Grand Valley Youth Cycling began as a means of supporting the pioneering racers from the Grand Valley in the first years of high school mountain biking in Colorado. It is where we started and remains a core of our organization. Over the past fifteen years, we have collected a lot of expertise to help enhance the enjoyment, participation, and success of racers on our teams. We are happy to share that ever-growing collection of knowledge with you.
Below you will find sections with lots of info. You can jump to a section with the following links:
- Getting Started
- Sign Up for Races
- Gear You Need
- Race Venue Info
- Practice Information
- Race Weekend Tips
- Racer Expectations and Handbook
- Lettering as a Mountain Bike Athlete
- Qualifying for State Championships
Getting Started in XC Racing
Register with GVYC
To race with the XC team, there some things you need to do to race with the team and with the CO League. None of them are especially difficult, but for the first time it can be confusing. You need to join the Grand Valley Youth Cycling (GVYC) team through our registration process. There is a fee for participating in GVYC’s race program, but please know that we work to keep our costs as low as possible and we offer scholarships to assist families interested in participating with financial hardships.
Your registration with GVYC’s XC Race program includes Team Camp, practices, a practice shirt, and coaching.
Register with CO League
In addition to registering with our race program, racers also need to register with the CO League. This allows them to participate in the racing season, sign up for races, etc. This is a separate process and cost. The CO League also offers scholarships that are applied for through the CO League. This is different than GVYC’s scholarship program.
New racers will have to set up an account through the CCN system. Here are the instruction for registering with the League for the first time. First Time Racer
If you are a returning racer, you will need to log in using your username. Here are the instructions for returning racers. Returning Racer
Once you have Registered with the CO League, you need to sign up for races. Here are the instructions for signing up for the Race Series or individual races. Sign up for races.
Team Passcodes
- FMHS = Fruita
- GJHS = Grand_Junction
- PHS = Palisade
New Racer Registration
If this is your first time racing with the CO League, you will need to create an account with the CO League’s registration system. The process takes a few steps, but you got this!
New Racer Instructions
You will need:
- Team Passcode (see above)
- Credit Card or your Scholarship Code (if you have received a CO League Scholarship)
Go to CCN/Colorado League registration landing page HERE.
- Select your team from the dropdown menu
- Click on the JOIN A TEAM button
- Enter team passcode
- Create a CCN account
- Select a name from the “Who do you want to register?” or click REGISTER SOMEONE ELSE to add a name. Click ADD TO REGISTRATION button.
- Complete your profile and click NEXT
- Add your membership registration to the shopping cart
- Choose a grade for the upcoming FALL season. Note: The Graduated Senior – Spring/Summer rider category cannot register for races.
- Click NEXT
- Complete the *required information and click NEXT
- Verify registration information and make changes if needed
- Click COMPLETE AND RETURN TO REGISTRATION
- Another registration can be added OR click COMPLETE AND PROCEED TO CART
- Option to add a donation to your shopping cart OR click PROCEED TO CART
- Sign and agree to the Colorado League waiver and League policies
- You can add another rider registration OR add race fees from the shopping cart
- Enter payment information and billing address then click SUBMIT & COMPLETE
Returning Racers
If you have raced in previous seasons, you still need to register with the CO League, but the registration process will be a little quicker since the system will have saved information. You will need to log in with your existing username.
Returning Racer Instructions
Please have on hand:
- Team Passcode provided by Head Coach or Team Administrator
- Credit Card and/or scholarship code
Go to the CCN/Colorado League registration landing page HERE.
- Select your team from the dropdown menu
- Log in to CCN using your 2025 username. Please contact Cheri Merrihew if you cannot remember your username.
- Enter team passcode
- Select a name from the “Who do you want to register?” list. Click REGISTER button.
- Verify the name of the person being registered.
- Choose a grade for the UPCOMING FALL season NOT your current grade.
- Note: The Graduated Senior – Spring/Summer Rider category cannot register for races.
- Click NEXT
- Verify your team by clicking next to your team name.
- Complete the *required information and click NEXT.
- Race Plate Name is optional.
- Verify registration information and make changes if needed
- Click COMPLETE AND RETURN TO REGISTRATION
- Another registration can be added OR click COMPLETE AND PROCEED TO CART
- Option to add a donation to your shopping cart OR click PROCEED TO CART
- Race Series registration can be added at this point. Choose the riders name from the choices and click REGISTER.
