Welcome to the 2014 Kirby MTB Club
This will be the second year for the popular Kirby mountain bike club. The mountain bike club is for students who are new to riding a bike on trails. The club is also geared to be available to all skill levels. This is a great option for students who would like to get in good riding shape, but don't want to compete in bike races.
Goals for mountain bike club members:
*To learn good control of their bike while riding on dirt trails.
*To learn about basic bike maintenance.
*To develop good riding fitness by the end of the season.
*To have fun on your bike on some of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the world!
The mountain bike club season starts the first week of February and ends with a great Club/Race Team BBQ at the end of May Practices will be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday mornings. Weekday practices will start and end at Kirby; Saturday practices will start and end at the UCSC barn.
2014 Kirby MTB Club General Information
Club Membership: Any Kirby student can be a member of the Club as long as academic standards are maintained for sports participation. Club members are riders who commit to being on the Club on or before the first practice scheduled for February 4th.
Season: The official season for the 2013 Kirby MTB Club is from Tuesday February 4th (first practice Club) through the last scheduled practice on May 8th.
Email/Website Communication: Our primary method of communication is via email and this website. Please be sure that we have your correct email address. let us know if it changes during the season.
Website Information: All "next" ride, race or event information will always be posted on our "Next Event Information" link found on the upper left corner of every website page.
Practice Requirements: you should try to make two of the 3 Club rides per week (Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday).
Missed Practice Notification Club members:If you are going to miss a weekday practice, you should contact Club Coach Blair before the scheduled practice. You must call, text/email Coach Blair at blair@millhr.com no later than 12:00noon on day of weekday practice. Notification is not necessary for Saturday rides.
Practice Days/Times/pick up MTB Club members: Practices will be every Tuesday and Thursday with a fun ride on Saturdays. We will begin weekday practice at 3:45pm and end practice at 5:30pm. Starting on March 9th, practices will go to 6:00pm (after Daylight Savings time change). Saturday rides will start at the UCSC Barn at 10am and go to 12:00pm. Club members may be driven by volunteer parents to the UCSC Barn parking lot to start practice. Riders wil ride back to Kirby to end practice at school. We will always try to ensure that we are back at school as close to 5:30pm (6:00pm in spring) as possible.
Parents/Guardians, please try to ensure that you arrive at the scheduled pick-up time to pick up your student after practice. We will not leave a student alone at Kirby after hours. If you allow your student to ride home after practice, we need your permission to allow a student to do so. Contact Coach Blair via email to allow your student to ride home from practice.
Practice Routine- Bike, Books Storage: After school, students should bring all items out of the school building as it will be closed and locked when we return from practice. Students can leave all their books in the coaches' vehicle for storage or on shelves in the Kirby garage, until we return from practice. Students can leave their bike in Kirby's lower garage which is accessible via a code (contact Abby Christopher, athletic director, for code) for storage during the day and if you choose, between Tuesday and Thursday practices. You should always take your bike home on Thursday night after practice. The school's electronic garage lock does not work on weekends. If your bike is in Kirby's Garage Friday afternoon, you will not be able to retrieve it again until Monday morning! While the bikes are in Kirby's locked garage, we advise all students to use a lock for storage in this area.
Race Team and Club Code of Conduct- Race Team and Club members: We will not allow any negative or rude comments by any team member. All team members are expected to show respect for each other, coaches, other teams and parents. We also will have respect for the trails and other users of the trails.
Practice Cancellations: We will rarely cancel practice due to inclement weather. However, should a coach cancel a practice due to weather, or any other last minute issues, we will send all parents and riders on our contact list an email. Cancellations due to bad weather may happen as late as 3:30pm for weekday practices or early Saturday morning for Club members. Check your email if the weather looks particularly severe.
Practice Location/Gear: Practices will almost always be conducted at UCSC and or Wilder Ranch. One of the many skills we emphasize is to be prepared. It is important that riders arrive at practice with the minimal safety gear as listed below. If a student does not have an approved helmet for any team ride- they will not be allowed to ride. We have a very simple helmet rule- if you’re on a bike, you must be wearing your helmet.
Required Items-
High end mountain bike equipment is not required to be on the team or club.
1. A well maintained mountain bike. A suspension system (front or rear) is not required. The handlebars should not have “bar ends”.
2. An ANSI approved cycling helmet.
3. Glasses. Clear, plastic, safety glasses are available for as low as $10 from any hardware store.
4. Gloves- You should always have hand protection.
5. Bike riding shorts or pants and a good breathing top shirt. Avoid any material that does not breathe well, such as cotton. We have recycled lycra clothing available for all students.
6. Water bottle and cage to mount water bottle on bike.
7. Spare Tire, pump, tire levers (as well as a means for carrying these items).
8. Firm soled shoes
Recommended Items-
A mountain bike with front suspension forks.
A “clipless” cycling shoe and pedal (in addition to providing superior power for climbing, clipless shoes are safer than shoes in a caged pedal).
Lycra cycling shorts/pants and top.
Some type of nutrition bar to eat while on a ride.
Red Blinking tail light.
Bike Maintenance: It is very important that members keep their bikes maintained at all times during the season. If your bike breaks during a race or practice, you should get it repaired immediately. Our sponsor bike shop will expedite repairs for all team members.
Bike Shop- ABS: Another Bike Shop (ABS) is our sponsor bike shop. They are located at 2361 Mission St. on the West Side. (831) 427-2232. ABS will have a list of all team members so that you will receive service as quickly as possible and discounts when available.
2014 Club Jerseys will be provided and are the property of the school.
Race registration Process for Club members interested in racing:
Registration for the CCCX, MTB series racing occurs on site on the morning of the race. Parent/Guardians must be present to sign the appropriate waiver. Each race will cost approximately $25.
If you need any assistance whatsoever in completing any registration document, please contact Team Director, Dietmar Burkhardt.
Photo Ride: We will call out a photo ride (replacing one of our practices), were we will ride to the forest and take portraits of the individual riders and group shots. It is important when we call out this ride, that all team members are present and in uniform. This is a one shot affair, if you are not present for this ride, you will not be in the team photo.
Other Team Events
Sea Otter Classic: April 18th - 21st-- Located at Laguna Seca. More info coming.
Kirby Spring Sports Banquet: TBA
End of Season BBQ: 5/31.
Series Racing Info
CCCX Mountain Bike Race Series: The CCCX MTB race series is the Monterey Bay’s prime cycling race series. CCCX Mountain Bike races are for all age groups and skill levels. All races are generally held at one of two locations, Toro Park in Salinas or on the lands of the former Fort Ord in Monterey. See link above for complete series info.
The Sea Otter Classic:The Sea Otter Classic is the premier cycling race event on the West Coast. This event is held over three days at Laguna Seca Race way and has an excellent MTB course. Kirby riders can compete in either beginner or sport categories for this race. Info at www.seaotterclassic.com .
Blair Mandell- Club Coach
blair@millhr.com
(831) 461-1345
Dietmar Burkhardt- Team Director
dietmar@sunnyvalevw.com
Cell (408)203-8032
