A Line Whistler Bike Park: Wyatt, our 14 year old, is in Summer Gravity Camps all week long. Following a daily session, he got in a little extracurricular activity on A Line. Here’s some of his run.
A Line overview:
A Line is an extremely difficult black diamond trail in Whistler Bike Park. This trail has a smooth, flowing trail surface that encourages speed. A Line consists of jumps, huge sculpted berms. and more jumps. A line is known for very large jumps – both dirt and wood bridges – and high speeds. This trail is for expert riders only.
Whistler Bike Park with Kids:
We love visiting Whistler bike park with kids. Whistler is an amazing location for family vacations! There are lots of beginner trails that are family friendly. Additionally, you can enroll your kiddo in DFX lessons so they can learn skills form some cool coaches (See our Planada article for more details!). Meanwhile, mom and dad can take lessons on their own OR hit some epic rides including one of our favorites: Lord of the Squirrels.
For more videos like this, follow MTBwithKids on Instagram or Facebook
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/lower-a-line-july-2017.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-07-18 23:20:182019-12-12 02:39:27Video – Lower A Line, Whistler Bike ParkWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
Our family went Mountain biking with kids in McCall Idaho. Here’s our trip report.
After the first week of June, Traci (my lovely wife) asked me what I wanted to do for Father’s Day weekend. Bike parks in Park City were opening that weekend, but I wanted to go out of town and ride somewhere new. Letting the idea sit for a couple days, I remember seeing a video showing off the Jug Mountain Ranch a couple of years ago. Mountain bikers would get shuttled to what looked like a network of bike park quality trails. Following some quick research for campgrounds in the area and a few more riding options, I emailed Traci at work with the subject ‘What about McCall, Idaho?’ and included some links. She replied… “Looks pretty good. Let’s do it”.
Advanced Planning
The most desirable campsites were reserved because we never seem to plan more than a few days ahead, so we had to settle for a site in the Cold Springs Campground near the Lost Valley Reservoir. Our next step was getting reservations for the Jug Mountain Ranch (JMR) mountain bike shuttle. JMR’s most popular offering is an award-winning public golf course. Now, if I was calling for a Father’s Day tee time instead of a mountain bike shuttle reservation 10 days before Father’s Day, I’d be a bit concerned. A quick chat with Matt at the JMR pro shop resulted in a reservation for my family at 9am on Father’s Day, 2017. We were in business.
Here’s our youngest taking a lap on a skinny feature at the grown over Tamarack Resort skills park. This was just one of our stops on a quick weekender to McCall, Idaho.
McCall Idaho is a small resort town at the southern tip of Payette Lake located a little over a 2 hour drive straight up from Boise via state road 55. We live in Salt Lake City and a quick Google Map search told us the road trip would take us around 8 hours each way. Our family’s last trip to Idaho was a mud season sojourn in the fall to Sun Valley. This was when the kids were too small to get after it on the mountain bikes. I was very excited to see how our two boys would fare (aged 10 and 13) now that their skills and experience were up-to-speed with riding blue and black trails.
Only 2.5 days?!
Unfortunately, our trip was limited to Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. If you remove the drive time, that’s only about 20 hours of daylight. I did my best to make the most of Saturday by having us start at the Bear Basin trails. We learned that there was a nice looking network of trails between our campground and McCall. After that, we would head over to a nearby trail called Goose Creek. Or, head over to Brundage Resort as it was their opening weekend.
Getting there
The drive up was pleasant and mostly uneventful. We listened to a book on cd called Peter And The Sword Of Mercy by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. That’s right – no DVDs for us. To my wife’s credit, our two boys are well-trained travelers. They behave so well in the car that it never ceases to amaze me. They say ‘music soothes the savage beast’. Well, we have learned that stories soothe the savage boys. Traci and I enjoy the books on cd almost as much as the kids.
What’s that sound?
As we were making our way near Delco, Idaho – we noticed a loud intermittent buzzing and humming coming from the storage box on top of our van. We pulled over on I-84 and saw that the top of the storage box had separated a little from bottom and was probably causing a vibration. We have learned to include duct tape as part of our first aid kit (for bikes and people) due to personal experiences. After a little digging around in the van for a minute, the tape was found, but there was only a little bit left on the roll. Traci climbed on the hood of the van and affixed the last of the tape to keep the storage cage closed until we could get some more in Delco when we fueled up.
Getting farther up north and closer to the campground, the landscape changed from farms and open plains to mountains, alpine trees, meadows and water quite suddenly. This transition always sneaks up on me. One minute, we’re cruising through a gazillion acres of potatoes… then, whammo! “Look at that lake!. Look at that reservoir! Looks at those horses running!”. Jim Morrison was right, the west IS the best.
We’re out of chicken
It was getting near dinner time on Friday night and we were about an hour from our campground. We agreed to start looking for a place to eat dinner. We stopped at Bucky’s Cafe in Cambridge. The kids were hesitant because we normally stop for sandwiches at Subway when we travel. I told them that this would be a great new experience because places like these have corn dogs and chicken fried steak. “Haha. What’s a chicken fried steak?” said my youngest. We entered the restaurant and it was classic. A bar style counter, old milkshake machine, and tables covered with thick plastic tablecloths. Our server took our drink order and dropped off menus. I excitedly ordered chicken fried steak.
“We’re out of chicken.” said our server.
I replied “But I wanted chicken fried–”.
“We’re out of chicken”.
I am not one to argue with restaurant staff as they are the last ones to ensure that the food arrives with only the ingredients listed on the menu- if you get my drift.
