We are still trying to get our groups sorted into happier sizes. We have not filled the top groups yet so there is room to spread kids out. We also need ride leaders to let us know who naturally filtered to the front and who needed extra time or rest stops.
What if riders in my group are jumping at practice? There is a no jumping policy at every practice. As ride leaders, if you see it, please find a safe place to stop the group and re-emphasize this rule in the moment. If it continues, pull those riders aside and talk to them personally after practice. Let a head coach know if this is a problem in your group and who you have to pull aside. If it still continues, those riders can expect a discussion with one of the head coaches. Any riders still not following this rule will be suspended from the next practice/event.
OFF-LIMIT TRAILS:
- Limelight (Rush)
- Jacob’s Ladder
- Levitate / Zooropa / Vertigo
- Maple Hollow DH
- Any trail where riders in your group intentionally jump their bikes. This means if riders jump, that trail immediately becomes officially off limits to that group until the group gets permission from the head coaches.
TRAILS THAT ONLY PINK, BLACK, AND SILVER CAN RIDE IF THE RIDE LEADER APPROVES (until further notice):
- Upper Rush (which is the section from the Peakview Trailhead down to the upper intersection with Canyon Hollow by the s-curves and bridge, and includes the following named trails: Rush Flow, Through the Trees, and the upper part of Exit Stage Left)
- Middle Rush (which includes the section of Exit Stage Left from the intersection with Canyon Hollow by the s-curves and bridge down to where Rush crosses the lower part of Canyon Hollow)
- Lower Rush (which includes the section from where Rush crosses the lower part of Canyon Hollow down to the five-way intersection)
- Clarks (uphill-only trail)
PINK / BLACK
Start with an intentionally slow warm up (10-15 minutes) heading up the fire road or Sweet Caroline. Emphasize the importance of warming up. Todays focus is continuous pedaling, stopping as little as possible and finding clean lines. Emphasize holding a line while climbing. It’s ok to slow the pace down today and keep these groups together.
SILVER / RED
Start with an intentionally slow warm up (10-15 minutes) heading up the fire road or Sweet Caroline. Emphasize the importance of warming up. Todays focus is continuous pedaling, stopping as little as possible and finding clean lines. Emphasize holding a line while climbing and having excellent control and bike body separation on the decent. These two groups are similarly paced right now. We’d like to have them join up for a climb up Canyon Hollow and come down Ghost today. Keep the warm up relaxed and talkative, then after the warm up, gradually increase the pace to let riders find their most comfortable practice pace. Tell riders it’s ok to pass and be passed. Then goal is to keep pedaling, but if the group does have to stop for a hiker or something, use it as a chance to switch up the order so different riders get to be in the front (if they want to).
ORANGE / YELLOW
Start with an intentionally slow warm-up headed up the fire road or Sweet Caroline (parallel to the north side of the fire road). Talk with the riders about the importance of warming-up. Focus on setting and reaching intermediate goals like “get to the five-way without stopping” or “get to the bridge on Canyon Hollow without stopping.” Help the riders find ways to support each other in this challenge. The goal is a slow and steady pace, not a race to the top. Encourage kids who are eager to move up in groups to show us with their excellent skills of holding a tight line while climbing, not weaving all over the trails or fire roads, excellent ready positions and picking the best line on descents instead of just charging up and down as fast as they can go.
GREEN / BLUE
Start with an easy warm-up up the fire road. Start together as big groups and let the groups naturally separate as you work your way up the fire road to the 5 way. At the 5-way, go ahead and split into groups based on how they separated during the warm up. There will be a slower group and a faster group but don’t call them that. Once in separate groups, make a goal to get to the suspension bridge. Can you make it all the way there? If so, how many times did you have to stop along the way? Can you improve on that in the coming weeks? Let the (hopefully now smaller) groups proceed to their goal at a steady pace for that group. Slow steady is better than fast and stopping a lot today. Talk about what the next big goal could be as a group. Before heading down, have a quick clinic on one of the upper fire roads about technique for coming down safely (the bathrooms by the BST or the aqueduct by 3 way would be good places). Skills to talk about: covering breaks, breaking before the turn or dangerous section, ready position (bending the knees and elbows to get low on the bike), off the saddle, giving space to the rider in front of you. Explain, demonstrate, have them try it out, then come down the trails reiterating what you talked about.
PURPLE
Start with an intentionally slow 10-15 minute warm-up on either the paved bike paths (e.g., Bunny Bradley and Porter Rockwell, etc.) or the dirt straight stretches along the railroad tracks. Talk with the riders about the importance of warming-up. Then transition to working skills on the single-track trails below the equestrian center. Intermix pedaling for 10-15 minutes with a sustained effort with stopping to focus on a skill for 5-10 minutes. This isn’t a speed interval but just working on building endurance and confidence. The single-track section from 13200 S on the north end to the underpass at 1300 E Highland Dr. on the south end is an excellent option to help teach basic pacing and cadence skills and to keep the riders pedaling for an extended period of time. Skills to focus on: shifting before a climb, bike body separation, getting comfortable off their seat, strong ready positions. Feel free to pick a skill that you notice they need help with to work on as well.