Team Information
All you need to get started!
The North Baltimore County Copperheads are a youth mountain biking team, based in Cockeysville, MD, with members from Towson to Parkton and all areas in between. The team is one of 25 (and quickly growing) in the Maryland Interscholastic Cycling League (MICL). The league operates under the principles and guidelines of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).
The team is for any student in grades 6 through 12 (as of Fall enrollment) looking to learn how to mountain bike or become a better mountain bike rider. All riders and skill levels are welcome. There's no requirement to race, although we do highly encourage everyone to give it a try! The races are all about personal achievement rather than just being the fastest. This makes for a fun learning environment, and builds a positive experience! Registration opens April 1st.
The season officially begins July 1st and runs into early November. Practices are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings along with some Saturdays mornings, weather and conditions permitting. Attendance at all practices is not required, but new riders will need to learn and demonstrate a certain level of skill before participating in trail rides.
Practices are typically held at Oregon Ridge with trail riding in Loch Raven Reservoir and Little Gunpowder Falls State Park. We will officially begin practices July and registered riders will be able to begin practicing with the team then.
Five race events are planned for the late summer and fall. Races are typically a weekend event, with pre-rides of the course and non-competitive activities typically on Saturday and races on Sunday.
In order to register, you must be invited by the team. Send us a request to register or use the "contact us" form on this website. Include a parent's name, student's name(s) and email address to send the invite to nbccmtb@gmail.com and we will respond with an invitation to the "Pit Zone". Please use a parent email address for receiving the invite and registering.
If you or someone you know is interested in helping out with the team, please let us know and we will provide information about coaching and volunteer opportunities. All coaches go through a certification and background check process. Coaching registration opens March 1st.
If you'd like to experience what a practice is like before committing, you can attend one practice by completing a waiver form. We recommend this be done only for our Skills and Fundamentals practices, which are typically held on Tuesdays.
So join us! If you have any further questions or concerns, please let us know. In the meantime, we'll add you to our prospective members' list so we can send you any pertinent information, and let you know when things start up later this year. We look forward to having you be a part of our team!
Bill Sadera Director / Coach North Baltimore County Copperheads
Why Are We The Copperheads?
In August of 2021, a woman was rescued after a copperhead snake bit her while hiking the same trails our team practices on. Search and rescue teams with off-road all-terrain vehicles from Providence, Texas Station, and the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company responded and were able to find the woman and take her to a hospital for treatment. Link to story here
After this incident, we discussed with the team and the coaches and officially decided to adopt the Copperhead as our team mascot. At the 2021 Maryland State Championship in Pickall we wore the copperhead around our neck on the podium for the first time. We've taken the Copperhead onto every podium since that day! Go Copperheads!
Team History
Originally started as the North Baltimore County Composite in 2019, the team was a group of 20 student athletes and coaches. The team unofficially adopted the name of the Bulls using the mascot from Hereford schools. Today our team has more than 50 student athletes who attend schools up and down the York Rd corridor, from Cockeysville, Dulaney and Parkton to Dumbarton, Towson and schools in the City of Baltimore. We are a true Composite Team and could not have a mascot from one school over another. We are Copperheads!
About Copperheads
Copperhead snakes are venomous pit vipers found in various parts of North America, including Maryland. Historically, copperhead snakes were known to inhabit several counties across Maryland, particularly in areas with suitable habitats such as forests, swamps, and rocky terrains. They are adaptable creatures and can thrive in various environments as long as there is suitable shelter and prey.
Copperhead Safety
If you encounter a copperhead or any other snake in the wild, it's best to give them space and allow them to move away. If you suspect you or someone else has been bitten by a venomous snake, seek immediate medical attention.