After being awarded the Riding for Focus grant from The Specialized Foundation, Duval Charter School Southside has been integrating cycling lessons into each middle school PE class. With twenty Specialized Pitch bicycles and helmets awarded to the school to use,the teachers are following a curriculum designed to help students become “Road Ready” where they learn how to ride safely on and off the trails by improving their balance, awareness, and general cycling safety. In addition, they also learn about how cycling can improve their focus, executive functioning and problem solving, and overall heart health.

When students have mastered their cycling-specific quizzes, and meet mastery for the performance-based cycling test at the end of the Road Ready lesson, eligible students will be able to go on a cycling field trip and ride on local trails in Jacksonville, Florida.

Duval Charter School Southside Students Saddle Up for a Skills Class

Riding for Focus Champion Jared Davis shared, “The Riding for Focus program has been a huge boost to our middle school and community bike programs. We've partnered up with our local mountain biking chapter, SORBA Jax to be a part of several events throughout the year, including Bike Your Park Day and Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. Pairing this with our awesome sponsor, Open Road Bicycles, we also support Junior Urban Cyclocross and will host this year's information session for the Florida Interscholastic Cycling League. Everyone at the school is buzzing with excitement for bikes and our students can't wait to be Road Ready and take their first biking field trip!”

Special thank for school newsletter Friday Focus.for story content.

Riding for Focus School Champion Jared Davis, Leader of the Pack!

Special thanks to our RIding for Focus retail partner in Florida, Open Road Bicycles.

“Riding for Focus is all about the kids—and getting more of them on bikes. They are our future to grow the sport for a lifetime. We’re on board to getting more of them ready to ride and spread the word how bikes can make the world a better place”, shared Holt Tucker, Store Manager in Avondale. “We are committed to giving back to the community.”

Open Road Bicycles has five locations strong all around the Jacksonville area that share a rich heritage of all things bikes including service, rentals, riding, racing and a passion to serve customers and the community. Group rides are hosted five times weekly and the staff is committed to hook a rider up with the best group ride to match up their comfort and skill level. Open Road supports Junior Urban Cyclocross and will host this year's information session for the Florida Interscholastic Cycling League

Open Road Built Up and Delivered the 20 Bikes to the School.

Road Ready—Open Road Bicycles and Duval Charter School