“Ok. I’ll try the lasagna.”
“Sorry. We’re out of that, too. We are also out of pork.”
“What about the spaghetti with meatballs?”
“Oh, that’s good. We have that.”
I was bummed, but certainly not upset. We were just happy to eat along the way and not stop at a chain restaurant.
A lovely campsite
When we arrived at our camp site, we were pleasantly surprised at how high the sun was at 8:30pm. That’s what happens when you travel a few hundred miles north of Salt Lake in the summer. You get bonus time. At 10:00 it was still light enough to set up a tent without a flashlight or headlamp if necessary.
We all slept well that night. I always sleep well when camping. Our camp was a ways from the nearest town, so there was no cell phone service and that meant no texts or emails. Technological silence is golden.
Bear Basin Trails
Following breakfast the next day, it was off to the Bear Basin trails. We drove out to the zone, got on the bikes and made out way up a trail called Baby Bear. It rained the previous day and apart from a few scattered puddles, it was hero dirt. The grade of the trail was not difficult and the switchbacks were wide and compressed. After Baby Bear, we connected with Sleepy Hollow and continued climbing. This part of the ride was only 1.5 miles until we reached the first ridge. Our kids made the ascent with ease. The signage in the area was very good.
On top of the ridge, a sign told us a skills park was a short distance away. Why wouldn’t we check that out? The skills park was only a small pump track, but fun nonetheless. We returned to the ridge and rode a short 1.3 mile stretch called Blue Ridge Loop. Again, the kids pedaled this with no complaints. One section of this stretch included a skinny feature that elevated about 4 feet off the ground over a span of 20-something feet and then descended back to the trail over another 20 feet or so. The apex of the feature was anchored to a couple of trees and the kids had to maneuver their bars to make it through.
Down the drain
After Blue Ridge Loop, we ended up at a trail called the Drain. The total length of the Drain is only about a mile, but it’s a ton of fun. The most prominent features of the trail are its well-manicured berms. They are built high enough that you can carry ample speed from one to the next. They are wide and packed in very well. The lower part of the trail features a few table jumps and rollers that can be jumped as doubles. If we had more time, we would have done another lap on this great track.
My wife remarked that Bear Basin was a great place for young, beginning mountain bikers to get their feet wet. The trails are smooth and not threatening. The grade of the ascents is also comfortable where riders as young as 5 or 6 could give it a go.
Where to next?
I originally wanted to move on to Brundage, but their website stated that due to remaining snow, only a beginner trail was open at the resort. Planning our next move was helped by some locals in the parking lot. I asked them about the Goose Creek trail nearby and one of the locals said that the top third of that still had snow. Rats. I asked about Tamarack Resort. One of them told me other than qualifying for a downhill race going on, the trails to the west of the bike park were open and in good shape. Off we went.
Tamarack Resort
Tamarack Resort is on the west side of Lake Cascade. It is about 35 miles south of McCall. There was a downhill mountain bike event taking place – a stop on the Northwest Cup schedule. We stopped in at an information booth and a resort employee told us to start at the Cottage Trail and start branching out from there. We took a trail map and got our pedalin’ on.
Skills park?
The trail map indicated that there was a skills park and a jump park along the Cottage Trail. When we arrived at the skills park, it was mostly grown over but my kids found a great figure-8 skinny that was probably a couple hundred feet long. They took turns trying to complete the whole thing and our 10 year-old did the whole thing first without any crashes or dabs. He was pretty proud of himself. This was the first thing on his mountain biking resume that he was able to do before his thirteen year-old brother.
Tamarack Resort’s dirt jump park was overgrown, too. We ran into a local that said after the recession of 2010, people had a hard time spending time and money maintaining and riding the area. Even though the jumps weren’t pristine, the kids still rode them. My 10 year-old took a spill in some stinging nettle and headed back to the resort base with mom to get cleaned up. My 13 year-old and I pedaled up from Cottage Trail to Merlin. That was a good time. Merlin had about a half dozen good sized table jumps, berms and flow. After our first run, we got the entire family up for another lap.
On the way back to the village base, the kids screwed around on a tow bar lift. They’re both still light enough that they can sit on a tow bar and make it swing back-and-forth without their feet hitting the ground.
Soaking it up
Hmmmm. What does one do in the McCall area after riding the trails? You choose one of the several hot springs in the area and chill out, of course. In addition to doing everything else important for the family, my wife is also manages the extracurricular activities. She chose the Gold Folk Hot Springs. This was wonderful. It cost $40 for our family of four and it was not very crowded. The hot springs is developed and there are six pools ranging in temperature from 85º to 110º. One of the pools has a white sand bottom. The dirt road was a little rutted, but nothing to prevent an ambitious group of vacationers looking for a soak.
Jug Mountain Ranch
Another good night’s sleep brings us to Sunday. We hurriedly made breakfast, broke camp, and headed off to Jug Mountain Ranch. The Ranch is nestled against McCall’s eastern mountains about 10 miles south of town. We checked in at the clubhouse, signed waivers and hopped on our first shuttle before 9:30. It’s a bumpy ride to the top, but the anticipation of finally getting to ride these trails smoothed the trip up the mountain. Our kids really enjoyed the shuttle, too. Aside from not having to pedal up, they enjoy looking out the sides, speaking with other riders, and just being part of the scene.
Hero dirt!
