We are opening our doors for 2021 to introduce the MTB programs at Hale and Wild Ones racing teams, as well as the new advanced cross-country and gravity programs.
Here’s our upcoming schedule of virtual open houses:
Finished 2020 in style with a gravity team session at NEMBA Vietnam with Kyle, Trevor, Sam D, and Sebastian leading the line.
While 2020 didn’t go exactly to plan we did manage to get back out on the trails with fall club rides and intro rides for new members. A big thanks to the coaches Leslie, Rob, Sean, Ulrik, and Christian, who got us back riding safely. We made the early decision to follow rather than lead through COVID that meant closing down the clubs participation in spring XC and summer gravity races. @andrew_gogolin and Sam V still managed to get between the tape and brought home hardware, @andrew_gogolin finishing 3rd overall in the 15-18 amateur category Eastern States Cup , and Sam V coming second in his first NEHSCA XC race . We had eight coaches complete our coach the coaches program so we will be more dialed in when practices start again. We also strengthened our partnerships for 2021 with Hale , Thunder Mountain Bike Park , Ellis Insurance , Ascend Sportswear , and Fluidride, with two new partnerships to be announced before the end of the year.
We will be opening registration for our club, XC, and gravity programs in early January as well as having a virtual open house to go through the programs we are building in 2021.
We are way more ready for sending it in to 2021 than we were for what became 2020.
First things first – thank you to our riders, parents, and coaches for making 2019 so much fun on the trails. In fact, we enjoyed our riding so much we made a short movie capturing the highlights of our year in the saddle.
Key Dates
Here are the key dates as we look forward to the beginning of our 2020 season.
Team practice: Tue/Thu evenings April-Jun (5:30-7:30)
Team practices are for riders who have committed to racing.
Club practice: Thu evenings April-Jun (5:30-7:30)
Club practices are for riders who have elected not to race.
NEHSCA Races
09May Schofield Farm
16May Treasure Valley
30May 508 International
06Jun Stratham
13Jun Wompatuck
20Jun Greenfield
NEHSCA Registration
Register early as membership is being capped to 40 riders
Rider membership is being capped this year to ensure the club grows in a manageable way, we can maintain a healthy rider coach ratio (2:1), and we can all fit on the trails without becoming a trail bike plague.
Kit ordering by 31Jan20
You need to place your kit order by this date to ensure it will arrive before the first race of the season. You only need to order a kit if this is the first time you are registering or you want to freshen up your cycling closet.
Race Series
Junior series = 5, 6, 7, 8 grades with an overall Junior race series champion at the end of the season.
Senior series = HS2, HS1, JV, Varsity. Riders will be placed in to categories based on ability.
Riders who are consistently on the podium with time between the nearest rider will be asked to race up a level. Also, riders looking to reach for the next level can ask their coach if they can move up a level.
Categories to be confirmed by the coaches.
Bike discount programs
NEHSCA sponsored bike discount programs are available with Niner, Specialized, and Trek. These discounts are typically 25% off MSRP. More details available from your coach.
What’s New with the Club
Our mission is to help kids have fun on bikes and we believe more kids will have fun on bikes if we recognize the different goals of each rider. One change we are making in 2020 is to invest in the riders who are committed to racing while continuing to develop kids who just want to get out on the trails. This is reflected in the practice schedule. Team practices are for kids committed to racing and will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with options for high school rides on Monday’s and recovery rides (post race) on Sunday’s. Club rides are for kids who are not racing and will be on Thursday evenings. Riders will declare their interests when they fill out the rider questionnaire.
Another change that happened this year is the development of a gravity team. The goal of this team is to race downhill or enduro at the Eastern States Cup from May-October. This team is for technically advanced riders who have raced downhill before or have significant downhill riding experience. It is expected that the gravity team racers will also race NEHSCA cross-country. It’s all about having fun on bikes.
Wild Ones are pleased to host an open house with Kristen Brandt from the STBG cyclocross team who will be presenting an introduction to cyclocross. We will also be providing an overview of the Wild Ones 2020 season. Please register for the event as spaces are limited.
