Mountain Biking Leadership Requirements

Leadership / Becoming A Leader/ Mountain Biking


Mountain Biking in SUOC is exhilarating with a focus on safety and competency! We go on all types of trails, from beginner to advanced, and take all skill levels. With SUOC, you can get on a mountain bike (or a bike in general!) for the first time and learn to be comfortable in your skills before hitting the trails and having the time of your life! For more information on the activity head to the mountain biking page under activities!

Leadership Requirements:

Mountain Biking Leadership This section provides the leadership requirements for a SUOC mountain biking leadership. Mountain biking is a non-technical activity, however due to the expensive price of gear, we do not rent out SUOC mountain bikes unless exceptions are approved by both the current bike chair and E-Room chair. 

GHOST-LEAD REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Mountain biking requires two ghost leads for non-leaders and one ghost lead for current leaders. 
  • Attending a mountain biking clinic is required prior to taking out a mountain biking ghost lead. 
  • The route must be new to the leader. If taking out two ghost leads, the trips must not be at the same location. 
  •   All mountain biking ghost leads must travel a minimum of 1 hour

 WHO CAN GIVE A GHOST LEAD?

  •  In mountain biking, a leader can give a ghost lead after taking out 2 trips as a leader after passing their ghost lead(s). *In order to qualify for mountain biking leadership, a person must have fulfilled the first aid requirements. 

WHO IS A BEGINNER?

  •  In mountain biking, a beginner is someone who has never been on a SUOC mountain biking trip before and/or has minimal prior experience mountain biking.

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS: A LEADER MUST BE ABLE TO:

  •  Properly size and adjust a bike to fit the rider. 
    • Adjust seat height. 
    • Adjust brake lever distance. Not required but important to know
    • Adjust air in shocks for the weight of the rider.
  • Properly size and adjust a helmet.
  •   Remove and re-attach both wheels. 
  • Know the proper PSI for SUOC bike tires.
  • Identify general bike components and schrader vs. presta valve type (tube vs. tubeless). 
  • Properly disassemble and reassemble wheels to insert a new tube or to refill tire sealant for tubeless, and check that rims are properly taped.
  •   If a rear derailleur breaks, convert to a ‘single-speed’ chain 
    • Break the chain. 
    • Shorten the chain.
    • Re-attach the chain to create a single-speed
  • Properly use a patch kit to repair a hole so the tube can hold air and you can ride out. 
  • Properly insert tubeless tire plugs to reduce the hole size and encourage clotting of the tire sealant.
  •  Be able to read a topographic map, understand trail markings and use a compass.
  •  Be able to properly and safely mount SUOC bike racks onto a car and load bikes on. 

BIKE SKILLS:  A LEADER MUST BE ABLE TO:

  •  Confidently be able to ride and be in control of a SUOC mountain bike.
  •  Ride within their own abilities and limits, as well as the other members on the trip. 
  • Make sure trip members can adequately ride a bike prior to mountain biking. 

LEADERSHIP AND SAFETY SKILLS: A LEADER MUST: 

  • Send a trip email including: what members need to bring, what to wear, where we are going specifically, approximately how long it will take, and contact information. CC the secretary in the email. 
  • Have a callout including: where you are going, who is going on the trip, estimated time of return and panic time, and closest medical services.
  •  Have trip members wear a properly fitted bike helmet at all times while biking. No exceptions. 
  • Properly explain and demonstrate how to ride SUOC mountain bikes (gears, shifting, pedals, ready-rider position/shifting weight, safe spacing between riders, dropper post, brake sensitivity, etc.)
  • How to properly and safely bail from a bike. 
  • Have an appropriate sense of the trails and conditions before a trip. This includes, but is not limited to: checking the weather, having a map available (printed or downloaded) and if possible talk to other riders that have been to the place. 
  • Be mindful of the pace of your ride and the abilities of other riders. 
  • Establish a system of keeping the group together (allowing a trusted person be the leader/caboose, for example). Plan for regrouping at intersections if people become separated. Have a lost rider plan/buddy system. 
  • Yield to all hikers, animals, equestrians and motorized vehicles unconditionally.
  •  Bikers traveling downhill should yield to all uphill riders, unless the trail is clearly marked one-way. Strive to make each pass safe, controlled and courteous.
  • Inform the group of risky terrain ahead when possible (Examples: Shift down gear for upcoming incline, brace for rocky areas ahead, watch for muddy/slippery areas, etc.). 
  • Recognize when either the bike, trail or weather conditions are unsafe to ride. 
  • Emphasize challenge by choice, and that you can walk your bike if you feel uncomfortable and let your leader know if you want to turn around. 
  • Prioritize comfortable bike sizes for beginners. Leaders must approve personal bikes on SUOC trips. 

BIKING ETIQUETTE: A LEADER MUST : 

  • Leave no trace.
  •  Ride on authorized trails only (don’t bushwack). 
  • Be conscious that mountain biking is extremely vulnerable to encounters with other people and other mountain bikers. 
    • Encounters may be unfriendly, a leader must respectfully remove SUOC members from these altercations.
  •  Avoid riding in wet (or other) conditions that could possibly damage the trail. 
  • Make sure gear from trips is returned, properly cleaned, and ready for the next trip. 
  • Notify the biking chair if gear is damaged or temporarily repaired on a trip.

 EQUIPMENT AND GEAR: A LEADER MUST BRING:

  • A first aid kit. 
  • A tire pump. 
  • Tire levers. 
  • Allen keys. 
  • Shock pump. 
  • A tire patch kit for half of the people on a trip (excluding tubeless bikes). 
  • One spare tube for half of the people on the trip (excluding tubeless bikes).
  • Tubeless plugs and insertion tool. 
  • A backpack to carry extra food and water for members on trip. 
    • Emphasize the importance of extra water, food and layers.

A LEADER SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE OTHER RIDERS BRING: 

  • Plenty of food and water. 
  • Appropriate clothing for the trip. This includes, but is not limited to: gloves, appropriate footwear and non-cotton clothing. 
  • Optional: backpacks.