Mike Sinyard, owner and creator of Specialized Bike Company Riding mountain bikes with kids is something I have dreamt about for years. As a teacher and a cyclist I have always felt that there were ways that biking could help children achieve academic, health and social success. I ran a few informal groups two or three times, but it was always tricky finding bikes for kids who didn't have their own, and the bikes the kids brought had to be assessed and often times required repair before they could be ridden. Biking was also seen as an extra-curricular add-on, not an activity that could happen during the school day. With all the challenges, I didn't see a path forward. Until now. In late February of 2017, I had a chance meeting with my friend, Kevin Shute. Kevin works at the YMCA and is an avid cyclist and cycling advocate (as evidence of his commitment to cycling, consider that he commutes daily, all year long-- in Maine). After chatting for a bit about nothing in
The Specialized Foundation uses cycling as a tool for children to achieve academic, health and social success. Through investments in primary scientific medical research and school-based cycling programs, our mission is to increase accessibility to cycling to aid youth in personal development and education. In 2017, Bath Middle School was one of twenty schools in the United States to receive the Riding For Focus grant.