At the top of the shuttle ride there are three trailheads: Berm and Ernie, DoeJoe, and Double Shot. We started off on Berm and Ernie. Due to rain in the area prior to our arrival, the dirt and trails were nothing short of immaculate. Even the locals said this was the best conditions the trails have been. I asked them if it ever gets dusty and they said yes, absolutely – we were just enjoying the luck and fruits of Mother Nature’s labors. Berm and Ernie is an intermediate rated trail featuring well-sculpted berms, short technical rock features, a wood ramp that could be hopped or rolled, table jumps, and even a small step-up and step-down. Everyone in the family except Wyatt rode this trail several times.
DoeJoe is a green flow trail. If you ride this one, be sure to carry speed or the short ascents will slow you down. I only rode this once and had to pedal a couple of times because I wasn’t going fast enough.
Our oldest son Wyatt hit it off with a local who was willing to show him around. Wyatt was able to get on Double Shot (black) and Stitches (black). Both of these trails feature bigger jumps and/or gap jumps, technical rock rolls and drops. Wyatt could not wipe the smile off his face after each of his runs.
Jug Mountain for the Win!
Jug Mountain Ranch was a very good experience and I hope we have the opportunity to ride it again sooner rather than later. The vibe was awesome and the locals were fun to ride with and talk to. We totally lucked out with the trail conditions being so good. Weather and trail conditions can always be a roll of the dice – but when you win, you can win big. Traci also mentioned that a lot of the local rippers could have been competing at Tamarack Resort for the downhill race the day we were at JMR. Often there were empty seats on the shuttle.
The long drive home was a pretty good experience, too. I took the time to write about one of our new favorite places to ride mountain bikes and look at all the photos/videos we got along the way.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/mccall-idaho-june-2017.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-06-19 23:53:472022-11-15 03:56:51Our Family Mountain Bikes In The McCall Idaho Area For The First TimeWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
Crankworx is truly a celebration of everything magical about mountain biking. The world class events take place in New Zealand, France, Austria, and Canada. Each year, Mountain Bike Rotorua helps put together the Crankworx event in New Zealand. One of the fun offshoots of the Crankworx spectacle is the family-focused Kidsworx where young riders get to learn, compete, and meet the stars.
Marcello Ojerio and his staff played host to hundreds of kids at Kidsworx as part of Crankworx Rotorua.
Three years ago, the creators of Kidsworx approached Mountain Bike Rotorua’s own full-time tour guide Marcello Ojerio to gauge his availability and interest in starting the Kidsworx program in Rotrua. Three years later, Marcello still heads up some of the kids’ events/facilities each year. The events include: Kidsworx Pump Track Skills Coaching, Kidsworx Pimp My Ride, Tiki Tour Scavenger Hunt, and the ever evolving pint-sized Tamariki flow track. Marcello’s colleague, Tim Farmer, focuses on making sure the Kidsworx racing events (Hipster DH, Skyline Warrior DH, Pump Track Challenge) are organized, staffed and managed throughout the Crankworx week.
Planning for Kidsworx Rotorua starts right after Christmas. Staff and volunteers focus on improving the trail system, the overall site, and the Tamariki track. Marcello works tirelessly to have everything in tip-top shape for the event’s commencement each year.
This is the pump track designed specifically for young children at Kidsworx Rotorua.
Kidsworx Rotorua has grown in popularity for the events that Marcello supervises. Last year’s participation numbers reached 360 kids. Interestingly, 50 to 60 percent of those children were 5 and under. This was a significant increase in numbers from the previous year when participation was only 258 kids.
Volunteers are Critical
For the week of Kidsworx, Marcello and his wife Heidie work full time with the children. Thankfully, they aren’t alone. Last year they had about 300 individuals sign up to volunteer for the Crankworx event in various capacities. Over the course of the three years that Marcello has assisted with the Kidsworx events, he has had a core group of volunteers come back each year to help out.
Everyone works as a team to make Kidsworx an unforgettable experience. Grandparents, parents, and many biking enthusiasts volunteer to ensure that Kidsworx is an annual hit that keeps families wanting to come back year after year. Volunteering isn’t just a quick endeavor because it’s a significant investment of time. Most work all day with the kids to create a memorable, upbeat, positive experience for everyone involved. Volunteers spend an average of six to seven hours per day at Crankworx. Marcello works to set up the entire area so it not only caters to the kids participating in the event but the entire family and the volunteers that make it all happen.
Coaching the Groms
The large number of participants results in a wide variety of needs. Smaller children really just want the opportunity to ride their bikes. Older children came to hone and learn new biking skills. Last year, to meet the needs of the older children Marcello brought in the accomplished athlete and educator Mark Leishman to work with the more experienced children. He was able to pass on pointers and tips to the parents on how to improve their kids on the pump track. Recently, involving the parents in the various aspects of Kidsworx has become a focus for Marcello in order to enrich the experience for the children and everyone involved.
Gravity doesn’t care how old you are. Young riders have to earn the descent just like you and me.
Fun Family Activities
Kidsworx isn’t about just riding. It’s about creating an atmosphere full of activities the whole family can enjoy across an entire holiday week. Event organizers have added a good old-fashioned scavenger hunt complete with a winner at the end of the day. However, not just the winner gets the prize, every kid gets a little something and fun is had by all involved.
Kidsworx Rotorua Sponsors
The success of Kidsworx also relies on the generosity of sponsors. Sponsors donate items such as tee shirts, hats, and stickers. The Pimp My Ride event utilizes donated stickers and other accoutrements so kids can dress up their bikes. Marcello has noticed that several kids’ bikes have been coated with more than one year’s worth of decals. Positive proof that families are making the annual event one of their mandatory stops for summer fun.
