The Clearview team is looking for new members and will host two events in November to educate people on the club and what it’s about.
Clearview Regional School District’s mountain bike team has announced that it will begin the year with two events to prepare for the main season, from late March to early June.
The first event is a team info meeting for aspiring members scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at Action Wheels Bike Shop in Wenonah. Included will be a rundown of what the mountain biking club is all about, their league and how to join.
The other event – Try It Out Day at Lot 7 of the Gloucester Township Community Park – will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. No experience is required and bicycles and helmets are provided. Both events require registration online through a Google document that can be acquired by emailing Patty@actionwheels.com.
The club was founded in 2019 and is open to all students in grades six through 12 who reside in the Clearview school district, as well as those who attend private schools or the Gloucester County Institute of Technology, or home-schoolers. Adults interested in coaching mountain biking are also invited to join.
“The Clearview MTB club fosters strong bonds among students and coaches in a supportive environment,” said team director Kris Revel. “All coaches undergo training and background checks and parents/community members are encouraged to join as support coaches, regardless of mountain bike-riding experience.
“This inclusive approach offers adults the chance to engage with student athletes while giving back to the community.”
The team is partnered with the New Jersey Interscholastic Cycling League (NJICL) under the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), a nonprofit based in California that is dedicated to building strong minds and communities through cycling.
“NICA emphasizes fun, inclusivity, equity, respect and community, and has over 25,000 students and 14,000 coaches nationwide,” Rivel noted. “Started in 2016, (it) aims to “get more kids on bikes, providing a healthy activity for all ages.”
After the two bike events, practice for the team’s season will begin in December, with weekday rides and skills-based clinics in early March before the season.
“The club focuses on cross-country (XC) trail riding,” said Rivel. “Different ability-based groups cater to varying skill levels, ensuring everyone has proper support and can enjoy the trails. No one is ‘cut’ or ‘rides the bench.’ Loaner bikes and a confidentiality-based scholarship program ensure inclusivity.”
