A mountain bike in safe, working order is essential to participate in CCC. For example, tires should have knobbies and not be worn down, brakes should be working properly, and the drivetrain and chain should be in good condition and not squeaking. If needed, the team can recommend a local bike shop that provides mechanical support and resources to ensure your bike is safe and ready to ride. Riders will put lots of mileage on their bikes, so it’s important to have a bike reliable enough that you aren't headed to the bike shop for service after every practice

Yes. You need a helmet in good condition for team rides, for races, and for riding around race venues when you’re not racing (no riders are allowed on bikes at NICA/NorCal League activities without a helmet).

 If your helmet has cracks or if you crash and your helmet strikes the ground, you should replace the helmet. Helmets degrade over time and to maximize safety you should replace your helmet approximately every two years. A standard mountain bike helmet—rather than a full-face helmet with a chin guard—is recommended for the cross-country or XC type of riding you’ll experience with CCC.

If you don’t have a bike, the CCC coaches can recommend a local bike shop to you or talk to you about what to look for in a used bike. You can also check out the NorCal League Loaner Bike Program at https://www.norcalmtb.org/loanerbikeprogram/ or the discounts available through the NICA student-athlete benefits at https://www.nationalmtb.org/benefits-backup/.

There are two common types of mountain bikes: full-suspension and hard-tail. For CCC, which is XC-style riding, a “cross-country” or XC-style bike is best in either full-suspension or hard-tail. Downhill, Enduro, Freeride, and Gravity-style mountain bikes will work but are intended for other types of riding.

Both full-suspension and hard-tail bikes will have suspension front forks. The amount of travel in the fork will vary by the type of riding the bike was intended for, with long-travel forks being very bouncy and shorter travel forks being stiffer.

A full-suspension bike has a rear shock (in addition to the suspension front fork), and the frame is made of pieces that move on pivots. Some full-suspension bikes have lots of travel and are meant for going downhill fast, whereas others have short travel and are intended for cross-country use. The faster you go downhill, the more fun a full-suspension bike with lots of travel will be, however, these bikes will also be heavier and require more maintenance (the pivots and rear shock usually need to be serviced once or twice a year). 

A hard-tail bike has no rear suspension, only a suspension front fork. Hard-tails will be lighter and climb better than most full-suspension bikes. For cross-country racing, which involves climbing and descending hills, it's hard to beat a hard-tail bike.

Though some older bikes will have rim brakes, almost all modern mountain bikes have disc brakes. Disc brakes provide superior stopping power to rim brakes and are strongly recommended for safety and performance. Disc brakes can be hydraulic or cable-actuated, and either type can work well when properly set up and maintained. Hydraulic disc brakes generally provide a higher level of performance, however, they are typically more expensive and periodically require bleeding of the hydraulic fluid.

Your brakes should engage smoothly and stop the bike effectively without delay. Check that the brake pads are not worn down and have sufficient material left for safe braking. If the pads look thin or make noise when stopping, it’s time to replace them. Also, ensure the brake levers feel firm and responsive when pulled. Regular brake maintenance is key to keeping you safe on the trails.

Most modern mountain bikes have either 29” or 27.5” wheels. Either wheel size will work for XC riding in general and CCC rides and races in particular. For medium-height and taller kids, 29” wheels can be a good choice, whereas shorter-height kids may be more comfortable on 27.5” wheels.

For both 29” or 27.5” wheels, you can run tubeless or clincher tires. Tubeless tires, which have no inner tube, are less prone to flats, but require more effort to set up (including using tire sealant) and can only be used with wheels designed for tubeless tires. Clincher tires, which have an inner tube, may flat more often than tubeless, but are easy to set up, and can be run on clincher wheels or tubeless wheels.

Make sure your tires have visible tread (knobbies) and are not worn down. Check for cracks, excessive wear, or punctures that could affect grip and performance. Tires should be properly inflated and hold air. If your tires look smooth or feel soft, it’s time to replace or service them to ensure safety and optimal performance.

Before every ride, riders should perform a basic bike check, including the following:

• Tires. Are your tires inflated? Depending on the ride, you may want to run higher or lower tire pressure, but your tires should not be flat.
• Brakes. Does your bike stop quickly and easily? Your brakes should bring the bike (and you) to a full stop. If your brakes are squishy or only slow you down, you may need to replace your brake pads, rotors, or cables and/or bleed your hydraulic brakes.
• Gears. Does your bike shift easily to all gears? If your bike doesn’t shift to some gears or the chain drops off the chainring or cassette when shifting, you may need to adjust the tension in your shift cables using the barrel adjusters or replace the shift cables.

All bikes will need more air in the tires at times, and bikes chains should be cleaned and oiled regularly. Both of these are easy to do yourself and don’t require any special tools.

A well-tuned bike should be almost silent. A noisy bike indicates that something needs adjusting or repair. If your bike makes clicking, rubbing, grinding, or other noises, it’s time to investigate further, and you may need to visit your local bike shop for service.

All bikes will need tune-ups occasionally; the more you ride, the more often your bike will need maintenance. You can expect certain things to wear out and need replacing periodically, such as chains, brake pads, and tires. You can also expect a need for tune-ups or adjustments for suspension, drivetrain, and brakes periodically.

We highly recommend developing a good relationship with your local bike shop and bringing in your bike for service early. For example, bringing your clean bike for service (always wash your bike before you take it to a shop for maintenance) first thing after a race or ride when you noticed a problem is a good idea. By contrast, bringing in your dirty bike the day before a race to a shop you’re visiting for the first time may mean that you won’t have your bike back in time for the race.

For every ride, you should bring:

• A well-maintained mountain bike designed for trails and fire roads
• A certified mountain bike helmet that meets safety requirements
• Proper clothing for potential weather changes, especially an appropriate lightweight rain/ windbreaker jacket. NO COTTON.
• Water, either in a water bottle, or a hydration pack worn as a backpack
• Snacks and nutrition bars, a repair kit, an extra inner tube, and a pump to repair a flat tire
• Gloves are recommended
• A bike bell, to alert other trail users of your presence on the trail