Conquering Mount Sutro by Mountain Bike.

The SFUR Summer Mountain Bike Camp  in partnership with the Presidio YMCA, was once again an overwhelming success.  Over 45 youth participants between the ages of 10-14 years old attended the week long camps. Schools from all over the city were represented, such as Brandeis, Claremont, Marina, Presidio, Everett, Aptos, Star of the Sea, Claire Lilienthal, Live Oak and more.

After a day of safety instruction and primary skill building challenges, the action moved to some of the best local riding spots.The smooth and gentle trails of Golden Gate Park, the rolling hills of McLaren Park, the switchbacks of Mount Sutro, and the awesomeness of China Camp Sate Park as a finale. Some of the more adventurous rides started at the top of San Bruno Mountain and wound all the way down via pavement and dirt trail to McLaren Park, while another ride started at  Mount Sutro and rode all the way through Golden Gate Park and back to the Presidio YMCA.

The advanced group rolling San Bruno Mountain towards McLaren Park.

Each days location offered a progressive learning step to the next in order to build strength and confidence along the way. Each location also offered its own unique outdoor experience. The group learned about micro climates like the fogginess of Mount Sutro vs the Sunniness of the Presidio on  the same day. The locations also offered numerous wildlife experiences like Hawks, Deer, Turkey, Snake, Lizard, Birds, Bugs, Gophers, and numerous native and non-native plants.

From the many smiles along the way, we are certain our curriculum was enjoyed by the participants. The first day of the program was spent entirely on black top and structured around teaching the basics of balance, breaking, and shifting followed by a progressive series of skills challenges like a balance beam, small teeter totter, ramp ups, drop offs, tight corners and usually by popular demand some basic wheelie instruction. Learning these  skills in a controlled environment, with appropriate spotters made the transition to the trails much easier. When the action moved to the trails, instructors were able to emphasize lessons as they pertained to upcoming sections of trail, and set up safety spotters on more challenging sections. Individual instruction was targeted where necessary.  The program offered plenty of challenge, and participants were able to learn at their own comfort level.

Enjoying a post ride beach experience at China Camp.

Speaking of our training curriculum. Many thanks need to be given to the Norcal High School Mountain Bike League, whose brilliant approach to teaching basic bike fundamentals was heavily borrowed from. The Norcal League has a coach’s manual, and even offers a coaching clinic every October which SFUR considers mandatory for any youth instructor.

A big shout out to the Instructor Crew of Matt , Mark, Tanya , Lilly, Ted ,  and Dan, with major help from our Volunteers Christy McCain from SFUR, and Zach Moore from the Norcal League.

SF Urban Riders has several awesome Youth Mountain Biking Events coming up in the Fall of 2010. Keep in touch for more details!

Switchback training on Mount Sutro.

Jeremy masters the rocky section of Bayview Trail at China Camp.

The old BMX trail in McLaren Park was a fan favorite.

]]> http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/news/summer-mountain-bike-camp-a-huge-success/feed/ 0 http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/lead-story/too-good-to-be-true/ http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/lead-story/too-good-to-be-true/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:21:55 +0000 dcrites http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/?p=311 But it is.  Ales and Trails is back! On Saturday, May 2nd, you can raise funds and help promote mountain bike trails all over the United States by…riding your bike, drinking beer, eating bbq, picking up swag from industry insiders, and riding SF Urban Rider’s amazing triple threat wooden feature.   Did I mention you get to ride your bike and drink beer? Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the event, and all proceeds benefit IMBA and will help continue trail advocacy nation wide.

Sign up can be found @ http://www.alesandtrails.net

You could go elsewhere this Saturday, you could go get a selfish ride on trails that wouldn’t be possible without a group like IMBA advocating for mountain bike access. But if you go elsewhere, you won’t get all this good stuff…

• Limited Edition Event Beer Tasting Glass
  
• Limited Edition Event Socks from SockGuy
  
• Trial Subscription to Dirt Rag Magazine
  
• Goodies from Clif Bar, Sports Basement, Technu and other sponsors.
  
• Opportunity to join a guided ride or skills clinic
  
• Gourmet BBQ ( We’re talkin’ really, really good, not just some cheap-o catered stuff)
  
• Beer Tasting from eight breweries
  
• Opportunity to demo bikes and participate in the Silent Auction, Shimano Youth Series race and Dirt Rag Photo Contest

SF Urban Riders will be present, and if the well groomed, fun and swoopy trails of China Camp aren’t enough, there are going to be an entire slew of fun technical features available for practice and sessioning.  The crowning jewel of which is what happens when SFUR puts its collective heads together around good drawings:

Click on the drawings to see some images of the structure in action.  We can’t wait to raise a cup and pop a wheelie in a toast to fine trails, fine people, and fine advocacy work.  As you can see below, it was obviously no fun at all last year.