FAQ

I ’m not ready to commit. Can I try it out before committing?
Our insurance allows a non-registered rider to ride with us once without registering. We can allow a few more trial rides if a parent or guardian rides with the student and both agree to ride at their own risk.

I need financial aid to cover dues.
Please email or talk to Cort — limited funds are available.

Please send a photo and description (make/model, any changes you’ve made) to wildcatcompmtb@gmail.com and one of us will reach out to review it.

Bikes are difficult to come by these days due to supply chain disruptions from the pandemic. As a result, the used market is also very tight. Cort has a mountain bike buying guide that may help you decide what to look for and where to look for new or used bikes–email the club to get a current version. We do have a few loaner bikes but would like to reserve those for families who truly need them. Once you are fully registered with NICA there are discounts for bikes and other equipment that can be accessed.

We require all riders to carry the following on them during rides, either in their backpacks or in a small pack mounted to their bike.
We are negotiating with local bike shops to get these as a kit– stay tuned for more information:

Your helmet, water (either in a bottle or hydration pack), a mask, a snack, a warm layer or windbreaker,  a headlight and taillight for after-school rides. Recommended but not required are biking gloves (you’ll want those when it’s cold anyway). We also expect you to carry the items listed in the toolkit above. Before an afternoon ride, be sure to have a good healthy snack and before the Sunday rides, have a substantial breakfast (hint: a bowl of fruit loops doesn’t count!)

We typically ride Sunday mornings and after school on Wednesday and Thursday. TeamSnap shows our schedule. Just log in and click the “Schedule” tab (or download the app). Occasionally we may have to change a particular date or venue but we’ll try to give you plenty of notice. Our longer rides are Sunday mornings, generally 9-12. Most Sundays, we will go to regional parks within 40 minutes drive and occasionally as much as 1 hr 15 min drive. All the venues are nice places to walk so parents may want to drive your student. On the other hand if the rider is vaccinated we can likely find a carpool for them but you need to contact us via email several days beforehand so we can set it up. Mid-week rides are in Tilden and last for about 1.5 hrs. These rides officially start and end at EBMUD Summit Reservoir at the corner of Grizzly Peak and Spruce. We encourage riders to ride their bikes to and from the Reservoir though some of the beginners may not yet have enough stamina to climb the hill and go for another 1.5 hr ride. In that case, the parent is responsible for making arrangements to get the student to the Reservoir.

Will you wait for me if I’m late for the start of the ride?
No, we cannot wait because we often have more than 50 riders. It is unfair to ask that many riders to

wait around. Riders should also be READY to ride at the scheduled departure time. That means tires should be aired up, helmets on, appropriate clothes in place, etc.

What happens if it rains?
If the rain is an intermittent drizzle, we will likely ride because most kids really enjoy mixing it up with a bit of mud! It is critical the rider be prepared by having a lightweight windbreaker, extra snacks, and a towel if the rider is carpooling (to protect the driver’s car). If the rain has been steady or is forecasted to be so, we will cancel the practice. A cancellation notice will be sent out at least 30 min prior to the start of the ride via TeamSnap.

Do I have to race?
NorCal offers three races for middle schoolers  starting in late February and ending in April. Entry is $50 per race. We would like to see every student in the Club attend all races, as this builds a strong team spirit that is hard to achieve in any other way. We also believe it is important that each student enter in at least one of the races to build grit, provide a goal for their practices, and gain skills. We encourage every rider to set individual goals so they can feel successful wherever they place on race days. The details of the race day for middle schools have yet to be worked out but will be finalized by early next year.

What are the volunteer requirements?
Student-athletes are expected to complete 2 hours of trail maintenance work each season (the team organizes periodic trail work parties in conjunction with local parks). They are also expected to spend one hour each season on MTB advocacy (this can take the form of writing an email, recording a video, or speaking at a meeting). We also need lots of parental support for the races. Sample jobs include staffing the team tent, helping orient students on the course, serving as a course marshal, or coordinating snacks.

What COVID safety protocols are you following?
All riders eligible to receive a vaccine must be fully vaccinated and proof of vaccination must be provided at the beginning of season. Carpooling can only be done with full approval from the parents of the students in that car. All persons in the car will wear masks and windows will be cracked open. If a rider has been exposed to COVID, then they must inform the head coach. Before returning to club activities, that rider will need to be quarantined from any club function for 5 days, followed by a negative COVID test. Head coach will inform all those on the team of the name of the quarantined rider.

Please email us at wildcatcompmtb@gmail.com or pull aside a coach after a ride.