By Natalie Arenzon, Student Reporter, and Parents of Members of the Bronxville Mountain Biking Club

May 6, 2015:  Midway through its third season, the Bronxville Mountain Biking Club has seen its share of twists and turns. With two state championships to date and a growing roster, two things remain--the camaraderie among riders and teams, and the inspiration of head coach Jonathan Peter.

Launched in the spring of 2013 in the inaugural NYS racing season by Mr. Peter, who also teaches physics and chemistry at The Bronxville School, the team soared to a NYS victory in its first season, and again in its second in 2014, as part of the New York League, a subchapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).

In forming the team, Mr. Peter has drawn upon his own experience with mountain biking. "I started mountain biking when I was a freshman in high school. I've always loved riding my bike." He has raced for the last 15 years on both mountain and road bikes, and his enthusiasm for the sport shows in the commitment he brings to his students, both on the racing trail and off.

But perhaps "race" is a misnomer in this challenging and fun sport of individual skill and accomplishment. Unlike road racing, mountain biking requires riders to develop significant bike-handling skills in order to navigate such obstacles as rocks, trees, and even fallen logs, while staying within an often narrow path full of riders.

On Mr. Peter's team, students learn about themselves as much as about the sport, with guidance on planning food intake, race nutrition and hydration, endurance, strategy, safety, and managing disappointment or success. A unique aspect of the sport is how riders encourage and respect fellow bikers along the course and develop camaraderie with not only their own team, but with riders from across the state. As one team member said, "It's not like a normal sport--it's fun."

There are five levels for each of the girls' and boys' teams: middle school, freshmen, sophomore, junior varsity, and varsity, with each level riding an increasing number of "laps" around the course. In the Warwarsing race last weekend in the Catskills, for example, freshmen rode the three-mile mountainous course twice, sophomore teams rode three times, and the junior varsity and varsity teams circled four and five times, respectively. Teams gain points based upon the position and category of each rider.

Bronxville's team is a composite team, with two riders joining from New Rochelle and founding Bronxville rider Emma Watters returning from her boarding school for races. The other team members are captains Abigail Carter (10th grade, 2nd year on team) and Chris Miller (11th grade, 3rd year, riding JV); junior varsity riders Nick Bender (11th grade, 2nd year), Daniel Giangola (12th grade, 3rd year), Andrew Lamadrid (11th grade, 2nd year), Aran Murphy (11th grade, 3rd year), Kylie Regan (12th grade, 3rd year), Eli Sills (11th grade, 3rd year, New Rochelle), William Tague (11th grade, 1st year); sophomore riders Georgia Lazaroni (10th grade, 2nd year), Tommy Maldonado (10th grade, 2nd year), and Dylan Weber (10th grade, 2nd year); and freshmen riders Gordon Hoffman (9th grade, 1st year), Michael Murray (8th grade, 1st year, riding for 9th), Jordan Sills (9th grade, 1st year, New Rochelle), Tyler Stupart (9th grade, 1st year), and Kenny Taylor (9th grade, 1st year). Coaches Bobby Michailides and Chris Starace assist Mr. Peter.

Race day offers camaraderie for the parents as well as riders, in festivities that rival a combination tail-gate/campout while racers compete in waves. Mini's Prime Meats has been a team sponsor for three years, generously donating all the meat for race-day meals. Team mom Debbie Giangola has generously served as master chef for three years, grilling food for the entire team, and turned over team coordination this year to Priscilla Bender, who arranges for rides to and from practices for all bikes and riders. The club is currently not a school-sponsored team.

With the successes of this young team have also come some challenges. Two riders, Eli Sills and Andrew Lamadrid, could not compete in the most recent race because of illness and injury. Calling these "major losses" for the team, coach Peter, also concerned for the riders' health, hopes they will be able to "rejoin as soon as possible." Peter also hopes "to see some more girls on the team and perhaps a greater reach into the middle school." Beginning riders of all ages are welcome.

Win, lose, or climb, the team is sure to have fun for the remainder of the season.

Upcoming races: May 10, Central Park, Schenectady, NY; May 31, Williams Lake, Rosendale, NY; June 13-14: Championship Race, The Bavarian Manor Country Inn, Purling, NY.  
  
To see photos of the bikers, click on this link:  Bronxville Mountain Biking Club 2015.

Pictured here:  Members of the Bronxville Mountain Biking Club.

Photo above and photos in the link by Nancee Adams-Taylor