When asked about the gear used at the event, Marcello was quick to point out Giant Bicycles of New Zealand was key to the success of Kidsworx. He said “They worked to ensure that all the kids have bikes to fit their size by providing all the demos. Parents are often shocked that even their two or three year old toddler has a bike readily available.”
Keeping it Positive
The popularity of Crankworx and Kidsworx continues to grow by leaps and bounds. However, Marcello still expresses his heartfelt dream and goal to keep the event’s focus on kids and their families having fun. “I don’t want it to get so big that we have to have so much oversight and supervision, we lose the spontaneity that you are seeing in some of these pictures, seeing in these videos. So I feel that is the biggest challenge for me. It is not getting more stickers or getting more bikes. It is making sure that we don’t change that positive vibe that immediately greets every single family, every single kid that enters our space.”
Marcello’s lifelong love of bikes and working in bike shops has bestowed the nickname ‘Bike Guy’ on him and he wears it proudly. He loves inspiring the enthusiasm and passion of biking in children and their families. There is little doubt that every coming year Kidsworx will continue to leave happy families smiling.
We cannot thank Marcello Ojerio enough for taking the time to contribute to this article. His genuine, unabated devotion to mountain biking, hospitality and overall heartiness make him one of the true ambassadors of Crankworx. Follow him on Facebook here.
Ezra Newick was kind enough to give us permission to use some of his photographs from Crankworx Rotoura. Thank you Ezra! You can contact Ezra through Facebook here. And, you can follow Ezra on Instagram @mrezra here.
Leidy Monsalves is another contributing photographer for this article. Follow Leidy on Instagram @lelemonsalves to see more stunning photos of colorful New Zealand.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/marcello-ojerio-kidsworx-rotorua-v2.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-05-21 21:42:402019-11-27 02:31:16A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Kidsworx Rotorua With Marcello OjerioWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
Trikes to Trails was born two years ago when Bart Gillespie, a Salt Lake City professional mountain biker, wanted a program where his young girls could learn to enjoy mountain biking with their peers.
Registration for this program is open now. The first session starts on June 7th, 2017.REGISTER HERE
The program focuses on introducing young kids ages 6 – 12 to mountain biking. It provides professional coaching in mountain bike skills, cycling safety, trail etiquette and trail maintenance. Our primary focus is to help kids develop an early love for cycling.
Gear Rush Skills provides a team of trained coaches to teach our riders basic skills such as ready position, shifting, braking, and cornering. We achieve this through parking lot instruction, skill park practice, trail rides, and fun games. Each session will have an opportunity to do trail maintenance project to give back to the community.
This program doesn’t just get kids on bikes. It also demonstrates the importance of trail construction and maintenance.
We offer three once a week sessions in June – July prices ranging from $125 – $230. This is includes a custom cycling jersey, swag bag, snacks and guaranteed fun! We meet on Wednesday mornings from 9-11:30am in a different location each week including Corner Canyon Trails & Cycle Park, Trailside Park, Park City, Mormon Pioneer Trail and the UOP trails. Participants must have a geared mountain bike with 20” wheels or larger and a helmet.
We don’t want finances to limit a child’s desire to get into mountain biking so we offer a scholarship program, “Rog Rides On”, in memory of Roger Gillespie. As a peach Farmer and avid mountain biker, Roger touched the lives of many people. We are excited to honor Rog by getting more kids on bikes!
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/trikes-to-trails-featured-v1.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-05-08 20:23:012019-11-27 02:02:56Trikes To Trails Is A Great Way To Get Your Young Rider Mountain BikingWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
UPDATE: Read our review featuring the Bell Super 3r, too.
Our kids have both hit their faces while falling off a mountain bike. A few years ago, we were making them wear their full-face helmets on any ride that was even slightly technically difficult. They hated wearing their hot full face helmets on cross country trails. But I was traumatized by visions of knocked out teeth and fractured jaws inspired by their previous falls.
The Bell Super2R was a great solution for all of us. This helmet covers more of the head than a regular cross-country helmet – extending farther on the back, sides, and forehead. Bell helmets are comfortable and are easily adjustable to fit securely. The 23 large vents keep it much cooler than a traditional full-face helmet.
Chinbar Details
We love that the removable chin-bar can easily be secured hydration packs (and can fit inside a small backpack) for the climbing portion of the trail. The bar can snap onto the helmet while you’re still wearing it, but we usually are not in that big of a rush.
There are three lever buckles that secure the chin-bar to the helmet. These latches are easy for the kids to do by themselves. Note that it is possible to close the latches without having them secured to the helmet, so it’s a good idea to give the chin-bar a tug before you start to ride. Once the chin bar is snapped on, the helmet feels very solid.
These are affiliate links. When you visit them and make a purchase, we earn a small commission. More here.
There’s a mount on the top of the helmet which is formatted for a GoPro camera. Additionally, we also discovered that some light manufactures also offer adapters to fit this bolt-on connection.
We have had these helmets for over a year. We have not had any problems with durability. Personally, I feel more confident on descents when I have the “face saver” chin bar snapped into place. Luckily we have not had the opportunity to test the ability of the chin-bar to protect the face in a crash yet. Knock on wood. However, the Bell Super2R helmets are certified with CE EN1078 and CPSC standards, so I still feel that this helmet would be much more protective than a half shell in the event of a crash.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/bell-super-2r-feat.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-05-07 18:14:092019-12-12 02:45:59Bell Super 2r Helmet ReviewWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
Mountain Biking Duo from Pisgah Forest – Hannah Dickson used to pogo stick all the time. And according her father, Wes – owner of Sycamore Cycles in North Carolina, pogo sticking was a foray into his daughter’s love of mountain biking.
