Kit Information
There are two critical things to know.
So if you're not sure if you want to race, but you want to keep the option open, you need to at least order a jersey!
- A team jersey is required to race with the team (NICA rules)
- There is one main order each season
- There is often (but not always) a re-order in mid-January
So if you're not sure if you want to race, but you want to keep the option open, you need to at least order a jersey!
2020 Voler Order
Here is the link for this year’s order
https://www.voler.com/custom/ordering/li/31852
The deadline for the order is 12/8/2019
Items will be shipped directly to you at the end of January.
We will have “Fit Kits” at the team kickoff party on 12/1/2019, so you can find out your size and check out different types of jerseys. If you can’t make it to the kickoff party, you can stop by some other time in the week following and try on a kit.
https://www.voler.com/custom/ordering/li/31852
The deadline for the order is 12/8/2019
Items will be shipped directly to you at the end of January.
We will have “Fit Kits” at the team kickoff party on 12/1/2019, so you can find out your size and check out different types of jerseys. If you can’t make it to the kickoff party, you can stop by some other time in the week following and try on a kit.
2020 Voler Re-Order
Here is the link for the re-order
https://www.voler.com/custom/ordering/li/32502
The deadline for the re-order is 1/15/2020
Items will be shipped directly to you at the beginning of March, just in time for the first race.
https://www.voler.com/custom/ordering/li/32502
The deadline for the re-order is 1/15/2020
Items will be shipped directly to you at the beginning of March, just in time for the first race.
Kit Cost
Voler sponsors us with a NICA discount, which helps keep the cost down. A basic kit (jersey and bib shorts) usually costs about $160. How much it costs exactly depends on what exactly you order. The prices in the Voler custom order link reflect the discount.
Just the Basics
When you look at the order website, there are a lot of choices! The most common order is:
1) Pro Jersey, race cut, with no "extras". Pro Tip - don't check the "national champion" box unless you actually are one!
2) Pro Bib Shorts, with the basic pad
3) a LOT of people get a Wind Jacket too! For about $65 they're very sharp and super useful.
1) Pro Jersey, race cut, with no "extras". Pro Tip - don't check the "national champion" box unless you actually are one!
2) Pro Bib Shorts, with the basic pad
3) a LOT of people get a Wind Jacket too! For about $65 they're very sharp and super useful.
Finding Your Size
We normally get a “fit kit” from Voler for a couple of weeks in late November for you to try things on in person. Also here are the descriptions of the latest styles offered in the Voler Custom Product Catalog, that can help a lot, as well as Voler's sizing charts.
What do the kits look like?
Here are some pictures of our 2019 (last year's season) kits for reference. Yes, we also have pink team socks available for $10 a pair, just ask the team director he's got a box of them somewhere. We plan to keep the kit design almost 100% the same for 2020
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What does the Trail Jersey look like?
The trail jersey is different, and looks great with baggies for fun rides. You can’t use it for races though, it’s too different from the regular kit. If you want to race in baggies, consider the XC jersey instead.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything else that you might want to know about kits.
Do I need a full kit?
At a minimum you need a team jersey to race with the team, so you don’t technically need the matching shorts or bibs. While there will always be a few racers out there in baggies or plain black shorts, most of the other riders on our team and on other teams will have the full kit. It is more comfortable and it looks really sharp. Let us know if the kit cost is an issue for you, we have some funding available to help.
Can I use last year’s kit?
Yes you can, but it’s generally not recommended. We like you to be wearing the current sponsors, and last years stuff will always look faded and worn compared to a new kit. Also, it’s really smart to have a second kit in case something happens to one of them. Most kids wear their prior year's kits to practices and race in the new kit. Let us know if kit cost is an issue for you.
Can I race in the Trail Jersey?
Nope. It’s missing most of the sponsors, and looks pretty different from the regular jerseys. If you want the full “loose fit” look, get an XC Jersey and some baggies - the XC Jersey design is like the regular jersey, but without elastic anywhere so it goes well with baggies.
What about a jacket or vest?
We’ve ordered the wind jacket, the thermal jacket, and the rain jacket before. I highly recommend the wind jackets, they don't cost much, look really good, and everyone who gets one gets a ton of use out of them. They are often just right in that you can easily stick it in your back pocket for the ride up, and it is just the thing on the ride down. I don’t particularly recommend the rain jacket, the ones we got just ended up sitting around mostly unused. The thermal jackets are nice, but really only got used in January, and only by those who have a harder time keeping warm.
What’s the difference between a “Velocity” jersey and a “Pro” jersey?
We will have fit kits for both in late November - come check them out and see for yourself! Most kids get the Pro jerseys, but some of us have been using the Velocity jerseys for cyclocross and we really like them. Velocity is thinner/cooler and generally tighter fitting and stretchier. So the Velocity fit is a little more "roadie", but this is popular with the faster racers.
Bibs or Shorts?
For boys, bibs are highly recommended for comfort and speed. Shorts are too constricting and they actually slow you down as a result. For girls, the tradeoffs are a little different because many girls find that the shorts aren’t that constricting, so most girls opt for the shorts because they’re a lot more convenient - with bibs, you have to take off your shirt to take off your pants and this can be a real pain when visiting the porta-potties at races. However, if you want the best for comfort and speed bibs are still the way to go, and most serious women racers use bibs.
