The snake was stealing the show. “Is it alive?” one child asked, squatting in a circle with others around the creature. “I think so,” another responded, giving the tiny snake a gentle nudge, prompting it to move.
Coach Steve, noticing the distraction, approached the group. “Cool!” he exclaimed, bending down for a closer look. “Let’s be careful not to hurt it.” With the snake’s coolness duly noted, he called the larger group—comprising about 25 kids and a dozen adults—back to attention. He asked each young rider to share their name, grade, and favorite animal.
Coach Steve, or Steve Rogers, is a principal organizer of KOBRA, which stands for Kids On Bikes Riding Around. Despite its acronym, KOBRA has little to do with snakes, except when encountered as objects of fascination. Launched in 2015 as the all-fun mountain biking wing of HammerCross, a local youth cyclocross program, KOBRA has since developed into a distinct set of programs under the HammerCross umbrella: KOBRA Kids, KOBRA Social, and KOBRA Adventure.
KOBRA Kids caters to riders aged five to eleven, mostly elementary schoolers. From mid-May to early November, they gather weekly in Carolina North Forest for about an hour of riding. Riders are grouped by ability, with each group accompanied by at least two adults, maintaining an average ratio of one adult for every two young riders.
Coaches focus on building basic skills and confidence among these young riders. “But sometimes we’ll just do an exploratory ride,” explained Tonya Miltier, KOBRA’s other principal organizer. “We’ll stop and throw rocks in the creek or wade a little bit. We teach kids how to ride their bikes on trails, but we focus a lot on just having fun.”
Cycling offers unique benefits, allowing parents and kids to participate together. Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, a local freelance writer and avid cyclist, often joins KOBRA Kids rides with his 6-year-old son. “Cycling transcends age groups in a way that many other sports and physical activities don’t,” Venutolo-Mantovani noted. “That’s one thing that makes it special.”
Another advantage is the welcoming environment, which Venutolo-Mantovani referred to as the “zero intimidation factor.” He praised the supportive nature of both adults and children involved. Claudia Baum, a long-time KOBRA participant and soon-to-be high schooler, echoed this sentiment. “There are kids of different ages, and they’re all totally supportive,” she said. “With four or five different groups in KOBRA, you can find your skill level and move up as you improve.”
Cycling, particularly mountain biking, also appeals to kids who aren’t interested in conventional stick-and-ball sports. “Riding mountain bikes on trails presents novel challenges that keep things interesting,” Baum explained. “In volleyball or softball, it’s always the same thing—the same rules and everything. But in biking, you really have to adjust to where you are and use your brain more.”
For Miltier, working with kids is the most rewarding aspect of KOBRA. “To work with them on their bikes and just go out and explore and have fun brings me back again and again,” she said. “It’s about the partnership with the kids and their parents and seeing them have a great time.”
Rogers added, “This is about joy, especially with the kids. They’re discovering something and having fun on a mountain bike. Their faces radiate joy, reflecting back to us adults. It’s special for the kids, middle schoolers, and high schoolers alike. They appreciate the adults’ involvement, and that keeps me coming back.”
When riders outgrow KOBRA Kids, they move on to KOBRA Social for middle schoolers, which includes weekly rides and exploring other local trails. For high schoolers, KOBRA Adventure offers three to four camping trips each season to ride in the mountains. “We hit trails all over,” Rogers said. “The name ‘Adventure’ encapsulates the concept perfectly.”