He recalls one day she was in the driveway for two hours on her pogo stick. He went go out and ask her if she was interested in going on a mountain bike ride with him. The balance and conditioning she had gained from being on her pogo stick really served her well for mountain biking. Wes says, “It made it fun for her to mountain bike with me because she was not struggling as much when it came to steep inclines and tougher trails.”
Now a teenager, Hannah and her dad have been riding together for several years now and have even done some races. Hannah explains, “I race to push myself and become better”.
Starting Small
When Hannah started out on a bike, Striders were not very popular. She started with training wheels and rode local trails and parks. The training wheels came off when she was offered ice cream if she could ride from one end of the local park to the other without them.
Another factor that made riding fun for Hannah was that she always got to pick where they would ride. Wes tells us, “It allowed her to take ownership of the ride and really enjoy it. She often chose the same trails and if there were parts she could not ride, she would walk her bike.”
Building Trails Together
The Bracken Mountain Preserve is a city park with a great mountain biking trail. When Hannah was just getting into mountain biking they were working on the trail. This provided with Hannah opportunities to help out with parts of the project. On volunteer days and Hannah and Wes were able to go and help move brush and do turf work to get the trail ready.
They always say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This appears to be true in the case of the Dickson family. Wes’s dad was also a bike enthusiast and Wes had started riding with him and also helping maintain trails when he was a teenager. Wes feels lucky to be able to share a similar journey daughter. The Dicksons are proud of giving back to the trails and being able to do it as a family.
Traveling Together And Sharing Great Times On The Mountain Bikes
Wes and Hannah have taken daddy-daughter mountain biking trips together as well. Last year, they did a British Columbia trip that was 10 days in length and they were able to ride in different areas. They rode at Powell River and Squamish. The Powell River trip included trails called Death Rattle and Little Dipper. After two and a half days of mountain biking at Powell River they went to Squamish for a few days. When she was asked about her favorite trail in Squamish, Hannah quickly replied “Rupert! I though it was technically challenging but super fun.”
Hannah enjoyed the trip and was always ready for exploration and up for adventure – and up early at that. She would be up before 6am and ready to start the day. Hannah still chooses the trails a lot of the time and will ride the same trail over and over if it’s one she enjoys.
About Sycamore Cycles
Sycamore Cycles has two locations in North Carolina; one is in Pisgah Forest and the other in Hendersonville. The first one opened in 2000 and it is predominantly a mountain bike store.
The store carries a lot of riding gear and bikes for kids. Parents seem to be putting more money into good quality bikes for their children and the store makes it possible with a special program they run.
The store will buy back used bikes that were purchased there at half the retail value. That money goes toward the purchase of a new bike. So if you buy a 12 inch bike for $200 and your child outgrows it, you can upgrade to a 16 inch bike and receive $100 toward the purchase of the new bike.
Sycamore Cycles also supports Trip for Kids. This non-profit organization provides mountain bike outings and environmental education for youth in the Transylvania, Henderson, and Buncombe counties.
The returned bikes may also be sold at a consignment store with the money going back into the Trip for Kids program. This is a great way for the shop to give back to the community. Dicksons hope that children who may not otherwise be able to afford a bike are afforded the opportunity to ride.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/hannah-sycamore-cycles-01-v1.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-04-30 13:39:582019-12-12 02:48:38Meet A Daughter-Father Mountain Biking Duo from Pisgah ForestWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
Looking for a fun experience for your mountain biking kids? The Mallen family recently traveled to the Sea Otter Classic with kids. The young Mallen boys participated in the events and festivities and loved every minute of it.
Sea Otter Overview
California has always been known as a hotspot for outdoor sports – biking foremost among them – and the Sea Otter Classic is no exception. Sea Otter had humble beginnings in the early 90’s with 350 racers. Since then it has rapidly grown in popularity and prestige, and this year boasted nearly 10,000 athletes and over 71,000 fans.
One of the Mallen twins rushes down the dual slalom track at the 2017 Sea Otter Classic. Photo courtesy of Jeremy VanSchoonhaven.
A whole slew of different events and competitions make up the long weekend. Events include include everything from mountain bike racing to slalom and short track racing. Hosted in Monterey County, Sea Otter is a hub for cyclists across a diversity of ages and skill-levels, with everyone from former national and Olympic finalists to some of the more inspiring up-and-coming youngsters in the sport. Most of the events take place on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) and near Laguna Seca. This area offers some profound vistas that are iconic of California in particular.
From left-to-right: (1) The Mallen twins are geared up and ready to roll. (2) One of the twins takes a youth-sized eBike through its paces. (3) Cam Zink, a fan favorite for all ages was at the event at the YT Industries booth.
Meet the Mallens
This was certainly the case for the Mallens. As far as outdoorsy families go, Liz, Tony, Luke, and Alex are a quintessential example of the active lifestyle, and whether it’s Tony acting as inspiration or Liz holding everything together the way only mothers can, their first excursion to the Sea Otter Classic was an adventure in itself.
The twin boys, age nine, have taken naturally to biking, and along with a cohort of friends are part of the Utah Gravity Series. Nevertheless, in their home state the competitive mountain biking is still in its infancy, so when a friend offhandedly suggested the family consider the Sea Otter Classic, it was all the incentive Tony needed. As Liz recalls, she got a text one day from her husband who said he’d signed the boys up for the downhill race. “I thought ‘Wow, okay, we’re going’,” she laughs.
