Balance Bike These practice sessions are for riders who cannot balance on a bike with pedals yet, and, therefore use a "balance bike" that doesn't have pedals. They cruise around Gators Bike Park using their feet to propel their bike forward, Fred Flinstone style. Practices: Monday evenings, Gators Bike Park Bike recommendation: pedal-less! Rollers ROLLER sessions are for riders who are still working on grasping the fundamentals of biking off-road and developing confidence on the trail. They are not yet ready to tackle all obstacles at Gators Bike Park. ROLLERS can also be capable younger riders limited by endurance. Practices: Monday evenings, Gators Bike Park Bike recommendation: Geared or non-geared pedal bikes; may or may not have hand brakes.  Grinders GRINDERS have some level of previous instruction (or mountain bike trail experience) and regularly apply the fundamentals (e.g. eyes forward, pedals level over obstacles, brakes covered). They can confidently navigate small obstacles at Gator Bike Park and are ready to tackle more challenging features at Gator Bike Park such as the Snake Ladder Bridge, Lilypads, & Log Skinny. GRINDERS are transitioning to a hand brake lever instead of a coaster brake and may have experience manipulating gears. Practices: Monday evenings, Gators Bike Park Bike recommendation: Geared bikes with handbrakes are preferred. Shredders SHREDDERS are experienced mountain bikers ready for longer trail rides on tree-rooted terrain at Alum Creek. These riders have demonstrated mastery of most Gator Bike Park features and are ready to tackle more challenging terrain. Practices are 2 hours and can cover up to 4 or 5 miles. SHREDDERS should be capable of completing the Alum Creek Beginner loop & some features of Gnomewood Bike Park with minimal dismounting. Experience manipulating gears is a huge plus. Practices: Tuesday evenings, Alum Creek Bike recommendation: Bikes equipped with hand brakes & gears. TO SHRED OR NOT TO SHRED, THAT IS THE QUESTION! The best way to figure out if your rider is ready to SHRED is a trip out to the Beginner Loop! Have an adult lead the ride, and be ready to walk any sections that you don’t feel comfortable with. If riders don’t feel comfortable with the beginner’s loop then they should stick to Gators Bike Park and the ROLLER/GRINDER groups. Rippers Riding with RIPPERS is by invitation only, after coaches have assessed riding ability and skill levels. If you have not received a RIPPERS invitation from a Gators coach and register for RIPPERS anyway, your registration will be canceled. If you are ready to RIP but are new to the team, please contact biketeam@thetrailgators.org well in advance of the registration open date to discuss. Practices: Tuesday evenings, Alum Creek If you have questions or need guidance, please reach out to gatorsbiketeam@thetrailgators.org well in advance of the registration open date!