How do I learn to ride? How can my kids learn to ride? Where can we go to learn? These are the most common questions that we receive through our Contact tab on the website. Until now, we had no answers to these questions so SAMBA is very proud to announce that we have formed a partnership with 717Cycling to establish a new program that will fill this void and help adults and kids learn the basics of off-road riding.
717Cycling is a cycling club based in Lancaster and York. Their vision is to become a gateway into the sport of cycling for children, young adults, and experienced cyclists alike by supporting athletes and strengthening relationships with our local communities. 717Cycling provides support for multiple cycling disciples, brings years of racing experience, and serves as one of the region’s most prominent clubs for youth and women’s racing.
SAMBA partnered with Lititz Bike Works to design and build a sustainable, year round race course in back in 2017. The only of its kind on the east coast, the course is free to the public and allows families a safe, approachable place to learn cycling skills together. It’s also home base for 717 Cycling where they hold their clinics, practice and train and where they host one of the year’s most buzzed about races, the Pa. State CX Championships. Because no other course of its kind exists in the tri-state area and beyond, it has received media attention and attracts seasoned and casual riders from all over Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks, and York counties on a regular basis. Riders from New York, Maryland, New Jersey, DC, Delaware, and Virginia have also come to check it out.
From August to the end of October, 717Cycling hosts free weekly cyclocross clinics at Rock Lititz for kids on Friday evenings. The 2-hour long sessions features elite riders helping kids hone their bike handling skills, teaching them how to pace themselves and how to ride safe. These same skills apply to mountain biking and off-road riding in general. This same clinic-style approach is extended to adults as well on Wednesday evenings. As with everything they do, these clinics are all-inclusive. Riders with zero experience spin alongside professionals, often opening with skill building drills and closing with a mock race or riding laps. We are very excited to announce that 717 Cycling will be hosting mountain bike focused clinics on August 28th and September 25th starting at 5:30 for both kids and adults. We are also hoping to offer a more in-depth, half day version of the clinic later this year and we hope to work with 717Cycling to further develop and expand the program for 2020 to add more platforms for kids and adults at both Rock Lititz and the new Heatherwood Bike Park coming soon to Ephrata! All of this is why 717Cycling is known on the local cycling scene as the community team. More info:
https://sites.google.com/view/717cycling/home
https://www.facebook.com/lancbikeyorkbike/
*NOTICE: Mtb clinics start at 5:30 not 6:00!
2018 clinic photos courtesy: Mark Branle
