Everything you need to know for the 2020 season

If you missed the parent info night, here is the slide deck we reviewed.

View the google group forum or Team Snap for the most recent communications and the

team calendar for the schedule

Please make sure to read the entire page, see the menu

Upcoming events:

If you missed the email for January, click here.

Nov 19 - Attend the mandatory rider onboarding meeting at Sports Basement at 4:15pm
- Goals form filled out
Before Dec 1, Pay your team dues:
- $650 for all riders (includes Pitzone fees for NICA and NorCal memberships, if they have already been paid, then pay $575)
- Payment Options: Make sure to note the rider’s name when paying
  - PayPal: paypal.me/bhsmtb
  - Check, written out to “Berkeley High School Mountain Bike Team”, email for the address

3. January Training Schedule

Practice resumes on Sunday January 5
Cyclebar will be January 6-16
Tuesday practices will begin on January 21, meet at Live Oak Park
Yoga on Wednesdays begins January 22 (space is limited, you must mark your attendance in TeamSnap)
Thursday practices will meet at Live Oak Park
January 19: Womens ride, more details to follow

REMINDER: Attendance at all practices is mandatory and roll will be taken. Absences may be excused by a parent ahead of time. To remain in good standing with the team, you must mark your availability for every practice on TeamSnap. If you are concerned about the commitment required to be on the team, reach out to Bianca and Coach Nick.

Training and Expectations

Must be signed-up in Pitzone before you practice with the team
3 on-bike practices per week, 1 yoga
- Tues, Thurs, Sun
- Yoga on Wednesday
- PE credit, as long as they maintain attendance expectations
Show up to practice, on time and prepared (water, food, tools)
Respect each other and your coaches
5 League Races, 1 NorCal Championship

Training Schedule

Dec 1 - Dec 22

Sunday practices will meet at the Campinile at 9am
Cyclebar is Monday or Wednesday, check TeamSnap for your assigned day
Thursday will be on the bike meeting at Strawberry Creek park at 4:15pm

Jan 5- Jan 19

Sunday practices will meet at the Campinile at 9am
Cyclebar is Monday or Wednesday, check TeamSnap for your assigned day
Thursday will be on the bike meeting at Strawberry Creek park at 4:15pm

Jan 21 through the remainder of the season

On the bike practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays will meet at Live Oak Park at 4:15pm
Sunday practices will meet at the Campinile at 9am
Yoga on Wednesdays, must RSVP through Team Snap (space is limited)

Equipement recommendations

Discounts available through Mike's Bikes for all riders and coaches in good standing with the team. For pricing call in or come in.

Bikes to look into:

Specialized Chisel (what our loaner fleet is comprised of)
- Great value for a starting/new rider
Specialized Epic (Comes in both full suspension and hardtail)
- Very racing oriented, but they now offer a more all-rounder build with the EVO version
Specialized Stumpjumper
- Trail riding oriented bike so not the best for the XC riding that the team focuses on, but still a great all-rounder for a rider that is more interested in going downhill rather than racing. Comes in both a 29” and a 27.5” wheeled configuration.
Santa Cruz Highball
- Like the Chisel and Epic it comes in many different builds some offering great value and is more race oriented than other bikes on the list.
Santa Cruz Blur
- Essentially a full suspension version of the Highball
Santa Cruz Chameleon
- Trail oriented hardtail. Will be a better race bike than most full suspension bikes, but not a racey as the Highball, Epic/Chisel, or Alma
Santa Cruz 5010
- Trail oriented 27.5” wheeled bike. Not the best for climbing and racing, but no slouch under a fit rider.
Santa Cruz Tallboy
- Trail oriented 29” bike. Like the 5010 it descends better than it climbs, but can still be ridden quickly uphill with a fit rider.
Orbea Oiz
- Like the Blur, this is a no compromise XC race full suspension
Orbea Alma
- Orbea’s answer to the Highball and Epic. Great value race oriented hardtail.
Orbea Occam
- Trail oriented 29” wheeled bike. Will not be an effective race bike, but will be a blast to ride outside of racing.

In addition to a bike, you will need a helmet (helmets older than 3 years or that have had an impact need to be replaced), correct-size inner-tube, multi-tool, pump/CO2, lights (for early season practices), gloves, eye-protection etc. If you have any questions about equipment please let me know.

Coach Nick’s Recommendations:

All of these items can be purchased through Mike’s with the team discount.

Helmets:

Giro Chronicle

Giro Montaro

Specialized Ambush

Mutlitool:

Bikesmart Exotool 2.0

Pump/CO2:

Bikesmart Masterflate

Blackburn Mammoth Pump

Lights:

Nightrider 750 (front)

Blackburn Click USB (rear)

Gloves:

Handup Gloves

Eye protection: Below are a few nicer options, but carpenters safety glasses work great in a pinch and can be had for $5 at a hardware store.

Smith Attack Max

100% Speedcraft

Optic Nerve

Race Information

We will hold another parent meeting in advance of our first race (March 7 or 8)
- Race entry fees for the first two races are covered by the team dues. Bianca will be signing up all riders for the first two races
- Dates for race weekends can be found on the NorCal website, exact day can be found on the homepage
- What to expect (as a rider and parent), what we need parents to do, example race flyer

2020 Race Dates

All but 5 riders have been signed-up for the first two races of the season. Here is the flyer (we are in the south conference)

Parents, we will be scheduling a meeting to discuss the races and the support required of you, in February.

Race 1: March 8, Rally at Redding

Race 2: March 22, Five Springs Farm Roundup (Petaluma)

Race 3: April 5, Granite Bay Grinder (Folsom Lake State Rec Area)

Race 4: April 25, Exchequer Challenge (La Grange)

Race 5: May 3, Six Sigma Slinger (Lakeport)

Race 6 - NorCal Champs: May 17, Six Sigma (Lakeport)

TBF Races

A great way to get some experience/practice in before the race season starts. See the website:

January 12, 26

February 9, 23

Extra events

NorCal Camps: https://www.norcalmtb.org/camps/

Participants will learn mountain bike basics ranging from how to climb, how to descend, cornering in switchbacks, proper body balancing on their bikes, and many other helpful riding skills. All of these camps will be held at our friend’s private property in Petaluma, which means we’ll have use of the sweet trails all to ourselves!

These camps are a great way for beginner riders to improve their skills, hang out with riders from other schools, and have a good time riding bikes! Hosted by NorCal League staff, guest skills instructors, and top-notch League coaches, these camps are a great way to kick off the 2020 season.

Winter Beginner Camp – Student Athletes new to the NorCal League

When: January 18, 2020 8am-4pm

Where: 480 Wilson Hill Rd, Petaluma CA

Who: This camp is for riders riding for less than 1 year Cost: $70

Winter Intermediate Camp – 1+ years in the NorCal League

When: February 8, 2020