2024 High School Program Info
PARENT & RIDER MEETING: Sunday, August 11th @ 4pm
We will have an informational meeting at Spring Canyon Park, under the awnings by the pump track and bathrooms. This is especially important for riders new to our community and/or the Colorado High School League. Find the address/location here.
Looking for the Colorado League Website or other info?
TEAM COMMUNICATION
TeamSnap will be used for ALL Team communication. Your athlete should have received an email with the link to sign up for TeamSnap if they are not already on there. To add a parent email address, the athlete must do it on their end. Email andy@ciclismoracing.com with any questions.
If race start times or practices change due to weather, the app is the place to find that information. Please look here first.
Parent volunteers and staff will use TeamSnap to organize, plan, and execute team dinners/potlucks, events, etc. It is imperative that every racer is updating their “availability” for each practice/race/event, as well as including family participation numbers in responses (as applicable). If a rider’s availability is not updated, the team will assume the rider/family is not attending/participating.
If you have a question about anything team related, the CHAT section of TeamSnap is a great place to “ask,” as someone will respond. You can also access the directory in TeamSnap to contact specific people.
PRACTICES - Starting Tuesday, August 10th
*This is a change from August 6th as Coach Andy will be with Olivia Cummins at the Olympics!*
Practices are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; times and locations are posted in TeamSnap. Most practices meet at Inlet Bay (Horsetooth Reservoir). These details can change so be sure to check the app before heading to practice. There may be a few Saturday practices held outside our local area, such as Happy Jack in Wyoming.
Athletes need to be prepared for weather and have basic repair items for each practice. Bring appropriate clothes/layers, nutrition (approx. 200 cal/hour), hydration (approx. 1 bottle/hour), tubes/patch kit or bacon strips/darts, CO2 cartridges/pumps, tire levers, multitool, etc.
RIDING TO & FROM PRACTICE:
This is a choice. Athletes that ride to/from practice are required to use a rear blinking light while commuting. Riders without a light will not be allowed to ride home. Coaching staff will prohibit riding home toward the latter part of the season due to low lighting.
CARPOOLING:
There are plenty of folks that can carpool and provide rides for athletes. If an athlete needs a ride needs a ride for any reason reach out in TeamSnap. There are often available seats for people and room for bikes on racks!
BIKE MAINTENANCE:
Racers should maintain their equipment. Before practice, check your bike. After practice, check and clean your bike. Before a race, clean and check your bike. There are folks that are new to this gig and may not know bike maintenance and that is okay…we are here to learn. We’d love for the experienced racers and parents to help the new athletes learn how to maintain their equipment. If you don’t know how to do something, please ask 😊
Racing Details
Platte Region
All teams from Fort Collins are part of the Platte Region.
Registration and League Fee
This is separate from Ciclismo registration
Colorado League Membership: $170
Race Registration: $75/race
The League offers a Race Series Pass for $260 (a discount of $10/race)
Registration for State is separate from the Race Series
Registration is non-refundable, but transferrable
Race registration closes at NOON, the Monday before every race. Register your rider early! No late or onsite registration is accepted.
RACE CATEGORIES/CALL-UPS:
Returning racers are automatically placed in a race category (sophomore, JV, or V) by the League based upon their ranking the previous season. Call-ups for the first race of the season are based on the previous season’s overall results in the Platte Region. For example, if Rider XYZ finished 4th in the division overall and the riders that placed 1, 2, and 3 are all returning as well, Rider XYZ will be 4th call-up at the first race. Subsequent race call-ups are based upon current season performance and ranking within their category.
If an athlete feels they have been miscategorized, contact Coach Andy immediately to discuss the appeals process (this is time-sensitive).
Freshman racers participate in an individual time trial at the first race. After the TT, coaches can file an appeal for a Freshman to move race categories.
RACE INFORMATION
RACE SCHEDULE - The season consists of 4 races, plus the State Championship (for those who qualify).
PRE-RIDES:
Course pre-rides are the day before the race, starting between 3:00-5:00PM. This gives athletes an opportunity to see the course prior to racing. *Times are governed by the League, so the course is only open at certain times. Pre-ride times will be posted in TeamSnap. Riders meet at our team tent in the pit zone. If your racer cannot make the pre-ride, please let the coaching staff know (and use the availability feature in TeamSnap). *Riders and coaches MUST have race plates to pre-ride the course.
*The League and medical staffing are only on site during official pre-ride times. With the exception of Nathrop, the courses are on public trails. Riders can pre-ride after the official closing time, but do so at their own risk. *
It is preferred that riders participate in pre-rides as a group at the scheduled time.
The League relies on volunteers to make each race weekend safe and successful for the racers. Each team is assigned a “host” race, for which they are asked to provide 1 volunteer per 2 riders. There are a lot of job options and time commitment, most of which don’t require a bike or previous experience! Some options include: course marshal, (an awesome way to watch the race); help with parking lot duties; set up/take down the course; ride the course as a sweeper, etc. Volunteering is not limited to the day of our race–the league is always looking for folks to help load/unload the trucks at the Colorado League offices in Boulder. Explore the link provided above to get more info on how you can get involved.
*Course sweeps usually fill up the fastest—this job requires the volunteer to ride the course behind the last rider of the race.
RACE TRANSPORTATION:
Parents are responsible for getting their rider to each venue. If someone needs a ride, please post to TeamSnap. There are usually folks that can transport racers and/or bikes…whatever is needed. The racer and the bike might be in separate vehicles, but they will get to the venue!
ACCOMMODATIONS: scroll down for in depth race specific accommodation info
Families are responsible for their own accommodations for each race. However, we do have some campground sites that will be available on a first come basis (more coming soon). We do recommend booking any accommodations ASAP, as locations do fill up fast! Scroll down for general information about each location’s options (where families have stayed in previous years). Refer to the Colorado League website prior to booking any hotels/lodging, as it includes recommendations and discount codes for local hotels. *There is NO camping at any of the venue grounds.
