Welcome!
Welcome Parents & Young Riders to CLTMTB Camp, Summer 2020! We are so excited to meet you all. This is going to be a great Summer. There is a tremendous amount of information on the CAMPS PAGE and even more below. Please read all of it to make sure you are ready for your session of camp. This information has been compiled over years of experience and over one thousand hours spent working with young riders. The first Summer this list was almost… short! Over the years we have learned what to expect, how to avoid problems, and most importantly — how to increase the amount of enjoyment and fun your young rider will have at CLTMTB Camp and help to continue and grow their love for the sport of Mountain Biking. Our #1 goal is establishing SAFETY and helping to create life-long mountain biking and cycling enthusiasts. If we help to make a few USA Cycling Champions or US Olympic Athletes along the way, that would be great too! : )
So again, please read everything, review it with your young rider, and feel free to call, text, or email Coach Shawn with any questions to help you get prepared.
Shawn Gentry, Founder/Director, CLT MTB Camp
704-266-2581 shawn@CLTMTB.com
Rules for Summer 2020
COVID-19 Safety Protocol
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will be implementing safety precautions and protocol as recommended by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC), the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDHHS), and Governor Roy Cooper. Personal opinions and individual practices simply don’t work when group our size are operating at a city park. Please respect others and the following rules, which are based on public policy, not the opinions of anyone at CLT MTB Camp. If and when recommendations change and/or restrictions are “loosened”, we will follow suit.
> All Riders and Staff will be screened every morning for fever with an infrared thermometer. Anyone who has a fever (100.4° F or higher as defined by the CDC), shows signs and symptoms of illness including a persistent cough or sneezing will be asked to leave.
> Parents will be asked on Monday to confirm that their child has exhibited no signs or symptoms of illness for at least two weeks previous to the first day of their camp session
> All Riders and Staff are required to provide their own cloth face mask and keep it with them at all times.
> Staggered Drop-Off times will be established. Parents will drop off riders in 10min intervals to avoid crowding (4 riders assigned to each 10 minute window). Please be on time, or wait until the very end of drop-off time (9:30) if you miss your window.
> Parents/Family/Siblings will stay in the car AND wear a mask at DropOff/PickUp. A CLTMTB Staff member will handle bikes and greet your young rider at drop-off. If you wish to “check” the bike as it was mounted onto your rack, please do so in the parking lot after you leave the loading/unloading zone.
> Masks will be worn by everyone when in close proximity to one another. This includes during drop-off and pick-up, as well as at “home base”. Our practice will be: Masks are worn when helmets are not. Before buckling the chinstrap, we remove our mask. When we unbuckle the chinstrap to remove our helmet, we put our masks on.
> When un-masked for Snacks, Lunch, PickUp & DropOff, we will sit 2 Riders per table and practice social distancing of at least 6’ - 8’.
> Masks will not be worn but Social Distancing will be maintained during: snack and meal times, on trail rides, and during skills sessions.
> Masks will be worn in the bathroom to reduce the exposure of surfaces to any individual’s droplets.
> Social Distancing of at least 6’ - 8’ will be maintained at all times.
> No physical contact, we will keep our hands to ourselves. This applies to everyone, including siblings, no exceptions.
> We will not touch anyone else’s belongings including: all gear, bikes, helmets, food, & snacks.
> All Riders will be required to clean (rinse & sanitize) their hands several times per day, before break times, before lunch, etc.
PROTECTION
SUN SCREEN
Please apply sunscreen every morning before leaving the house. We will spray Equate Kids Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF50 (that we provide) after lunch every day. The riders will be in charge of “rubbing it in" and applying it to their own lower face using their hands. We do not spray the face.
POISON IVY
Tall socks can do wonders to protect ankles and lower legs from poison ivy! We also highly recommend washing all exposed skin every night thoroughly with TECHNU! One of our first lessons of the week is how to spot poison ivy and how to best avoid it. Your young rider will become a poison Ivy Expert! However, mistakes happen and poison ivy is everywhere…
BUGS
Bug Spray is highly recommended and should be applied before your rider arrives at camp. Permethrin on clothes is best. You can find it at REI. I have never followed the directions on the bottle which says you should saturate clothing with it (I never put it on my dog either) but I find that several “sprays” per clothing item on my adult sized shirts, shorts, and socks every three or 4 washings does wonders. Applying bug spray to the skin is left up to families - We will not be applying bug spray or supplying it to anyone. There are bugs, mosquitos, ticks and chiggers in the woods. Please do something for your rider to make sure they do not become a snack.
