FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When does the season start, and how long is it?
The Junior Rippers’ seasons are from January-May and July-November.
Our middle and high school riders’ season with the Georgia Cycling Association starts the beginning of July and ends mid November.
SWAY MTB Club hosts various rides and special events during the Georgia Cycling Association off-season (mid November to the beginning of July).
Do I have to race?
No, you don’t have to race. Our middle and high school teams have options for adventure riders. Adventure riders practice with the teams but don’t race.
How much does it cost to join the team?
The following are the cost breakdown for joining SWAY MTB Club teams.
- Junior Rippers (Ages 6-12) ~ $60 online directly to Coweta County Parks & Recreation
- Georgia Cycling Association (6th-12th grade)
From the Georgia Cycling Association website:
The Georgia Cycling Program is $175 per student-athlete. This covers all practices with your local team. Participation in the Georgia Cycling Race Series presented by Northside Hospital is an additional fee. Read more about our race series here.
Please note, your local team may have an annual team fee that is in addition to the Georgia Cycling Program fee. (We do not have an additional annual team fee.)
What days and times are practice?
The middle and high school teams practice three days a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Riders who are participating in racing must attend 2 out of 3 practices a week. There will be no practice on race weekends.
- Monday ~ 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Cochran Mill
- Thursday ~ 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Cochran Mill
- Saturday ~ 10:00am – 12:00pm – Brown’s Mill
The Junior Rippers’ schedule can be found on the Junior Rippers’ page.
The weather looks bad on a practice night – what happens now?
In the event the weather looks bad, the head coach will make a decision for the Junior Rippers no later than 12:00pm.
The decision for the middle/high school teams will be made no later than 8:00am for Saturday practices and 4:00pm for Monday and Thursday practices.
If made, the decision to cancel will be announced through TeamSnap, our communication app.
When does registraton open?
Registration for our Fall 2022 Junior Rippers program is currently closed, but it is still possible at get on the waitlist.
Registration for our middle and high school teams through the Georgia Cycling Association opens on April 1st and closes on September 1st.
Do I need my own bike?
Yes, you need your own bike for every practice. Specific bike requirements depend on the age group.
- Middle and high school riders must have a geared mountain bike with knobby tires of at least 26 inches.
- The Junior Rippers need to have a bike without training wheels. The size of the tire is less important than the fitment of the bike. However, the larger the tire size the easier the bike will roll over roots and rocks on the trail creating a more enjoyable experience.
In the event a rider needs to borrow a bike due various reasons, SWAY MTB Club has several loaner bikes of various sizes that are available for short term usage.
What should I bring to practice?
You must have a helmet with a safety rating certified for mountain biking that fits your head snugly but comfortably to ride at practice. The helmet should be free of any dents, cracks, or defects. SWAY recommends replacing helmets every 2 years.
You should also bring:
- Closed-toed athletic shoes or mountain-bike specific shoes
- Clothing appropriate for the weather (warm layers and a rain jacket if necessary, or light breathable clothing for when it gets hot)
- Water bottle
- A healthy snack
- A tube that fits your tire, tire levers, and a mini pump. A quick-link that fits your chain is also a good idea
I’m a parent; can I tag along at practice?
For security reasons and the safety of our riders, parents who want to help out and ride with our team must volunteer and be a registered coach. When a parent becomes a coach, they have completed the required background checks and coach courses. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert rider to be a coach – we need all levels of coaches. In fact, we consider having the ability to connect well with kids to be more important than being an expert rider.
See more information on the Become a Coach page.
How do I join the team?
Contact us through our Register Now page.
How does SWAY MTB Club communicate?
SWAY MTB and all the teams communicate through an app called TeamSnap. Once you join the team, an invitation to our TeamSnap account will be sent to the rider’s parents/guardians. If desired, an invitation may be sent to the rider too. All communication regarding schedules, practice plans, files, and messages goes through TeamSnap.
Do I need to know how to ride a bike?
Yes, all riders need to know how to ride a bike but can have limited experience. Our younger group, Junior Rippers (ages 6-12), must be able to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Our coaches will help with learning necessary skills to navigate safely on trails.
Where does the team ride?
The Junior Rippers (Ages 6-12) ride at Brown’s Mill Battlefield in Newnan, GA.
The middle and high school teams practice together at Cochran Mill Park in Chattahochee Hills, GA, and Brown’s Mill Battlefield in Newnan, GA. Occasionally, we will have different practice locations in place of our regular schedule.