- If you do not wish to register for races at this time, click GO TO CART in the box above.
- Register for races by choosing Series Pass or individual races and click NEXT
- Verify your options and click COMPLETE AND PROCEED TO CART
- Sign and agree to the Colorado League waiver and League policies
- You can add another rider registration OR add race fees from the shopping cart
- Enter payment information and billing address then click SUBMIT & COMPLETE
Sign Up for CO League Races
Now that you are in the CO League, you need to sign up for races. This can be done as a series or as individual races. A Race Series Pass is less expensive than signing up for each individual race separately.
Race Signup Instructions
IMPORTANT: You must log in to your racers’ profile with the same username used to register with the Colorado League.
Go to CCN/Colorado League registration landing page HERE or click the link in the shopping cart:
- Select Your Team from the RACE SERIES REGISTRATION drop-down menu. Click REGISTER
- Read through the information and click REGISTER
- Select a name from the “Who do you want to register?” list. Click REGISTER. Make sure that your rider’s 2024 information is showing under registrations or you will be prompted to purchase another membership.
- Choose your race registration options. NOTE: The race series pass discount can ONLY be applied if all 4 races are clicked at the same time.
- Click COMPLETE AND ADD ANOTHER PARTICIPANT to purchase race entries for another rider or click COMPLETE AND PROCEED TO CART
- Enter payment information and billing address then click SUBMIT & COMPLETE
This error message indicates your rider does not have a Colorado League membership or you are logged in with the incorrect username.
Need help with usernames? Questions? Contact Cheri Merrihew for assistance.
Click HERE for information on purchase insurance offered by CCN.
More info about the CO League is available on the Colorado High School Cycling League’s website.
Registered and Signed Up. Now What?!
Let’s make sure you have the equipment and information you need. As you probably guessed, the primary piece of athletic equipment you need to race on the Mountain Bike XC team is a helmet. Oh. And a mountain bike. And there are actually a few things that make everything better. Read the information below and get yourself in gear and informed about how to be the best racer/teammate you can be.
Gear You Need
Riding, training, practice, and races are all safer and more successful when athletes have the right equipment.
Here’s a list. It is by no way a comprehensive list, but it is a start.
BIKE
A bike that fits the rider and is in good working condition is important. Although 29ers (29″ wheels) are popular, if your rider doesn’t have the height or the leg length, bigger wheels might not be the right choice. 27.5″ and 26″ bikes are totally appropriate if that is the best fit for your rider. A bike that is too big limits a rider in their ability to make athletic moves which means they are limited in their ability to ride technical terrain, sprint, brake, and corner effectively.
STEM
Modern bike geometry favors a shorter stem. Research shows that a long stem can contribute to OTB (over the bars) crashes. Finding a bike with the right cockpit for a rider is important and something a local bike shop can help with.
PEDALS
Flat pedals are an important tool for developing riders because they provide an important safety advantage, help build confidence, and teach good form. Any time a rider is learning new skills, they should be riding flat pedal. Riding clipless pedals can be a training tool during the off-season, but aren’t inherently faster or more efficient, but can build bad habits and limit skill development.
PROTECTION
Safety needs to be the number one priority! If we aren’t being safe, we can’t have fun, learn, or ride again tomorrow!
HELMET
A good, comfortable helmet that fits properly is REQUIRED. Helmets that are in crashes, get banged up in the back of vehicles, or thrown around when not in use can be dramatically weakened and lose their effectiveness. Please consider getting a new helmet after any crashes and every year or two.
PADS
Learning new skills is best done with pads on. Pads especially help protect riders WHEN they fall in the learning process, make sure they can learn skills effectively (crashing is part of the learning process), and build confidence. We highly recommend knee pads when riding, practicing, and training on Grand Valley trails. Knee pads are REQUIRED (and provided if the rider doesn’t have them) during our Tuesday Skills Sessions. Elbow pads are recommended as well. Wearing pads take some getting used to so practicing in them is important.
It can be difficult equipping growing kids. Use the GVYC community to ask questions, swap gear, and buy and sell with the family. GVYC has a scholarship fund and connections in the community and will work to assist families in need of support with equipment.
