2024 Riding For Focus FAQ
How can I obtain Riding for Focus?
Riding for Focus can be obtained through one of two pathways: grant or purchase. The grant cycle opens annually in January.
Who can apply for a grant? What age group is Riding for Focus intended for?
Riding for Focus is designed as a middle school program meant to be implemented during the PE class time hour or in a structured after-school setting. We encourage all public, Title 1 middle schools to apply. Unfortunately, we do not offer programming to elementary schools, and believe the program is not suited for high school-age students.
Eligible organizations to receive a program grant:
Public, Title 1 middle schools
A consortium of a local nonprofit partnered with a local public, Title 1 middle school*
*standalone nonprofits are no longer eligible program applicants. Nonprofits must partner with a local middle school. All equipment and materials are granted to the school.
What is included in a grant or purchased program?
Granted and purchased programs will receive a fleet of Specialized Rock Hopper bikes in an array of sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, and L), one-sized fits most Specialized LED Centro Helmets that are high-visibility green and say “Riding for Focus” on the side, unlimited access to our 12 week Riding for Focus curriculum and resources, program support from our program team, data collection and impact reports from our research team, connection to and opportunities to learn from Riding for Focus Champions and schools across the nation, and a seat at the Outride Table and community! We welcome you into our network!
Tell me more about the Riding for Focus Curriculum.
The Riding for Focus curriculum is a 12-lesson basic cycling handling and traffic safety curriculum. Students learn basic cycling handling skills with the desired outcome that they have a foundational understanding of cycling handling skills and a general understanding to maneuver safely in light traffic. The curriculum is meant to be implemented for a minimum of 6 weeks and up to however many weeks you have! The curriculum contains critical elements that you would find in any quality curriculum such as: lesson objectives, review of previously taught skills, introduction of new skills, transitions, health and wellness components, and time to assess students on their skill development to ensure that they are learning what we hope for them to learn! The curriculum is meant to encourage students' confidence and competence on the bike so that they may become lifelong cyclists and pedal into adulthood!
The curriculum also has been developed in compliance to SHAPE America national standards.
A minimum of 6 weeks for implementation?
Yes. To collect the most robust data across the nation we have standardized the minimum amount of implementation time needed to occur which is 6:3:20. Outride would like schools to implement Riding for Focus for at least 6 weeks (could be more!), throughout 3 days a week, and to get students' heart rates elevated for 20 minutes at a time. If this is a barrier for you to apply, please come talk to us!
Tell me more about the bikes.
Bikes are called Specialized Rockhoppers. They are hardtail mountain bikes with a 1x setup. (This means that there is only one chain ring in the front and there is no front derailleur, only a rear derailleur!). They have mechanical disc brakes and have been specifically designed for Riding for Focus students’ daily wear and tear! They come in different colors (for easy sizing identification) and the seat posts have numbering marks to teach students how to properly fit their bikes! You won’t be needing a more sturdy bike for your PE classes. The Rockhopper’s a legend of a bike if taken care of properly and maintained throughout the year.
Depending on your PE class size, students' heights, and overall need, you will receive a distribution of sizes of bikes determined by the Riding for Focus Program Manager. Although there is a section on the application for you to provide an “ideal” breakdown of bike sizing, Outride will do its best to accommodate needs based on inventory availability.
XXS bikes have 26” wheels - and will fit a student between the heights of 4’3” - 4’9”
XS bikes have 27.5” wheels - and will fit a student between the heights of 4’8” - 5’1”
S bikes have 27.5” wheels - and will fit a student between the heights of 5’0” - 5’5”
M bikes have 27.5” wheels - and will fit a student between the heights of 5’4” - 5’10”
L bikes have 29” wheels - and will fit a student between the heights of 5’9” - 6’1”
Color-coded for sizing – easy for students to know which bike to grab during class after they fitted to the correct size
1X shifting – less chain dropping and allows for students to learn one set of gears, simplifying the understanding of shifting and easier to maintain
The seat post is marked with height ticks, so the students can easily adjust their seat to the proper height at the start of class
Components are more durable and rustproof
We believe our bikes, if maintained well, could easily sustain use for 10 years
*Please note, there are no mounting points on the Rockhopper frames for tricycle or adaptive wheels. We do not offer Fat Bikes. Unfortunately, we do not offer adaptive bikes at this moment but would love to connect you to people, other organizations, other schools, or companies who are building bikes for students who have special needs.
The Riding for Focus Application: Tell Me More!
