Cycling Seasons

Sept-Dec, Cyclocross

Cyclocross (CX or 'cross) races are on a 1.5–2 mile course with grass, pavement, trails, mud, sand, steep hills and obstacles. Riders do multiple laps, and have to dismount, carry the bike over hills and obstacles, remount, push their bikes through mud or sand, and squeak through tight curves. CX-specific bikes or mountain bikes are ideal. The 'cross season starts in the early Fall, and goes through the end of the year. Some racers revel in the mud and tough weather; others hope for clear skies. On race day, you get what you get.... :-)

We are fortunate in that all of the local cyclocross races have age-graded categories.

During cyclocross season, practices are Mondays and Thursdays at Bluemont Park in Arlington from 5:30pm - 7:00pm. (Exact times will vary as sunset changes throughout the season; practices are managed using TeamSnap.)

Jan-Aug: Mountain Bike

To complement the summer racing schedule for juniors, there are a number of local mountain bike races.  Some of these also include junior categories. 

In the winter the training program will be indoors on spin bikes, with occasional outdoor rides (e.g. on weekends) as weather conditions permit.  In the spring, when temps warm up, road practices will be held outdoors.

Also in the warmer weather, when conditions permit, there will be mountain bike practices, scheduled to allow juniors to attend both road and MTB rides if they desire (or mix and match).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need racing experience?

No racing experience is necessary. A key focus for the NCVC Juniors Team is to provide the training needed to race well and have fun.

What kind of bike do I need?

The options for cyclocross are a bit broader. Some juniors ride cyclocross bikes, but mountain bikes are acceptable. The team has a loaner program for cyclocross bikes in several sizes.

Besides a bike, what equipment do I need? 

You will need a helmet at minimum and you will also need to order a team kit (jersey and shorts) when the orders open up. Additionally, most juniors will eventually want to switch to dedicated cycling shoes for more secure shoe/pedal interface. We have a shoe loaner program to help parents avoid having to spend money on shoes that will quickly be outgrown. Additionally for cycling kit, there are some sizes leftover from previous years available that can be used before the bi-annual orders is placed. There is other equipment that has been donated to the team, so it doesn’t hurt to ask if you need something; we may have it available.

How old do I have to be to enter a junior race?

There are different age categories at different events. You must be at least 9 years old racing age to obtain a USA Cycling license. The most common age groups are 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. Sometimes, these groups are combined. Juniors MUST be racing age 9 to join NCVC Juniors. This decision was made for safety considerations.

How do I know what my racing age is?

Your racing age for the mountain bike races is whatever age you will be on December 31st of that year. For instance, if your birthday is on December 31, and you will turn 11 that day, your racing age will be 11 for that entire calendar year (January 1st on). For cyclocross, it is a bit different. Your racing age is what age you will be on December 31st of the year that the cyclocross season ends. Since cyclocross ends in February, it tends to be a year older than your road racing age. Consequently this means that some 7-year-old kids are actually racing-age 9 for cyclocross if their birthday is later in the Fall. Your USA Cycling racing license will have your racing age printed on it.

How do I obtain a USA Cycling racing license?

A USA Cycling racing license can be obtained through the USA Cycling website.

How do I register for a race?

Registration is done online, typically at Bikereg. We will send out information about races that have junior categories on TeamSnap.