Race Venue Information
The CO League races are at some great venues, but they aren’t without challenges. As soon as possible, please consider making reservations for accommodations, reserve camping, or plan group camping.
Here are some tips for some of the primary communities we race in.
Eagle (Elevation 6,683′)
- Camping is offered through the Colorado League at the Fairgrounds near the interstate along the river – electric hookups and basic available. This was changed in 2025 to camping closer to the venue, but was boondocking only.
- Inexpensive and essentially unlimited campsites, about a 15-20 min bike ride from the race venue.
- This is the least stressful and most fun/social camp setup.
- Eagle is usually dusty. Sometimes cold and dusty. Sometimes hot and dusty. But the riding is fun, there are a variety of trails to explore that aren’t on the course, and the town of Eagle has built an amazing jump park at the venue. No play in the park or bowl before races.
Frisco (Elevation 9,026′)
- We were back in Frisco for the first time in many years in 2025 and it remains a great venue. It is common to have weather roll through Frisco in the afternoons so plan for rain and lightning delays/cancellations are common.
- Hotels are expensive.
- There are lots of nice campgrounds in the area, but they fill up quickly. The Peak One campground is the most convenient and is booked through Recreation.gov. They offer a waitlist system so even if it is full, there is a chance that a site will come available.
- There are lots of restaurants in Frisco, Silverthorne, and Breck and plenty of options for groceries.
- The Dillon Reservoir is scenic, but there is no swimming.
- There is a disc golf course at the venue.
- There is a big jump park and bowl system at the venue that has seen lots of injuries. No play in the park or bowl before races
Glenwood Springs (Elevation 5,761′)
- Often the site of the State Championship Race (requires qualification depending on athlete performance on the prior 4 regular races).
- Venue is actually NOT in Glenwood Springs proper, but between Glenwood and Carbondale, at CMC Spring Valley campus.
- Camping is by reservation (open after the 4th season race is done) and is fairly packed-in, located within walking/biking distance across the street from the venue, in dirt/grass.
- If you choose to tent camp, the “grassy” area is full of very tall, dry, grass, and while convenient, has historically ranged from dusty to muddy, with unpredictable late-October weather, and may be tough to pitch a tent.
- There are many hotel/VRBO options in Glenwood, Carbondale, Basalt, and other Roaring Fork areas, but leave plenty of time to drive up/down the hill, which can get backed up with race traffic.
Leadville (Elevation 10,154′)
- It is COLD with variable high-elevation weather in Leadville, even for early-seasons races.
- Hotels are very limited and of relatively low quality, book early! Rodeway Inn is overpriced, dumpy, but very close.
- There are some decent Tiny Home, VRBO, and AirBNB options within walking distance of town and biking distance of CMC; many families have luck sharing rentals for this venue.
- Camping is not within easy biking distance of the venue.
- Sugar Loafin’ Campground (has showers)
- Several campgrounds at Turquoise Lake
Nathrop (Elevation 7,687′)
- Camping at Chalk Creek Campground is really the only option close to the venue – right across the street from the race course. The cabins require a 2-night stay. Likely to fill up fast! And no place to eat close by.
- Camping or hotels are available in Buena Vista or Salida, about 15 min away in either direction.
- This is a long drive from the Grand Valley, but is a nice race venue.
Practice Information
Practice is how we get better at anything. Mountain biking and especially mountain bike racing requires practice. We practice as a GVYC team three days a week. We highly recommend that you train, practice, and ride outside of practice on your own time. You are not required to come to every practice, but if you want to earn a letter, there are requirements.
Here is what to expect at practice and what we expect of you.
Race Weekend Tips
Race weekend are busy!
Here are some tips to help your race weekend go smoothly (and fast).
All athletes and parents should read and bookmark Geoff’s “GVYC High School Team Fall Schedule” document at the beginning of the season and refer to it weekly. It includes the head coach and assistant coaches’ contact info, roster/practice groups, schedule of practices with location details, parent volunteer link, and the “Race Flier”, which answers virtually every question you may have about Registration, Expectations, Dates/Times, Volunteering, Pre-race Protocol, Nutrition, etc. Please review it!
See the Colorado League website for additional details about race weekend schedules, venues, and signing up for camping options that they endorse. There are also opportunities to assist as a CO League volunteer (in addition to our own GVYC volunteer needs). Fall race schedules are usually posted every year by late February, for those who like to plan ahead!