The application is online and will ask you for information about your school or organization, students, teacher Champions/staff, and your WHY. Why are you applying for a Riding for Focus program? How will cycling improve your school/organization? Do you have the critical elements needed to run a successful cycling program? If not, how can Outride help you? Can you collect data (check with your school district!)? What are barriers? Let’s start thinking logistics through! Come prepared to paint us a picture about your students, community, WHY, and how biking will transform the lives of your students, community, and beyond!
PS: Applications can be worked on in collaboration with others. If you are a school grant writer, please include your PE teacher or other faculty. If you are a principal, Executive Director, or School District personnel, please make sure you tap into the voice of your teacher/staff who will ultimately be running the program.
Yes, the application can be saved and worked on simultaneously with others. Pending edits will not be discarded.
Finally, please ensure you CLICK SUBMIT. Applicants who do not successfully hit the submit button will not be considered.
Legal Paperwork: Please be informed.
Outride has one legal contract that the school principal, administrator, or Executive Director must sign. It is called a School Program Agreement. The School Program Agreement can be previewed. Please email us to review.
In addition to the School Program Agreement, Outride needs for students' guardians to provide permission for students to be involved in the program. We also ask permission to use photos, videos, and testimonies for our marketing and communications. This form is called the Outride Waiver.
Outride collects data to inform our research on the link between well-being and cycling. What that means is that we have an form that needs to go out to students' guardians in order to collect data. Parents or guardians who do not wish for their students to be involved in data collection will send the form back to the teacher.
We do offer this paperwork in Spanish.
Tell me more about data collection.
Outride believes that cycling can light up the brain and improve the mental health and well-being of youth. In order to show this, we collect data. Collecting data is a grant requirement. To collect data, each teacher or staff will receive a de-identified and anonymous survey link. These links will be sent to you before you start the program and after the end of it. Their task is to encourage students to complete these questions to their best of their ability! The questions will take about 10 minutes to complete. You will be amazed to hear the things that students are saying about cycling.
You will also be amazed to find out how many students don’t actually know how to ride a bike, don’t have a bike at home, or what THEY are wanting to learn more about bikes. At the end of the year, our Research Manager will compile and analyze your data into a wonderful impact report. We encourage you to share these incredible findings and summaries with your principal, school district, local biking community, local bike shop, Safe Routes to School Coordinator, or whatever organization that is also wanting to get more youth active, safer streets, or policy for improved infrastructure.
Additionally, our Research Manager released a research report earlier this year summarizing all the amazing data she has collected about our Riding for Focus programs and what they have been experiencing across the nation these last two years. Please click here to read Outride’s Research Report 2021: Riding for Fun, Friends, and Fitness.
Once awarded, is the equipment the property of the school, or is it on loan?
Technically, a loan for the first three years, according to the School Program Agreement. Then all bikes and equipment become the property of the school or organization. Outride has not had an instance where the repossession of the bikes was necessary. As you know, our schools go through a rigorous application process and tend to be extremely dedicated to the program. Though situations do arise that temporarily prevent implementation (storm damage to the school, changes in leadership). Our Riding for Focus programs has been widely successful at implementing the three-year minimum requirement in the agreement.
Who will build the bikes?
Schools and non-profits will need to develop a relationship with a local bike shop of their choosing. Depending on your community, you may have a Specialized Shop in your area. Please find the closest Specialized Shop in your area using this Store Finder. You do not have to ask a Specialized shop to build your bikes for you but we encourage you to.
If you already have a relationship with a bike shop, a non-Specialized shop, or a certified mechanic and would prefer their support to build the bikes, this is okay as well! The only requirement we have is that certified mechanics build the bikes; or do the final quality check on the builds.
Who pays for the bike build and continual maintenance?
We expect schools and non-profits to have funding set aside for the bike build and continual maintenance and parts. If funding is a barrier for you to apply, please speak with the Program Manager.
Who picks up the bikes or transports them?
It is the school’s responsibility to arrange the pick up of the bikes. However, sometimes the bike shops offer assistance as they are able (i.e. if they already own a trailer). You will need to remain in constant communication with your supporting shop and Program Manager. Once bikes are built, there is usually limited time for pickup. Otherwise, bikes can be sent to the school and your local bike shop or mechanic can come to the school off hours to build the bikes.
Training! What’s going on with Teacher Training?
More information will be released after grants are awarded. Training in full is mandatory for the two staff members who will implement the program (primary staff) and who will support it (secondary staff).