When does the season start, and how long is it?
The Junior Rippers’ seasons are from January-May and July-November.
Our middle and high school riders’ season with the Georgia Cycling Association starts the beginning of July and ends mid November.
SWAY MTB Club hosts various rides and special events during the Georgia Cycling Association off-season (mid November to the beginning of July).
Do I have to race?
No, you don’t have to race. Our middle and high school teams have options for adventure riders. Adventure riders practice with the teams but don’t race.
How much does it cost to join the team?
The following are the cost breakdown for joining SWAY MTB Club teams.
- Junior Rippers (Ages 6-12) ~ $60 online directly to Coweta County Parks & Recreation
- Georgia Cycling Association (6th-12th grade)
From the Georgia Cycling Association website:
The Georgia Cycling Program is $175 per student-athlete. This covers all practices with your local team. Participation in the Georgia Cycling Race Series presented by Northside Hospital is an additional fee. Read more about our race series here.
Please note, your local team may have an annual team fee that is in addition to the Georgia Cycling Program fee. (We do not have an additional annual team fee.)
What days and times are practice?
The middle and high school teams practice three days a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Riders who are participating in racing must attend 2 out of 3 practices a week. There will be no practice on race weekends.
- Monday ~ 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Cochran Mill
- Thursday ~ 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Cochran Mill
- Saturday ~ 10:00am – 12:00pm – Brown’s Mill
The Junior Rippers’ schedule can be found on the Junior Rippers’ page.
The weather looks bad on a practice night – what happens now?
In the event the weather looks bad, the head coach will make a decision for the Junior Rippers no later than 12:00pm.
The decision for the middle/high school teams will be made no later than 8:00am for Saturday practices and 4:00pm for Monday and Thursday practices.
If made, the decision to cancel will be announced through TeamSnap, our communication app.
When does registraton open?
Registration for our Fall 2022 Junior Rippers program is currently closed, but it is still possible at get on the waitlist.
Registration for our middle and high school teams through the Georgia Cycling Association opens on April 1st and closes on September 1st.
Do I need my own bike?
Yes, you need your own bike for every practice. Specific bike requirements depend on the age group.
- Middle and high school riders must have a geared mountain bike with knobby tires of at least 26 inches.
- The Junior Rippers need to have a bike without training wheels. The size of the tire is less important than the fitment of the bike. However, the larger the tire size the easier the bike will roll over roots and rocks on the trail creating a more enjoyable experience.
In the event a rider needs to borrow a bike due various reasons, SWAY MTB Club has several loaner bikes of various sizes that are available for short term usage.
What should I bring to practice?
You must have a helmet with a safety rating certified for mountain biking that fits your head snugly but comfortably to ride at practice. The helmet should be free of any dents, cracks, or defects. SWAY recommends replacing helmets every 2 years.
You should also bring:
- Closed-toed athletic shoes or mountain-bike specific shoes
- Clothing appropriate for the weather (warm layers and a rain jacket if necessary, or light breathable clothing for when it gets hot)
- Water bottle
- A healthy snack
- A tube that fits your tire, tire levers, and a mini pump. A quick-link that fits your chain is also a good idea
I’m a parent; can I tag along at practice?
For security reasons and the safety of our riders, parents who want to help out and ride with our team must volunteer and be a registered coach. When a parent becomes a coach, they have completed the required background checks and coach courses. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert rider to be a coach – we need all levels of coaches. In fact, we consider having the ability to connect well with kids to be more important than being an expert rider.
See more information on the Become a Coach page.
How do I join the team?
Contact us through our Register Now page.
How does SWAY MTB Club communicate?
SWAY MTB and all the teams communicate through an app called TeamSnap. Once you join the team, an invitation to our TeamSnap account will be sent to the rider’s parents/guardians. If desired, an invitation may be sent to the rider too. All communication regarding schedules, practice plans, files, and messages goes through TeamSnap.
Do I need to know how to ride a bike?
Yes, all riders need to know how to ride a bike but can have limited experience. Our younger group, Junior Rippers (ages 6-12), must be able to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Our coaches will help with learning necessary skills to navigate safely on trails.
Where does the team ride?
The Junior Rippers (Ages 6-12) ride at Brown’s Mill Battlefield in Newnan, GA.
The middle and high school teams practice together at Cochran Mill Park in Chattahochee Hills, GA, and Brown’s Mill Battlefield in Newnan, GA. Occasionally, we will have different practice locations in place of our regular schedule.