Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Practice starts tonight!

Final checklist for practice Practice day is here! 

Some really important notes as we start the season. 

Parents, you are required to read and observe the rules and guidance provided in our Return to Play/Covid Protocols document. If you have not done so, please read the document prior to tonight's practice. I have also pasted in the Self Assessment guidelines to the bottom of this email.


Regarding Covid self assessment, if your child even feels slightly sick and/or is demonstrating ANY of the Covid symptoms please keep your child home. 

Masks are required at all times. Only on a ride will we permit the student athletes to remove their masks. If a student athlete has a condition that prevents them from wearing a mask all the time, please let me know. 

A helmet and water (water bottle, camelback, etc...) are mandatory. Helmets must be worn any times an athlete is on their bicycle, even if for a short distance or standing still. 

Drop off in the main parking lot. Pick-up also in the main parking lot. DO NOT drive down to the ranger station. DO NOT let your child cross Moredon Road. Have them go UNDER Moredon road down by the creek. 

I will be with a few coaches in the parking lot to greet you. Please ask for me when arriving. 

Parents are not allowed to be in the immediate practice area other than walking down for drop-off. You are allowed to remain at/in the park to walk, hike or bike. 

Practice is from 6pm to 7:30-ish. Please arrive on time or early. I expect us to run long. Any questions call me. 

See you this evening. Please be on time. 

Coach John 
215 704-1556 

------ SELF ASSESSMENT ------ 

All athletes and coaches MUST perform the following self-assessment prior to coming to practice or any SoMont event: 

Do you feel unwell or have any of the above CDC-identified symptoms? 

Within the last 14 calendar days, have you been in close contact (within 6 feet) of someone who has an active case of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19? 

Within the last 14 calendar days, have you been in close contact (within 6 feet) of someone who is ill or demonstrates any of the above CDC-identified symptoms? 

 ithin the last 14 calendar days, have you received instructions from a public health authority to self-observe, self-isolate or self-quarantine?

Within the last 14 calendar days, have you traveled outside the United States or to a PA Dept of State identified high-risk state?  

If you answer “yes” regarding any of the symptoms, DO NOT come to practice. 

Please also consider contacting your family physician and self-observing, self-isolating, or self-quarantining as necessary.

Friday, July 10, 2020

2020 Registration is OPEN!



Hello SoMont family!

2020 Registration is open! Here's what you need to know!

2020 season will focus on Adventure (vs racing)

Local events (aka Local Dirt) and destination rides on weekends (no state-wide PICL races like in previous seasons)

Full practice program with on-the-bike skills, fitness, ride readiness, bike maintenance

Additional, new practice locations

Teen Trail Corps activities

Family camping weekends

Reduced PICL/NICA fees

Pay-what-you-can SoMont team fee

2020 team apparel for purchase

Full COVID protocols planning and compliance (see website and Zoom meetings for more information)

Registration open thru Sunday July 19 or until roster cap is reached

First practice Tuesday July 21, 6pm at Lorimer Park.

Practices held Tuesday/Thursday 6pm. Saturday 9am. Various locations.

Please be sure to tune in to one of our two Parent Zoom Meetings next week to get full info -- Monday July 13 or Thursday July 16 both at 8pm. See Zoom info below.

To register, start here or click the "Join Our Team - Register Now" link in the navigation above.

Have a question? Reply or ring me anytime!

Coach John Raisch
215 704-1556

---------------
SoMont Parents Zoom Info Meeting #1
July 13, 2020 8:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85177697879?pwd=VmJvOEpmT3h6LzhwaHZNa21ING9oQT09

Meeting ID: 851 7769 7879
Password: mtb4life
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,85177697879#,,,,0#,,50237750# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,85177697879#,,,,0#,,50237750# US (New York)

Dial by your location
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 851 7769 7879
Password: 50237750
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdArDoGMPH

---------------
SoMont Parents Zoom Info Meeting #2
Jul 16, 2020 08:00

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82736969064?pwd=Nk9uMjhYeDhYY0ZjRlFtVWpOdXNNUT09

Meeting ID: 827 3696 9064
Password: mtb4life
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,82736969064#,,,,0#,,72105070# US (Germantown)
+13126266799,,82736969064#,,,,0#,,72105070# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 827 3696 9064
Password: 72105070
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdshgFmzuT

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

2020 Season Update - Gearing Up!

Thank you everyone for your patience as we all deal with the Covid-19 situation.

As of June 15 as long as Montgomery County trends toward GREEN status, we will continue to plan for our 2020 season. With parts of the state already in GREEN, PICL/NICA are looking to open registration soon.

As of right now many things are still undecided, but progress is taking shape quickly. We expect to start practice during the second or third week of July. Official season events and calendar are still coming together with PICL.

