RAYC 2023 Season Registration Now Open!!
RAYC Raptors MTB Club
Join us on the trails this year for another exciting season of mountain biking. Riders registered for this group will have ride practices once a week on Wednesdays from May 10th thru August 16th. This is a recreational ride group that is focused on teaching off-road mountain biking skills safety, and trail etiquette through group rides, drills, games and fun activities in a less competitive atmosphere. Riders will receive a Club T-shirt and be invited to our fall end of season party.
All riders must also register through our league, MiSCA - The Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association. There is an additional $75 Annual fee with MiSCA. Visit https://www.miscabike.org/teams/ and choose RARA Rochester Area Youth Cycling Club for your team after you have registered with RARA. The registration passcode for MISCA is 23_RAPTORS.
Riders will typically be on the trail 6:15pm-7:30pm, however, ending times may vary and early and late season rides may be scheduled to accommodate reduced daylight hours. Parents should plan to have your riders at the meeting location and ready to ride 15 minutes prior to the start of practice.
Prerequisites:
Riders joining the club should have confident basic bicycle riding skills and an appetite for adventure outdoors. Riders should be in fair general fitness and have the ability to ride continuously for 15-20 minutes on challenging terrain.
Ride Night: Wednesdays
Time: 6:00pm - 7:45 pm
Price: $125 RARA fee; additional $75 MISCA fee required
Ages: Grades 1-8
Season starts: May 10th
Season end: August 16th
If your business would like to be a team sponsor and come for the ride with us, please register your business for Course 3003. All sponsor’s logos will be featured on our Annual Club shirt.
RAYC Raptors Race Team
The Raptors Race Team is an expansion option offered to riders already registered as members of the Raptors MTB Club. If your rider is ready to work on advancing their competitive skills, and desires to be part of a traveling cross country mountain bike racing team, then look no farther. The Raptors team is composed of Rochester area student athletes from Grades 1-8. Riders will be actively training and working to improve their riding skills with a focus on XC racing competition. Riders will be exposed to physical and mental challenges that will help them gain motivation, mental toughness and perseverance. Riders will develop their mental and physical fitness to levels that are required for successful competition. Race Team riders should show drive and dedication to the sport by having consistent attendance at team rides and practices.
In addition to early season Raptors club rides on Wednesdays, the race team members will begin Monday Race team practices on July 10th continuing Monday and Wednesday through October 16.
Riders registering for the Race Team are expected to register for the entire 6-race MISCA XC MTB Series which occurs between August 26 and October 15th. Additional costs for Race registration are paid directly to MISCA by the rider/family. Race registration fees are $120 for Elementary Age Groups and $180 for Middle School Age Groups.
In addition to a Club Shirt, Race Team Members will also receive a 2023 Season race team jersey and some additional team swag.
The upfront fee for this year's race team now includes a number of items which we had previously handled on a separate donation basis to make things more streamlined. New this year, the team will have a budget to cover the costs associated with race day team support and some additional investment into team equipment to support our riders during training rides and on race weekends.
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Ages: Grades 1-8
Price: $150 RARA Race Team Fee in addition to, $125 RARA Club Fee and $75 MISCA Fee (must be registered for all 3)
Season starts: May 10th Wednesday ONLY, July 10th starts Monday & Wednesday rides
Season Finish: October 16th
For Both Club and Race Team:
-Planned ride locations will be communicated in advance (subject to change based on weather/trail conditions).
-Our volunteer coaching staff is certified in CPR, First Aid, and MiSCA MTB coaching. Parents are welcome to join the team as volunteer coaches. To join our coaching/parent volunteer staff, visit https://www.miscabike.org/coaching/ to register ($30 fee) and choose “RARA Rochester Area Youth Cycling Club” for your team.
-All riders must also register through our league, MiSCA - The Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association. There is an additional $75 Annual fee with MiSCA. Visit https://www.miscabike.org/teams/ and choose RARA Rochester Area Youth Cycling Club for your team after you have registered with RARA. The registration passcode for MISCA is 23_RAPTORS.
-Equipment Requirements: Participants must provide a bike, helmet and protective eyewear. All bikes must be of a sufficient quality “Mountain Bike” type and must be kept in safe, reliable working order. Bikes must be suitable for riding on rugged terrain, and single-track trails. Bikes must be equipped with dual hand brakes, multi-speed drivetrains and appropriate tires to provide sufficient traction and safety on loose terrain. Ride Coaches reserve the right to exclude a rider if their equipment is deemed to be unsafe or consistently unreliable.
-Rides will be primarily at the following parks and alternate throughout the season: Stony Creek MetroPark, Addison Oaks, Bloomer Park, River Bends Park (in Shelby Twp. off 22 Mile Rd.), Bald Mountain North (other parks may be added) Access to some of these parks does require an additional entrance fee, we recommend all families purchase an annual “Parks Perks Pass” for $64. The Parks Perks Pass provides one year of unlimited access to eight Oakland County Parks as well as 13 Metroparks.
Click Here to register for the RAYC Raptors MTB Club: Returning Riders
Click Here to register for the RAYC Raptors MTB Club: New Riders
Click Here to register for the RAYC Raptors Race Team (Make sure you are already registered for the Club first and have approval from Head Coaches)
Click Here to be a sponsor for the RAYC Raptors MTB Club