GEAR
*Each rider should bring a duffle bag or backpack with everything listed other than what is specified to go into their hydration pack. Hydration packs should include: enough water for 1 hour, appropriately-sized Presta valve tube, tire levers, patch kit, and snack/bars. Please send lunches in lunch bag/boxes, NOT coolers — we have giant IGLOO coolers full of ice bricks that keep everything cool all day. A simple lunch bag/lunchbox they take to school is totally sufficient. Snacks / Bars should be very easy to transport in their hydration pack. BARS are best. Chips get turned to dust.
BICYCLE
Each rider’s bicycle must fit properly. If a rider cannot stand and straddle the top tube comfortably (without being in direct contact with/sitting on the top tube) then, the bike is far too big and therefore unsafe to ride at camp. Riding a bike that is too big for the rider is NOT an advantage - it is a serious disadvantage and will hold them back and keep them from being able to learn and execute proper technique to learn the skills we teach at CLTMTB Camp. Riding a bike that is a little small for them is MUCH better than riding a bike that is too big.
All bicycles MUST BE clean and in proper working order for the first day of camp. Please! This includes: functional brakes front AND rear, smooth shifting, does not regularly drop the chain, does not squeak and clunk (loose hubs), does not have bald tires, has been tuned up recently by a qualified mechanic, and is clean. If you show up to drop off your rider and their bike is in poor repair, your rider may not be allowed to participate until their bike is properly repaired.
Proper working order also includes a clean drive train. It is very unpleasant for instructors to have to help a rider fix their bike (put their chain back on or similar and the chain is a filthy black greasy mess. Please learn how to and clean and lube your rider’s drive train on their bike so that is nice and clean for the first day of camp. Cheap citrus degreaser, old toothbrushes, and shop rags work great. Chain cleaners and fancy bike chain cleaners work great and I highly recommend getting one for every family BUT they aren’t necessary. There are lots of youtube videos on how to do this and your young rider can probably do it all themselves with supervision.
Ideally, if everyone can take a few minutes to adjust the “reach” of their rider’s brake levers, that will save us a lot of time on Monday. Please give this a try yourself. This video will show you where / how MOST brake levers on youth mountain bikes can be adjusted. https://youtu.be/xwoRZL1Mcos
NO kickstands, please. Remove the kickstand from your rider’s bike if they have one and do not send them to camp on the first day with a kickstand on the bicycle. Kickstands and mountain bikes on trails do not go well together and may end in accident or injury.
HELMET
Please make sure your young rider is wearing a helmet that fits them properly. Helmets should NOT perch high on top of their head, but should fit low across the top of their brow and cover the back of their head. If your rider has been wearing the same helmet for 3 or 4 years, it is probably time to buy a new one. Helmets should not be cracked, gouged or have any damage from a crash or fall. I have found that BELL makes excellent youth helmets. Ideally, the chin strap should have adjustable buckles on either side at the jawbone, as well as the buckle beneath the chin.
NO FULL-FACE HELMETS, please… Yes, full-face helmets look WAY cool and make you feel safe, but they just are not necessary for the kind of riding we do. They are HOT, they make it hard to hear instruction, they obscure view of the chin-strap so instructors can not make sure they are buckled and secure AND they may even give a “false sense of security” and encourage the rider to take unnecessary risks.
SKATE helmets may look cool, too but they are very hot on your head. Cycling helmets are made with LOTS of large vents to keep the head cool without constantly removing it. We require riders to wear their helmet the whole time we are on our bikes. Think of it as a hat, not a helmet : ) Before you get on your bike, your helmet goes on your head.
PEDALS
This Summer, we ask NO clip-less pedals/shoes, please. Young riders develop bad habits relying solely on the connection between their shoe and pedal and never learn the proper technique when they are “clipped in”. We also spend a good bit of time off the bike, and shoes for clip-less pedals are not ideal for running and playing… So, ALL riders, including Staff members will ride on flat/platform pedals and regular sneakers (VANS are preferred, 5.10s or other platform pedal-specific shoes work great, but only when paired with pedals that have aggressive steel pins for grip. When paired with stock plastic pedals, they are slippery and offer no traction. Good old VANS work just as well for half the price) ideally, the sole of the shoe should be FLAT to provide maximum contact with the pedal. Running Shoes, Trainers, Hiking Shoes, even some shoes that are marketed as mountain biking shoes are NOT ideal. If in doubt, go with VANS or other Skate shoes.
