Parents
Welcome Parents!
You have questions . . . we have answers!
What do you and your student need to know about joining the cross country mountain bike team?
It's mountain biking!
It's camping!
It's inclusive.
This is a sport that will create life-long memories and friendships.
Watch the documentary filmed in the North Bay about XC mountain bike racing called
Single Track High to get an idea of what this is all about!
This sport is an avenue for you to hang out with your kids for a few weekends before they leave for college or the working world. Parents can enjoy their kids and have a chance to participate in their sport. It is very rewarding to see your athlete find his or her "people" in the mountain bike world, fit in, find acceptance and encouragement, challenge themselves, and know they are part of a team. And simply put, the club cannot function without parent participation!
Here we will break it down into relevant components:
Time commitment:
- Two practices per week include Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Practices run approximately from 4:00-6:00 during the weekdays and will vary on Saturday.
- The race schedule includes five NorCal League races and one championship competition which is based on qualification of the individual student. Races are a 2-day commitment with arrival on day one and racing on day two. Locations can be remote and many families camp at the site. At some locations lodging can be acquired in hotels. When there is a camping option, we always have a group camping together!
- Parents involvement at competitions is instrumental in the smooth running of the athletes racing. As a group the team organizes food, warm up stations, bike maintenance and repair, hydration, race support, first aid and any other assistance for racers as needed. There is somewhere for everyone to help! Races are a fun "all hands on deck" experience.
Cost:
- League membership is ~$90.00. (League Registration - $50.00 and NICA Membership Fee - $40.00)
- Races cost $50/competition.
- Bike costs are variable but start at !$1000.00. Team sponsors Specialized and Santa Cruz offer 25% and Ibis offers 20% off purchases for XC team members.
- Uniform or "Kit" cost is approximately ~$200.00 which includes a bib with padded shorts, jersey, and t-shirt.
- Helmet prices range between $60-$200 depending on many variables. Biking shoes optional. Sponsor discounts available.
- Travel costs associated with fuel, food, and lodging.
- Team Donation? We're an all-volunteer organization and Bike Therapy and other sponsors contribute time and money towards building this team. We are working on becoming a 501-C non-profit corporation.
- Scholarships available.
Location:
- Weekly practices may be held at several parks in the south Santa Clara valley vicinity including: Rancho San Vincente/Calero Park, Henry Coe State Park, Harvey Bear County Park, Santa Teresa County Park.
- Parks outside our valley for Saturday field trips could potentially include: Fort Ord National Monument, UCSC in Santa Cruz, Soquel Demonstration Forest, and Wilder Ranch State Park.
Equipment:
Used BIKES for SALE! Team members selling can post their equipment and team members looking might find their match at:
Important Links for Parents and Returning Athletes:
NorCal High School Cycling League Race Schedule (to be updated by NorCal for 2024)
National InterScholastic Cycling Association (NICA) aka the "Pit Zone"
