Star City Cycling Partners with Boys & Girls Clubs

kids biking youth cycling

The Star City Cycling team is beginning a new partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia.

Star City Cycling is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the growth of youth cycling.

Since its founding in 2008 as the East Coasters Junior Team it has helped countless young people to safely and respectfully experience the rewards and challenges of mountain biking.  Star City is dedicated to promoting sportsmanship, fellowship, a love of the outdoors, self-reliance, determination, and a life-long passion for the sport

Although we live in the premier mountain biking region in the eastern United States, getting into the sport is substantially more expensive than typical rec league or school sports, and lower-income and minority kids are grossly underrepresented.  Now the group is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia to make it possible for their club members to learn about and participate in mountain biking by offering weekly practices led by experienced adult coaches at the City of Roanoke’s new Morningside Park flow trail, which adjoins the Boys & Girls Club.  Practices will utilize quality mountain bikes and equipment donated by organizations such as the Roanoke Outside Foundation and will focus on skills development, confidence building, , fitness, trail etiquette and fun.

In addition to simply getting more kids involved in the sport, the Star City Cycling has a number of long-term objectives for this program:

  • Removing the obstacle of equipment cost by providing quality loaner equipment to Boys & Girls Club riders who want to become mountain bikers.
  • Providing scholarships for kids who show the desire and skills to move up to the regular Star City Team.
  • Creating an incentive for older kids to remain in the club through graduation.
  • Creating a channel for positive interactions between diverse groups of kids on the socioeconomic spectrum.
  • Creating a high-visibility program that  will ultimately lead to increased minority participation in the sport of mountain biking.

The cycling club estimates that the first-year costs for children participating with a cycling team can be up to $2,500 and up to $1,500 in subsequent years (bikes, uniforms, equipment, race entry fees, and more). Star City Cycling wants to provide scholarships to make the sport accessible to as many children as possible and your support will help get a kid on a bike.  If you are interested in making a donation to help this cause, please let us know at http://starcitycycling.com/contact.