Earn-A-Bike (Intro Green Apron)

Youth age 10-18 | Tue/Thur/Sat | $25 fee

By enrolling in Freewheelin’s introductory 7-week Earn-A-Bike program, youth learn basic bicycle mechanics, maintenance, riding safety, as well as life and leadership skills. When a student demonstrates proficiency in basic mechanics, he or she can choose, restore and earn a bicycle from our donated stock of bicycles. Youth also earn a helmet and lock for their bicycle. 

Youth meet one time per week over the course of 7-weeks. Each class session is two (2) hours.

Questions? Please contact Andrew Korb.

Advanced Mechanics (Red, Purple and Black Aprons)

Youth Open Shop | Wed/Fri/Sat | $25/apron level

For those who are motivated to learn more, we have an Advanced class in which students learn about the more complicated systems of a bicycle: brakes, bearings and gears. Students completing this class have an open door to advance further into Freewheelin's programming, earning the privilege of advancing to higher colors of shop aprons, and more responsibility and leadership by demonstrating their skills at prescribed tasks. 

To pass their "apron tests"', youth must demonstrate that they can perform a task adequately. Here is what our kids know! Click on an apron to see it full-size.

Questions? Please contact Andrew Korb.

Youth Cycling Team

Tuesdays/Thursdays 4:30 PM;  Saturdays at 9:00am | 3355 N. Central Ave., 46205 - Century Club

Tuesdays at 5:30 PM, Saturdays at scheduled cycling event times (TBD) - Race Team

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Youth and young adults, ages 10-22 enrolling in the Youth Cycling Team  will train from April - October.  Two types of cycling activities introduce youth to safety, riding, health and fitness skills, all while developing their leadership and love for a sport that often presents resource/skill barriers.   Two types of groups are available:

Century Club presents training for a 100 mile bike ride. We will have three rides per week beginning with rides of less than 20 miles and progressing throughout the summer so that riders are fully prepared to complete 100 miles in a single day (in September). Youth will be required to attend 2 rides per week in order to be considered Century riders. Each student that successfully completes the training program will have his or her registration and transportation (lodging if necessary) provided for the target century ride. It is our goal to provide a new road bike to each successful youth for the century.  Youth who do not meet the two ride per week minimum may still be able to ride the century with permission from the coaches if space permits, but they will not be eligible for the new bicycle.

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The youth Race Team will explore all cycling sports, including mountain bike, road cycling, cyclocross, and track cycling.  We present one practice once a week (Thursdays from 5:30 - 7:30), and youth will participate in scheduled cycling events in Indiana on selected Saturdays.  Practices include skill development, strength, distance and speed development.  This experience also introduces youth to a side of cycling that they may not otherwise have exposure to.  

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Because of the importance of identity, confidence and ability to participate, we provide each youth with an appropriate bike to utilize, as well as Freewheelin' team kits.  We are always looking for support and sponsorship for these programs.  If you would like to sponsor or support our youth on their many adventures, please reach out and let us know!

Youth Employment Apprenticeship Program (YEAP)

Various Work Hours - Ages 14-22

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Finding both a need for our youth to continue their leadership development through engaging in the community that they have helped build, as well as within the community they will lead in the future, Freewheelin’ Community Bikes launched the Youth Employment Apprenticeship Program.  With generous support from Central Indiana Community Foundation, and inspiring individual donors, our career development and employment module was propelled into a year-long track for job preparation.   Creating hands-on training modules, young adults ages fourteen through twenty-two (14-22) that have successfully completed Earn-A-Bike and show promising mentoring skills are eligible to become a youth employee.  This new program has proven critical in meeting our youth and community at large.

Building on their basic “hard” skills (such as how to work with others, lead a group on task, advanced bicycle mechanics, and customer service skills) are coupled with life-long career and employment knowledge (such as resume writing, interviewing techniques, and business marketing and management philosophies), our youth transform into strong leaders along with uplifting their identity, our community and their lives, inside and outside the walls of our shop.  We invite you to help us continue to support this key employment program through your financial support, and to hear the stories behind the individual faces of these transformative youth.