items in Santa Rosa, including several bikes. Check out the article and pictures to see if a long lost bike was found!

Join us at Biketoberfest!

We really hope we can ride this again!

We had so much fun last year at Biketoberfest, and we want to make sure you know about this fun for all ages event, as well as what we're up to! It takes place on Saturday, October 11, from 12-5, in the Good Earth parking lot in Fairfax. We will be sharing space with our logo designers and friends, Eric Read and Rob Meserchik (who will be selling their always cool shirts).

Biketoberfest is a gathering of bicycle manufacturers, bicyclists, bike organizations and beer enthusiasts put on by Marin County Bicycle Coalition, our local bike advocacy group. If you haven't yet joined MCBC, we urge you to do so. Check out the above links to learn more about what will be going on that day, but we always enjoy riding the round, 6-person bike, the cargo bike parade, and the live music. The beer gardens (and most adults) are on the post office side of the parking lot, and we will be on the Good Earth side, near the Java Hut.

In honor of Biketoberfest, we will be leading one of our half-day rides for kids from 9:00-12:00, just prior to Biketoberfest. The ride is $60, or $110 if you purchase two rides. Check our registration page for more information, and know that we will email registrants with specifics as the date approaches.

We'll also be offering for sale more t-shirts and stickers, and maybe some jerseys (fingers crossed). Even if you can't ride with us that day, stop by and say hello. We'd love to see you!

It's Tour Time!

Fabian "Spartacus" Cancellara. 

It's July, and around our house, that means it's Tour de France time! Mornings are now begun with a cup of coffee or tea and the day's stage. As fans of racing and advocates for safe biking everywhere, we were delighted to see that People for Bikes is now partnering with Trek Factory Racing, by co-sponsoring Trek's pro team.

People for Bikes is a national/international bike advocacy group which serves as a "big tent" for riders, advocates, grandparents and industry - anyone who cares about making bicycling safer. 

Elevating bicycling safety to the international stage by partnering with Trek's professional team is an exciting development - not saying we're cheering for them, but that logo does make us smile. :)

Had a Bike Stolen Lately?

Trove of recently recovered bikes.

If you've been in the unfortunate position of having a bike stolen, you might be interested in this article from the Marin IJ. Apparently, police busted a local stolen bike ring. There is a link to a slideshow showing photos of all of the recovered bikes. Good luck!

First Two Weeks of Camp Were Awesome!

Hitting the trails.

We have just wrapped up our first two weeks of camp, and we had a blast! 

Some highlights were:

1) Watching campers ride up hills they've never been able to ride up before;

2) Watching campers make technical sections for the first time;

3) Lots of laughing!

Lunch Circle

Sporting the new t's.

4) Playing in the pool;

5) Sitting in a circle eating lunch together and sharing stories;

6) Watching our counselors grow into their leadership role;

7) Seeing the counselors do a jump, followed by a few intrepid campers!

8) Getting many compliments from hikers who said our group was very polite - we hope we are teaching the kids to be respectful trail users;

9) Getting to know old friends better and making new friends; 

The dreaded line at The Scoop.

10) Getting laughed at and schooled by our counselors after apparently breaking every unwritten rule of etiquette pertaining to Instagram (Sorry - we were just trying to share photos with you all at home!);

11) And, as always, the biggest highlight is watching the growth of confidence and skill in each camper after a week spent on the bike.

How to Properly Select, Fit and Wear a Helmet

A helmet is crucial for anyone riding a bike. Check out this short and fun video from the Canadian Province of Manitoba on why to wear a helmet, and how to fit a helmet properly.  We know Canada is really far away, but these folks did a great job making an easily understandable video for kids and adults! 

A few takeaways:

1)Make sure you have the proper helmet for your sport.

2)The helmet should fit so snugly on your head when unbuckled, that it doesn't move when you shake your head.

3)The helmet should be adjusted so that you have two finger widths of space between your eyebrows and the front of the helmet.

4)The helmet should be snug! Only one finger should fit comfortably under the chin strap (we've also heard two fingers, but it should be much more snug than most riders, including children, wear theirs).

At Fairfax Cycling Camp, we review safety and talk about how to properly wear a helmet at the beginning of each week. In case you can't make it to camp, or you're wondering why your child's helmet fits differently after they've been at camp, check out the video, or read more at helmets.org. Safe riding!

Safety Tips for Biking with Your Child

Former Manor School principal, Jason Richardson, leads a pack of kids to school on International Bike and Walk to School Day.

On school days in Fairfax, the streets are full of kids and parents biking to school. We love that! At Fairfax Cycling Camp, in addition to having fun with our campers, we teach important safety skills. There are a few things parents can do to make the ride safer for their child/ren: 1)advocate for safer infrastructure; 2) teach your child how to ride safely ; and 3) most importantly, model safe biking yourself.

As a teacher and psychotherapist, we understand that one of the most powerful modes of teaching is through modeling. What is modeling?  In a nut shell, it is teaching others through your own actions. Research has shown it to be much more effective than lecturing. 

Modeling how to safely ride in traffic, as well as sharing how fun and invigorating it is to get around by bike is something we all should celebrate and support. Modeling the regular use of a helmet is a vital part of riding safely. Don't just listen to us, check out what the folks at helmets.org have to say about the value of protecting your brain.

More Physical Activity is Best for Kids (and Adults?)

Campers working on skills.

There was an interesting article in NPR yesterday linking good motor skills and academic success.  While the researchers are quick to point out other possible causes, the case for more physical activity both in school and out of school is irrefutable. Brains function best when they're happy, and brains tend to be happiest when they're getting plenty of exercise. Researchers believe this may have to do with increased levels of oxygen in the blood,  we also know that exercise helps reduce anxiety and depression levels in adults and kids.  In short, exercise is not just great for your body, but great for your mind and mood, too!

As an elementary school teacher and psychotherapist, we understand this. Our campers are active and engaged all day. Our days are structured to include a developmentally appropriate and skill-level based ride in the morning, followed up with a variety of games in the afternoon, which include running, throwing and having serious fun! Our campers leave us with increased skill and confidence on the bike, as well as joy which comes from being outside, exercising and playing with engaged adults and other kids. 

What Type of Bike Should My Child Have?

Rockin' the teeter totter on a 26" bike

In order to have a fun and successful experience at Fairfax Cycling Camp, your child should come with the right tools!  This includes a well-fitting helmet, proper clothes, sunscreen, water bottles or a Camelbak, and the right, tuned-up bike.  We understand that purchasing the right bicycle can be expensive, but we encourage you to see it as an investment - not just in your child's summer camp experience, but to get to and from school, and as a fun family activity.  

For our youngest campers, we require a minimum 24" wheeled mountain bike with a triple chainring.  The large wheel size allows your child to roll over obstacles with more grip on the trail, and the triple chainring allows them to climb the many hills they will be conquering.  Trust us, your child will have a much more positive experience at camp, and with mt. biking in general if they are adequately equipped. 

For our middle-sized campers (9-12), we recommend a 26" wheel for all of the above reasons. How do you know if your child has outgrown their 24" bike?  When their seat post is nearing its maximum extension, take your child out and carefully watch them pedal. When their foot is in the down stroke position, their knee should still be slightly bent. If their knee is more than slightly bent, it's time for a bigger bike!

Please feel free to email us with any questions - we're happy to help in any way we can. Our local bike shops, Sunshine Bikes and Fairfax Cyclery can help answer any questions you may have. Remember to tell them that we sent you! Trek also has an informative page on kids' bikes: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/kids