RACING >>> What We Do
Preseason | practices | race Series (ACA) |offseason |values
Preseason
Beginning in October, we will have 6 practice rides on Sunday afternoons. During these rides we’ll go over safety information, learn some basic skills and have fun riding some trails. There’s no commitment required, so this is a perfect time to discover what the team is all about.
Practices (regular season)
Around December 1, the regular season will kick off. We will continue practicing on Sunday afternoons but will also add Monday and Wednesday evenings. Our practices will take place in several locations around the Birmingham area, primarily at Oak Mountain State Park, Tannehill State Park, Black Creek Trails in Hoover, and several other great trails.
Race Series (Alabama Cycling association)
The Alabama Cycling Association’s Race Series will kick off in March. The Middle School riders (6th-8th grades) will race on Saturdays, and the High School riders (9th-12th grades) will race on Sundays. The Schedule for 2025 includes:
Race #1: March 1 & 2 - University of West Florida – Pensacola, Florida
Race #2: March 15 & 16 – McClellan Multi-use Trails – McClellan, AL
Race #3: March 29 & 30 – Munny Sokol Park – Tuscaloosa, AL
Race #4: April 12 & 13 - University of Montevallo - Montevallo, AL
State Championship: April 26 & 27 - Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park – McCalla, AL
Off season riding and racing
Once the Race Series is over, our official team season ends for the year. However, there are several great local options that many of our riders enjoy throughout the year, including (linked):
Hammies: Birmingham area race series for all ages
Bump & Grind: Annual race (June) at Oak Mountain State Park for all ages; fundraiser for BUMP (our fantastic local trail builders)
Alabama Cyclocross Series: Race season every Fall.
Treeline Expeditions: Summer and Fall Mountain Biking trips to North Carolina and trails around Alabama
Go Nuts Racing: XC, Enduro and downhill race series around the Southeast, with annual races in the Birmingham area.
Dirt Road Century / Standard Deluxe: 30, 60 and 100 mile gravel road ride in Waverly, Alabama.
Alabama Cycling Calendar: Comprehensive list of racing options!
TEAM VALUES
Responsibility
Our riders learn what it takes to show up on time, have their tires inflated and their water bottles filled. Being ready to ride is being responsible.
Experience
As a rider, you’ll develop a broad range of skills that will help you to have more fun on the bike. Developing the skills of braking, cornering, climbing and decending are just a few of the components that will increase your confidence. You’ll the opportunity to regularly ride a variety of trails around Birmingham, and the race season gives us 6 very unique courses that are designed especially for youth mountain biking.
Positivity
We work to encourage each other, not to measure how we do against one anther. Look for opportunities to build each other up! Mountain biking is a very social sport, and you’ll see race spectators not only cheering for their own team but also for every rider on the course!
Connect
Mountain Biking is a competitive sport, but it is also a rich environment to develop friendships with teammates and with riders on other teams. This is a big part of sportsmanship and is important is part of what makes our experience better.
Growth
We’ll work with our riders to set personal goals, and then encourage them to achieve them. Every rider improves through the season through hard work and as their experience of time-on-the bike makes them more skilled at mountain biking.
Stewardship
The trails we have didn’t just appear. Lots of volunteers have worked for decades to build and maintain the trails we ride, and our team finds opportunities through out the season to volunteer time to do some trail maintenance.