// 01

Practice Format

Practices center around group trail rides and often include demonstrating specific skills; using games to session the skill(s); and keeping things light and fun.

The team breaks up into small-ish groups based on skill level, experience, and age/grade. Groups go out on trail rides with lead/sweep coaches and other parent-coaches.

We start the first week easy and build momentum as practices go on. Our focus is on safe, confident, and fun progression — using the NEYC curriculum to build specific riding skills and techniques.

We attend one NEYC race per season to gain awesome exposure to what NEYC is all about, check out a "big kid race," and have a development team ride/race of our own!
// 02

Parent-Coaches Needed!

We need as many coaches as possible. Please consider signing up to be a coach so you can ride with us and the kids! You don't need to be a pro, and it's a great way to connect with the kids!

Head Coach

Matt Fuhrmeister
ghostriders@newenglandyouthcycling.com

Coaching Requirements

  1. Background check via NEYC registration process
  2. Completion of the concussion training module (quick and online)
  3. Completion of the safe sports training module (quick and online)
  4. Completion of the Ride Logic Level 1 module (quick, online, and free via NEYC!)
  5. Upload your certifications to your NEYC account/registration
// 03

Costs

Rider Registration $80
Coach (CORI / Background Check Only) ~$25

Financial aid is available on a limited basis. Please reach out for more information.

// 04

Drop-off & Pick-up

Starting on Time

We appreciate your help to have riders at the meetup, ready with their bikes/gear for the start of practice. Arriving a little early will help ease our safety checks and attendance.

Finishing on Time

We'll have the riders ready for you at the same "starting" meetup roughly around the target end time (allow for some wiggle room).

Especially for the first practice, please accompany your rider to the start of practice to meet the coaches and check in. Same for pick-up — please come to the field so we can dismiss riders directly to you.
// 05

Rain or Bad Weather

If the weather looks wet, or if trail conditions aren't favorable, we'll aim to make a call at least a few hours before practice. Otherwise, assume practice is "on."

Please also use your discretion about whether your rider will be comfortable and have fun in the conditions.

// 06

Gear & Bike Safety Checks

We understand that bike gear is often a process of slow accumulation, so we have some mandatory, highly recommended, and nice-to-have items to bring to practice.

Mandatory
  • Properly working mountain bike
    • Wide, knobby tires
    • Well-functioning brakes
    • Well-functioning gears (multi-speed bikes are really needed for older riders)
  • Proper fitting helmet (checked during drop-off at each practice)
Highly Recommended
  • Water for on the trail and a small/portable post-ride snack
  • Riding gloves (helpful in the event of ground contact)
  • Clothing layers that match the weather (and are OK to get dirty!)
Nice to Have
  • Spare tube (even if running tubeless); ideally strapped to the bike or in a ride pack
  • Trailside tools (looking at you, coaches!)

Preseason Bike Checklist

  • Gears — cycle through all gears to confirm availability
  • Tires — no issues holding air; tread in decent shape
  • Brakes — both functioning; levers not hitting fingers
  • Quick Release / Thru-Axles — wheels and seat secure
  • Handlebar end plugs — must be covered (NEYC requirement)
  • Helmet — fits properly, buckle works
  • Water — carried on bike or on rider's person

ABC-QP Safety Check

Perform this basic safety check before heading out to practice:

A Air

Sufficient air in tires (go easy on pressure!)

B Brakes

Do the brakes work?

C Components

Are all components in working order?

Q Quick Release

Wheels on OK? Seat secure?

P Plugs

Bar plugs on the handlebars?

H Helmet

Confirm they have their helmet!

// 07

Ride Maps: Trails, Loops & Skills Areas

🍦
Ice Cream Truck Loop Beginner
Distance: 2 mi Climbs: Virtually none

Nice, gentle loop on a double-wide trail with minimal rocks and roots. This loop can be ridden in either direction and multiple times. Can add Deer Leg or East Bridge Connector for additional challenge.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. Garder Snake downhill from lot
  2. First right onto Carriage Road
  3. Straight on Carriage Road
  4. Left at "end" of straight part of Carriage Road (becomes East Carriage Road)
  5. Gentle left to stay on East Carriage Road (big double-wide) at "Y" fork
  6. Right on East Carriage Road (also fine to take Interior connector) and continue straight
  7. Hard left where Carriage Road starts to go uphill towards road/bike path
  8. Right back on up Garder Snake to lot
🪨
Rock (& Roll) Meadow Loop Beginner+
Distance: 3 mi Climbs: Barely any