I was fortunate enough this weekend to be part of the team that headed out for the first downhill race of the Eastern States Cup series at Thunder Mountain. Inspired and led by Noah who is a three year veteran, Henry and Sam signed up for their first races in the Cliff Kids U12 (race for free!) and U15 categories. Downhill racing involves taking a chair lift to the top of the mountain and descending a steep and technical course. How steep? With an average gradient over 20%, once you’re descending there is often no out – in places it’s simply too steep and rocky to stand with a bike – as I found out on multiple occasions. Noah clocked over 30 mph at the bottom of his run with the pros coming down at over 40 mph. A cool and unique experience is that you are racing the course with the pros, the spotters whistles go as you clear sections just like you hear on TV, photographers clicking away as you navigate features, crowds at the bottom cheering you on as you clear the final jump. It was super fun. Massive respect for the technical skills and courage of Noah placing 10th, Henry placing 13th, and Sam who did not start his race but completed three pre-rides, burning all his matches before the race and learning how to dial it in for next time.
I also signed up for my first Enduro race. This involved six timed downhill courses that you have to get to riding your bike rather than taking a chair lift. There’s no time limit between stages and the race covered 26 km with 1200 m climbing in about 3 hours of cycling.
I was punching above my weight on the downhill courses – mostly black diamonds where I’m much more at home on blue/greens. I survived the first stage which involved a start off a steep rock roll in front of thirty-some pumped up mountain bikers waiting in line. There is no starter – you simply line up on the trail and when you get to the front – three deep breaths – trust the bike – go! Stage 1 had a lot of granular mud that covers your tires – feels great upright but one small change in your center of gravity and you’re on the deck. Many damp roots going across the trail and down the mountain made for some interesting body language on and off the bike. I came through stages 2 and 3 fairly clean, ran out of gas on stage 4 unable to synchronize brain, body, gears, and seat post on an up/down course. Sam joined me on stage 5, and after some intense carbo-loading, this made for the most fun stage. Stage 6 was the most technical and just before the start the heavens opened turning the course in to a rocky mud slide. I’d committed to finishing the race even if I had to crawl on my hands and knees – which wasn’t far from what my technique was now looking like. Fortunately it was raining so hard the photographers had taken cover.
How did I do? I came absolutely dead last of the 223 competitors who finished – and by a handsome margin. On the up side I was way ahead of the 21 riders who did not finish. I won my race which was to get across the finish line. I’m still buzzing. And I was reminded that finding the heart to overcome your minds obstacles gives you the courage and confidence to face whatever is next – this week’s NEHSCA race, first Enduro, next week’s school test, going to college, a tough day at work,…
The 2019 NEHSCA spring season is up and running. Follow our riders and team as race results are posted each week. We’ve also updated our summer racing schedule where we will be racing downhill and enduro at the Eastern State Cup.
There are no registrations once online closes at 11:59pm the Thursday before each race. Absolutely no late registrations.
Race Day Number Pick up
Number plates should be picked up at the registration table on Saturday morning by the head coach or an assigned representative. Plates will not be given to individual athletes or parents. Each team will have a white envelope with its name on it containing the team plates.
Plates in the folder are for everyone that registered for the 1st race. If they are not registered for the first race, they will not have a plate.
Names are noted on the back of each plate.
Each plate has a digital timing chip assigned to a specifc racer.
At subsequent races a white envelope with the team name on it will be available at the registration table with the plates for kids that are racing for the first time.
Kids will use the same plate for the whole season
Lost plates can be replaced at the registration table. Simply have the parent request a new plate at the registration table. The cost is $15/plate.
Personalized Plates
All racers that registered for the league before 2/1/19 will receive a personalized plate with their name on it. Anyone registered on 2/1/19 or after will receive a generic plate with just a number.
If an athlete changed categories after their initial league registration – they will not be able to use their personalized plate and will be assigned a new plate that matched their category.
Unusable personalized plates will be provided as souveniers only.
Please instruct athletes and parent to store the plates in a safe place between races. Do not leave them on the bike when transporting the bike on a car rack. It will rip off.
Free League t-shirts
Free league T-shirts are given to any athlete or coach who registered before 2/2/19
They will be organized in individual boxes, by team at the registration tent
You may pick up your team t-shirts at registration at the first race
Inside each box will be a list sorted by last name showing who gets a t-shirt and the size they listed when registering for the league.
