Meet the Coaches

Head Coach Ben

HOCO

Bike Likes:  
The exercise and the gratification of a great ride. 

Bike Dislikes:
Falling while riding. 

Riding MTB since:
 My son joined the team. 

Favorite trail:  
anything fast and flowing while getting a little wet and dirty. 

Why I got Involved:  
​to support my son,  but realized I wanted to be a role model for him and others, but also the friendships that have evolved. 

Coach Carl

GlenwOOD

Bike Likes:
Wind in my hair.

Bike Dislikes:
Lacking hair

Riding MTB since:
Since 2005.

Favorite trail:
Anything downhill...?.

Why I got involved:
For the adventure.

Coach Mark

catonsville

Bike Likes:
Anytime I'm on one.

Bike Dislikes:
I don't understand...can you please clarify?

Riding MTB since:
Around when I was like 14.

Favorite trail:
The ones with dirt.

Why I got involved:
Riding helps me relieve stress and I feel truly free when I'm out on the trail.

Coach Chris

Ellicott City

Bike Likes:
New challenges, overcoming a tough climb and nice downhill runs. 

Bike Dislikes:
None really... except for litter on the trail.

Riding MTB since:
Started riding I was a kid until I started driving.  Resumed riding MTB when my kids could ride.

Favorite trail:
The one I am about to ride.    

Why I got involved:
To spend more time with my kids and be involved with MTB community.   

Coach Bryan

West hoco

​Bike Likes:
The freedom of human powered movement while exploring new trails and roads.
 
Bike Dislikes:
Riders who don’t respect Mother Nature or the rules of the road/trail.
 
Riding MTB since:
Rode when Apple was still just a fruit, and now back to MTB – have been riding road/tri since I was a kid.
 
Favorite trail:
Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid, NY
 
Why I got involved:
To spend more time with my son and continue to support active lifestyles for kids.

Coach Jesse

Laurel

Bike Likes:
Exploring new trails and experiencing the sense of flying through the woods.

Bike Dislikes:
Getting a flat.

Riding MTB since:
2007

Favorite trail:
Whichever trail I happen to be on at that moment.
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Why I got involved:
Wanting to foster the love of outdoors and biking with my son.

Coach David

Columbia

Bike Likes:
Flying (at a safe speed) through the woods.

Bike Dislikes:
Crashing 😊 and trail users who don’t respect the environment and leave their trash on the trails.
 
Riding MTB since:
Newbie. Started riding in 2017. 

Favorite trail:
Long flowing ones. Still exploring.

Why I got involved:
My daughter loves to ride, and we found MICL. Fell in love with MTB and wanted to do and learn more. A bonus is I get to ride with my daughter and see her grown into an amazing rider and young woman. 
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Coach Bill

ELLICOTT CITY

Bike Likes:
A quiet bike is a good bike. O-Dark Hundred starts to watch the dawn roll in.

Bike Dislikes:
Weird noises, worst thing ever, something is wrong with the bike. Really bugs me.

Riding MTB since:
Late 80s MTB, yeah I'm old. ;-)

Favorite Trail:
That long dangerous rocky one

Why I got involved:
Love to see people on bikes and learning about bikes. I've coached Cyclocross and Triathlon.  I love to help people learn and be active. And Crazy Karl asked me to very nicely so I said yes. Just say yes, works every time.

Coach Brad

Bike Likes:
The technical and physical challenge, and being in the woods.

Bike Dislikes:
 Pedal strikes.

Riding MTB since:
1988

Favorite trail:
I love exploring new trails.  I like the challenging terrain at the Frederick Watershed, but mostly ride around the Woodstock area.

Why I got involved:
To instill the love of riding and being in nature, and to ride with my son.

Coach Dennis

mt. hebron

​Bike Likes:
Blasting downhill. Fixing and custom building bikes.

Bike Dislikes:
Flat tires

Riding MTB since:
Been riding since 1994.  Started on a Gary Fisher Cronus.  I love the lifetime sport of mountain biking!

Favorite trail:
Keep em coming, still in search of the perfect trail! Mother nature always keeps us guessing while being pleased.

Why I got involved:
As a high schooler I always wished I could race for my school. 



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Coach David

Ellicott City

Bike Likes:
Rocky climbs and flowy downhill.

Bike Dislikes:
Out of index gears, I can't stand that grinding and clicking.

Riding MTB since:
Started riding as a kid, my first MTB was a fully rigid bike. Got back into MTB when my kids got interested.

Favorite trail:
A trail I haven't ridden before, I always like a new challenge. 

Why I got involved:
THe NICA community is great! I wanted to help support the league, team, and my kids.  

Coach Katy

 

​Bike Likes:
Winding Single Track, Downhills.

Bike Dislikes:
Headers

Riding MTB since:
Been riding since 1995.  

Favorite trail:
Powerline Pass, AK

Why I got involved:
I love the freedom and constant challenge; being in the moment; Sharing in the experience with my kiddos. 



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Coach Sebastian

West hoco

Bike Likes:
Downhill (anywhere)

Bike Dislikes:
Uphill (anywhere)

Riding MTB since:
Been riding since 2019

Favorite trail:
Burke Mountain /Kingdom Trails, VT

Why I got involved:
More time to ride and help others learn 

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