Rider Development Programs

Our Junior Ride Program has gone from strength to strength over the last few years and we are excited to now be expanding the options for rider development, including the Granite Girls Program which started in 2021.

The mission of the RDP is to create greater enjoyment of mountain biking by BCG club members, through improved technique, higher endurance, wider trail experience and riding friendships. The BCG Committee wants to see members share knowledge, ride together and embed mountain biking as a core component of our lives.

Junior Ride Program (JRP)

Age: 5-11

Our incredibly popular junior ride program is for children age 5-11. We take children with very little mountain biking experience and equip them with the skills and confidence needed to enjoy mountain biking at our park and other trails in the region. It’s amazing to watch a 10 year old take on the difficult blue trails at our mountain bike park, knowing that they are in control and enjoying themselves thanks to the instruction they’ve received from us over time. Some of our JRP alumni have even gone on to become very competitive at a national and state level.

The JRP is for beginner and intermediate riders and is capped at 60 riders. All groups except the very beginner groups are set up by ability rather than age.

For all groups, the emphasis is on making sure the kids enjoy their riding. Sessions are typically 20-30 minutes of instruction followed by 30-40 minutes of riding and putting new skills into practice.

Green Group (beginner). Initial introduction to MTB for very young children.
Purple Group (beginner). Initial introduction to MTB for younger children. Goal: Become competent on Green Loop and Pump Track.
Red Group (beginner). Goal: Become competent on Green Loop, Pump Track, Goanna.
Yellow Group (beginner to intermediate). Goal: Become competent on Goanna, Short XC Loop.
Orange Group (intermediate). Goal: Become competent on Short XC Loop, Secret Track, Need Pizza.
Blue Group (intermediate). Goal: Become competent on full XC Loop, Snakes and Ladders.

Term 2, 2022 (May-June)

JRP Term 2, 2022 will see a return to our regular skills sessions. We’ll have groups for 5-12 year olds, catering for beginners to experienced riders.

Sessions will be run weekly from Thursday 5th May to Thursday 23rd of June, between 4 – 5pm. All sessions are run weather permitting.

Term cost is $35 per child with current AusCycling/ Beechworth Chain Gang membership required, a free trial membership is possible for first-timers.

Kids just need to bring their water bottle, helmet and a bike in good working order.

General Information

Registration

If you’re interested in registering your child(ren) for term 1 or 2 2022 please click on the links above. If you have any questions, please email bcg.juniors@gmail.com. Places are limited, and previous participants are given first opportunity to re-register. The Registration fee of $35 per term (Term 2 only) can be paid online during the registration process.
AusCycling membership is a requirement of participation. If your child already has a membership number, please enter it into the registration form in the Details field. If you are awaiting confirmation of a place in the program before joining AusCycling, please email confirmation of your membership number and expiry date to bcg.juniors@gmail.com

Bikes and helmets

Bikes and helmets are scrutinised each week for suitability in off-road use. Bikes or helmets that are deemed unsafe by the coaches will not be permitted to be used in the sessions, resulting in your child (or you) being unable to ride.

Essential gear includes:

A mountain bike designed for off-road use, with working gears, working front and rear brakes, good tread on tyres and properly-inflated tyres. (Some small 16″ and 20″ wheel bikes use coaster brakes and/or are single speed. This is OK for children in the young beginner groups.)
Helmet (Australian standards approved).
Water must be carried in a caged bottle or camelbak. On warm or hot evenings children who arrive without water will not be able to participate.
Full-finger gloves are highly recommended.

Locations

The ride location for each group is published each week on that group’s WhatsApp message board. Locations include:

Beechworth MTB park – Alma Rd.
Beechworth Police Paddocks – High Street.
Beechworth Railway station – Railway Parade.
Lake Sambell Playground – McConville Ave
Flame Trees Trails – Diffey Road

Communication

BCG coaches and leaders use the WhatsApp service to communicate each week with other leaders and members for immediate information.

BCG Leaders will use email, Google Groups, and the Facebook page for more general and non-urgent information.

Please ensure that where possible, members or guardians can access these services

For all enquiries, email bcg.juniors@gmail.com

Volunteer

Want to help? Please do! BCG always needs more parents to assist this expanding group. From helping out in the car park to riding with the groups as a parent helper, we welcome you getting involved.

If you can commit to being one of our instructors, we’ll help to organise the Level 0 Instructing course with AusCycling and your First Aid Certificate. You’ll need to complete a “working with children” check too.

To get involved, email bcg.juniors@gmail.com