RACE WEEKENDS
We pre-ride one lap of the course as a team the afternoon before every race day. The expected schedule is:
3:00 PM Tent Setup
3:45 PM Team Pre-Ride
For Saturday races, it means students usually leave and miss school Friday afternoon for travel, to help set up and then be ride-ready at 3:45. If a student can’t miss school or arrive for our pre-ride, it’s ok and not required, but it is more fun and informative to ride as a group with coaches and upperclassmen to learn some race strategy and gain familiarity with the terrain. Pre-ride courses are only for athletes with a Race plate accompanied by adults with a Coach plate until 5:30 PM, friends/family may ride from 5:30- 6:30 PM the night before, plus there is a short 1-hour window from 7-8:00 AM the morning of each race if needed for those who cannot ride with the team.
Most families try to stay fairly close to the venue when possible, especially if the athlete’s wave is early in the morning. Allow plenty of time to find parking.
Start times for each race rotate each round among Freshman Boys/Girls, Sophomore/JV Girls, Sophomore Boys, JV Boys, and Varsity Boys/Girls.
Race days tend to be long days, typically with waves staging at around 8:15, 9:40, 11:20, 12:45, and 2:05. All riders are highly encouraged to stick around and support their teammates racing in other races throughout the day. Awards start as late as 4:45 PM, and we always need help packing up the team tent and trailer between the final race and awards. It is expected that racers stay for the Awards Ceremony.
The team brings bike stands and basic tools to the tent, and there is usually plenty of help around if a rider is having a mechanical issue with their bike. However, your bike should be race ready before you get to the race. This means it needs to be regularly maintained and problems addressed BEFORE race weekend.
Parent volunteers usually organize lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks at the team tent. It is a good idea to bring sunscreen, hats, and layers of clothing for a long day out with changing Colorado weather. Athletes often like to bring a change of dry clothing to wear after the race.
We always need parent volunteers to pull the team trailer to and/or from the venue. Please help if you can! You can sign up for GVYC Volunteer Help on our website.
It is helpful to read and understand the CO League Rule Book so that you can follow the rules and be a good representative of GVYC.
Racer Expectations and Handbook
Being a member of GVYC comes with some responsibilities. Understanding them and following the Rider Handbook is a requirement of being on the team and a member of the GVYC community.
Please read and understand the Rider Handbook
Lettering
In high school, student athletes can earn letters in a variety of pursuits including academic and athletic. Grand Valley Youth Cycling provides the opportunity for dedicated racers to earn their letter all four years of their high school career. Letters are earned with hard work, dedication, and careful effort to complete the requirements.
Here are the lettering requirements for GVYC Racers
To be considered a lettered athlete with Grand Valley Youth Cycling, racers must accomplish the following:
- attends 75% of official practices and ALL regular-season races.
- Upholds the GVYC Mission and displays GVYC Core Values of Fun, Teamwork, Passion, Community, and Positivity.
- Always follows school, team, and CO League rules.
- Maintains a current semester GPA of 3.0 or higher, with no grades below a C, verified no earlier than 1 week before the season-end due date.
- Completes 4 or more volunteer hours during the current semester (can, but does not have to be through the MTB team).
- Regularly attends and participates in their school MTB club meetings and activities.
The letter application is available below and must be filled out and submitted to the GVYC head coach and Executive Director, by noon of the final season practice. Letters are presented at the end-of-year banquet.
Qualifying for State Championships
Earning a spot in the Colorado State Championships is a challenging and impressive accomplishment. You will have to work hard to earn a place racing against the best of the state. It is humbling, exciting, and so fun to race at State. Please understand that there are lots of factors at play.
Here is how the Colorado League selects riders to compete at the State Championships
Participation:
Complete a minimum of 2 of 4 races.
Performance:
Top Regular Season Overall Point earners from each Region are as follows:
Varsity: Male and Female
40 per Region = 160 Total per Category
JV: Male and Female
40 per Region = 160 Total per Category
Sophomore: Male and Female
40 per Region = 160 Total per Category
Freshman: Male and Female
40 per Region = 160 Total per Category
Series Overall Points are the sum of the highest 3 of 4 points earned within a category.
Team and individual scoring and awards are the same for all previous races.
These criteria are subject to change. Please check the CO League website for the latest update.