Quality “Flat” or Platform pedals are preferred over the stock plastic pedals that come with most kids bikes. Stock plastic pedals are good for greenway rides and test-riding the bike when you purchase it, but should be replaced for mountain biking. These pedals are available in a huge variety of designs and price points. The important thing to consider when shopping for pedals is that they should be at least as big/wide as the shoe that your rider wears, and they should have “pins” or teeth sticking up that effectively engage with the sole of the shoe and help the two “stick” together... while your rider may not be ready for pedals with sharp steel pins, even composite pedals with composite pins/teeth are far better for trail riding than stock plastic pedals. RACEFACE Chesters are by far the most popular, but they are a bit pricey. I’ve seen sufficient pedals at Walmart and some bike shops for $15… Just make sure they have pins / teeth sticking up out of them.
EYE PROTECTION
Anything between your rider’s precious eyes and: sticks, bugs, debris, is better than nothing. Sunglasses, cycling glasses, safety glasses all work great. Please do NOT send your rider with goggles. These are not good for cross-country riding for hours in the Summer heat. Cheap youth-sized safety glasses can easily be found. Please make sure they fit properly, are comfortable with their helmet, and don’t fall off. The most important thing is fit. If they fall off and require constant adjustment, they are a hazard and doing more harm than good.
SHORTS
Kids should be wearing padded bicycle shorts even if they want to wear “baggy” shorts on top of them. This is for safety and it’s mandatory. They should fit snug so they don’t bunch and rub. These are worn in place of, not on top of underwear. Super-loose, long, hanging basketball shorts or something similar are NOT APPROPRIATE for mountain biking and can constantly get caught on the seat and are actually dangerous. They also can chafe, hold sweat or water and get heavy, etc. Please, do not send your rider to camp in big, baggy shorts or other bulky/baggy clothing. It’s not safe and they may not be permitted to ride until they are dressed appropriately. Aerosport is a decent brand, comes in youth sizes, and available on Amazon for fast delivery. I’ve also seen a pretty extensive selection on Dick’s Sporting Goods website. Also, Troy Lee Designs makes great Youth gear in smaller sizes.
GLOVES
If a rider falls, 9 times out of 10, the first thing to hit the ground will be their hands. We require that all riders use some kind of gloves that fit them properly. There are many mountain biking specific gloves on the market, but fitting a young rider for gloves can be tricky. Dick’s Sporting Goods has youth batting gloves in many sizes, so you may find some there. Also some Home Depots have synthetic work gloves for youth that work well. Ideally, full-finger gloves are best for mountain biking. Gloves do not need to be thick, or even cushioned. They should simply provide a layer between the hand and grip or ground for extra protection.
PADS
If your child is accident prone or really new to mountain biking and you are worried about them falling on the trail and getting hurt, soft pads would be a great idea. G-Form is a great brand of pad that is soft, thin, and breathable but with squishy padding in the important spots on elbows, forearms, shins, and knees. Pads are not required. At CLTMTB Camp, we focus on teaching riders skills and focus on riding smoothly and under control at all times. Riders who are riding to exceed their skill level will be asked to slow down. Our #1 focus is SAFETY. If you rider has aggressive “teeth” or pins on their pedals, consider shin guards as well.
RAIN
Bring a rain jacket shell. A thin shell layer is great for rain, wind, and basic protection from the elements. It should be easily packed and stowed in their backpack so they can keep it with them just in case. My adult large shell can fit inside a sandwich bag.
Wear closed-toe water shoes like KEENS or similar on rain days. CROCS are a slippery mess inside the shoe when they get wet and are not appropriate. Neither are flip-flops. Also bring a change of clothing and a small towel. There may be some days when it rains and we do not cancel our camps on this days. We may hike the trail and explore to see what rain and water does to the trial system so they understand why we do not ride closed trails, and how trail builders plan / find ways around water damage.
HYDRATION
ALL riders should have a hydration pack with them containing plenty of WATER at all times. We will have 15 Gallons of cool/cold ice water for refills on hand every day. Water bottles are simply not sufficient for mountain biking in the Summer heat. We may spend over an hour away from our water source so each rider is required to have a backpack with hydration bladder able to carry their own water that they can access/drink without removing the pack and digging for bottles. These packs should also contain 2 snacks, a rain jacket shell, an appropriately-sized Presta valve tube (yes, even if your rider’s wheels are set up tubeless!), tire levers, and a patch kit.
