Last night, the XC & All MTN Teams started the practice with a classroom session about getting lower in the corners, followed by riding with a partner through tight sequences to share ideas / movements / have fun.

Coaches Lev Stryker, Tim Evens and Landon Farnworth rode in the mix and gave the lesson while Coach Bill shot some photos to help riders better see their body positions.

Riders — great job challenging yourselves! What can you see in your body position that you like? What would you like to change?

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What kind of gear do I need for my child to ride mountain bikes?

Let’s begin with what gear does not always work well for young riders and why:

• Helmets: should be adjustable to fit well, have good coverage of the front, sides and back of the head; and must have air-flow. All un-vented helmets are not appropriate. Full-face is great as long as it’s light and has air flow. MIPS or other impact protection systems are a luxury if you can afford it. Visors are great for reducing glare while riding in mixed light.
• Shoes: should be closed-toe and smooth to small tread. Large or cushioned tread make it hard to find the correct foot placement on the pedals.
• Water: 16 – 20 oz is usually enough for our rides. Soft bottles in a cage on the bike or in a pack are the best option. Metal bottles are a hazard to other riders if they fall out. Hydration packs have issues when kids use them: long hoses get tangled as they ride, the valves get full of dirt, kids chew on them and they leak and 100oz is too heavy. If you decide to use one, make sure it’s only 20 oz of water and the hose is short and secure, or tuck it in the pack for riding.
• Eye protection: very important to keep riders safe from dust, sticks, mud and bright sun. Dark glasses are not ideal because we’re often in mixed shade / light. Light colored lenses or clear are best. Goggles are not appropriate.
• Tools & Tube: please carry a tube of the correct wheel size, width and valve stem type & length for your bike. All 4 measurements must match. Put it in your pack, saddle bag or attached to the frame. A compact metric multi-tool and hand pump are great, too. SAE or heavy multi-tools are not appropriate. If the bike does not have a quick release, or it’s a low end model, you might also need an adjustable wrench.
• Gloves: should be full-finger year-round for off-road riding — light weight for summer, heavier for winter. Hardware and sporting good stores often have thin full finger gloves at a much better price.
• Pads: are not needed for our youth rides. Some riders enjoy wearing knee or elbow pads, as long as they are soft and don’t restrict pedaling it’s OK. Pads are mandatory in some races and highly recommended while riding at the bike park.
• Pack: large, floppy backpacks are not appropriate. Waist-packs are great for kids because they’re easy to adjust and have a good center of mass. Saddle bags are great for getting the weight off the body and onto the bike — tools, tube, pump, a $5 bill. Coaches cannot carry every child’s equipment, snack and water, so riders must be able to carry their personal items.

Announced on March 30, the revised school schedule require us to change our practice times.

There are approximately five different school schedules to consider for every day. We are shooting down the middle to allow a majority of riders from most schools to participate in a practice without cutting too far into the evening. If the spring schedule does not work for you, please check our summer options and know that we anticipate more options becoming available as we resume full operations.

This is a list of all changes as of April 1 at Noon that will be in effect through the end of school in June:

Cog Kids Spring Thursdays:

• No change in times.
• 2:45 Montessori Center NWX shuttle
• 3:15 – 5:30 practice

Elementary Club Tuesdays & Fridays:

• No change in times.
• 3:00 – 5:45 practice

Elementary Club Wednesdays:

• No change in times.
• 1:30 – 4:30 practice

Elementary Club Thursdays:

• NEW moving in riders from the existing waitlist first, then will open registration to the public.
• 3:00 – 5:45 practice

Cascades Academy Mondays:

• No change in times.
• 3:00 – 5:45 practice

Club Team Wednesdays (Middle & High School):

• Updated time
• 3:30 – 6:30 practice

XC / All MTN Team Wednesdays through June 9:

• Updated time
• 3:30 – 6:30 practice

XC / All MTN Team Thursdays through June 9:

• CANCELLED
• Due to most riders not being able to ride at this time, Thursdays will be an “on your own training” ride or workout prescribed on TrainingPeaks.
• All registrations for this will be refunded.

Saturdays for Club Team / XC / ALL MTN:

• A home ride will go every Saturday, default time 9 – Noon
• Full day team rides or race travel are optional
• Riders can choose the home ride or optional activity

Cascadia Junior Cycling had a very productive season building relationships between teammates, working on skills, building fitness and providing safe, enjoyable opportunities to ride in amazing places.

Congratulations to all of the riders who put in the hard work to improve your riding.

And thank you to the families for joining us and to the coaches who made all of these opportunities possible!

UPDATED August 11, 2021

If no update is posted / emailed / texted, then practice is ON.

If practice is cancelled, we will post on the homepage and notify you by email, TeamSnap & text if your number is in the system.

Decision timeframe: we want to make the call close enough to the start time to reflect actual conditions, but we know that you need time for your planning:

• Summer morning practices 7:00 – 7:15 AM
• Summer afternoon practices 2 PM
• After school practices by Noon

Using the OHA / OSSA Guidelines and referencing the Oregon DEQ sensor in Bend:

• RIDE AS PLANNED:
  • No news is good news.
  • If we are confident that we can ride in a location with suitable air quality then we will continue practice as planned and no notifications will be sent.
• DECISION:
  • AQI 2.5 of under 101 means practice will be on, and if smoke is present we will modify our activities.
  • 101 – 150 with a trend / location / elevation / activity that is safe to ride means practice will be on.
  • If the value is over 101+ with no obvious clearing trend, or no clear air at suitable riding locations, then practice will be cancelled.
• CANCELLED:
  • All cancelled rides will be transferred to credit for a make-up day or rescheduled practice; or you can take it as a refund minus a deposit per our cancellation policy.
• MARGINAL AQI Considerations:
  • Options that we will consider include but are not limited to: modifying our practice location, ride plan, intensity, duration, activity; or you can notify us in advance that you will not attend practice due to the air quality and we will move your daily rate to store credit.
  • Some Riders are more affected than others. If practice continues but the air quality is a concern for your Rider then please communicate that concern to us before practice by email or call our office so we can create a solution.
  • No store credit for no-shows when practice is on.

Practicing drops is a great way to work on timing, coordination, pressing and absorbing. Thanks to Rebecca Hynes for coming out to film Coaches Lev & Bill as they work through some options on Funner Trail in Bend, OR.