RACE DAY PROTOCOL
HELMETS: Helmets are required by ALL people while on a bike at the venue. Teams are penalized points if a parent, coach, and/or racer are found to be on a bike without a helmet.
RACE PLATES: Riders are provided with a race plate at their first race. This is used for the entire season! If a rider needs a replacement plate, they must purchase a replacement for $10. Riders, keep track of your race plate! Make sure you take the plate off of your bike before leaving the venue, as they do fly off!
RACE SCHEDULE: In addition to the race start times posted to the Colorado League website, there will be a white board in the team tent that lists each race category, warm-up times, staging, and race times. This is a helpful reminder and reference for parents as well as athletes.
WHEN TO ARRIVE: Racers will meet at the team tent approximately one hour before their race is scheduled to begin staging. During this time, they will have a warm-up ride as a group (30-40 min), and then proceed to the staging area. Racers should expect to be at staging no less than 15 minutes before their race is scheduled to start. Staging is typically scheduled to begin ~10 minutes before their start. For example, if Sophomore Boys race at 8:30 AM, Staging is at 8:15 AM, so SB racers should be at the team tent in the Pit Zone no later than 7:15 AM. They will have time to stash their bottles in the backpack (see Feed Zone below), take in a few calories, and complete their warm-up ride.
FEED ZONE: Coach Andy (and occasionally additional coaches) staff the feed zone. If racers want a bottle exchange in the feed zone, racers are responsible for placing their bottle in “The Backpack” (in the team tent) BEFORE their warm-up ride. The racer’s name should be written on the top of the bottle-gold or silver Sharpies are your friend! Racers should collect their bottle(s) from Coach Andy before leaving the race venue. The feed zone is a restricted space; parents cannot watch the race from the feed zone.
PIT ZONE: This is where the team hangs out before/after races. Please be on the lookout for an email signup requesting food donations for the season and for parents to help keep the team tent organized and stocked at each race. We tend to stock water, bagels, PB&J supplies, protein bars, chocolate milk, fruit, and, of course, Grandma Nancy’s banana bread.
TENT SET-UP/BREAKDOWN: The team sets up tents in the Pit Zone the day before the race (usually between 3:00-5:00 PM) while the team is completing their pre-ride. Help is always appreciated. Awards usually happen around 4:30-5:00 PM each day and last about an hour (sometimes less)…Colorado League is quick about it. If you are able to stay around for awards, that is great. It is appreciated and recommended that racers/parents help break down the tents and pack everything up (if already sticking around). Days can be long, hot, and dusty or long, cold, and rainy (maybe even snowy), and more hands make less work.
If you have a question or need anything, please ask…someone will either have the answer or be able to get it for you :) There are parents who have been doing this in some capacity for years and others that are brand new. This is a supportive community. We want everybody to have loads of fun, and enjoy all that the Colorado High School Cycling League has to offer our next generation of life-long cyclists!
COLORADO LEAGUE PERKS:
USAC license: Every racer gets a free Junior USAC license with their Colorado League membership. If your racer doesn’t already have a USAC license, create it before the first race. USAC points are earned from Colorado League and can influence staging if the athlete competes in USAC races in the spring and at Nationals in July (Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Macungie, PA).
Discounts from Sponsors and Partners: Racers get discounts on various products from Colorado League sponsors and partners like 30% off Honey Stinger, 40% off Osprey bags, and 25% off Trek bikes. Parents are eligible for some of the discounts as well.
MISCELLANEOUS INFO:
While the teams are loosely associated with the high schools, athletes are not automatically excused from classes. Parents should call in absences or note them in ParentVue or Parent Portal (These notations must occur PRIOR to the absence). They are treated as “excused” since they are participating in a high school sporting event.
Race Accommodation Information
Frisco
August 24th - 25th
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Peak One – Reservations Required, Campground Charges $7 for Extra Car Vehicle Pass Upon Arrival
Heaton Bay – Reservations Required
Prospector – Reservations Required
Pine Cove – First Come, First Served
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DescPeak One - Ciclismo has 1 site (can be shared, each site accommodates 10 people)
Prospector - Ciclismo has 4 tent/trailer sites (can be shared, each site accommodates 10 people)
These campgrounds all have a minimum stay rule – Requires Fri & Sat booked together. All sites are 2 night stays.ription text goes here
Steamboat Springs
September 7th - 8th
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~4 miles from race venue
Dispersed camping near Rabbit Ears & Dumont (20-30 min drive)
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Several hotels conveniently located near the race venue
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Ciclismo has 4 tent sites and 3 RV/Camper sites. Each tent site accommodates 6 people.
*The KOA is a team season favorite for many of the riders and parents! Lots of fun, and a great location for a team dinner.
Eagle
September 21st - 22nd
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Various locations within 10-15 miles
The fairgrounds offer dry camping though this location can be dusty.
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Lots of racers stay here so book early, bike washes on site, lots of restaurants nearby.
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Most people staying in hotels do stay at the Best Western, and they are pet friendly :)
*Restaurants fill up quickly. Wait times for tables and take-away orders can be over an hour.
Nathrop
October 5th - 6th
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~0 miles from race venue…it is right across the street!
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Hotels are mostly located in Buena Vista ~10-15 minutes away
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Ciclismo has 1 tent site (allows dogs), 2 lower campground trailer sites, 1 upper deluxe RV/Trailer site, & 1 Lower Group Site that accommodates 35 people. NO PETS on the meadow.
*Buena Vista is small so expect a wait at local restaurants.
State Champs - Glenwood Springs
October 19th - 20th
More info to come…