The items below are the basic requirements an athlete needs to ride with the team.

A Desire to Ride Bike

The most important thing you need to bring to the Edina-BB Cycling Team is the desire to ride a bike.  Importantly, you do not have to race to be a member of the Edina Cycling Team as we do have an adventure track.  That said, we encourage all riders to try a race.  Why?  Most importantly because races are really fun, festival-like events where there is lots to see and lots to do.  Also, a rider can do nothing but contribute to the team by participating in a race.  It really is a sport about personal bests but with the comradery of a team - we think of it less as a team and more as a tribe. 

A Mountain Bike

 ​You will need a mountain bike that properly fits the rider and is in safe working condition to join the either the Edina Cycling Team or the BB team.  If you are new to mountain biking and have a question whether or not your current bike is safe and properly fits you, please take it to a local bike shop for an inspection.  If a coach thinks a rider's bike is unsafe to ride, they can not practice until they have a safe bike.  This is for the safety of the rider and the whole team.  There are some reference materials on this site to help navigate the purchase of a mountain bike.  That said, please touch base with the team coaches if you do not own a mountain bike and need some help navigating the purchase.

A Bike Helmet

You have to have a quality bike helmet to ride with the team.  We require you to wear a bike helmet whenever you straddle a bike.  This rule is so important that we expect it to be followed even when you are not riding with the team.  It is the most basic and the most important safety rule we have.  Please ask a coach if you have questions about the purchase of a helmet.

A Hydration System

Riding a mountain bike makes you sweat.  This means that it is very important that athletes carry water with them.  At a minimum we want all riders to have a water bottle cage on their mountain bikes and a water bottle full of water in that cage when at practice or a race.  Many riders prefer to use a backpack-based hydration system.  The first of these systems came from a company called "Camelbak" and thus most rides simply use this term to describe these hydration systems.  These backpacks incorporate a bladder.  A hose attached to this bladder allows the user to easily sip water while riding.  The backpack also can carry tools (see below), food, cell phones or other items.  A Camelbak is not better than a water bottle.  It is just different and thus what hydration system an athlete choses is generally a matter of preference. 

A Tool kit

We do require that all riders carry some basic tools with them when they ride with the team at practices.  Specifically we want riders to carry a multi-tool, tire levers, spare tire, Co2 tool and Co2 cartridge.  We also strongly encourage including a quick link.  These items can be carried in a saddlebag that fits underneath the seat of the athlete's bike or in a "Camelbak."  We do try to teach all new riders how to change a tire and how to fix a broken chain and these are the supplies required to make those fixes.

A Light

We strongly encourage all riders to at least own a handlebar mountable light.  This is for safety.  Mountain biking is a Fall sport and Minnesota days become particularly short late in the season.  The team often rides from Weber Park in Edina to Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis and back during weekday practices. Daylight on the ride back at times is often not ideal late in the season.  A rear light is also encouraged.