Team Dues

As a club sport, the mountain bike team does not receive school funding, making annual dues the financial foundation. The season's dues are $500. Half supports league fees, while the remainder covers food, coach stipends, equipment, and activities. $250 is due upon team registration, and the remaining $250 is fulfilled through athlete fundraising and sponsorships.

Scholarships

If dues are outside of what you feel your family can afford, NICA scholarships are available. We will work with you and NICA in order to secure any available funds that may be available. Please talk to one of the coaches for additional information. Click here for the application. Loaner Bikes are available through the team and also through NICA. To learn more about the NICA Loaner Bike Program, click here.

Mountain Bike

If a rider does not already have a high-quality mountain bike, we suggest spending at least $1,000 on a used bike. Check out http://www.craiglist.org or http://www.pinkbike.com for excellent used bicycles. For a new bike, budget between $1,500 and $2,000. If the difference between a used and new bike is less than $300-$400, check with the shop, as they may offer free services with a new bicycle, such as the first 2-3 services included (average $100 each service). The difference becomes minimal in the long term. Most racers use hard-tailed 29-inch wheel bikes, so that is a good configuration to look for. Dual-suspension bikes tend to be heavier and more expensive, neither of which enhance cross-country racing. We recommend a bike with a 1x drivetrain (only one gear in the front) and hydraulic brakes at a minimum.

We recommend your bike be equipped with the following:

SPD Pedals & Shoes ($50-150)

Tubeless Tires and Sealant ($50)

Water Bottles and Cage ($15)

Spare Derailleur Hanger ($10-20)

Spare Chain ($50)

Some parents may think, "My first used car was cheaper than that!", which could be true. However, a rider spends a significant amount of time on the bike, and these costs aim to balance the expenses of repairs and maintenance needed to keep your rider safe on a less expensive bike versus the peace of mind and lighter, better components found on higher-quality bikes. In general, spending more can result in lighter bikes with longer-lasting components. Woodcreek partners with a local bike shop annually and can typically offer a substantial discount. This discount changes yearly, so please check in with us for the latest information.

Bike Maintenance

Each year, anticipate purchasing a new set of tires ($150), replacement front and rear brake pads ($50-$100), at least one new chain ($50), and some key bearings ($100), depending on the amount of rain northern California receives during the season. Every other year, anticipate replacing the entire drivetrain ($250-$500) and having the front fork serviced ($200). Mileage will vary based on your rider, weather conditions, and the bike, but these figures provide a general guideline.

Clothing

At a minimum, each rider must purchase their own Woodcreek MTB Race Kit (Jersey and Bibs/Shorts), which usually costs around $110. Team jerseys are required for racing in the NorCal league. During the season, riders will likely need multiple sets of other cycling-specific clothing, such as jerseys, shorts, gloves, a light jacket, arm warmers, and wool socks. If there isn't another cyclist in the household, there are opportunities to acquire this clothing at pre-season swap meets (free!) and through cycling clothing donations from some of our sponsors. Check out the "What to Wear" page (coming soon) to get an idea of what a complete kit might look like. It's generally a good idea to get your rider a new pair of $30 gloves each year, but in a pinch, a $7.99 pair of construction gloves from the hardware store will do the trick if you're not too picky.

Helmet and Shoes

Even seasoned cyclists replace their helmets every two years. Helmets degrade over time, so to maximize safety and take advantage of the latest technologies like MIPS, we recommend a new helmet at the beginning of the year, and another one two years later. The Woodcreek MTB Team requires helmets with MIPS or equivalent for all riders. For shoes, we recommend any shoe compatible with the pedals on your rider's bike. Since most mountain bikes, including those in the WHS Spin Room, use SPD pedals, we require this shoe/pedal combination.

Miscellaneous Tools and Supplies

We recommend having the following items with you for any trail rides. Tools and spare parts are mandatory on any practice ride so that the rider can fix his/her bike.
Multitool with Chain Breaker ($25)

Master Links ($10)

Quality Floor Bike Pump ($50)

Compact Pump or CO2 Inflator ($25)

Spare Tube in case your tire can't be sealed.

Parking Pass

Our practice rides usually take us to locations that require a parking permit. A daily parking pass is usually $5 or $10. Most locations are run by the California State Parks and Rec Department where you may use your annual Poppy Pass parking permit ($120).

Race Entry Fees

The WHS MTB season consists of six races: five regular season races and one state race. Each entry fee is $50, totaling $300 for the season. It is the responsibility of the athlete and/or parents to register for the races before the registration deadline.

Travel

Assume one night in a hotel for $100, food for the rider and family at $50, and gas plus other amenities at $100, for $250 per race weekend on average. For four traveling races (and one local), that is approximately $1000 in travel expenses.