Carlisle Area Composite Racing Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
What is the CACR Youth Mountain Biking Team all about?
Who is eligible to join the Carlisle Area Composite Racing MTB team?
Is mountain biking experience required for a student to join the team?
My child attends a private school or is homeschooled. Can he/she join CACR?
When does the season start and how long does it run?
Do you have weekly practices? What does a practice consist of?
Where are practices held?
Is attendance at every practice required?
Can a student practice with the team without officially registering and paying the fees?
What kind of time commitment can parents/caregivers expect?
Is race attendance required?
What kind of commitment do race weekends entail?
How much does it cost to join the CACR Youth MTB Team?
What kind of bike will my child need? Will you supply a bike?
What equipment will my child need to participate on the team?
What are "NICA" and "PICL"?
What are the risks? Are you insured?
Are coaches trained? Do they know what they are doing?
How do I become a CACR coach?
What is the CACR Youth Mountain Biking Team all about?
The goal of the Carlisle Area Composite Racing (CACR) team is to introduce boys and girls (6th to 12th grade) to the sport of mountain biking through both race and adventure events. CACR hopes to instill kids with the habit of exercise and fitness along with a love for positive living and the outdoors. Additionally, cycling, a sense of self-reliance, and bike maintenance skills learned by the student athletes will remain with them for their lifetime, unlike traditional sports that typically have short athletic windows of time. Our team and coaching philosophy is to use cycling to transport our riders to a sense of adventure, exploration, excitement, friendship and good health. Unlike traditional team sports, EVERY kid on the CACR has the chance to participate, regardless of skill level. Our motto "No one sits the bench" says it all.
Who is eligible to join the Carlisle Area Composite Racing MTB team?
Girls and boys in grades 6-12 as of the start of the fall school year are eligible to join CACR. Student-athletes should be in the Carlisle, Big Spring or Boiling Springs school districts, or should be enrolled in homeschool or private school nearby. If you do not live in our team area, you can see other current teams in Pennsylvania at www.pamtb.org/current-teams.
Is mountain biking experience required for a student to join the team?
No! Mountain biking experience is not required, although the student should know how to ride a bicycle without assistance. Any child in grades 6-12 (as of the fall school year) is welcome to participate. Our program includes training on the basics of biking and mountain biking, including proper bike usage (shifting, braking, etc.) as well as more advanced trail-riding skills as the athlete progresses. We've seen many kids come as 6th graders with very basic bike skills and progress through the season to become experienced and excited mountain bikers!
My child attends a private school or is homeschooled. Can he/she join CACR?
Absolutely! We welcome students from all schooling situations in our team area. We are not officially affiliated with any school district, so this is not a problem at all.
When does the season start and how long does it run?
Practice season starts in July and the event season starts at the end of August. Races and adventure weekends take place in August, September, October, and sometimes the first week of November. At the end of the season, we all camp out at Raystown lake and ride the awesome Allegrippis trails! We also wrap up the season with a ride, banquet and potluck at Coach Jon Rose’s cabin in Michaux State Forest!
Do you have weekly practices? What does a practice consist of?
Yes, we have practice 2x times a week at nearby riding areas: Monday evening at Valley Meadows Park and Wednesday evenings at Valley Meadows Park or Michaux State Forest, and then optional Saturday rides in Michaux State Forest. Practices may include skills-based instruction and drills, fitness-oriented drills, small or large group rides on local rail trails, easier "double-track" gravel and dirt trails, and more technical "single-track" trails as skills progress. Athletes may be placed in smaller groups depending on skill level for more targeted coaching.
Where are practices held?
As mentioned above, we start our practices for the season in Valley Meadows Park in Carlisle. There is a great network of beginner — but still exciting — trails that we learn on and train on. Then, as the season progresses, we tend to ride out in Michaux State Forest more, which is about 25-30 minutes from Carlisle. This area has some of the best trails on the East Coast, with great dirt, long downhills, tons of miles of trails to explore, and lots of opportunities for progression. We are truly lucky to have such great places to ride, which is one of the secret’s to our team’s success as state champions.
