Be Safe

• Always wear a helmet

• Be prepared with additional safety gear: gloves, glasses, and extra clothes to match the weather

• Be prepared with a working bike and perform an ABCDE bike check (Air, Brakes, Chain, Derailleur, Everything Else)

• Ride within your limits

• Ride with someone else in isolated areas

• Never use any performance enhancing drug described in the NICA Handbook: https://www.nationalmtb.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/UT-2021-Handbook.pdf

• Plan ahead and let your family or caregivers know where you are going and when you plan to return

• Avoid contact with wildlife

• Understand the dangers of the native plants and avoid poisonous plants, stay on the trail

Be Responsible

• Be prepared with the water, food, and clothing that you need to complete the ride

• Come to practice with a clean and well-maintained bike

• Be accountable for your actions and choices

• Never consume alcohol or use any illegal drugs

• Ride only on designated and legal trails and routes

• Follow additional rules that may be associated with team’s school or league affiliations

Be Respectful

• Respect coaches, teammates, competitors, trail users and other community members

  • Treat everyone with dignity and respect

  • Avoid language and actions that may be perceived as bullying or harassment.

  • Be inclusive and welcoming to new athletes, coaches, competitors, and other trail users

  • Use appropriate language

• Move aside to allow others to pass you safely.

• Announce your passing, intention, and specify the passing side.

• Do your best when racing or riding my bike.

• Ride with courtesy at races, at practice, and in the community.

• Seek consent before touching, hugging and otherwise embracing teammates and coaches.

• Slow down when approaching other trail users

• Provide right of way to pedestrians and equestrians and stop and ask for passing instructions from equestrians.

• Leave no trace or trash on the trail.

• Ride on trails when the weather and surface conditions will not cause damage.

• Perform trail maintenance on trails only with full permission and permits from the land owner/manager.