Staff members will not hold anything for riders other than medical supplies if necessary like a back up inhaler or EpiPen. ALSO, each rider should have a reusable cycling/water bottle labeled with their name on it for use during snacks, lunch, break times at home base. Please do NOT send sports drinks, energy drinks, or sodas to camp. We will only drink water at CLTMTB Camp. Hydration packs from OSPREY are superior to CamelBak which are almost impossible for most young riders to open/fill/close by themselves. Ozark Trail hydration packs from Walmart are almost as good as Osprey at a fraction of the price ($25).
NUTRITION
All snacks and lunches sent with your young rider should be healthy and provide them with the nutrition to fuel their body so they can be very active for hours every day. Each rider should arrive every morning having already eaten a well-rounded breakfast, and bring a nutritious lunch in a lunchbox or lunch bag (NO coolers, please) AND two snacks packed inside their hydration pack. Please do not send candy bars or chips for snacks. Empty calories will not serve any purpose for a young rider who is on their bike for 3 - 4/+ hours per day. Please do not send soda, energy drinks, or similar for lunch. There is absolutely nothing better for your young rider to drink at a mountain biking Summer camp than WATER. To make things even better - if the ONLY thing you ever put in your hydration pack is ice and tap water - it will never get gross in there : ) *Promise.
DIRECTION
All riders must know LEFT from RIGHT. Please work on this with your child - this is a safety issue. It is important that I can use “Left” and “Right” in instruction and guiding trail rides and the rider immediately knows what I’m saying. This “rule” has been added recently, because it’s constantly an issue with some younger riders. Please test them - say “Raise your left hand” and if they stop to think about it - work on it with them. If I say “stay to the left side of the trail” and they go right, it may be unsafe and cause them to run into something I was telling them to avoid.
ELECTRONICS/DEVICES
We prefer that no electronic devices including phones, tablets, or games come to camp (anybody remember books?…) However, due to Covid-19 we will allow riders to bring their device of choice but it will ONLY be used during: DropOff, Pickup, Snack, Lunch, Break times… when riders will be “socially distanced”. Devices will NOT be used at any other times. They will not come with the rider on the trail unless it is a phone inside their pack or wearable GPS device. Riders will not be allowed to remove their device from their pack on the trail.
THANK YOU!
Thank you for signing up your young rider for CLTMTB Camp. After reading this, if you have questions, please feel free to call, text, or email Coach Shawn with any questions to help you get prepared.
Shawn Gentry, Founder/Director, CLT MTB Camp
704-266-2581 shawn@CLTMTB.com
MANDATORY GEAR
Please ALSO read the complete list and descriptions.
24” wheel (or larger) MTB
Helmet
Gloves
Eye Protection
Padded Shorts
Hydration Pack
Lunch Bag/Box
Flat Pedals (NO clipless pedals)
Flat-Soled Shoes
Bugspray
Tube (yes, even if tubeless)
Tire Levers
Patch Kit
Summer Camps 2020
@ Park Road Park
Session #1 - June 15 - 19
Session #2 - June 29 - July 3
Session #3 - July 13 - 17
Session #4 - July 27 - 31
Session #5 - August 10 - 14
Session #6 Canceled due to CMS Start Date of August 17
Sample Daily SCHEDULE
8:30am - 9:30 FREE PLAY / DROP-OFF
*staggered schedule will be issued each session.
9:30 - 10:00 Meeting/Intros/Buddy System
Name Games/Daily Overview/Warm-Up
10:00 - 10:45 Skills #1 Instruction & Practice
Body Position: Standing
Pedaling While Standing
Neutral & Ready Positions
10:45 - 11:00 Break/Snack - Questions & Review
11:00 - 12:00 Skills #2 Instruction & Practice
Side-to-Side Bike & Body Separation
Turning & Cornering Basics
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH & Mandatory CHILL
1:00 - 1:30 Review / Questions / Afternoon Overview
1:30 - 3:00 Skills #3 Instruction & Practice on Trail
Combine all 4 previous skills
Session Obstacles and Trail Features
3:00 - 3:15 Break/Snack on Trail - Questions & Review
3:15 - 4:15 Skills #4 Instruction & Practice on Trail
Combine all 4 previous skills
Session Obstacles and Trail Features
Return to Home Base
4:30 - 5:30 FREE PLAY / PICK UP