Is attendance at every practice required?
No. While we encourage student-athletes to attend as many practices as possible, we realize there are many other home, school, community, and sports commitments that compete for time. We're very flexible and don't want this to be something that keeps a student from joining the team. It is not required to attend every practice, but be aware that if the athlete's skills have not developed to a certain degree they may not be able to participate in certain rides or races for their own safety. Please talk to the Head Coach if you have questions or concerns about practice attendance.
Can a student practice with the team without officially registering and paying the fees?
Due to insurance regulations from the national organization (NICA), students may only participate in one regular-season CACR practice/ride without officially joining the team. A parent or guardian will need to sign a one-time waiver to allow this to happen. After the "free" practice, the student must be registered through NICA to attend more practices or activities.
What kind of time commitment can parents/caregivers expect?
The time commitments are those of practice time and travel to/from practices and races/events (races/events are optional). Students will be supervised by trained coaches during practice time and races, but due to insurance regulations riders will need to be transported to the practice/race locations by a parent or caregiver. CACR generally practices 2x/week: an official practice on Monday and Wednesday evenings for about 2 hours and then an optional ride on Saturday mornings for about 2 hours. Fall race season usually has 5-6 races/events across Pennsylvania, ranging from 45 minutes to 3 hours hours away from the Carlisle area. See the "Practices" FAQ entry (# ) for more details on weekly practices and the "Race Weekend" FAQ (# ) below for details on races.
Parents/guardians are not expected to stay for practices, and for insurance and safety reasons are not allowed to join in on team rides unless the adult is at least a NICA-approved coaching assistant (Coach Level 1). Many parents will drop off their kids for practice and then go for their own ride on the nearby rail trail or park trails (or bring a good book and relax and read!). If you are interested in helping out as a volunteer or coach, see the info below (#19).Is race attendance required?
No. Although NICA/PICL is a youth MTB racing league, athletes are NOT required to go to races. CACR's primary goal is to get "More kids on bikes" and to teach the lifelong skills of mountain biking while building community and character. Some athletes come to each race, some may only come to one or two, and a few may not come to any at all. But, we highly encourage all athletes and families to at least come visit the first race event even if not planning to race. You have to experience a race weekend in person to fully grasp how cool and energizing it is for the kids (and adults)! Athletes race with kids of similar ages and abilities, so even the most non-competitive kid is likely to have fun at a race. We also have lots of fun camping or staying in hotels as a team, playing in the hotel pool and all going out to dinner together.
What kind of commitment do race weekends entail?
Race weekends do require a certain commitment of time and money, and as previously noted you do not have to attend all the races (or any of the races, although we hope you will!). Riders will be supervised by trained coaches and volunteers during practice and races, but riders will need to be transported to the practice/race locations by a parent or caregiver.
Since PICL is a Pennsylvania state league, races are held in locations throughout the state. There are typically five state races per season, as well as one "adventure weekend." Race weekends can vary depending if they are conference races (more local and smaller) or state wide races (can be some distance and occurs over 2 days). If it is a conference race both middle school and high school would preride in the morning and then racers race within their category during the morning or afternoon. If it is a state wide race middle school would race one day and high school the other. When possible we highly encourage riders and parents to come for both days if they are able, it makes the experience more holistic and enjoyable.
Parents/caregivers must drive their student(s) to the event, and most stay around during the day to cheer on the other racers, help out, and enjoy the community feel and race-day "vibe." For races farther away, often team families will camp together at a nearby campground or stay at a "team" hotel to foster team community.How much does it cost to join the CACR Youth MTB Team?
Our team charges no fees to join but there are costs with joining the league. Riding under the PICL league is $250, which covers insurance, adventure rides at race weekends and much more. If a rider wishes to race in the league PICL charges an additional $85 fee to cover race weekend logistics. There is a slight cost for a jersey on our team, but lots of our costs are covered by our wonderful and generous sponsors.
What kind of bike will my child need? Will you supply a bike?