For these skilled young Utah riders, getting “acclimated” to the sea level air of central California was easy-peasy.
Bumps in the road
Under the tutelage and sponsorship of coaches Tyson Henry from Outlaw Mountain Bike and Mark Kugel from Kugel’s Gravity School, the family set their sights on California. However, shortly before the competition Tony (an avid downhill enthusiast himself) ended up crashing his dirt jumper and suffering a third degree AC separation in his shoulder and a concussion to top things off. Suddenly on her own Liz found herself in the driver’s seat – literally. She became responsible for everything from finding their camping site to registering them in the different events.
One little debacle included getting stuck in a mud bog. Liz was amazed at how helpful everyone was in getting her back on the road, a heavy effort that took them well into the night. “The people here were just so awesome and amazing and friendly and helpful,” she exclaims, recalling the events. Nevertheless it was a huge success overall, and definitely one that sticks in her mind.
The party isn’t bonafide until this guy shows up. Danny MacAskill takes the time to ‘do it for the children’.
Sea Otter Competition for Kids
For the boys themselves the weekend held a lot of challenges and competition. Even in the youth division, practice begins bright and early at 8 in the morning, and with the growing success of the Sea Otter Classic one thing that unexpected visitors might not count on is the lines. This was definitely the case for Alex and Luke, and a lesson they learned very quickly – being there 45 minutes early was essential to make sure you weren’t waiting in the morning sun to get in. Their routine involved waking up at 6:30 and being fully geared up by 6:45. And even then, there was already a line up.
Right off the bat the Utah boys had stiff competition – especially from a hardcore group of ‘Shredder kids’ from Whistler, British Columbia. Whistler has spawned many world champion contenders, including Jackson Goldstone. But despite the high standards, the Mallens were able to hold their own in both the Dual Slalom and Downhill events against the Canadians. For Saturday’s Dual Slalom, Alex earned a silver medal in the B Group. His brother, Luke almost made the medal round for the A Group. In the Downhill Race, the kids finished 9th and 16th out of a field of 39 riders. This is a testament to the growing talent in Utah. In fact, as Liz can’t help but expound, more than a few brands (from bike companies to gear outfitters) showed some serious interest in the kids.
From left-to-right: (1) The big day in queue for the downhill races. (2) One of the Mallen boys earned a silver in the Dual Slalom B Group. (3) The line-up during a practice session.
You won’t get bored!
At the end of the day though, it’s the diversity that really stood out in Liz’s mind. If you’re at all bike-inclined, it’s impossible to be bored, with daily street races that begin at 11 sharp, an Easter egg hunt (or Sea Otter Egg Hunt, as it were), and a variety of spectator matches. In her own words it’s a “whole experience for anyone who is involved with bikes … road, cycle, mountain cross country, BMX, I mean any type of bike you can imagine is here. If you are in love with bikes in general you need to come to Sea Otter.”
Tips for planning your trip
Of course, for those newcomers who are seriously considering the Sea Otter Classic it’s always a good idea to plan ahead – ideally, at least a month. With so much activity going on, being well prepared in terms of organizing your own schedule around what you want to see and – in the Mallen’s case – what you want to participate in is crucial.
The one solid piece of advice that seems to bridge all visitors to Monterey is the absolute necessity of camping. Although there are a number of hotel and accommodation choices available, camping is where it’s at. You can camp right on-site (either in a camper van or tents) to really bring the experience full circle and add a level of immersion you wouldn’t otherwise get. “The one thing I do recommend for families of kids who are racing is to camp,” Liz says wistfully – and on top of the convenience of being able to make it to events on time, camping is also a great opportunity to get to know other families and racers and to become a part of the Sea Otter Classic community. More than that, a participant in the biker culture itself. “It is like Disneyland! Literally! It’s overwhelming!” she adds excitedly.
The Mallens hail from the outskirts of Salt Lake City. And, they’re eagerly anticipating 2017’s Colorado Freeride Festival. Follow them on Instagram @thosemallentwins. They are bubble-wrapped from head-to-shin with protective gear from Demon United.
Jeremy VanSchoonhoven is a former competitive trials rider who has traveled the globe. He now focuses on taking photos instead of making paper thin, above the ground moves. Give him an Instagram follow @jeremyvanschoonhoven.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sea-otter-classic-2017-featured.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-04-24 18:59:352019-11-26 20:33:55Sea Otter Classic with KidsWritten by CeciliaSHARETWEET
Choose the Right Mountain Bike – A mountain bike ride used to be your favorite way to relax after an exhausting work week. A ribbon of Saturday single track erased the week’s face palm moments. On the weekend, you were the trail boss, and cleaned rock gardens and bunny hopped anything in your path.
Then the magic fell out.
Now, meeting friends at the trailhead to go mountain biking is more frustrating than fun. Everyone around you is getting faster and advancing their skills (and posting their epic GoPro proof to YouTube). Meanwhile, you’re off the pace pushing your bike up climbs…what gives?
The answer can be found in what you’re riding and where you’re riding it.
No problem, here. Cecilia Potts rides the North Creek flow trail at Alafia River State Park, Florida. Photo credit: Mike Lawrence
Let me explain because recently I was the one pushing my bike through sections I should have cleaned. As a retired professional rider with a 25-year love affair with this sport, I had to figure out how to put the magic back. In order to choose the best mountain bike, you’ll want to look at a few items.
