The Fairfax Fat Tire Flyers MTB Team is a co-ed junior development (middle school) cross country mountain bike racing team, partnered with the Archie Williams High School MTB Team and racing in the NorCal Interscholastic Cycling League, which is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). 

The Flyers team is a composite club that is not affiliated with a particular school and which is open to 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders of all genders from across the Ross Valley and all of Marin County.

The Flyers do not have tryouts, and every rider can participate in every practice and race. The team accommodates all levels of riding ability and experience. Nevertheless, mountain biking is an endurance sport that requires effort to improve, and given the local geography, every ride will require significant climbing and physical effort. Mountain biking is a difficult but incredibly rewarding sport!

Each team practice ride is 2–3 hours long and covers 10–15 miles. The team rides with one coach up front, one coach sweeping, and the rest mixed among the riders. Each ride will include one longer break with a snack, along with other shorter stops to re-group.

Practice rides cover all sorts of terrain and trails across Marin, ranging from a Flow Trail lap to treks up Mount Tamalpais.

For each team practice ride, Flyers riders must come equipped with the following items:

• Tire Tube (correctly sized for their bike’s wheels)

• Patch Kit/Plugs

• CO₂ Cartridges & Inflation Adapter

• Multi-Tool

• Pump

• Light, Packable Rain Jacket

• Snacks

• Plenty of Water

We will teach every rider how to use all the tools we require them to bring. We also work with every rider on form, technique, and etiquette on and off the trail.

Our amazing sponsor Sunshine Bicycle Center in Fairfax will always help you find what you need, and they give all Flyers and family a discount. You also might find some Archie Williams HS riders working on bikes in the back!

Race weekends involve overnight stays the night prior to the race, and a full day of racing, cheering on your fellow Flyers (and Archie Williams) riders, and celebrating those who make podiums that day:

• Friday:

  • Arrive at race venue by 3pm to gear up and participate in a team pre-ride to familiarize Flyers riders with the course.

  • Team Dinner

  • Stay at team hotel or camping at the course

• Saturday:

  • Arrive at team pit zone at race venue in the morning.

  • Cheer on Archie Williams HS MTB Team for their races.

  • Flyers team meeting approximately 2-3 hours before junior development races start.

  • Junior development races take place in the afternoon.

  • Junior development podiums at around 5pm.

  • Head home!

Costs to join the Flyers and participate in the NorCal League race season are as follows:

• Flyers Team Dues: $425

• NorCal/NICA Registration Fees: $125

• Team Uniform Cost: $75 (approx.)

• Race Registration Fees: $55 per race

Flyers Team Dues cover team insurance and operating costs, as well as coach training, licensing, and travel, and a coach stipend for practice and race participation.

Financial assistance may be available to those in need. Please email fairfaxflyersmtb@gmail.com for more information.

Step 1:  Sign up for the Fairfax Fat Tire Flyers on this Google Form.

Step 2:  You will receive an invitation to register your student with the league through the NICA Pit Zone. Complete the registration info, sign the waiver, and pay the registration fees.  NOTE:  You do not need to register for races or pay race registration fees at this time!

Step 3: Pay the team dues either via Zelle to fairfaxflyersmtb@gmail.com or by check payable to "Fairfax Fat Tire Flyers" and mailed to Fairfax Fat Tire Flyers c/o Jason Shane, 1412 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960-1823.

Step 4: Order Race Jersey. At a minimum, a team jersey will need to be purchased since the league requires each rider to wear an identifiable jersey on race day. You will receive an invitation to the team store once you have registered with the team.

Step 5: Once you have registered with NICA and paid your team dues the team will send you an invitation to TeamSnap, our calendar, and communications platform.

Students and parents are welcome to join us for a ride before joining the team provided you complete the following NICA release of liability form:

https://www.nationalmtb.org/agreement-to-participate-and-release-of-liability-form/