Introducing the:
SoGo Palominos
Based on the premise that kids will encourage and motivate their friends, we are determined to organize group bike rides that will give kids a reason to look forward to mountain biking. Our theme is "low key" and our motto is "fun."
How It Works
We pick a night of the week to get a ride in. If you can make it, great. If not, don't sweat it. The only cost you'll have is to provide your own child's equipment, transportation to/from the rides, and (of course) plenty of snacks and drinks for your little one.
We are a volunteer group that is self-funded so you'll never have a fee from us to participate. The more the merrier and adults should be prepared to participate* in the fun too! In fact, we encourage the parents to team up with kids other than their own to provide hints and tricks. We find that kids listen better to adults other than their own parents.
There is no age limit to participate. As long as your child can ride a bike, they're welcome. Since we welcome all skills, we really encourage parents to participate* as more adults will (hopefully) bring more patience!
*This is not a child drop off....
Purpose
While the #1 goal is to have fun with friends, my hope is that our kids can build outdoor and biking skills, such as:
- How to read a map
- Trail etiquette: respecting other riders and nature
- Body positioning on the bike
- Enjoyment of the beautiful place that we live!
Schedule
Our season will last 10 weeks, beginning on May 20 and ending on July 25
When: weeknight rides will rotate through different nights of the week, usually starting at 5:45 at the trailhead designated in the calendar below
Make sure you check the calendar before you head to the trail, just to make sure nothing has changed!
Additional fun along the way
Summer campout: @ Buffalo Creek, midway through season, Friday through Sunday; stay tuned for the dates
End of season race and celebration: Race at the pump track, suds at New Terrain (race starts at 5pm)
Any other ideas? We're welcoming YOUR ideas too...let us know if you have anything you'd like to help incorporate into this club!
Equipment Needed
We recommend the following to make sure your child is prepared:
Mountain bike with hand brakes
Helmet
Closed toed shoes
Water bottle
The Trails
What to expect from the trails:
My goal is to choose trails that are easy for any age. Typically, the goal is to ride 2 - 3 miles with elevation gains around 300 feet, maximum. While this might be boring for adults, hopefully our kids will find enjoyment while building their skills.
Although we'll try to avoid super rocky, steep, or technical trails, sometimes this can't be avoided. In spots where that's the case, I anticipate that we'll have to help our kids walk through those sections or we'll try to choose places with easier options.
If we find sections that our kids really like, let's ride it a few times!
Calendar
Week 1 / May 20 - South Table Mountain @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 2 / May 29 - Lair o' the Bear @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 3 / June 6 - Matthews / Winters @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 4 / June 11 - South Table Mountain @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 5 / June 19 - North Table Mountain @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 6 / June 27 - STICKER NIGHT!!! South Table Mountain @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 7 / July 2 - Green Mountain @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 8 / July 10 - Green Mountain @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 9 / July 18 - Lair o' the Bear @ 5:45. Click here for more details.
Week 10 / July 25 - Golden Bike Park @ 5:45. FINAL RIDE OF THE SEASON! Join us for a beverage at New Terrain after the ride!
Ride Locations
We are open to suggestions if you have any additional trails that you'd like to see us add into the mix! Let Aaron or Erin know!