Step 1: Evaluate your current bike
First, look at what you’re riding. Massive improvements have been made in bicycle suspension and frame geometry in the past 20 years. The red Pro-Flex we all coveted in 1990s now rides like a $150-bike from a big-box store. If you’re a female rider, all the big brands—Specialized, Liv (a Giant spinoff), Trek, Jamis, Cannondale—and some of the niche brands—Juliana, Yeti, Scott, and Kona—offer women’s specific geometry. Riding a bike with angles considerate of female physiology (i.e., narrower shoulders) makes a big difference on the trail.
Step 2: What kind of Trails do you Ride Most?
The next step is considering where you ride most. Bicycle industry marketing gurus want us to see images of riders leaned into perfectly banked corners and pieces of dirt flying from tire-tread patterns tailored for specific conditions. They hook us with the Zen moment we wish for on every ride. It urges us to rush out and buy that bike… never mind it might not be the best choice for our local trails.
Cecilia Potts rips a downhill in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, California. Photo credit: Darin “Crash” Maxwell
Is there a mismatch?
I adored the two Santa Cruz Blur LTs I’ve owned, then I moved to Florida. The Blur LT was designed for going up climbs and bombing rough descents. There’s a lot of flowing, tight single track in Florida, not so many climbs and downhills. For a while the Blur LT worked, but my riding skills weren’t progressing. I had the wrong tool for the job.
It may be time to upgrade
It’s hard to admit your bike has lost its luster, but finding the right mountain bike isn’t difficult. Many bicycle companies partner with the retailers to host demo ride events at local trails. I found three demo events at trails I regularly rode. For the bike models I wanted to try that weren’t scheduled for a demo, a local shop was able to rent the bike for an extended test ride.
Within weeks I was used to the swept back angles of my new Santa Cruz 5010c, and was adding whips when launching over drops and lips I previously would ride with caution. I didn’t realize how much my old bike was holding me back.
To choose the right mountain bike, match the bike to the conditions you regularly ride. Doing that brought the fun back. Now I just need a GoPro to post my improved skills and new tricks to YouTube like everyone else.
About the author: Cecilia ‘Ceal’ Potts was the 1997 Junior Women’s Cross Country Mountain Bike World Champion, and raced professionally in 1998-99. She now enjoys trails without a bib number, and lives and works in Florida. Follow her on Twitter at @cealpotts and on Facebook at cecilia.potts.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/get-the-right-bike-for-the-job.jpg506900Ceciliahttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngCecilia2017-04-19 19:53:532019-11-28 21:03:47How To Ride Better: Choose The Right Mountain BikeWritten by BrettSHARETWEET
Crankworx Rotorua with Kids – Crankworx is mountain biking’s version of the Olympics, Superbowl, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest… the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the FIFA and/or Quidditch World Cup. The best thing is that it now happens four-times-a-year from locations around the world. Have you thought about how cool it would be to visit Crankworx Rotorua with kids?
We’re fortunate enough to have a family share their first-hand story from Rotorua, New Zealand – the first stop on the 2017 Crankworx World Tour. Events just a stone’s throw away from the Shire took place from March 24th through April 2nd.
When we reached out to Kidsworx Rotorua to see if there was a family willing to share their story with us, Marcello Ojerio, Kidsworx Activities Manager, replied almost immediately. “I’ve found a family who will help you out… they are all mad keen [mountain] bikers and really embody the Crankworx spirit!”
Meet the Griffins
The Griffin family with furry friend pose for a photo at the always active Dodzy Skills Park in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Claire and James Griffin are the proud parents of 3 young groms ranging in age from 5-8. They made the 4 hour drive from their home south of Rotorua the day before the event started. I was quick to ask Claire how they keep their 3 kids in check during road trips. She said, “We usually drive in the evening and pack an easy dinner like bacon and egg slices as there are no good places with healthy food options between Palmerston North and Rotorua. We leave at about 5pm and eat around 6. Then, the kids usually fall asleep by 7.” When asked if they have movies in the car for this kids, she replied, “Sometimes we get out talking Roald Dahl stories from library… oh and we don’t have devices or a TV for that fact.”
Can you see how this family rolls? Mountain biking together, eating healthy during road trips, books on tape. Many of us are striving to keep up with the Griffins in more ways than one.
Claire told us the main reasons why they come to Crankworx Rotorua with kids. “Our family goes every year because of the [mountain bike] riding with friends we make and reconnect with… racing… and being spectators at the center of mountain biking’s big show.”
The Dodzy Skills Park
At the southwest end of Long Mile road on the edge of the Whakarewarewa Forest – you’ll find the Dodzy Skills Park. This area was built in memory of James “Dodzy” Dodds, a mountain bike enthusiast who was a trail builder and pillar of the Rotorua outdoors community.
The park features intermediate and advanced jump lines, a see-saw, and other features. The Griffins spent a good deal of time here during the week as it’s a wonderful venue for riders of all abilities to build their skills. The skills park also hosts the widely enjoyed but greatly under-publicized 16″ Dual Slalom World Championships. This event is where professionals and amateurs alike test their talents at the park’s DS track on kid bikes with 16-inch wheels.
The Week’s Photos from Crankworx Rotorua with Kids…
On the first Saturday of the festival, the Griffins hiked up a trail to watch the Toa Enduro race.
Claire attended a wheelie workshop for women led by the prior day’s EWS winner Cecile Ravanel. Cecile won the race in very wet and muddy conditions by over three minutes. And, Claire proudly admitted she rode a wheelie for three revolutions. Year after year, everyone wins at Crankworx.
