Taking off those training wheels can be difficult when you‘re a kid and learning how to ride a bike. I remember when my husband was teaching our two girls how to ride a bike without training wheels; it was scary as a mom for the fear they would fall and hurt themselves. Yeah, I know, it’s all a part of growing up, learning to do anything but what if I told you there was a camp that teaches kids to learn to ride a bike the non-stressful way, something that wasn’t available when my kids were growing up?
Clipped in For Life has exactly that. Jen and Clint Claassen started Clipped in For Life, a non-profit in October of 2021 that is an all-ages brand that teaches through cycling. Originally a home operation by putting on races, the Clipped in Races brand evolved with a simple purpose: They’re passionate about putting on high-quality events that bring the community together.
Clipped in Races brand, brings the community together with events such as the 'Get Rollin' Summer Camp'. A camp designed specifically with the child in mind. This four, one-week session camp is designed to teach a child as young as three years old to learn confidence, balance, and determination. Children are provided with Strider 2-in-1, balance-to-pedal conversion bikes, bikes that help riders gain confidence and learn more advanced skills, and helmets. Then, when children are ready, it easily transforms into a pedal bike with the installation of the Easy-Ride Pedal Conversion Kit. I went to view the camp with an already preconceived notion that this camp would just be a bunch of little kids riding around on bikes, but that was far from the case.
The children use their feet the entire time as they go through what Jen calls 2-4-1- ready for fun. On the first day of the camp, the children learn the basics of learning to sit and balance on the Strider bike and walk around the training area. On the second day of the camp, the children start to put together the basics along with a little more interactive movements such as learning to stop, turn and break. Each child progresses on its own time and they are in no way forced to go any faster than what their minds tell them to. But, they do eventually get the hang of it within a few days which is extraordinary.
It really is just amazing to see how quickly a child can pick up any type of skill in just a matter of a few days. I observed a few children during a day at the camp and saw how things just click in their little brains. Learning to ride a bike is just one of the many milestones a child has to achieve in their lives and this camp really does help reach that milestone. By the end of the camp session, some children will be ready to convert their pedals and ride that bike without training wheels!
I had the chance to ask a few of the moms what they thought of the program and here were just a few reviews: Jen, whose daughter Rachael is 3, loves the program and feels the program should be in schools, Sara, whose daughter Olivia is 3 loves the program and looks forward to coming back.
A little background on Clint Claassen: Clint is a Pro Mountain Biker with numerous top national finishes and regional wins in all disciplines. Clint is known and respected as a contender in any race he enters; however, his image has risen above results alone. His work in the community developing other riders and organizing events shows he is committed to cycling and growing the sport he loves. Jennifer is the Director of Operations and handles all of the social events, planning, etc.
Their role in the community extends beyond races with projects such as the creation of the El Dorado Hills Bike Park, the establishment of an El Dorado County Trails organization (the Mother Lode Trail Stewardship), hours of trail building with other stewardship groups, and even down to the level of repainting strider bikes for a local pre-school. They have partnered with All Kids Bike, a program that places Strider 14x Bikes into PE classes to bring the program into El Dorado County and beyond schools.
Another goal of theirs is to bring the world of cycling not to just adults but to kids of all ages. After all, cycling is the perfect way to get your body moving.
Note: District Church in El Dorado Hills graciously provided the location for the bike summer camp.
District Church
7000 Rossmore Lane
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