Nice, gentle, slightly longer loop with some singletrack in the meadow(s) and a bumpier section on the East Bridge Connector. Can add Deer Leg, Interior, or Esker Trail for additional challenge.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. Garder Snake downhill from lot
  2. First right onto Carriage Road
  3. Straight on Carriage Road
  4. Left at "end" of straight part (becomes East Carriage Road)
  5. Right at "Y" fork in road
  6. Over "big river bridge" and bear right onto Meadow Loop
  7. Cruise Meadow Loop around swing set and lower parking lot
  8. Left after parking lot back to bridge
  9. Right on East Bridge Connector and continue straight as trail turns into East Carriage Road
  10. Hard left where East Carriage Road starts to go uphill
  11. Right back on up Garder Snake to lot
📐
Straight A's Intermediate
Distance: 4.0 mi Climbs: Couple small ones

Combination of easy trails with kid-friendly technical terrain inside the Carriage Roads. Suitable for riders progressing with distance and skill. Can session the "Three Drops" trail multiple times in either direction.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. Garder Snake downhill from lot
  2. First left onto Carriage Road
  3. Follow Carriage Road across and uphill towards the sidewalk (Parkway Bike Path)
  4. Divert right to the Three Drops trail
  5. After Three Drops, left on East Carriage Road
  6. Right onto Interior
  7. Left back towards and then across East Carriage Road
  8. Esker Trail out/back
  9. Left back onto East Bridge Connector
  10. Over "big river bridge" and bear right onto Meadow Loop
  11. Cruise Meadow Loop around swing set and lower parking lot
  12. Bear left after parking lot heading back to Big River Bridge
  13. Go straight(ish) after the bridge to connect up with Deer Leg or East Carriage Road
  14. Right on East Bridge Connector and continue straight as trail turns into East Carriage Road
  15. Bear right at the next big "Y" on the Carriage Road return trail
  16. Left back on up Garder Snake to lot
🌿
Greenway XC Intermediate
Distance: Up to 6 mi Climbs: Moderate

XC-style singletrack. Out-and-back format. Mix of terrain with good climbs and descents. Gets more challenging the further you go. Be mindful of bi-directional traffic ("lead" coach always out in front). Follow "White Oak Leaf" blazes on trees.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. Garder Snake downhill from lot
  2. First left onto Carriage Road
  3. Follow Carriage Road across and uphill to sidewalk (Parkway Bike Path)
  4. Bear right onto sidewalk (bike path), continue for about 100m
  5. Spot Greenway re-entry (singletrack) on left; left road crossing (curb hop required)
  6. Out and back on Greenway — follow "White Oak Leaf" blazes
  7. Road crossing at Walnut St crosswalk
  8. Road crossing at Trapelo Rd crosswalk
  9. For 6 miles, reverse directions at Bishops Forest Dr
  10. On return, optional session at Three Drops or Belmont Tech (left)
  11. Take first left when getting back onto Carriage Road
  12. Right back up Garder Snake to lot
👻
Ghost Rider Descent Advanced
Distance: ~2 mi Climbs: You 'betcha!

Challenging climb and descent loop designed to be built up to and repeated. Please "slow roll" first to learn the features of the trail. For experienced riders and experienced coaches.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. Garder Snake downhill from lot
  2. First right onto Carriage Road
  3. Hard right onto West Access Road
  4. Left onto 1:04 track towards Elsie Turner Field lot
  5. Right-ish and bend left up the Macerel Hill
  6. Left and uphill on tower Carriage Road
  7. Regroup at Water Tower (look for the Ghost!)
  8. Right onto Switchback Descent downhill (take it slow and pre-ride the first time)
  9. Stay on the trail (no features)
  10. Can loop back around on 1:04 for another run
  11. Backtrack on Carriage Road to return
  12. Left back on up Garder Snake to lot
🌲
Lone Tree Rodeo Advanced
Distance: ~5 mi Climbs: "Earn your turns"

Challenging out-and-back with technical terrain and significant descent/climb at the furthest point. Please "slow roll" first to learn features including "B" lines around more difficult parts. For experienced riders and coaches.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. See "Shortest way to/from Rock Meadow Lot" directions
  2. Go up from Rock Meadow Lot and cross the road at Mill St crosswalk
  3. Straight uphill and merge right onto Meadow Edge Trail
  4. Bear right at the "Y" intersection way up the hill onto Red Maple Trail
  5. Follow Red Maple Trail around a big field (continuing to climb); at intersection to woods, go straight-ish and soft right, followed by a quick left
  6. Continue straight and then another right followed by a quick left onto Eastern Woods Trail
  7. Follow Eastern Woods Trail until it dumps you onto Coal Road; right at T intersection
  8. Go downhill on Coal Road for about 200m; keep eye out on left for Hillside Trail
  9. Left on Hillside Trail & stay left all the way to bottom
  10. From the bottom of the hill, take Coal Road all the way back up
  11. Take left at top of Coal Road (T intersection); reverse directions back
🗺️
Shortest Way to/from Rock Meadow Lot
Distance: 1 mi Climbs: Little one up to lot

Please reverse the order of directions if coming from the Rock Meadow lot.

