“MY CHILD WOULD LIKE TO TRY MOUNTAIN BIKING BUT WE DON’T HAVE ANY EQUIPMENT. WHAT SHOULD WE DO?”
We get a lot of beginners which is one reason why this sport is unique. There is a spot for anyone wanting to ride on this team. If you want your child to ride with us to see if he/she likes it before purchasing equipment we understand. Just email us and we will help set you up. If your child does like it and wants to be a part of the team, he/she will need a bike (see “BIKE” details below). He/She will also need a helmet. All of the fancy other stuff is optional but can make the ride more comfortable. As your rider becomes more experienced, you may want to purchase the clip in shoes as they make the ride easier. However, it is perfectly fine to race in tennis shoes.
SPONSORSHIPS
In order to keep rider fees low, our team relies on sponsorship. If you have a business or would like to make a personal sponsorship donation please contact us.
FEES
Fees are currently being updated to reflect the new season.
RACE FEE
Fees are currently being updated to reflect the new season.
TRYOUTS
We do not have tryouts, all riders who come out and work hard are on the team. Every rider gets to race every race.
WHAT ARE THE RACE CATEGORIES
We will be racing the Texas Interscholastic Mountain Bike League this year.
For more information visit http://www.texasmtb.org.
BIKE
Your rider will need a good bike and in reality Walmart, REI and Academy simply will not offer bikes of the quality and durability that will hold up to the terrain that we ride and race in. You do have 8 coaches and several high quality MTB Shops that can help you get the right bike for your rider without breaking the budget. There is no rush, if you have a workable but not ideal bike for your rider, get them started in practice and we and one of our shop sponsors can help with the next steps. We are lucky to live in Austin where MTB is a big sport and Craigslist always has good quality bikes for sale, ideal for your high school rider in an affordable price range. Please talk to your coach if you need direction on finding the perfect bike.
PRACTICE LOCATION
Most practices will be held at Dripping Springs Ranch Park on North Highway 12 across from Dripping Springs Elementary. Occasional practices will be at Reimers Ranch Park or another Central Texas Trail.
WHAT DOES EACH RIDER NEED
Every practice requires your bike, helmet, spare tube, and riding attire appropriate for the weather. Riding at 40 degrees is much colder than running and playing football, the wind chill makes a big difference. No rider can ever practice without a helmet.
FLAT TIRES
Each rider needs to show up at practice ready to change a flat tire and a broken chain (the two most common mechanicals). This requires a spare tube sized for your bike, tire tools and a master link. We will teach riders how to use them but cannot provide spares for the entire team. Being prepared to make trailside repairs is part of trail riding and the responsibility of each parent/rider. Please have your rider talk with their coach about how to change a flat before they get on the trail.
WHO DO WE RACE AGAINST
The NICA league races against all interscholastic teams across the state for every race. All TMBRA races feature USA Cycling recognized classes and categories, as well as an active Junior program and the groundbreaking “Kids Cup” program. Thus, regardless if you are a seasoned veteran in racing or if you are looking for your first race opportunity, there is a race for you.
EMERGENCY AT PRACTICE
We ride every practice with a spreadsheet of riders and parents, emails, and phone numbers so if an emergency occurs we can communicate with you.
COMMUNICATION
The team is currently transitioning most communication through TeamApp. You can download the app for your smartphone at the following link: https://dsmtb.teamapp.com Once downloaded search for DSMTB and request approved access. One of the administrators will usually reply within 24 hours.