If you have a question, please contact team director John Raisch at 215 704-1556 or jraisch@gmail.com


Wednesday, December 18, 2019

2020 Season Starts Soon!

With the 2019 season having come to a close, and the 2020 season just around the corner, we want to provide some helpful links to anyone interested in joining the team in 2020.

Here's what you need to know:

  • Registration for 2020 will start around April 1. We will also begin to have a number of preseason events starting April 1.
  • Official practice season starts in July of 2020. We will practice 3 days a week -- Tuesday 6pm, Thursday 6pm and Saturday 9am. Practice will be held at Lorimer Park and the new Twining Valley Park in Upper Dubin Township.
  • We are always in need of coaches to help lead rides, support rides and give skills instruction. Please reach out to us if you are interested in coaching or helping out the team in any way you can.
To learn more about the team, read our FAQ page.

Interested in getting a feel for the league and the team, check out the videos page.

You can always check out the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) page or the PICL (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League) Page.

Lastly, if you are interested in coaching or have any general questions for us, contact us using this email address: info@somontcycling.org


Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Gearing Up for the 2019 Season!

We are gearing up for 2019! Pre-season starts April 1. Practice starts July 7. Race and Adventure events start in September. Contact us now to sign up.

Monday, February 4, 2019

Youth MTB NICA Teams in Eastern PA Recruiting Riders & New Teams Now!


Do you have a son or daughter in grade 6 thru 12 who loves to ride their mountain bike? If so, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League, part of NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), is for you and your family!

Teams all across southeastern PA are currently recruiting riders for the summer/fall season. In some regions, new teams are forming and are looking for youth athletes, parents and volunteers to help them grow.

PICL and NICA are "development oriented" youth athletic leagues where mountain biking experience is not required to join a team. Coaches will teach youth athletes all the necessary skills to be come proficient mountain biking athletes. In addition to race events, PICL programming also includes camps and adventure-oriented events, as you will see in the videos below.

To learn more about the league as well as teams in the southeastern PA region, use the links below the videos. PICL will also be hosting regional "Dirt Tours" in areas where new teams are looking to start. A number of Dirt Tour stops will be at local Trek stores. The Trek Store in Warminster will be hosting a Dirt Tour on Wednesday Feb 27 at 6pm.

2018 PICL Summer GRiT Camp (Girls Riding Together)



2018 Short Video - Gettysburg




PICL - Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League

NICA - National Interscholastic Cycling League

SEPA/Greater Philadelphia Region based PICL Teams
  • SoMont Cycling Youth MTB Team -- hey, that's us!
  • Northeast Philly/Lower Bucks County - Facebook
  • Bucks County Composite - Website
  • AIM Academy - website
  • Tredyffrin-Easttown area mountain bike team TEMTB.org
  • Great Valley mountain bike team - GVMTB.org
  • Lehigh Valley Area teams - LVICMTB.org
  • Stroudsburg/Pocono Are Composite Team - 
  • Owen J Roberts School District team - ojrmtb.com
  • Downingtown Area team - http://downingtownmtb.org/
  • Twin Valley Mountain Biking Team  - tvmtb.com


Don't see a team near you or want to start a team? Check out this map or email PICL to get started at info@pamtb.org






Monday, January 21, 2019

We Support Accessible, Multi-use Open Space in Upper Dublin Township

January 21, 2019

Mr. Derek Dureka, Parks & Recreation Director
Upper Dublin Township
801 Loch Alsh Avenue
Fort Washington, PA 19034

RE: Montco 2040 Grant Application for Conversion of Twining Valley Golf Course

Dear Mr. Dureka:

As  a team with athletes within Upper Dublin township, we fully support your township’s submission of a Montco 2040 grant application to assist with the conversion of the Twining Valley Golf Course property from a golf course to a park/preserve. While being built by the Upper Dublin community and with your residents in mind, the size of this site and the uniqueness of what is planned will be an asset for our cycling team and community as well.

Access to open space is the single most important factor contributing to the success of the SoMont Cycling Youth Mountain Bike Team.  Similar to how we use open space, parks and trails in adjacent areas, we anticipate our team community will take full advantage of this new regional asset while learning skills at the graduated bike park, becoming immersed in the beautiful natural landscape, riding the mountain trails and exploring the natural playscape.

We are 40 youth athletes and over 20 coaches across eastern MontCo with the goal of getting #MoreKidsOnBikes! We applaud your vision and commitment to this evolved natural space.

Good luck with this exciting endeavor and we look forward to the grand opening.

Sincerely,

John Raisch & the SoMont Cycling Youth MTB Team community

-----------------------
To learn more about the proposed idea, click here.