CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Welcome to the 2015 Kirby MTB Club

This will be the third 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 January 20th and ends with a great Club/Race Team BBQ at the end of May. Practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays and most Saturdays. Weekday practices will start and end at Kirby, Saturday practices typically start at UCSC.

2015 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.

Registration:

All Club members must be registered riders within Kirby's "Pitzone" on the NorCal website. This requires paying a $25 league registration fee, and the rider and parent/ guardian signing documents which are returned to the league. Riders must be invited via email to start the process. Contact your Club coach for full details.

Season: The official season for the 2015 Kirby MTB Club is from January 20th (first practice Club) through the last scheduled practice on May 14th.

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 menu bar and at the large "Next Event" button on the home page of this website.

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, Thursday and on most Saturdays. We will begin weekday practice at 3:45pm and end practice at 5:30pm. Starting on March 10th, practices will go to 6:15pm (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 will 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 (6:15pm 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 bike 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

If it is very cold or wet and a student doesn't have a proper jacket, he/she will not be allowed to ride for that practice.