Being prepared and understanding what's down the trail is important when riding. It is also important when it comes to understanding Grand Valley Youth Cycling's policies. Tap a policy below for a summary, and see the full Rider Handbook and Rules and Guidelines for details.
In case of emergency, call 911. To report a safety concern, contact the Executive Director at director@grandvalleymtb.org or the Board President at president@grandvalleymtb.org.
GVYC holds safety as the highest priority. We are focused on building an environment where the safety and well-being of participants, coaches and community are at the forefront.
Coaching and supervision: programs are led by qualified coaches. All coaches, including substitutes and volunteers, must meet minimum certification requirements.
Equipment: all participants must use appropriate gear, including helmets and gloves. Coaches will try to identify equipment hazards, but parents are responsible for making sure bikes and equipment are in proper working order.
Communication: participants are briefed on safety protocols, and coaches keep open lines of communication with riders and parents.
Emergencies: coaches are trained to respond promptly. Emergency contact information is kept on file and parents will be notified immediately if necessary.
Rules: all participants and parents are expected to follow the rules and guidelines in the GVYC Handbook.
To report a safety concern, contact the Executive Director at director@grandvalleymtb.org or the Board President at president@grandvalleymtb.org. In case of emergency, call 911.
Please read this policy before signing up for any GVYC program, camp, trip or event. To cancel, contact the Executive Director at director@grandvalleymtb.org.
Early cancellations (at least 14 days before the program starts): credit or refund of 100% of the registration fee, not including online service/processing fees.
Late cancellations (less than 14 days before the program starts): credit or refund of 50% of the registration fee, not including processing fees.
After a program starts: no refunds or credits for no-shows or absences; refunds are considered case by case.
Registration mistakes: contact us within 24 hours of registering for a full credit or refund, even within 2 weeks of the start date.
Trips: no refunds or credits for canceled trip signups.
Injury or illness: the policies above still apply.
Changes by GVYC: GVYC may modify or cancel any program. We will try to provide one makeup practice for weather cancellations. If GVYC cancels before a program starts, we refund 100% of the registration fee; after it starts, we credit the prorated remainder.
Refunds and credits: amounts are based on the total owed on a payment plan. Credits can be used by any family member on the same account, are not transferable between accounts, and should be used within 12 months. Refunds go to the original payment method or by check, and cannot be issued after a program starts or more than 90 days after purchase.
We make every attempt to run practices as scheduled, but the safety of riders, coaches and staff comes first. We try to send notifications 2 hours before practice; if the weather looks questionable, check for cancellations before heading out. We cancel practice for:
Rain or thunderstorms that will affect safety or trail integrity before or during practice.
Air Quality Index above 150. Above 100, riders may opt out.
Heat over 100°F at the start of practice.
Lightning within 3 miles. Coaches will modify or cancel practice; parents may need to pick up riders early.
As part of normal program operations, coaches often take photos, video or audio recordings of riders as coaching tools and for marketing purposes, such as the GVYC website, flyers, or social media.
To opt out, email us with your preferences.
