Ready to Ride? The Somerset Hills Veloraptors Are Recruiting for the 2026–2027 Season!

Have a student in grades 5–12 who loves riding a bike, wants to try mountain biking, or is looking for a new challenge?

The Somerset Hills Veloraptors are recruiting athletes and coaches for our 2026–2027 mountain bike season, beginning December 1.

And if you're thinking, “My kid isn't really a mountain biker yet,” that's okay.

You don't need racing experience. You don't need years of trail riding. And you don't need to have everything figured out before contacting us.

That's exactly why we offer Try-It Rides.

Want to see if the Veloraptors are a good fit?

Come ride with us before making any commitment.

Beginners Are Welcome

You don't need to be an experienced mountain biker to become a Veloraptor.

Some athletes come to us already comfortable riding singletrack. Others have mostly ridden around their neighborhood, on bike paths, rail trails, or easier trails with their families.

That's fine.

We build skills progressively and help riders become more comfortable and confident on a mountain bike.

Our riding groups aren't simply divided by age or grade. We organize groups around things such as skill level, fitness, experience, and confidence, allowing athletes to develop at an appropriate pace.

That means a newer high-school rider doesn't need to worry about keeping up with an experienced racer simply because they're the same age.

It also means riders can move and progress as their abilities develop throughout the season.

Racing Is Optional. But If You Want to Race, We Can Help With That Too.

Being a Veloraptor doesn't mean an athlete has to become a serious racer.

For many of our riders, mountain biking is about learning new skills, getting outside, becoming stronger, exploring trails, making friends, and having fun on a bike.

Racing is available, but it isn't required.

On the other hand, if an athlete discovers that they love racing and want to become more competitive, they're in the right place for that too.

Many of our coaches have raced bikes for much of their lives and continue to race competitively today. We have the experience to help nurture that competitive side of the sport as well.

Whether the goal is confidently riding a first piece of singletrack, completing a first race, or becoming a faster and more competitive racer, there's room to grow with the Veloraptors.

Come Try Mountain Biking With Us

Not sure whether mountain biking or the Veloraptors are right for your family?

That's exactly what our Try-It Rides are for.

We currently have two Try-It Rides planned this fall:

October 17

Chimney Rock / Washington Valley Park

November 14

Six Mile Run State Park

These rides give prospective athletes and parents an opportunity to meet our coaches and families, ride with members of the team, and experience what being a Veloraptor is actually like.

We'll provide additional information about times, meeting locations, equipment, and ride preparation as we get closer to each event.

Please let us know if you're planning to attend. Knowing who's coming helps us make sure we have enough coaches and current team members available to give prospective riders a great experience.

“Does My Child Need a Real Mountain Bike?”

Eventually, having an appropriate mountain bike makes a significant difference.

But don't let uncertainty about equipment stop you from contacting us or attending a Try-It Ride.

If your child already has a bike, tell us what they're riding. Depending on the bike, rider, and trails we're using, it may be perfectly reasonable for an introductory ride.

Our coaches can also help you understand when an upgrade would be worthwhile and which features actually matter.

A modern mountain bike can make learning considerably easier. Appropriate gearing helps with climbing, larger tires and good suspension make roots and bumps easier to manage, hydraulic brakes provide better control, and features such as a dropper post can give a new rider substantially more confidence when descending.

But that doesn't mean you need to buy a new bike before coming out to meet us.

Come ride first. We can help from there.

For families looking for a new bike, the Veloraptors partner with Trek Stirling, which provides registered team members with a significant discount on eligible new bikes.

We're also happy to help families understand what to look for when shopping for a good used mountain bike through places such as Pinkbike or Facebook Marketplace.

The goal isn't to have the most expensive bike.

It's to have a safe, properly fitting bike that allows the athlete to develop skills and confidence.

What Does the Veloraptors Season Look Like?

Our 2026–2027 season officially begins December 1.

During the shorter and colder winter months, most outdoor team riding takes place on weekends. Depending on weather and trail conditions, that may mean Saturday, Sunday, or opportunities on both days.

We also plan indoor winter activities, including YMCA training and yoga.

Once spring arrives and we have more daylight, we begin adding weekday rides while continuing to offer weekend riding opportunities.

We survey families and coaches to help determine which weekday schedules work best for the team.

Mountain biking is an outdoor sport, so weather and trail conditions will always have some say in our schedule. Flexibility comes with the territory.

Parents: We Need Beginner Coaches Too!

One of the biggest misconceptions about coaching a youth mountain bike team is that you need to already be an expert mountain biker.

You don't.

We're actively looking for parents interested in becoming coaches, including parents who are relatively new to mountain biking themselves.

In fact, coaching can be a great opportunity to learn alongside your child.

As their skills improve, yours can improve too.

You get outside. You become more active. You improve your fitness. You learn new skills. And you have the opportunity to develop a sport that you and your child may be able to enjoy together for many years.

More experienced mountain bikers and racers are certainly welcome as coaches too. A strong team needs adults with different abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.

Most importantly, it needs adults who enjoy helping kids learn, develop confidence, and succeed.

Ride. Learn. Coach.

You don't have to be an expert mountain biker to become a Veloraptors coach.

More Than Just Riding Bikes

Mountain biking asks something different of kids.

It requires fitness, but also balance, judgment, patience, resilience, problem solving, and the willingness to keep trying.

A climb that seems impossible today can become routine a few months later.

A section of trail an athlete once had to walk can eventually become something they ride without even thinking about it.

Those small victories add up.

That's a big part of what we want the Veloraptors to provide: a place where kids can challenge themselves, develop confidence, get stronger, make friends, and discover just how much fun riding a mountain bike can be.

Some may eventually become competitive racers.

Some may simply become lifelong mountain bikers.

We think both are pretty great outcomes.

Ready to Ride With Us?

Whether your athlete is brand new to mountain biking, already loves riding the trails, or wants to become a competitive racer, we'd love to introduce your family to the Veloraptors.

Not ready to commit to a season? Start with a Try-It Ride.

October 17
Chimney Rock / Washington Valley Park

November 14
Six Mile Run State Park

Parents, you can get involved too.