FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does my camper need mountain biking experience?
Mt Tam Bikes Camp is a camp for everyone, from Novice to Advanced riders. While Novice riders do not need prior mountain biking experience they must already be comfortable controlling their bikes with the ability to start, stop, turn and ride in a controlled manner for 2-5 miles and climbing up small hills without constant breaks. Example of a Novice Ride: Slowly riding the Shoreline Trail at China Camp without constantly stopping for breaks. Riding from Mill Valley to Sausalito on the bike path without constantly stopping for breaks. If your child has recently learned to ride or is struggling with the basics, they will need to practice more or wait another year. If you have any questions/concerns about your riders ability, please call us.
I AM NOT SURE IF MY CAMPER CAN RIDE ALL day ...
At Mt Tam Bikes Camp, we ride a lot, but not non-stop. The day is broken up with lots of fun bike-related skill work: drills, exercises, bike mechanics and maintenance. We also play games, in addition to having snacks and lunch. Each ride is based on the groups ability; if your camper gets tired, they can always take a break.
What size bike does my child need?
Well, due to our hilly terrain, your kids mountain bike needs 20” wheel or bigger and preferably multiple chainrings in the front or a wide ration cassette to have enough gears to make it doable. If you carefully watch your child as they are riding and you see that when their leg is at the bottom of their pedal stroke their leg is more than slightly bent, it might be time to raise the seat. But never raise the seat over the limit. If you have to do that, it is time to get a new bike! If you have any questions you can send us a profile picture of your camper on their bike.
WHAT GEAR DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE READY FOR CAMP?
A Mountain Bike - That fits properly in good working order. (If you are unsure of the fit please send us a profile picture of your camper on their bike).
Bike Safety Check - A professional bike safety check is mandatory and included in the price of summer camp. A big part of having a safe, fun camp experience is riding a well-tuned bike. This safety check ensures that your camper's bike is safe, adequate and ready to ride. We require that you bring the mountain bike that you will be using for summer camp to Tam Bikes Shop (Located at 357 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941) One - Three weeks before your session starts. Please inform the staff that the bike is for camp so they can check it in accordingly. Once again, a bike safety check is essential to running a safe program and needs to be performed at least seven days before your session starts (don't worry, we send reminder emails). Please contact us if you would like another bike shop in your area to perform the safety check and we will send you a form for the mechanic to fill out. (Please note that these bike safety checks are only for summer camps. Bike safety checks for Fall, Winter & Spring rides will need to be performed independently.)
Bike Storage - We have limited bike storage available and prefer not to store bikes. Please contact us if transporting the bike each day is too much of a hardship and we will make it work.
Helmet - A helmet that is free of CRACKS in the Styrofoam with no missing pads that fits properly is required. This means that the helmet is tight enough on the riders head so that when they shake it, it doesn't move around. The chin strap should only offer room for two fingers between the chin and the strap. Please inspect your campers' helmet and fit before your session starts. Campers with helmets that are unsafe may not be permitted to attend the days ride.
Biking Gloves - Full-fingered is preferred. Gloves are extremely important and often forgotten. Our hands are typically one of the first things to touch down if we fall off the bike.
Lunch/Back Packs - Campers are required to carry their own lunch and snack. All campers will need to have a Backpack/Hydration Pack that also fits their lunch. Please make sure that your campers back pack is comfortable to ride in (preferable with a waist and/or chest strap)
Water bottle or hydration pack - A water bottle that fits in the bike’s bottle cage or a hydration pack/Camelback.
Padded bike shorts and weather-appropriate clothing - Padded shorts can be worn underneath regular shorts, while not mandatory they do help the derrière. Please bring an extra layer each day based on the weather, and wear closed-toed shoes. We will be riding in the Marin Headlands some days where it is often foggy.
Mountain biking can be hazardous, How do you keep riders safe?
At Mt Tam Bikes Camp, safety is our number one priority. This is where our experience and attention to detail often sets us apart from other camps.
We could easily fill this page with all the safety precautions we take, but the basics are this. We start by talking about what can go wrong on a bike, and when and how accidents happen while teaching the skill sets that keep riders safe. We reiterate these ideas during the skills coaching and trail rides for the rest of the day, each and every day. The skills that make one a better rider are the same skills that keep one safe. We are locals who know these trails and have ridden these routes hundreds of times; every time we start up or down a hill or trail, we describe what to expect, and how to be prepared. Our goal is to prevent accidents before they happen through communication, in-depth skills coaching and comprehensive guiding protocols. We also ride with two-way radios, so we can stay in contact with each other at all times.
What if my child takes medication or has food or other allergies?
On the registration form, please indicate what types of medication your child takes or allergies they have. We will help your child remember to take any required medication and go over this with you before camp begins. (We also have experience with diabetic campers.) We are trained to assist with EPI-pen administration, and will make sure that your camper has their EPI-pen with them at all times.
Summer Camp Refund/Session Change Policy
CHANGING YOUR SESSION DATE: You can change your session date(s) for free up to 30 days before your camp session(s) starts. All session changes are subject to availability. Please email ryan@mttambikescamp.com and we will make that change for you!
CANCELLATIONS BEFORE MARCH 1st: Cancel for any reason by March 1st and receive a refund (minus CC fees) for online payments and a $50 administration fee per cancelled session. *(STRIPE our online payment processor does not refund their processing fees when we process refunds).
CANCELLATIONS AFTER MARCH 1st: Please contact us ASAP if you need to cancel. If we can fill your cancelled space with new enrollment or from our wait-list, we will refund your payment (minus CC fees) for online payments and a $100 administration fee per cancelled session. Sorry, no refunds will be processed for unfilled spaces. *(STRIPE our online payment processor does not refund their processing fees when we process refunds).
If Mt Tam Bikes Camp needs to cancel before the start of your camp session because of external mandates or health orders you will have the option to receive a full refund (minus CC fess) for online payments. *(STRIPE our online payment processor does not refund their processing fees when we process refunds).
We do not prorate for missed days of summer camp for any reason. Please always feel free to contact us with any questions regarding these policies. info@mttambikescamp.com (415)-377-9075
After-School Rides Refund Policy
All registrations for these after-school rides are non-refundable and non-transferable. Pro-rated credits are issued for rides that are cancelled due to heavy or cold rain.
What is your Tax id/ein #
Our Tax ID/EIN # 46-4747616
Additional Questions?
Please always feel free to contact us with any questions, big or small. info@mttambikescamp.com (415)-377-9075
*We reserve the right to change these policies at any time with or without prior notice and to make exceptions at our sole discretion. Policies Last Updated 12/27/2022