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/blog/read-up/ http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/blog/read-up/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:09:30 +0000 dcrites http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/?p=698 If I were a scrappy young paperboy, I would be grabbing a whole bunch of copies of the SF Examiner, I would stand firmly on the corner of Market and Montgomery, and yell out ‘extra, EX-tra, read all about it!  SF Urban Riders is going to bring a bike park to San Francisco!!’

But paperboys on the corner are a thing of time past, so we’ll have to do with spreading the news electronically that we’ve made some print news.   If you’re feeling a little strained from reading on a computer all day, head down to the local newsstand and pick up a copy of the SF Examiner.  They’ve put together a nice article in the 6/13/09 issue regarding our efforts and designs on bringing a mountain bike park to San Francisco’s McLaren.  You can see the electronic version here, or by clicking on the riders below

If you go by the digital article, we’d love to have you leave a supportive comment, as that’s one way we can demonstrate public support of the Bike Park plan.  I know I’m going to grab a paper copy for posterity, and perhaps the kitty’s litter box as well.  Or perhaps some arts and crafts.   Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you ’round the trails.

Click below to have a look at the proposed Mclaren Bicycle Skills Park!!!  Just as some folk can remember the days when San Francisco had no skate parks, one day people will strain to remember when McLaren Park wasn’t home to an amazing bicycle skills park.