There are a limited amount of bikes that CACR has in stock for riders who need a bike, but if riders are able to use their own, it is highly encouraged. Students should have a properly fitting, good-quality bike in good repair. You do not need to buy a high-end mountain bike for your student to ride successfully, but cheaper department-store style bikes likely will not be up to the task. For new athletes, a CACR coach will check out their bike before the first practice to make sure it's safe to ride. Coaches may suggest or make very minor adjustments, but if there are bigger issues we will refer you to the best midstate bike store for service and sales Holmes Cycling and Fitness for more assistance.
In previous seasons we have had a few of the younger kids riding and racing on bikes with 24" or 26” wheels due to sizing issues, but generally speaking a bike with 27.5", or 29" wheels works better for trail riding. If your child does not yet have a suitable bike of the correct size (a bike that fits properly is important for safety reasons), please contact us before your first practice and we can provide suggestions or arrange for a short-term loaner bike. If you have questions or need help, one of our coaches will be happy to talk with you. Please, do not let the bike be a burden for you joining the team — we are happy to assist in any way we are able.What equipment will my child need to participate on the team?
Some basic equipment is required for your athlete's success, well-being, and to handle basic bike repairs on the trail. If you have any questions, please talk with a coach before purchasing any items and we'll be happy to walk you through this list. Or, visit one of our sponsor bike shops listed above.
A good-quality bicycle that fits properly and is in good condition (see "What kind of bike will we need" FAQ)
Helmet (riding is absolutely not allowed without a helmet)
Eye protection – basic, clear safety glasses available at most home stores for $10 or so are fine
Water bottle and bike-mounted carrier(s) or Camelbak-style hydration system that can store small tools – equivalent of one bottle for every 45 minutes of anticipated exercise; note that disposable water bottles do NOT work well in bike-mounted cages and usually end up falling out.
What are "NICA" and "PICL"?
NICA is the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, the national body that sanctions the state leagues. PICL (pronounced "pickle") is the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League, our local state chapter under the auspices of NICA. The national league provides insurance, coach training and certification, and other needed services. PICL manages the local races and provides local coach training and other support services.
What are the risks? Are you insured?
As with any youth sports activity, inherent risks are involved. If you are nervous about the potential risks, please know that our trained coaches go to great lengths to keep our riders safe and reduce the risks in our sport. Mountain biking is no more dangerous than football, lacrosse, gymnastics, or any other sport; being armed with the knowledge and skills to ride safely is the #1 ingredient — one of the key elements of our coaching strategy. CACR Youth MTB Team operates under NICA's national insurance program. Contact one of our coaches for more information.
Are coaches trained? Do they know what they are doing?
Yes, all CACR coaches have been certified by the national organization (NICA) at one of three levels. In order to work with the student-athletes, all coaches must pass a national and Pennsylvania background check, and take yearly online training courses in coaching philosophy, concussion protocol, etc. Higher-level coaches (2-3) must have Advanced First Aid and CPR certification, attend a yearly coach training weekend, and take advanced mountain bike instruction classes. You can view the requirements for the different coaching levels on NICA's site. CACR’s coaching philosophy is fun and character development first, coupled with skills and fitness. Our team "vibe" is fun and encouraging!
How do I become a CACR coach?
Interested in becoming a volunteer youth MTB coach? We'd love to talk with you! While some biking experience is required, you don't need to be a hard-core "trail shredder" to be a great coach. Most importantly, you must enjoy working with kids of all skill levels and adhere to our coaching philosophy of fun and character development first. First-year coaches are general volunteers ("Level 1"), and provide general help with rides, practices, etc. All coaches must complete the national NICA coach registration process (also see "Are coaches trained" FAQ) and a background check. The requirements for a general volunteer (Level 1) can be met by taking the required online webinars and undergoing a background check. All adults that work directly with students must be a certified NICA coach level 1-3. Coaches pay a yearly NICA insurance fee and a one-time background check fee. For more info on becoming a CACR coach, please e-mail us. We also welcome parents/caregivers who want to get involved with team-related activities!