The Rotorua Mountain Bike Club hosted a “low key” Super D race one evening. Over a 100 riders turned up and they had a Santa Cruz 5010 frame to give away. The Santa Cruz Team showed up for the race and Cedric warmed towards the boys.
The Griffin family was rooting for local rider Keegan Wright to do well at the RockShox Pump Track Challenge. They got what they wanted as Keegen beat perennial favorite, Adrien Loron.
To see more mountain biking families like this and share your family’s adventures on two wheels, follow MTBwithKids on Instagram or Facebook
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/crankworx-2017-v1.jpg506900Bretthttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngBrett2017-04-03 21:10:122020-01-12 22:31:43Crankworx Rotorua 2017 – Keeping Up With The GriffinsWritten by KimberlySHARETWEET
Creation of a NICA League – Kathy Mock and her husband Aaron had always been biking enthusiasts. When their young son first took to the trails as a toddler, they started to view the sport differently. Mountain biking became an integral component of not only their family life but also a social outlet. In today’s fast-paced world of electronic games, cell phones, and competition sports, just being able to bike with friends often seems to be a thing of the past. However, Kathy recognized the importance of such outings and was inspired to create a biking club for children who maybe didn’t fit into classic sports. Above all, mountain Biking seemed to be attractive to kids who sought companionship and who also enjoyed the great outdoors.
Creation of Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling Association
Fueled by the inspiration of her son’s love for biking and the widespread affinity for the sport that was being widely exhibited by his peers, Kathy set out to form a mountain bike club that catered to the local youth. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling Association (WIN) was founded in 2013.
“The club just grew like crazy,” Kathy said. The small informal group quickly burgeoned to 85 students and the interest in the sport only continued to escalate. Parent involvement also flourished.
Getting Involved in NICA
Within a couple of years, the bike club joined the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Kathy and Don Edberg are Wisconsin’s NICA Founding Chairs. NICA fosters biking programs in schools across the nation. Currently, 12 states feature the program in their schools and over 4,500 students compete. The season kicks off every July and runs through October.
Training and Racing
Biking practice consists of meeting two or three times per week for training rides that vary in distance. The league typically has four to five NICA sanctioned races per year. Kathy has noticed that kids who participate in the school activity also usually meet even more often than required to enjoy the sport with their friends. It is not uncommon for a group of youth to head out in the afternoon or weekends to pedal the Elroy-Sparta Trail just for the sheer joy of the ride.
Youth Involvement in Mountain Biking Continues to Increase
Kathy remains deeply moved by the interest her small biking club spurred in children and how it has grown. Local state youth participation in the biking program increased by a dramatic 40 percent in 2016. The sport is forecast to continue to grow substantially in 2017.
In Wisconsin, the sport remains a low-pressure activity that anyone of any skill level can participate in, just as Kathy first envisioned when she created her small biking club. Firstly, a student doesn’t have to be a star athlete to join. The focus remains geared towards social enrichment, fun, and the great outdoors. Secondly, kids who often didn’t feel comfortable participating in or even trying out for conventional school sports found a niche with mountain biking. Thirdly, if a child doesn’t feel like pushing himself to the limits but still wants to join in the fun then he is more than welcome to pedal at his own pace without any pressure to win, unlike other school sports. Finally, everyone’s a winner in the sport of mountain biking because it’s ultimately boils down to the rider and his bike.
Mountain Biking is for Everyone!
Specifically, one of the biggest things that Kathy loves about mountain biking is that it remains genderless. Girls compete alongside boys and excel just like their male counterparts. Biking isn’t about physical size or prowess. The playing field is leveled when it comes to mountain biking and girls are just as skilled at the sport as the boys. This helps fuel a lifetime of female confidence in young girls that is rarely achieved with other school sports.
Importantly, the races are about more than just completing the day’s trail ride. They are about friends and family. Families often camp for the weekend at the race locations. There is always an abundance of food and fun for everyone involved. Unlike other school sports that rely on a school funding and a professional coach, what makes mountain biking programs triumphal is the participants and their families. The program’s success cannot happen without volunteers who love the sport and are willing to be active members.
From a small group of enthusiastic kids who loved to hit the trails on their bikes to a flourishing middle and high school sport with thousands of participants, Kathy’s dreams continue to be fulfilled. All she has to do is look at the smiling faces of the kids as they ride to continue to feel inspired.
Visit the website for the Wisconsin High School Cycling League. Photographs for this article were used with permission from Kathy Mock. The photographer is Dave Reich. You can see more of Dave’s photos here.
https://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/featured-wisc-nica.jpg506900Kimberlyhttps://mtbwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-mtbk-400-300x157.pngKimberly2017-03-31 15:47:072019-12-11 16:28:47This NICA League Is The Product Of A Family Riding Bikes
We cannot thank Marcello Ojerio enough for taking the time to contribute to this article. His genuine, unabated devotion to mountain biking, hospitality and overall heartiness make him one of the true ambassadors of Crankworx. Follow him on Facebook 
Ezra Newick was kind enough to give us permission to use some of his photographs from Crankworx Rotoura. Thank you Ezra! You can contact Ezra through Facebook 
Leidy Monsalves is another contributing photographer for this article. Follow Leidy on Instagram 
About the author: Cecilia ‘Ceal’ Potts was the 1997 Junior Women’s Cross Country Mountain Bike World Champion, and raced professionally in 1998-99. She now enjoys trails without a bib number, and lives and works in Florida. Follow her on Twitter at 
Getting Involved in NICA