by Trek Summer Camp is the only public free two-week intensive youth road cycling program on the East Coast.

There are other youth and road cycling programs in New York City, starting with all the way up to  and youth-only groups like and .

But there is none quite like this one—the aforementioned are all either school-based, cost money, aren’t on modern road bikes (and certainly don’t provide them), or aren’t daily intensives.

The goal of Ride Up Grades is to introduce kids to road cycling with the aim of teaching safe commuting skills and building endurance. The ability to go by bike offers life-changing freedom to young people, and doing it on drop-bar bikes creates a broader base of young riders with the ability to try road racing. It’s part skills clinic, part attempt to make cycling cool again. Take it from me: there’s nothing cooler than independence.

For full transparency: Ride Up Grades is my project. I’ve taught youth cycling since 2016, and from my first day with Bike New York I saw the need for a road cycling summer camp for kids.

In 2021, Ride Up Grades (which consists of me and personal trainer Teresa Fisher) launched the road cycling camp in partnership with Trek with funds from Outride, apparel company Ostroy, and generous individuals worldwide. We keep it going with help from Jason Marshall, the mechanic behind , who let us store unreasonable amounts of full bikes and bike parts in his home for over a year.

Every weekday, for two weeks in July, 20 kids gather at the Trek Bicycles store on 96th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side before the shop opens. My counselors and I bring up Domane road bikes for the kids from the basement of the shop: a mix of donated bikes from Trek and loaner rigs from the shop.

We fill everyone’s bottles before loading the cooler into a Burley bike trailer along with snacks, first aid, a pump, and tools. A Trek staffer on an e-bike ferries our things around for the day.

For the first few sessions, we head to a nearby park where work our way through a series of League of American Bicyclists drills and games. We begin with the basics, and work our way up to drills on shifting gears.

To teach the group of kids how to shift, we have them ride a circle up one hill in Riverside Park nonstop for over 90 minutes.

Next comes practice at dodging the potholes and pedestrians—drills that prepare them for riding in the city. We teach riders to look over their shoulders for oncoming traffic before merging; then, it’s emergency stops and turns, as well as never to ride within arm’s reach past a pedestrian or another rider. Also, we show them how to keep one bike length apart when they ride single file or when they’re on their own riding behind strangers.

There’s a bit of do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do guidance. On an enclosed rail trail, our advanced riders get to practice drafting, but we focus mostly on skills the whole group is ready to learn, like spacing, pacing, and cornering.

A mechanic, nutrition, and recovery day is included each week, where we teach campers the basics about their machines: bicycle anatomy, how to change tires and reseat a chain, as well as the basics of how to eat for endurance activities, and how to stretch afterward. We generally end each day with a round of stretching and, in true camp fashion, Circle Time, where we talk about what we liked (and didn’t) about the day.

It’s basically a novice-level cycling training course for road biking. I’m sure this sounds simple, but you should also consider that we do the camp in New York City’s 90-degree heat, with 60-percent humidity. Most rides take us up and down the West Side Highway, which is a sun-exposed strip of protected bike path that runs the length of the west side of Manhattan.

Like last year, we rode to Governors Island, Inwood Hill Park, Randall’s Island, and took the train out to Prospect and Van Cortlandt parks. We spent our last day riding through Pelham Bay Park. Altogether, we did a little over 150 miles, having had to cancel a day and a half due to rain, and not counting the drills (like the 90 minutes they spent on the hill).

These first two years Ride Up Grades by Trek Summer Bike Camp have been free, with one-quarter of campers coming from families that make less than $75,000 a year. For 2023, we will move to a sliding scale with the aim of expanding camp locations to areas where more residents live below the poverty line. I won’t whip out my Uncle Sam costume and point aggressively at you from this article, but I will say: your local camp needs you. There’s a list of , but it needs updating.

We complain that American road cycling needs a second renaissance. Here in New York City, where I was born and raised, cyclists complain that riding is dangerous and expensive, and the community is difficult to join. If we want to see cycling get more attention or become more accepted, the secret is not in converting old people.

Rather, teaching young people to ride safely and introducing them to various cycling clubs and resources is a part of the route to a community and society that likes bikes. We also support riders outside of camp sessions by providing bike and gear sponsorships in conjunction with apparel brand Ostroy. If you want to get involved or ask about starting your own program, reach out to staff@rideupgrades.org.

operates the for VeloNews.com.

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If you have the right equipment, cruising around by bike can be comfy no matter the conditions—and you can look good doing it. So we collected the best bike commuting gear for carrying things and riding through rough weather with a splash of casual-Friday style.

