BJC offers several programs for the high school age group.
Red Squad: MTB & Road Team (spring & summer, details below)
Shredders Gravity Team: (spring, summer, fall) (info here)
Cyclocross: (fall) (info here)
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New athletes must contact Coach Joe (email).
2023 Red Squad Details (Spring/Summer)
The Red Squad is BJC’s spring/summer race team that combines road biking and mountain biking. It’s designed for athletes who have mastered the competencies in the Devo program, are high-school aged, and who want to be a part of a competitive cycling team.
The overall goals of the team are to have fun, build cycling expertise, develop life skills, create a strong community, and test ourselves on the race course. The program is suitable for intermediate and expert riders.
This is a race focused program and we encourage athletes to train for and participate in a few races each season. We believe racing is a great way to have fun with your teammates and challenge yourself.
Athletes should be ready to commit to attending every practice, training consistently, and working hard to achieve personal goals. These goals may range from preparing for your first season in the High School League to standing on the podium at the National Championships. All athletes are encouraged to work hard, bring a positive attitude, and commit toward a goal for the season.
At practice, the team splits into small groups based on age and ability. Most groups will do both mountain biking and road riding in a season, but a few groups with developing riders may stick to mountain biking primarily. Riders will be encouraged to try races outside their preferred discipline, but will be able to focus on their specialty. Blending mountain biking and road riding into one team allows us to create a unified team culture and helps athletes develop a wider range of cycling skills and experiences. Over the past few seasons, this approach has proven to be very successful.
The Red Squad is led by head coach Joe Lewis alongside BJC director Pete Webber and veteran coaches such as Scott Tietzel, Michael Robson, Ruth Winder and Margell Abel.
We’ll attend designated team races with coaching, support, and a base camp. The exact schedule of races with BJC team support may change as events reveal dates and details but a tentative schedule for the year is here.
Riders need their own race-ready mountain bike (dropper post required.) Most riders will also benefit from having a road or cyclocross bike, capable of riding pavement and gravel. Contact us if you need help with a loaner bike. You’ll also need cycling gear for all types of weather, including snow and rain. All athletes qualify for discounts at our team’s favorite bike shops: Trek Store Boulder and Excel Sports.
Space is strictly limited and we’ll have a waitlist. BJC reserves the right to select athletes or limit numbers to ensure participants are engaged with the program goals, share the program philosophy, and to allow coaches to create groups of similar age and ability.
2023 Red Squad Details
- March 7 – July 24 (20 weeks, includes possible rest weeks)
- Spring practices are 2 hrs, Tues & Thurs 4:30 – 6:30 pm
- Summer practices are 3 hrs, Tues & Thurs 8:00-11:00 am
- Locations near City of Boulder, in summer locations spread further
- Includes full-time coaching and mentorship
- Includes Training Peaks account and full-time training plan for athletes who have demonstrated readiness
- Access to coaches via phone/email/group chat
- Calendar will include MTB, road, and gravel racing
- Participation in out-of-state race trips is geared towards athletes who have demonstrated readiness and require added fees
- Support at races includes coaching, base camp, feed zone, etc
- USAC license is required for some racing
- Reach out to a coach for questions about partial season participation or multi-sports
- New athletes must contact Coach Joe before registering
- Cost: $1,800
Questions? Please contact Coach Joe (email)
2023 Red Squad Bridging Program
Inspired by our successful CX High intro to cyclocross program, The Red Squad Bridging Program is designed to be a shorter introductory program for riders that are new to BJC but want to test out riding with the Red Squad in the spring or summer.
Completion of the bridging program does not guarantee a spot on the Red Squad, but will give us a chance to get to know the athlete and determine if they will be a good fit. This is a good opportunity for new riders to test out the BJC experience if they are on the fence about joining the Red Squad.
The program will conclude with a coach/athlete interview and successful graduates will be included in Red Squad for the remainder of the season.
- Two 3-week blocks: Spring (Feb 27-March 13), Summer (May 8-22)
- Mondays 4:30-6:30 PM
- Cost $150
- Program fee counted toward Red Squad fees if accepted.
New athletes must contact Coach Joe (email) before registering.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: We strongly encourage families to contact us about assistance paying for program fees, equipment/clothing costs, and racing costs. Finances should never be a reason a family can’t join our team! BJC has a scholarship fund set aside for this purpose, and we are honored to provide nearly $20,000 in financial scholarships and equipment every year. While some BJC programs sell out very quickly, we always hold spots open for those kids who might be a scholarship candidate. You won’t lose your spot on the team! Applications are welcome anytime, but we prefer to receive them at least a month in advance of the program start date if possible. We look forward to all inquiries. Please contact Executive Director Pete Webber (email).
SAFESPORT: Athlete Wellness and SafeSport is a high priority for BJC. We’re proud to have earned Gold Level Certification, the highest level available. More info here.