View on Trailforks →

Cue Sheet

  1. Garder Snake downhill from lot
  2. First right onto Carriage Road
  3. Bear left to stay straight on Carriage Road
  4. First left onto Cross Connector
  5. Right where intersects with East Carriage Road (and/or right at the next wide trail)
  6. Left at next "Y" fork to go over "big river bridge" and bear right onto Meadow Loop
  7. Cruise Over the Meadow (or Meadow Loop around swingset) to lower parking lot
⚠ FYI — Beaver Brook "Pump Track" Area: There's an area called the "Beaver Brook Pump Track" on some maps (more of an ad hoc jump pit than a pump track). This should be an "on your own, before or after practice only" area. The jumps are "gap jumps" and aren't suitable for our practice. Be aware of poison ivy, potholes, and works-in-progress features.
// 08

Riding Games & Skills Drills

01
Foot Down / Dab

Setup & Objective

Define a small area to ride in. Riders learn to balance at low speeds, track stand, and turn sharply.

Rules

  • Riders start after a slow count to 10
  • Don't put your foot down ("Dab")
  • If you leave the area, you're out — become an obstacle
  • If you put your foot down, you're out — stay as an obstacle
  • No bike or body contact

Progression

  • Ride one-handed
  • Make the space smaller
  • Switch directions
  • Encourage riders to use the entire space
  • Sharks: Mentors ride in as "sharks" causing non-contact challenges
02
"BIKE" "SHRED" "TRICK"

Setup & Objective

Played along the trail or in a field. Best in pairs. Learn to balance and do tricks through peer instruction.

Rules

  • One rider describes a "trick" and must perform it first
  • Other riders must do it too or they get a letter
  • If a rider calls a trick but doesn't perform it, they forfeit the turn but don't earn a letter
  • First to spell "BIKE" is out
  • Allow one redo / "mulligan" per game

Bracket Format

Switch up pairs like a bracket so first place plays first place, second plays second, and so on.

03
Slow Race

Setup & Objective

Set up riders at one end of a field with a finish line. Learn to balance at slow speed.

Rules

  • Last one to cross the finish line wins
  • Must ride in a straight line
  • If you put your foot down, you're out — become a judge
  • If you track stand, you're out

Progression

  • Add a cone or bike to require a turn
  • Add skinny or painted lines to stay inside
  • Add a log to go over

Tips

  • If riders are getting out too quickly, encourage finding the right speed
  • Coaches can play but track a coach winner and kid winner separately
04
Limbo / Reverse Limbo

Setup & Objective

Riders loop, one coach holds the limbo stick (pool noodle). Focus on Low Hinge — chin to bar, flat feet, belly button over bottom bracket.

Rules

  • Riders who are out stand inside the loop
  • Do not play with an uphill slope

Progression

Reverse Limbo: Rider needs to touch the pool noodle and it gets raised with every lap. Helps with balance and gives taller kids a chance to win after all the short kids win normal Limbo!

Tips

  • Play music!
  • Coaches can play — track a coach winner and kid winner
05
Obstacle Course

Setup

Limbo, skinny, tabletop, right-angle turn, slalom cones, logs, etc. Circle course with stopwatches, pen & paper, and several coaches.

Rules

  • Each coach has only one rider on the course at a time
  • Each coach times their rider and records their time
  • Not a head-to-head race — riders compete against themselves only
  • Times are not announced

Progression

  • Add new challenges each week
  • Mount a tire
  • Remove and reinstall a front wheel
  • Remove and reinstall a back wheel
  • Drink from a water bottle between features
  • Use a real trail

Tips

  • Praise riders who went faster than their previous lap
  • Praise riders who try a new challenge or technique
06
Red Light Green Light

Setup & Objective

Create start and finish lines as far apart as possible with judges along the course. Learn to stop quickly and under control.

Rules

  • Last rider(s) to stop are out
  • First to the finish line wins
  • OK to put your foot down
  • If you fall, you're out

Tips

  • Telegraph your words — keep a hand in the air, lower it before calling "red light"
  • Don't call out every rider; just pick the last people to stop
  • Let the winner be a caller
  • Only coaches call people out