PAC Knowledge Share: From Coach Dave

Allegheny County offers introductory mountain biking class for children

By Doug Gulasy Sports Reporter

Cody Pletz teaches children about plenty of sports through his job with Coach Dave Gray Sports.

One of his own favorite sports, bicycling, stands out.

“Most of those (ball) sports, you have to put them aside if you don't pursue it through college or by the off chance make it a career,” Pletz said. “Biking is one of those things where you can do it (as) a lifelong passion or hobby. It's something that can keep you happy and healthy forever.”

That idea is driving the Allegheny County Parks Department's new introductory mountain biking class for children, which began late last month. Over the course of eight sessions, Pletz is teaching children ages 7 to 12 the basics of mountain biking, including safety. By the final class July 22, Pletz hopes the students will be able to navigate a full trail.

“The idea is to get kids engaged in the sport, teach them how to do it safely, teach them everything from the basics of mountain biking safety, what to do if they get a flat tire, how to do trail maintenance (and) all those kinds of basics,” Allegheny County spokesman Kevin Evanto said.

“(We want) to teach kids at a young age to get them interested in the sport and make sure they do it safely. We think it's a really great offering, and it's just a fun way for kids to spend the summer.”

Traditionally one of the most popular sports for children, biking took a hit in overall participation in recent years.

According to the Outdoor Foundation's 2014 Outdoor Participation Report, 13.6 million Americans ages 6 to 17 participated in road, mountain or BMX biking in 2013. That was a jump from 13.4 million participants in the previous year's report, but still fell far short of the 14.7 million listed as recently as 2010.

Biking still rates as the top sport for participation, with 27 percent of Americans ages 6 to 17 taking part. The report doesn't distinguish among BMX, road or mountain biking.

Pletz said mountain biking lags locally compared to other areas where he has lived, mainly because of Western Pennsylvania's topography.

“Narrow, winding streets and a lot of hills don't lead parents to feel very secure about their kids riding,” Pletz said.

“But I do see a lot of people dedicating time taking their kids to the park or neighborhoods that do have availability to ride.”

Before children learn how to mountain bike, it's important that they know the basics of operating a bicycle.

“Mountain biking is a little intense because you're off-roading,” said Michael Potoczny of the Wheel Mill, an indoor biking facility in Homewood. “You're not on flat (ground). So your kid has to have general skills. Once they have general skills — they can make turns, they can ride up a hill on the street, they can ride off the curb — they're ready to try mountain biking.”

Potoczny and Pletz suggested children would be better off learning mountain biking from a trained instructor, rather than a parent or friend. Both the Wheel Mill and CDG Sports offer instruction.

When on a trail for the first time, Potoczny advised that kids go slowly.

If not, “you might hit a drop, you might hit a log that's steeper than you think, and you're going to crash,” Potoczny said. “You have to be aware of your surroundings. I don't hit a trail full-speed (at first), and I've been riding for 21 years.”

Pletz said it's also important not to travel alone.

Safety gear — helmets, pads and gloves — are key. Potoczny urges parents to buy proper-fitting equipment, including bikes, instead of purchasing something for the children to “grow into.”

If safety guidelines are followed, Potoczny said, children might be able to develop a long-term interest in biking.

“Mainstream sports aren't for every kid, but everybody needs something to be passionate about,” he said. “Mountain biking could be that for anyone's kids in the city.”

Doug Gulasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib. 

Head instructor Cody Pletz, 24, teaches riders correct posture during a youth mountain bike class at North Park’s Pie Traynor Field on Sunday, June 28, 2015.