COACH RESOURCES

Norte coaches come from all walks of life—they’re parents, bankers, engineers, cooks, yoga instructors, retired teachers, ski instructors, college students, and so much more. What unites them is their shared commitment to empowering the next generation of riders. At the heart of it all, Norte coaches are mentors who bring joy, encouragement, and consistency to their roles. By fostering confidence, building skills, and creating a sense of community, they help young riders grow both on and off the bike.

What Norte is All About

  • Mission statement: We champion bikes and community in Northern Michigan.

  • Tagline: Happy. Healthy. Strong.

  • We began in 2014 and our impact in the region is truly people-powered! Our coaches, volunteers, staff, Board, and donors keep the wheels turning - thank you all!

  • WATCH Norte in Action: A Decade in Motion

Coach FAQ & Manual

Incident/Injury Reporting Forms

  • Incident Form - If an incident occurred that might require follow-up behavior guidelines or discussion, this form is required

  • Injury Form - This form is required if a Norte Rider requires medical treatment or leaves practice due to an injury. Please call Jill Sill (231) 668-2734 if medical assistance is needed.

Basic Helmet and Bike Fitting

Basic Bike Repairs

Urban and Trail Etiquette

Norte Program & Library Bikes

  • Norte program bikes are available for riders to use for the duration of the program session and returned at its conclusion

  • Norte Kids Bike Library bikes are available for all riders, whether in our programs or not, and can be checked out on a long-term basis

  • To arrange a program bike for a rider on your team please email our Chief Mechanic, Tyler Witusynzki.

  • Visit our Kids Bike Library page for more details on the bike library

Sample Appropriate Routes

Program Vocabulary

RIDING TECHNIQUES & BODY POSITIONS

● Attack Position (Attack) – Off the saddle, arms bent, level pedals, eyes forward.

● Low Attack Position (Low Attack) – Same posture, but with the body positioned lower over

the bike.

● Focus Forward (Eyes Up) – Lead with Your Eyes – Look where you want to go, not where

you are currently headed.

● Float – Use your arms and legs to let the bike absorb bumps, allowing your body to move

freely over the bike.

● Level Pedals – Keep even weight on both pedals (cranks at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock).

● Heavy Feet, Light Hands – Maintain a body position where your weight is centered on

your pedals, with hands used for stability and guidance (beginners often place too much

weight on their hands).

SHIFTING & PEDALING

● Shifting – We use easy gears for climbing and harder gears for speed.

○ Shift Up – Move into a harder gear (higher number) for descent or flats.

○ Shift Down – Move into an easier gear (lower number) for climbing.

● Even Power – Apply consistent, smooth pressure to the pedals, avoiding choppy pedaling.

● Pedal Circles – Engage the pedals through the entire revolution instead of just pushing up

and down (“pedaling squares”).

BRAKING & BIKE CONTROL

● Both Brakes – Use both brakes for stopping (beginners tend to rely only on the rear,

though the front brake provides more stopping power).

● Power Start – Position one pedal between 1 o’clock and 3 o’clock for a strong push-off

(beginners often attempt to push-start their bike from a stop).

● Eject – Quickly place one or both feet on the ground for stability when needed.

● Tip Back – Shift your torso backward to unweight the front of the bike.

● Tip Forward – Shift your torso forward to unweight the rear of the bike.

Questions? Please contact programs@norteyouthcycling.org for more resources!