Skills Clinics

678 Winter Skills Series

Monthly bike skills sessions for middle schoolers · November 2026 – February 2027 · Hinkle Creek Nature Center in Folsom

The 678 Winter Skills Series gives middle schoolers a chance to spend time with friends on bikes this winter while building specific new skills. Each month focuses on a different topic, from cornering and climbing to bike repair, balance and getting airborne. Sessions are guided by experienced instructors but not overly structured. Riders get plenty of time to explore, practice and have fun.

Looking for 678 Ride Club? Our trail-riding club returns in the spring. The Winter Skills Series is a little different: each session focuses on learning specific skills at Hinkle Creek Nature Center, with short practice rides when weather and daylight allow. Early sunsets and winter weather make longer trail rides a poor fit this time of year.

Schedule at a glance

Every session meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at Hinkle Creek Nature Center, six classes per session. Register for each session separately.

No classes during holiday weeks: November 23 – 27, December 21 – January 1, January 18 – 22 and February 15 – 19.

Session Descriptions

678 Rider’s Ed
November 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2026 · 3:45 – 4:30 PM
January 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, & 21, 2027 · 3:45 – 4:30 PM

Rider’s Ed is the foundation of the 678 series. Riders learn the skills they need to get around the community safely on a bike or e-bike, including bike handling, the rules of the road and basic maintenance. We also cover the rules and laws for safely riding all types of e-bikes and other electric vessels.

The Slopes
November 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2026 · 4:45 – 5:30 PM

The Slopes focuses on cornering, climbing and descending. Riders work on brake control, body position, berm technique and riding up and down switchbacks, then progress to features like rock gardens and faster cornering. Whether it’s cornering well on a descent or holding good posture on a climb, these skills build comfort and control on the bike.

The Pits
December 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, & 17 · 4:45 – 5:30 PM

Guided by experienced instructors, riders learn essential repairs, from fixing flats and broken chains to identifying components and practicing shop safety. Each class is hands-on and builds patience, problem-solving and a sense of mastery, so riders can maintain their own bikes with confidence.

The Railyard
January 5, 7, 12, 14, 26, 28 · 4:45 – 5:30 PM

Good balance makes for strong bike handling. Riders sharpen their balance through skills like track stands and riding skinnies (narrow raised features).

Airborne Skills
February 2, 4, 9, 11, 23, & 25 · 4:45 – 5:30 PM

Riders start with the essentials, like rolling off a curb and lifting the front and rear wheels. From there they progress to manuals, riding off larger drops safely and learning to jump with control, not just “sending it.”

678 Ride Club Intro
February 2, 4, 9, 11. 23, & 25 · 3:45 – 4:30 PM

New to mountain biking or thinking about joining 678 Ride Club this spring? These six skill-building classes are an add-on option for newer riders to build a foundation before riding with the 678 Jr High MTB Ride Club.