2023 Mountain Bike Camp registration opens Saturday, April 1, @ 12 p.m. Mountain Time

Online Registration | Summer Camp Brochure | What to Bring to Mtn. Bike Camp

2023 Dates:  
            #1 June 19-22
            #2 June 26-29
            #3 July 10-13
            #4 July 17-20

Times: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Thursday

Ages: 8 to 14

Cost: $300 per week

Drop-off & Pick-up: Golden Peak Children's Center

About the Camp: Riding a bike with the wind on your face is a timeless rite of childhood. Learn how to keep this joy for the rest of your life by improving your skills – and taking them to dirt! Learn posture, shifting and cadence to make climbs more efficient. The fun part, descending, will be even more fun when you improve your balance, bike handling and technical riding. We’ll teach trail etiquette, nutrition and hydration while riding varied terrain. We’ll take advantage of break time to teach basic bicycle maintenance and explore the natural environment. A low rider-to-coach ratio allows for individual attention, and games and challenges help keep the groups together while allowing children to push themselves (or rest) at the appropriate level. We are excited to partner with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail Cycling program for coaching and with Vail Resorts for access to Vail Mountain. Call 970-479-2292 for more details and information.

Required equipment and skills:

• Equipment: Mountain bike and helmet, water bottle or hydration pack
  • Bike must be a true mountain bike with free-wheel, front and rear hand brakes, and gears. Front- or full-suspension is recommended, but a fully rigid mountain with fat tires may be optimal for small riders
  • Tube that fits your wheel and tire size with the appropriate valve for your rim
• Skills: Proficient with riding on pavement including starting, riding, braking front and back, turning, stopping and bike-handling in tight situations Experience on dirt is highly recommended
  • Ride a lot before camp: some base fitness and time on the bike will make camp more enjoyable. There is no substitute for time! Your rear-end will thank you for every hour you ride before camp starts
  • Proficient braking and cornering skills required to ride with us on Thursday. If your child enters camp with sufficient skill, and works with us throughout the week, s/he will be ready for Thursday. If not, your child may be asked to skip Thursday's ride.
• Give us a call if you have questions about your child’s readiness for this camp or your bike’s appropriateness for riding trails

What to bring:

• Required equipment and skills! (see above)
• One (or two) layers in case weather turns cold or wet
• Lunch: A good-sized picnic lunch (no refrigeration or heating required) with items your child will want to eat
• Snacks: Quite a few snacks that can go with the rider in pockets or in a hydration pack on the trail

Note: VRD Mountain Bike Camp will be canceled in the event of heavy or long-term rain. Riding on wet trails is not good for our bikes or our trails. VRD will have off-trail, on-bike activities available in the case of light rain. We will try to extend camp with off-bike activities if rain persists. If rain continues, and we cannot be outside on our bikes, mountain bike camp will be canceled. VRD camps always take shelter from lightning.