[epicrides]

Join us in 2011 for a mountain bike race series designed specifically for kids! These 5 low cost mountain bike races will give kids in the Carolinas the opportunity to line up against peers on fun, flowy trails! The hope is to create an environment for kids to learn, exercise and have fun at a low cost in a family setting. Clinics will be held at each event around a "theme" such as nutrition, stretching, trail etiquette, proper bike fit, and bike maintenance. Bike shops will be available for questions and have the "themed" products on sale. In addition to the races, there will be a different contest offered each time such as a lake jump, skinny contest, longest track stand, etc. A bike wash will also be available at each venue. Participants are expected to race "caffeine-free" and caffeine will not be offered to participants at the venues. Recycling and composting will be available and expected.

More Info At:

http://www.cymbl.org/

 

[mikeridesabike]

I've heard of testing for EPO, but are you going to test kids for caffeine?

 

[Mike Brown]

todd- the trails are the opposite of flowy, but if you want a day to "theme" tight and twisty, having events like this are part of the MOU for Richmond Hill. There will be a blue blazed route that is most "kid friendly" that will be about a 2 mile loop (done by end of May). This route will be completely do-able for kids, using a lot of two-track and the easiest sections of singletrack. Email me at [email protected] if you want more info. Looks really cool, btw- thanks for doing this!

 

[Maida7]

I've heard of testing for EPO, but are you going to test kids for caffeine?

Funny story: One of my kids was in teeball a few years ago and he got a nasty case of poison ivy. The doctor put him on steroids for the poison ivy. He was playing baseball and taking steroids. It didn't really help his playing as he spent more time drawing in the dirt or ripping out the grass then watching where the ball was going. Very few 5 year old's have the attention span needed to play baseball. Steroids or not, my son Sam is certainly not one of them.

This new youth league is fantastic. I will have at least one kid racing this year. Possibly two. If this league catches on, we could soon see high school teams and interscholastic racing like they have out in California. This is a very exciting concept for the kids, parents, trail advocates, and particularly the bike shops.

 

[mikeridesabike]

Funny story: One of my kids was in teeball a few years ago and he got a nasty case of poison ivy. The doctor put him on steroids for the poison ivy. He was playing baseball and taking steroids. It didn't really help his playing as he spent more time drawing in the dirt or ripping out the grass then watching where the ball was going. Very few 5 year old's have the attention span needed to play baseball. Steroids or not, my son Sam is certainly not one of them.

That's probably how Barry Bonds got his start down the dark side.

 

[Maida7]

todd- the trails are the opposite of flowy, but if you want a day to "theme" tight and twisty, having events like this are part of the MOU for Richmond Hill. There will be a blue blazed route that is most "kid friendly" that will be about a 2 mile loop (done by end of May). This route will be completely do-able for kids, using a lot of two-track and the easiest sections of singletrack. Email me at [email protected] if you want more info. Looks really cool, btw- thanks for doing this!

Just from my personal experience in riding with kids, I would think the course would need to be very very wide. Kids trying to pass each other can get very ugly. Double track or even wider areas for most of the course. Starting the race up a long open climb would be a good way to sort them out before hitting any singletrack. And possibly repeating that climb for the finish. That's my 2 cents.

:thumbsup: Nice job Todd, I'm really happy that you put this together.

 

[nitrousjunky]

Glad to see this in the works. I have one that might be interested in it and another that probably will be in a year or so.

 

["CHIEF"]

Expect some sort or form of my support.

 

[jtmartin57]

Awesome idea!!!

I have two boys ages 5 & 9 who would love to do this series so count us in!

BTW, if one of the tentative dates/locations doesn't work out how about replacing it w/ a race somewhere in S. Carolina?!

See ya at the races