Tight or loose fit?
Roadies always have the tightest most aero fit possible. General MTB culture tends to opt for baggies and loose fitting shirts. Cross Country MTB racers are a bit of a mix, but at NorCal the trend is clear - speed is king and the faster the racer is, the tighter they like their kit to fit. In prior years at states we’ve seen that at SoCal style has a strong say, and a decent percentage of the SoCal riders are racing in baggies. Having said that, loose bibs/shorts are never good - they are not as comfortable and can snag on your seat during an emergency dismount/remount.
Can I get a roadsuit?
Yes you can. Some of the fastest racers opt for a one piece roadsuit for comfort and fit. There is no such thing as snagging your jersey on your seat in a roadsuit. In past years we’ve had top racers opt for the Velocity Road Skinsuit, and it worked great for them. Still they’re not that common even at NorCal, but if the fastest racers are choosing them there is a reason for it. If you're racing Varsity, you should at least consider it.
Do Middle Schoolers need a kit?
There are no NICA NorCal races for Middle Schoolers (yet!), so no need to have a kit. However if you're riding practices with us you'll want cycling clothes and these are popular among people riding with the team! Also, if you plan to race Sea Otter or CCCX races, a lot of the middle schoolers who ride with us race in a Black Mountain kit at these events. Plus, they look sharp!
Do I need a full kit?
At a minimum you need a team jersey to race with the team, so you don’t technically need the matching shorts or bibs. While there will always be a few racers out there in baggies or plain black shorts, most of the other riders on our team and on other teams will have the full kit. It is more comfortable and it looks really sharp. Let us know if the kit cost is an issue for you, we have some funding available to help.
Can I use last year’s kit?
Yes you can, but it’s generally not recommended. We like you to be wearing the current sponsors, and last years stuff will always look faded and worn compared to a new kit. Also, it’s really smart to have a second kit in case something happens to one of them. Most kids wear their prior year's kits to practices and race in the new kit. Let us know if kit cost is an issue for you.
Can I race in the Trail Jersey?
Nope. It’s missing most of the sponsors, and looks pretty different from the regular jerseys. If you want the full “loose fit” look, get an XC Jersey and some baggies - the XC Jersey design is like the regular jersey, but without elastic anywhere so it goes well with baggies.
What about a jacket or vest?
We’ve ordered the wind jacket, the thermal jacket, and the rain jacket before. I highly recommend the wind jackets, they don't cost much, look really good, and everyone who gets one gets a ton of use out of them. They are often just right in that you can easily stick it in your back pocket for the ride up, and it is just the thing on the ride down. I don’t particularly recommend the rain jacket, the ones we got just ended up sitting around mostly unused. The thermal jackets are nice, but really only got used in January, and only by those who have a harder time keeping warm.
What’s the difference between a “Velocity” jersey and a “Pro” jersey?
We will have fit kits for both in late November - come check them out and see for yourself! Most kids get the Pro jerseys, but some of us have been using the Velocity jerseys for cyclocross and we really like them. Velocity is thinner/cooler and generally tighter fitting and stretchier. So the Velocity fit is a little more "roadie", but this is popular with the faster racers.
Bibs or Shorts?
For boys, bibs are highly recommended for comfort and speed. Shorts are too constricting and they actually slow you down as a result. For girls, the tradeoffs are a little different because many girls find that the shorts aren’t that constricting, so most girls opt for the shorts because they’re a lot more convenient - with bibs, you have to take off your shirt to take off your pants and this can be a real pain when visiting the porta-potties at races. However, if you want the best for comfort and speed bibs are still the way to go, and most serious women racers use bibs.
Tight or loose fit?
Roadies always have the tightest most aero fit possible. General MTB culture tends to opt for baggies and loose fitting shirts. Cross Country MTB racers are a bit of a mix, but at NorCal the trend is clear - speed is king and the faster the racer is, the tighter they like their kit to fit. In prior years at states we’ve seen that at SoCal style has a strong say, and a decent percentage of the SoCal riders are racing in baggies. Having said that, loose bibs/shorts are never good - they are not as comfortable and can snag on your seat during an emergency dismount/remount.
Can I get a roadsuit?
Yes you can. Some of the fastest racers opt for a one piece roadsuit for comfort and fit. There is no such thing as snagging your jersey on your seat in a roadsuit. In past years we’ve had top racers opt for the Velocity Road Skinsuit, and it worked great for them. Still they’re not that common even at NorCal, but if the fastest racers are choosing them there is a reason for it. If you're racing Varsity, you should at least consider it.
Do Middle Schoolers need a kit?
There are no NICA NorCal races for Middle Schoolers (yet!), so no need to have a kit. However if you're riding practices with us you'll want cycling clothes and these are popular among people riding with the team! Also, if you plan to race Sea Otter or CCCX races, a lot of the middle schoolers who ride with us race in a Black Mountain kit at these events. Plus, they look sharp!