All t-shirts will be individually poly bagged with a sticker on the bag showing the size.
We will have a very limited number of the free t-shirts for purchase at the registration tent. Additional NEHSCA merchandise for purchase at the registration tent will be 2019 series: t-shirt, hats, socks, water bottles, cow bells, stickers, and magnets. See all of the 2019 merchandise in this PDF.
Rules Committee:
Each race there will be three coaches and two alternates designated as the Rules Committee for each race. Alternates will be used when a conflict of interest is determined to exist.
Rule Committee for each race will be announces on the Tuesday coaches call and at the race day coaches meeting.
When an issue arises – Athlete/Parent to approach Coach – try to solve
If Coach cannot resolve then the Coach will present to rules committee
Rules committee will investigate and make any judgement and issue any penalty.They present any penalty to the coaches and athletes involved.If rules committee cannot resolve then they will present to League Director for final resolution
Upgrade/Downgrade Policy:
Category changes only after an athlete’s first race in the series
No series points are taken with the athlete when they upgrade/downgrade
Athletes who registered for a category above current grade category may downgrade
A new number plate will be available at registration for any racer who changes category and the next race they attend.
7:00am Pre-Ride Opens
7:30am Coaches Meeting
7:40am No Pre-Ride Start After This Time
7:45am 6th Grade Staging
8:00am 6th Grade Start
8:15am 5th Grade Staging
8:30am 5th Grade Start
8:45am 7th Grade Staging
9:00am 7th Grade Start
9:45am 8th Grade Staging
10:00am 8th Grade Start
10:55am Pre-ride Opens (Pending Last Rider In 8th Grade Category)
11:20am No Pre-ride Start After This Time
11:15am Middle School Awards
11:30am 9th Grade Staging
11:45am 9th Grade Start
12:30pm 10th Grade Staging
12:45pm 10th Grade Start
1:35pm Varsity Staging
1:45pm Varsity Start
1:46pm JV Staging
1:55pm JV Start
3:15 High School Awards
New Pre-ride Policy:
Early pre-ride is available between 7am and 7:40am
Late morning pre-ride is available starting at approximately 10:55am. Final start time is determined by the race director based on the last rider in the 8th grade category.
If participants in the late morning pre-ride attempt to pass 8th grade sweeper they will by DQ’d from the race.
Any unsportsmanlike conduct in presence of sweepers or final athletes in the 8th grade race – will result in DQ from race
Any interruption of the 8th grade race will not be tolerated and will result in DQ
If the late morning results in repeated disruption of the race, the league reserve the right to cancel the late morning pre-ride for the remainder of the season.
Coaches Pre-Race meeting:
7:45 am ALL RACES
ALL teams must be represented –teams not present or that did not notify race director will incur team points penalty of -200 points.
Rescheduling of races:
League will notify all as soon as a reasonable call can be made.
Every attempt will be made to reschedule races.
All registrations will be moved to the new event.Athletes can receive a refund if unable to make reschedule.
Registration will be reopened to allow new athletes opportunity to register.
See race day schedule above for time of middle school and high school awards.
Any
athlete that misses a podium will be allowed to pick-up that medal up
following the awards ceremony of the next race.They are not to try to
pickup their missed medal at any other time.
RULES VIOLATIONS
C-Level Rules Violations: ie. Reckless riding on course, riding thru team tent area, staging infractions, not in uniform
First offense: Warning
Subsequent Offenses: 5-minute time penalty
B – Level Rules Violations:
ie riding without helmet, unsportsmanlike conduct, wearing of
headphones or using a cellphones while riding. Pre-riding course
outside of designated pre-ride times, making any changes to the race
course, parents attempting to provide support during race.
First offense: 5-minute penalty
Second offense: 10-minute penalty
Third offense: Disqualification from a race
A- Level Violations: ie. Riding or building illegal trails, Any bullying or abusive behavior, sexual harassment, Course Cutting
First offense: Disqualification from race, or the next race if the violation occurs between races.
Code of Conduct Policy see below
Anti-bullying Policy see below
Race Rules coming soon
Agenda and policies to be emailed to HEAD COACHES
Policies emailed to all registered athletes.