What season is the sport of mountain biking?

In Pennsylvania, mountain biking is a fall sport. The season starts in July and ends in November.

Who can join the team?

We are a Coed Team for 6th - 12th grade students living within the townships of Tredyffrin/Easttown, Upper Merion or Springford. 

Are there try-outs?

No. You don't have to try-out to be on the team. Don't know how to mountain bike? No problem, we'll teach you! In mountain biking there are no bench warmers. Students are "in" every minute of every practice and every race.

Do I have to race?

You don't have to race to be part of our team. But we encourage it because it's so much fun. The primary goal of club is youth development through biking. We most want you to learn self reliance, develop a strong mind, strong body and strong character though biking.

Do I need any prior experience to have a good time?

No. In fact, the less experience you've had with mountain biking, the more you'll be blown away at how fun it is.

When does the season start?

The "season" is a bit different from other sports. We start easy "forming" rides and equipment checks in early July, start riding more in July, and by August we are fully into training for the first race in early September.

July and August practices conflict with our summer vacations... is that a problem?

No... in fact the coaches have vacation plans also. We value summer vacation… just take your bike! We all want to enjoy our family summer getaways and experiences. Being a club affords us flexibility in how we get into shape. For the summer we will offer regular practices and coaching to ensure everyone has the opportunity be successful, especially students brand new to cycling and those looking for consistent guidance. Athletes are encouraged to make as many practices they can but never at the expense of a family vacation. The only requirement is that students progress their fitness and skills during the summer to ensure they can finish the first race of the Season which will be September 10th. The coaches will provide a division specific training schedule before the training season begins. This plan will represent the minimum fitness level needed to be successful. Keeping all athletes ahead of the minimum fitness schedule will also allow the team to practice in larger groups of similar fitness levels during the school year. This reduces the need for parent/coach riders to cover a highly fractured team ride.

Are riders supervised during the whole ride?

No. The nature of mountain biking is such that it is impossible to keep your eyes on each rider all the time. Some will ride behind the coach, others in front. Middle School Students will be required to ride in tighter groups for better supervision. As the season goes on, our process will evolve and we will communicate ride rules and plans to make sure everyone is comfortable during our rides.

Where are the races and how do we get there?

The races and statewide events are listed on https://www.pamtb.org/. The League's events are across the state from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, divided into three conferences (East, Central & West) with state-wide events too.  Riders and their families are entirely responsible for transportation to and from races.

What are the races like?

Some races, middle school races on Saturday and high school races on Sunday. Some races will all be on Sunday with pre-rides on Saturday. Most races include an Adventure Ride, a GRiT (Girls Riding it Together) ride, and other fun activities, so most families come for the whole weekend. Student athletes and Coaches are given the opportunity to pre-ride the course to learn it. Pre-riding the course is recommended, but definitely not required. Races have 7 divisions for both male and females, totaling 14 races. 
Divisions: 6th Grade / 7th Grade / 8th Grade / Freshmen / Junior Varsity 2 / Junior Varsity 3 / Varsity The courses are cross-country courses designed to meet the following criteria:

• Middle School Boys and Girls: 4-6 miles / race times less then 45 Minutes

• Freshmen & Sophomores Boys and Girls: 7-11 miles / 45 to 90 minutes

• JV Girls 7-11 miles / 45 to 90 minutes

• JV Boys and Varsity Girls: 10-15 miles / 60 to 100 minutes

• Varsity Boys: 14-22 miles / 90 to 120 minutes

The races are big events. In most states, these numbers double year over year. As you can imagine, each student comes with family and spectators so these events can get very big upwards of 1,500 people. In some states, there are a couple thousand people at each event. The races are very professionally done with timing companies and race infrastructure supplied by the biggest companies in the cycling world.

Can I still play on another sports teams?

Yes. You will be tired, but since Mountain Biking is not an PIAA sport, you may still participate in another sport. TEMTB recommends that you discuss this openly with your parents and coaches. We ask that you communicate your attendance and we will work with your schedule to help you meet your goals.

How good of a bike is needed?

If you have access to a bike... almost any bike in good repair with the proper components will do. The key is to get out, ride and see where the sport takes you. As you progress quickly, some bikes will become impractical for meeting your goals. If you don't have access to a bike, don't just buy one... talk with the coaches first.

What kind of a bike, components, equipment will a rider ideally need?

Bikes are personal items that can be very expensive, so there is no blanket recommendation that will fit the needs of every rider's family. However, we can say this:

• Frames are generally the same on any bike, but fit is very important. Please consult a shop expert on fit.

• We recommend a "hardtail" frame. Front suspension is just shy of mandatory.

• Components: these can range from inexpensive and fragile to expensive and super light. We "recommend" some mid-range components (e.g. Shimano SLX or SRAM NX/GX) as a minimum for withstanding a season of use (mostly by older students), but understand that families must make their own decisions.

• For safety reasons, all riders MUST wear a helmet, gloves, eye-wear, padded shorts (baggies are fine!)

• CLIPLESS pedals are not required (there is a learning curve, but most experienced riders find them invaluable). We will work to give kids the opportunity to try clipless pedals where possible before they buy them.

• A complement of non-cotton clothing is necessary, including layers for very cold fall rides.

• Each rider must also have a basic repair kit of pump, tire levers, patches and/or tube, and multi-use tool.

What kind of bike rack do I need?

There are a LOT of options to pick from. Maybe too many! A recommendation depends on so many factors:

• How many bikes does it need to hold?

• Does your car have a hitch?

• What is your price point?

• Do you want to keep the rack on all the time?

Here’s an article from EVO examining the types of racks and how to choose. While there are bike racks designed to strap onto the trunk or back hatch of vehicles, we’d strongly recommend going with a hitch rack because they are more stable & secure.

Tray style hitch racks

These are a great option that you can get locally at REI or your local bike shop (Twisted Cog in Phoenixville or Trek). While there are cheaper options out there, you get what you pay for. And when you're hauling around hundreds to thousands of dollars of bike around, the last thing you want is a cheap rack!

• Yakima HoldUp 2-Bike Hitch Rack ($499 at REI*) - A solid choice and there's also a 2-bike extension available if the rest of the family wants to get bike in the future. This rack also has integrated cable locks which are nice to have.

• Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack ($698 at REI*) - Similar to the Yakima above, slightly different design and I believe it's made from aluminum rather than steel, so it’s lighter and more rust resistant than the Yakima. It also has integrated cable locks.

Things to watch out for when looking at tray racks: We suggest avoiding racks designed to clamp or make direct contact with the bike's frame. Frame based points of contact will rub and wear the finish of your frame over time as you drive around. The two above attach to the wheels.

Hanging style hitch racks

These racks allow for your bike(s) to hang from their front tire and allow you to transport more bikes right out of the box. The price on these is a bit higher than many of the tray racks out there, and most of the good ones, like the one suggested below, will likely need to be ordered vs. picked up locally. Again, there are cheaper options out there but we suggest steering clear of those because of the over use of plastic, thin/cheaper metals, and direct contact with bike frames. Here's an example of what to avoid, even though it's Yakima brand.

• Velocirax Hitch Bike Racks ($799-$985*) - We've been using one of these for the last couple of years as well (we have 5 bikes in our family) and really enjoyed it, as have many other coaches with multiple bikes.

*Prices subject to change