Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to race?

No! Rides and skill-building activities are open to anyone who wants to ride their mountain bike. However, as we get closer to February, the team's focus shifts from overall fitness, safety and skills to race preparation. Coaches' focus will be on developing riders who intend to race.

Is there a "season"?

Yes, there is. We start with general training and fitness-building in the fall. Pre-season starts on October 15, and the regular season starts on December 1. In February, we turn our focus to race preparation. Races run roughly every two weeks from late February to early May.

How do you mountain bike in Davis with no mountain trails?

In Davis, we focus on general skill-building on roads, bike paths and our few "trails." To access mountain biking trails on weekends (and the occasional afternoon), we drive to Rockville, Lagoon Valley, Granite Bay, Auburn, Napa and other regional destinations. Note: This poses a real challenge! Our racers compete against riders with world-class trails in their backyards. When you race for Davis Composite, you might feel like David against Goliath. That said, fitness training and skill-building can contribute significantly to becoming a competitive rider. Our team has done pretty well since our first season in 2016!

I'm a parent. What should I know about this?

Mountain biking is a ton of fun and will build your child's confidence and fitness. It's something they can do for the rest of their life.

Mountain biking has inherent risk. We avoid busy roads, where the worst accidents happen, and ride as safely as possible. That said, mountain biking is inherently dangerous --- there's no way around that. But, riders learning skills and learning to bike safely, and to challenge themselves while staying within the limits of their own abilities, are all part of what makes this an activity which helps to develop young men and young women to reach their full potential. We don't take unnecessary risk ...however, absolutely no risk equals no development/no reward. Rest assured that our NICA-certified coaches integrate safety considerations and discussions into everything we do. 

Mountain biking is expensive! You should be able to purchase a race-worthy bike for $800, but not much less. We understand this is a sizeable financial commitment, and the team has loaner bikes for temporary use, sizes S-L, while you try it out and evaluate your child's participation. Races are ~$50 each. A helmet (required) runs $50-$200. Scholarships may be available through the team and  NorCal/NICA; please inquire if needed. Our aim is to support any student who wants to ride.

We need parents' help. We always need drivers and ride leaders. This can be a fantastic way to spend time with your child. Just ask last year's parents!

What else should I know about racing?

"NICA-sanctioned" races provide student athletes an arena in which to set and accomplish competitive goals, to achieve their personal best. Most NICA leagues have a four- or five-race schedule [NorCal/NICA holds five races], held in the spring. Professional race promotion, timing, course preparation and risk management guarantee every participating student athlete is given a fun and fast environment.

​In addition to NICA high school racing, which is cross-country in style, other racing opportunities through local race organizers will be shared with the team and are open to a range of ages (groms to grandparents), skills (beginner to pro), and provide a variety or racing types including downhill, cyclocross and enduro racing. This team is a great place to find friends who want to join you to race any style you are interested in! Prairie City, ClippedIn Races, TBF Racing, California Enduro Series are four local race organizers. 

How can I learn more?

• Check out the NorCal/NICA mountain bike league web site to learn all about high school cross-country mountain bike racing.

• Call Text or Email DCMTB head coach, Russ Kahan at daviscompositemtb@gmail.com or 650-387-3348.

• Watch Singletrack High, a movie about the NorCal Mountain Bike League (view trailer).

• Check out our Facebook and Instagram feeds 

• Learn about bringing a bike park to Davis by checking out the Davis Bike Park Alliance.