St. Croix Valley Athletic Association's Youth Cycling Club Gears Up for Fifth Season

The St. Croix Valley Athletic Association’s Youth Cycling Club is gearing up to start their 5th season.

The Youth Cycling Club is the only one of its kind—and for $25 club leaders take kids on eight rides from May through September.

Four of the rides are to local mountain bike trails, one of the rides is to the last outdoor wooden velodrome in the country, another to an indoor BMX race track, a kick-off skills event and a finale at is a paved-trail ride.

The cost of the club also includes a T-shirt, water bottle and snacks at every ride.

“We've had great participation in the past and fantastic support from the likes of Nature Valley, Jelly Belly, REI, Park Tool and Chilkoot Cyclery,” Club Coordinator Mark Franz said.

The first event "Bike Skills" is Saturday, May 11 at Stonebridge Elementary School from 1:30-3 p.m.

Registration can be done at the events. Fore more information, visit the cycling page at www.scvaa.org.

Rides take place on Saturdays and Sundays and are for kids in third through ninth grade as of the 2013-2014 school year. A mountain bike—or something similar—and a helmet are required to ride. Specialized bikes will be provided at the Velodrome and BMX tracks.

2013 Events and Locations

• Saturday, May 11: 1:30-3:00 PM, Bike Skills Kick-Off Event. Stonebridge Elementary
• Saturday, June 15: 1:30-3:00 PM, National Sports Center Velodrome Track Ride (Blaine)
• Saturday, June 29: 1:30-3:00 PM, Mountain Bike Ride at Carver Lake (Woodbury)
• Saturday, July 13: 9:30-11:00 AM, Mountain Bike Ride at White Tail Ridge (River Falls)
• Sunday, Aug. 11: 9:30-11:00 AM, Mountain Bike Ride at Carver Lake (Woodbury)
• Saturday, Aug. 24: 1:30-3:00 PM, Bicycle Motocross at Rehbeins BMX Arena (Lino Lakes)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: 1:30-3:00 PM, Mountain Bike Ride at White Tail Ridge (River Falls)
• Saturday, Sept. 28: 1:30-3:00 PM, Browns Creek Paved Trail Ride (Stillwater)