Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team

About Us

Join the Mountain Biking fun!

Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team is an interscholastic cycling team for 6th -12th grade students in the Cedar Crest and Lebanon School Districts. No existing mountain biking skills are required to join the team!

The purpose of the team is for kids to have a blast learning mountain biking skills, riding with friends and competing in a safe environment. Competition is a goal but is not a requirement; league competition takes place across the state against similarly skilled and experienced riders.

Our coaches are passionate mountain bikers with years of experience riding, racing and building trails to support our sport. 2023 will be our third season and we look forward to another amazing summer and fall.

Practices will be held once a week at South Hills park with trail rides on Saturdays in locations such as the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail, Mount Gretna, Hershey Medical Center, Swatara State Park and Coleman's Park.

Upcoming Events

May 29 @ 5:30 pm	Try-It Ride at South Hills Park - more info
May 29 @ 7:00 pm	Immediately following Try-It Ride an important PARENT MEETING @ SOUTH HILLS PARK AT 7PM
June/July	Some fun local rides and activities to get to know everyone
July	Practice Begins at South Hills Park South Hills Park is most easily accessed via Lincoln Ave.- view map

FAQ

Q. Who can join the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team?
A. Students in grades 6-12 residing in the Lebanon and Cedar Crest School Districts.

Q. What are the coaches' qualifications?
A. Besides some of them racing themselves, they have been accredited by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and are recognized coaches by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League (PICL). They are certified in CPR, concussion detection and First Aid. They are sufficiently knowledgeable to be a positive influence on all student athletes.

Q. Is the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team fully insured?
A. NICA provides General Liability insurance for the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team including coverage for trail maintenance and repair by the club, club rides, training rides, races and other club functions such as meetings and clinics. Coaches are covered while acting within the scope of their duties for the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team.

Q. Can I participate in another sport and race for the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team?
A. Student athletes may participate in two sports in the same season however the onus is on the student to do well in school as academics come first for the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team.

Q. I've been on several teams and never got to compete. Will the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team be different?
A. We want to introduce kids to mountain biking and make it fun for all. Everyone is encouraged (although not required) to race, and every race counts as long as you finish!

Q. What are the core values of the team?
A: The core values of NICA, PICL and Lebanon Valley MTB Mountain Bike Team are:

Fun: NICA inspires friendship, joy, and adventure.
Inclusivity: NICA believes everyone should be able to participate in our programs and feel welcomed, respected, and supported.
Equity: NICA is committed to fair treatment, equal access, opportunity, advancement, and elimination of barriers to encourage participation for all.
Respect: NICA expects consideration for all others, oneself, and the outdoors.
Community: NICA unites diverse people, families, and communities through cycling by creating fun and welcoming experiences.

Q. When is the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team's season?
A. We normally practice once during the week and have a group ride on Saturdays on great local trails. 5 statewide race weekends will be held in September and October. Course pre-rides and adventure programming happen on Saturdays and races Saturdays or Sundays.

Q. What will practices be like?
A. With a focus on safety and fun, practices will be split up by ability so that everyone can learn at their own pace. Some practices will focus on specific skills, while others will be focused on endurance. We want to get kids on their bikes as much as possible and make practices fun and effective.

Q. How is this going to help me in the future?
A. Mountain biking is a sport you can enjoy for most of your life. Exploring great trails with friends on weekends is a lot more realistic than continuing to play other scholastic sports after high school. Many colleges have mountain biking teams and you can compete at a collegiate level. Even better, Teen Trail Corps Initiative is an excellent addition to your college application.

Q. What is Teen Trail Corps Initiative?
A. NICA has partnered with IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) and REI to create Teen Trail Corps. The program is designed to educate student-athletes in advocacy as well as to encourage them to take action now and as leaders in the future. This optional leadership program for students allows cycling athletes to create a sense of community on the trails and ensures continued access to our public land uses.

Q. How much is this going to cost?
A. Team and league dues vary from year to year. For 2023, the league (PICL) fee is $220 and the team fee is $100. In addition, each league race or adventure event is $45. If you’re unable to pay these fees, we will be offering scholarships to cover some or all of the costs. Oh, and you'll also need a bike! If you're on the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team you'll receive a team discount from our sponsoring bike shops. If you don't have a bike yet, prices for a good, entry-level bike start at around $1,500. If the cost of a bike is of concern, please ask us about our bike scholarship program.

Gear

Aside from the bike there are some tools and accessories that can help a self-reliant rider deal with the majority of maintenance issues they may encounter.

On the bike
Enduro style toolkits are great because you leave them strapped to the bike so you cannot forget them when you go on a ride. Lezyne Send-it Kit

For riders who prefer to take a hip pack or backpack this is a good option: Lezyne Caddy Kit

At home
The two primary maintenance operations you'll do at home are:

Tire pressure:
A nice floor pump with a good pressure guage makes this much easier. Nice pump for a good price or a More Deluxe Option

Chain Lubrication:
From the factory most bikes come with a very thick rust inhibiting lubricant. They will work fine for a period of time but tend to pick up sand and grit due to their stickiness. We recommend a dry lubricant for their easy application and ability to resist picking up grime.
Muc-off Dry Lube or alternately Rock-n-roll Extreme
Note: ideally you should degrease your chain prior to applying these for the first time with a product like this. Muc-off bio degreaser