Introduction

Background. The club was started in 2013 with the goal of providing a team environment for middle
school girls and boys to develop mtb’ing skills and ability. We started with 15 riders and in 2022-2023 reached 111 youth and 70 coaches. We expect that many of our young riders will continue with a high
school team in the East Bay after having built a firm foundation in our club. Our youth come mostly
from Berkeley, El Cerrito, Albany, Richmond, and Kensington. Though many of our youth end up on the podium in the local races, most of our riders (youth and adults) prefer a slower pace.

Goals. Our goals are to have fun, challenge ourselves, improve our conditioning and skills, build grit, and be an active member in a community of caring, supportive folks.

Organization. We are a member of National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).   In northern California, the regional arm of NICA known as NorCal has several thousand riders representing 75 high schools.  Membership in NICA means that our coaching staff have had training in coaching, risk mitigation, and first aid as well as background safety checks. NICA/NorCal provides supplemental medical and primary liability insurance.   Our coaching staff is all volunteer but has attained various levels of training from NorCal.    We love to have parents come along on our rides but we do require that they meet a minimum level of training and screening that takes about 3-4 hours to obtain from NICA.  If you like to ride a bike with your child, this may be your last chance because if they continue riding in a NorCal high school, they may well become too fast to stay up with!  And besides, at that point in their lives most youth prefer to ride only with their peers.

Requirements. Members should be in grades 6-8.  The youth needs to know how to ride a bike though it is not necessary to have any off-road experience.  Our insurance policy does allow a prospective member to ride as a guest for 1 session.   Members must be motivated, respectful of the coaches and fellow riders, and regularly make at least one practice a week (Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday), though twice a week is strongly recommended. Each member will be required to do one session of trail maintenance on a local trail (about 4 hr door-to-door).  Though a rider should preferably have a mountain bike, the club can provide a loaner bike at a nominal charge if necessary.  The club participates in 4 weekend races from February-April and youth are encouraged to participate in at least one of those races.  We track team participation using TeamSnap and club members must keep their availability up to date so that we can ensure sufficient transportation and coaches.  Dues are $175/year which covers a team jersey (every other year), and operating costs for the club.  Youth will also need to pay another $100 to register for NICA/NorCal which provides supplementary medical and liability insurance. Limited scholarships are available for both our club dues and NICA/NorCal.  If your child wants to ride but finances are an issue, we’ll find a way to make it happen.

Risks. Our focus is on cross-country mountain biking which puts a premium on fitness and endurance.  Though there are no big jumps on our trails, the sport does involve risks.  Coaches and ride leaders are trained in managing those risks and they will continually reinforce safe riding principles.  However, there will invariably be falls.  The good news is that in mountain biking, riders have control of virtually all the risks.  One of the many benefits of mountain biking is that it trains a rider to manage risks even in the presence of peer or competitive pressure.

Final Thoughts. We love mountain biking and think that it offers a wonderful way for youth to have fun while at the same time maturing their bodies, judgement, and character, and building that all important quality, grit!  We hope you will join the club and begin a journey that will give excitement, enjoyment and exercise for many years to come.

Cort Cooper, head coach, wildcatcompmtb@gmail.com

IMPORTANT DATES:
  • Sept 29, information meeting, Google meeting at 7:30 PM.  Wildcat Comp info meeting https://meet.google.com/sdh-grbc-tmc
  • Oct 19-20, GRIT (Girls-only) campout at China Camp
  • Oct 27, 0900-1130AM, Skills Clinic 1
  • Nov 3, 0900-1130AM, Skills Clinic 2
  • Nov 10, 0900-1130AM, Sunday ride
  • Nov 17, 0900-1130AM, Sunday ride
  • Nov 22, Club closes to new riders
  • Nov 24, 0900-1130AM, Sunday ride
  • Dec 4 to mid-May, rides every Wed & Thu for 1.5 hr after school, 0900-1130AM on Sundays
  • Feb-May, five NICA/NorCal races at various venues, dates to be announced
  • late-May, year-end Party.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR EACH RIDE:
  • Helmet
  • Good mountain bike.  We have a few loaner bikes for those in financial need.
  • Gloves and eye protection (recommend generic sport glasses under $10)
  • Cycling shorts (lycra or baggy)
  • One team jersey (provided by the team every other year)
  • Wind breaker if weather calls for it
  • Energy bar, water, etc.
  • Spare tire tube, air pump, multitool
COST:
  • $175/yr
  • Scholarships and loaner bikes are available for riders in need
  • $100/yr dues to NICA/NorCal, payable on their web site
WEBSITES: