GGC Bike Academy Recap

The Greenway Gear Collective Bike Academy welcomed its second cohort this past spring! After hosting our first series in Fall 2025, we spent time reflecting on participant feedback and making thoughtful updates to improve the experience.

This round, we shortened the program from seven weeks to six, reduced the class size to create a more hands-on learning environment, and introduced a registration fee. As the curriculum continued to grow and evolve, we recognized the amount of time, planning, and resources being invested in the program and wanted to ensure participants received the best experience possible.

Here's a look back at our six-week journey.

Week 1: Introductions, Cycling Types & Gear

We kicked things off by getting to know one another and building community within the group. Participants learned about different styles of cycling—from commuting and recreational riding to road, gravel, and adventure riding—and explored the basics of cycling gear, clothing, helmets, lights, and bike accessories. More importantly, riders began to see how biking could fit into their own lives and interests.

Week 2: Bike Maintenance Basics

For week two, we shifted gears into hands-on bike maintenance. Participants learned how to care for their bikes, fix a flat tire, and troubleshoot common mechanical issues. The goal was to help riders feel more confident and self-sufficient when out on the road or greenway. There’s something empowering about realizing you can solve a problem on your own and keep rolling.

Week 3: Route Planning & Wayfinding

Week three focused on navigation and route planning. We started with a short ride along the greenway to Dorothea Dix Park before returning to The Bike Library to explore route-planning tools like Strava and Ride with GPS. Participants mapped routes to some of their favorite destinations around Raleigh and learned how to make biking a more practical part of their daily routines.

Week 4: Multi-Modal Transit

Our fourth week took the classroom on the road with an off-site field trip focused on getting around Raleigh without a car. We met at Raleigh Union Station and discussed the benefits of combining biking with public transportation before setting out to catch the R-Line, Raleigh’s free downtown circulator bus.

Along the way, participants learned how to use transit apps, track bus schedules, and take advantage of one of Raleigh’s hidden gems: the IKE Kiosk. These free interactive kiosks help residents and visitors navigate the city, find destinations, and even connect with city services when needed.

Of course, one of the most important lessons of the day was learning how to load a bike onto a bus rack. While it can feel intimidating the first time, practicing together as a group helped remove the uncertainty and build confidence. By the end of the afternoon, everyone had successfully navigated downtown using multiple modes of transportation and walked away with new tools for getting around Raleigh without relying on a car.

Week 5: Biking & Beyond

Week five revolved (literally) around skill building. As a group, we rode from The Bike Library to a parking lot at Dorothea Dix Park overlooking the Raleigh skyline. With a little instruction and a lot of practice, participants worked through a series of drills designed to improve bike handling skills, including balance, precision braking, and increasingly tight S-turns and figure eights.

Between drills, we discussed different cycling disciplines, including bikepacking, racing, and commuting. We wrapped up the evening with a crowd-favorite activity: the slowest bike race. The enthusiasm was contagious, and it was incredible to see the confidence and bike-handling skills participants developed in such a short period of time.

Week 6: Graduation Ride & Celebration

For our final class, we figured the best way to celebrate was with a bike ride. We rode from The Bike Library to NC State’s Centennial Campus during their live concert series and wrapped up the academy with good food, music, and great company.

It was the perfect way to celebrate six weeks of learning, growth, and community building on two wheels. What started as a group of strangers interested in learning more about biking ended as a community of riders with new skills, new confidence, and new friendships.

One participant summed it up best:

“Bike Academy is a way of learning about different forms of biking, keeping up with your bike, and all the fun things you can do on a bike! It is a great way to get involved in the biking community and make friends!”

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us this spring and helped make the program such a success.

Keep an eye out for Fall 2026 Bike Academy registration, which will open later this summer. We can't wait to do it all again.