Youth Recreation Cycling Programs

  • Fun and friendships
  • Safe​​
  • Build skills, strength & endurance

NCCH’s recreation program is aimed at young riders ages 6-17 with levels ranging from beginners through to those interested in riding with a group at a recreational pace or for those interested in building up to competition levels*. 

Winter is no barrier! Outdoor rides are typically on grass, gravel and or wooded trails around the Morgan Firestone Arena in Ancaster from April through to October. During winter months we move to a large building at the Ancaster Fair Grounds where we offer fun technical skills training using our special built MTB equipment. In early spring we move to our CompuTrainer studio or virtually at your home with your own smart trainer where we offer strength and endurance training as well as virtual group ride and race opportunities.

Equipment: Most recreational riders use mountain bikes (MTB), must be in good working order and fitted such that the rider is able to maintain control. Helmet is also required.
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* At the pre-competition level the rider aims to be able to ride for 1.5hrs hours with moderate hills and moderate technical difficulty and able to complete basic maintenance on their own bike.
Animate On Scroll.
3 Steps to participate in NCCH Recreation Programs:
  1. ​Acquire an OCA PROVINCIAL LICENSE ($45/year) under the team name 'National Cycling Centre Hamilton'. Save a PDF copy of this license or confirmation of purchase for uploading in Step 2.
  2. Join NCCH ($10/year). Joining NCCH means the rider is joining the National Cycling Centre Hamilton team (a private team registered with OCA). Youth registrations must be completed by a parent (guardian).
  3. ​​​Register for the NCCH Recreation Programs of your choice. See Blue Program Registration buttons at bottom of page.
Be sure to take advantage of our 15% Discount with Early Registration!!
​Details Below.
For more information
please visit our Member Welcome Guide
​and/or contact ​recruitmentdirector@ncch.ca

Spring/Summer

Skills and Trails (ages 5-13)
For riders wanting to learn basic bike skills (balance, braking, gearing, cornering) through to riders at the pre-competition level*.  Riders will be put into ability based groups (~7:1 youth rider to Coach/Ride Helper ratio) and can change throughout the program as riders progress at different rates. ​
2022 Programs (9 weeks each):
Spring
April 20 to June 18
Summer
July 6 to September 10  (excludes Saturday July 30 and Wednesday August 3)
​Wednesdays 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturdays 11:30 am - 1:00 p.m.
9 week Program Pricing:
Choose to attend Wednesdays only ($153) or Saturdays only ($153), or Wednesdays &  Saturdays ($248).
​15% discount for Early Registration before midnight on March 31, 2022  for Spring Program and before midnight on May 31, 2022 for Summer Program.
Spots are limited. If program is full add your name to the Waitlist and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.
Skills & Trails Recreation Program Registrations
​Open Now!
[must first Join NCCH Team - see Steps 1 & 2 above]

Fall

Explore new cycling trails and activities.
Fall Explorer and Mini Explorer Camps​​
Each week your child will explore different cycling trails and take part in activities including visits to fun bike parks, pump tracks, gravel rides, single-track etc., all local to the Hamilton and greater area. Extra park entry fees and parking may apply to certain parks.

Prerequisite:
Able to participate in group ride settings on varying modest terrains (similar to NCCH Spring/ Summer Rec. Program rides). Contact recreation@ncch.ca if you have any questions about rider's ability to participate.
​Every Saturday from September 17 to October 29, 2022
Mini Explorer Camp
(Typical Age 5-8, FUNdamentals)
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Explorer Camp
​(Typical age 9-14, Learn2Train & Train2Train)
​11:30am -1:00pm
7 week Program Pricing:
Choose to attend the Mini Explorer or Fall Explorer Program ($120)

​Spots are limited. If program is full add your name to the Waitlist and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.
Fall Explorer and Mini Explorer Program Registrations 
 Registration is now Open!
[must first Join NCCH Team - see Steps 1 & 2 above]

Spring/Summer

Rally Riders (age 13 and up)
For older youth who love the joy of riding and exploring. ​​​The Rally Riders will meet on Mondays and Thursdays for trail rides led by a NCCP trained Coach accompanied by other volunteer Parent Rider Helpers (7:1 Youth Rider to Coach/Ride Helper ratio).  

Prerequisite:
Able to participate in group ride settings on varying modest terrains (similar to NCCH Spring/ Summer Rec. Program rides). Contact recreation@ncch.ca if you have any questions about rider's ability to participate.
2022 Programs (9 weeks each):
Spring
April 25th through to June 27, excluding May 23 
Summer
July 4 through to September 8th, excluding August 1 and August 4th.
​Mondays 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays 6:00-8:00 p.m.​
9 week Program Pricing:
Choose to attend Mondays only ($117) or Thursdays only ($117), or Mondays &  Thursdays ($198).


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Spots are limited. If program is full add your name to the Waitlist and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.

Winter

Winter Indoor MTB Skills Camp​
​Continue developing technical skills, agility and strength throughout the winter months  with our custom MTB skills equipment in a safe fun environment located in large building at the Ancaster Fair Grounds -School Fair Building.​
Saturdays, Nov. 27 - Dec 18 (excluding December 25, January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 sessions total)

Resuming:
​Feb 5- Feb 26, 2022
Ages 11-14, 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Ages 8-10, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Ages 5-7, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Contact recreation@ncch.ca if you have questions about rider's ability or class time.
$118
15% discount for Early Registration before midnight November 21.

Spots are limited. If program is full, add your name to the Waitlist and we will contact you if a spot becomes available.
Winter Indoor MTB Skills Program Registration
Registration Closed
[Must first Join NCCH Team - see Steps 1 & 2 above]
Learn to pedal and balance.
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Before your child begins to pedal, have them learn to ride a NCCH balance bike. Develop two-wheeled balance, coordination, and confidence. We ride fun mini-cyclocross courses and pathways.

​*NCCH provides the balance bikes
​Typical age group 3-6 years
More information coming soon!
​$TBD