Ostroy Resort Unisex Shirt ($98)

A silklike polyester-lycra blend elevates this short-sleeve button-down above your typical tropical shirt. It dries quickly, has a small rear buttoned key pocket, and comes in an array of cycling-themed prints. (2XS–2XL)

Showers Pass Elements Jacket ($219)

We have spent years testing rain jackets on our commutes, and the Elements is our favorite, both on and off the bike. This seam-sealed, 2.5-layer shell boasts a deep, zip-off drawstring hood, a drop tail to protect from road spray, two phone-size chest pockets, and two large vents so you can dump heat but still keep your core dry. (men’s S–XXL / women’s XS–XL)

SKS Raceblade Pro Fenders ($75)

Fenders are critical for commuting in wet weather. While most need to be screwed to braze-ons, these attach to supports that strap to rear stays with hefty rubber safety bands, and install with just an Allen wrench, so they’re easy to pop on or off. The standard size fits over 700×18–25 rubber, and the XL version fits 700×25–32.

Chrome Anza °Â´Ç³¾±ð²Ô’s Shorts ($110)

These shorts were built for day-after-day, everyday around-town riding. They’re made of a quick-dry nylon-poly blend, with double-layered seat seams that boost durability for maximum time in the saddle. A built-in U-lock holster and six pockets that fit keys and cash mean you can run light errands sans frame bags or backpack. (0–14)

Kryptonite Evolution Mini-5 U-lock ($82)

Small U-locks are harder to jack open or cut without damaging your bike frame. Enter the Mini. Its steel shackle is a hefty 13 millimeters thick but it’s only 3.25 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall, so there’s no big gap between your bike frame and the post to which it is locked.

Outlier Futureslimworks ²Ñ±ð²Ô’s Pants ($160)

Made from water-repellent nylon-elastane canvas, these pants are seriously stretchy and plenty light for summer, yet they’re still tough enough to hold up to the friction and abuse of constant riding. The only downside is the fixed 33.5-inch inseam. (Cuff ’em if you’re short, though you’re out of luck if you’re tall.) (28–40)

Chrome Warsaw MD Backpack ($180)

This 25-liter bag is the smaller cousin to the massive, 52-liter messenger backpack that has been a staple of the Chrome lineup—and a favorite of ours—for many years. It’s made of heavy-duty 1,050-denier nylon with a tarp liner, and boasts two external pockets plus a water bottle sleeve. Significantly, it’s also small enough to carry onto an airplane.

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Thankfully, women’s bike apparel has grown more technical with day-saving details like bib panels sporting plenty of silicone instead of mere leg grippers, and fabrics blended with more nylon for longevity and strength. We gathered pieces that are built for fit, function, and fun—items that are made to last even when riders put them through the wringer. These are the ones that rose to the top.

Assos UMA GT Wind Jacket ($149)

The UMA GT turns your average lightweight shell into a fashion statement. Its fine stocking-mesh upper back helps your body dump heat fast (and allows your jersey’s design to show through) while stretchy, windproof nylon side panels keep you protected from lateral breezes. Full DWR treatment wards off the occasional brief rain shower, and dual slits on the back let you access your jersey pockets. (XS–XXL)

Ornot Magic Shell Jacket ($268)

When paired with a thermal jersey, this stretchy outer layer is ideal for cool evening or shoulder-season rides. Its highly breathable, waterproof fabric also kept us dry during summer showers. We love that the double zipper makes it easy to reach your jersey pockets from below, and that the sole exterior zipper pocket is large enough for a phone or gloves. (XS–XL)

Ostroy Zipperless Jersey ($135)

Mesh in the front for breathability and solid poly-elastane on the back for sun protection makes this the perfect cycling top. It’s almost 100 grams lighter than a traditional jersey and is also more formfitting. Most importantly, no zipper means no weird bulges when you’re in the riding position, and a flattering silhouette even with the three pockets fully loaded. (XS–XXL)

Velocio Concept Bib Shorts ($309)

Velocio is known for innovative drop-tail configurations, and the Concept is no exception. The straps connect across your back for easy removal (no more fussing with hard-to-reach clips or reaching between your shoulder blades at every bathroom stop). Updates this year: raw-cut leg openings that lie flat and a chamois sewn beneath a separate panel to reduce seams at pinch points between the thigh and the pad. (XXS–3XL)

Ostroy Floral Not Sorry Vest ($130)

Ostroy updated this roomy vest with a two-way zipper, which is critical for accessing pockets on long rides. It’s made of nylon-poly fabric, with small perforations on the back panel and a high collar to keep out gusts. The result is perfect for rides with dramatic temperature changes. And with three roomy pockets, it acts like an instant jersey when you layer it over a long-sleeve top. (XS–XL)

MAAP Prime New Era Cap ($65)

It’s tricky to find a cap that will fend off rain without making you sweat. This one strikes that balance with a three-layer waterproof poly-blend fabric and thermo-welded taped seams. We tested it on sweltering summer days and cold shoulder-season ones, and it kept us happy on both. (one size)

Iris Signature Bib Shorts ($150)

These might be the only bibs you’ll ever need. Silicone inside the leg panels in place of separate grip strips means no sausage leg, and a multi-density foam chamois kept us content during all-day rides. Best of all is the magnetic drop tail: no more need to hold your jersey (and its full pockets) while hovering over the toilet. (XXS–3XL)

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