Mountain Bike Skills Classes in Central Ohio – COMBO Rider Education
Low-cost Dirt, Shred and Flight School classes with certified instructors
About
COMBO, the Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization, builds and looks after trails around Columbus and runs a rider education program. Its Mountain Bike Skills Classes in Central Ohio are short, affordable sessions held on local trails.
Classes
Dirt School is for beginners and covers gearing, body position, braking and a first taste of trail riding. Shred School is for intermediate riders and works on cornering, front and rear wheel lifts and level pedal lifts. Flight School introduces bunny hops and jumping, and a Women’s Weekend clinic for riders 18 and over is held at Horns Hill.
Instructors
COMBO lists five instructors. Three hold PMBIA Level 1 Beginner and Intermediate Skills Instructor certification, and two hold BICP Level 1 certification.
Where and when
Classes run at Alum Creek Phase 2 near Galena and at Horns Hill in Newark. In 2026, Dirt School ran from 9:30 am to noon and Shred School from 1 pm to 3:30 pm on set Saturdays from late May to July.
Good to know
The registration fee is $45 per class. Dirt and Shred School are open to riders 13 and up, and riders 16 and under need an adult with them. If weather cancels a class, your registration moves to a new date. Check the COMBO rider education page for the next schedule, or email the program with questions.
Certifications & qualifications
"PMBIA Level 1 Beginner and Intermediate Skills Instructor" (Rider Education page)