About SJW MTB
What is SJW MTB?
SJW MTB stands for St. John in the Wilderness Mountain Biking. It is a bike team for kids to learn the basic skills of mountain biking and to grow in their spirituality at the same time. The team is organized by Fr. Josh Stephens, the priest at St. John in the Wilderness and a longtime outdoorsman. Fr. Josh grew up riding bikes and catching waves. He found that the more time he spent in church and in beautiful places, the more he grew as a person. Through time outdoors and in church, he felt healthier, calmer, and more connected to the God who shows up in the wilderness of our world and our lives. Fr. Josh started working with kids in youth ministry back in 2009 and has enjoyed taking kids biking, surfing, skiing, and camping ever since. With SJW MTB, we hope to introduce kids to mountain biking as a spiritual practice: a way to have a lot of fun with each other and to connect with God.
What Equipment is Needed?
A bike, helmet, and waterbottle. Helmets are required to be on and buckled anytime a kid has their leg over a bike. The kids will need a bike that functions well, including brakes that work, air in the tires, and a chain that is lubed and moving well. Having gears is not required but will help. In fact, the best bike for the kids is a mountain bike with gears and hand brakes, but if you don’t have that yet, it’s quite alright. We recommend Sycamore Cycles in Hendersonville if you need a local bike shop.
Who is SJW MTB for?
SJW MTB is for kids who can ride a pedal bike without training wheels between the ages of 5 and 5th grade. They should be able to start riding entirely on their own and to stop by using their brakes. (If your kid is not yet 5 but they are turning 5 by the end of 2025, and they can ride a bike, then we would be glad to have them try it out.)
When and Where Does the Team Meet?
The team will meet at St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, NC. Riders should arrive at 5:45pm and be ready to roll by 6:00pm. We will use the back Parish Hall parking lot to practice basic skills since even more advanced kids need to work on form, shifting, braking, and bike handling. Then we will use our new trail system, The Trails of St. John, to ride some singletrack. We will use the Wilderness Chapel, Atrium Chapel, historic church, or the woods as places to pray each week. The full team schedule can be viewed below.
What Will Be Taught?
Our team will practice biking basics: starting and stopping on the bikes, shifting, accelerating, turning and cornering, going over obstacles, riding skinnies, and even small jumps. We hope to safely work on some street riding skills, also, for the older kids. In prayer, we will learn the basics of Episcopal Evening Prayer which is rooted in ancient monastic practices. We will include Bible stories, the Lord’s Prayer, and the 23rd Psalm.
How Do I Sign Up?
The cost is $50 per rider which includes a t-shirt. A waiver must be signed at the first practice. Scholarships are available as needed. You can sign up using the button below. We also hope you will sign up for our fun race morning on September 6!
SJW MTB Kids' Mountain Bike Race
A Community Offering for the Grand Opening of The Trails of St. John
Saturday, September 6, 8:00am - 1:00pm
Cost: $25/Rider
The SJW MTB Kids’ Mountain Bike Race is a fun community offering as part of our grand opening for The Trails of St. John. This race is for children from strider bikes to 5th graders. All riders must be currently in 5th grade or younger to participate. They will be divided into categories based on participation. Sign-up for a fun morning of racing right here in Flat Rock, NC! Registration closes on September 1 and will not be available on the day of the race.
Weather, Refunds, and Cancellation Policy
Since these trails are brand new and maintained by volunteers, we will only hold the event if the weather allows. Excessive rain during the days before or bad weather on the day of the event may lead to cancellation. If the event is canceled, parents must pick up swag bags from the church office during the week following or call the office to make other arrangements. Unfortunately, we cannot issue refunds for the race, even if it is canceled due to rain because of costs incurred.
What is the Schedule for the Day?
The schedule for the day will be solidified once we are aware of how much participation we will have. Tentatively, the schedule is as follows: 8:00-8:50am: Rider Check-In, Race Plates, and Waivers (Parents/guardians must be present to check in.) 9:00am: Rider meeting and opening prayer 9:30am: Strider/balance bike race 10:00am: Pedal Bike Race 1 (youngest kids) 10:30am: Pedal Bike Race 2 11:00am: Pedal Bike Race 3 11:30am: Pedal Bike Race 4 (oldest kids) 12:30pm: Podiums, Cook-out, and Hang Out (trails are open for more riding)
What Will Participants Receive?
All racers will receive a swag bag with an awesome kid’s Bible, a prayer card for rides in the mountains, a participation medal, a t-shirt, and more.
How Do I Register?
Click the "Register for Race" button below! We will ask for contact information, shirt sizes, skill levels, and more. Registration closes on September 1. There will be no race-day registration.
About the Race Courses
The race courses will utilize The Trails of St. John which are opening to the public on the weekend of the race. This is a small trail system on the sacred ground of our church property, surrounded by historical sites and buildings. Exact distances and categories will be determined later in August.