The Dirt Destroyers

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Their home base is White Clay Creek State Park and the adjacent Middle Run Valley Natural Area, which together host Delaware’s most popular mountain biking trails, said Jim Martin, a freelance bike mechanic and a Dirt Destroyers coach.

Urban Promise in Wilmington – a nonprofit that espouses many of the same beliefs on how a sport can be more than a sport, under a “community in Christ” umbrella – fields another team, he said.

Martin, who lives in Milford, is forming a Southern Delaware team. This “composite” team will be named by members, and the trend is for boldness, judging by Pennsylvania teams: the Hellbenders in Southern Chester County, the Rattlers in York, the Hammers in Danville and the Delco Revolution.

The Delaware Interscholastic Cycling League also wants to create a team in central Delaware.

Youth in grades six-12 (public, private and homeschools) are eligible. There are no tryouts, and only basic riding skills are required. (For more details, visit https:// delwaremtb.org.)

The costs and the calendar

The Dirt Destroyers website breaks down the costs of participation: $50 team fee, $55-$75 for the required team jersey, $220 for for season registration and $45$100 for events registration.

Riders need their own mountain bike ($500-$600, Martin suggested) and are required to wear a helmet ($60) and closed-toe shoes. Gloves ($15-$20) and sunglasses are strongly recommended. Since equity is another do-good element that’s part of the league, teams find a way to financially help “anybody who wants to ride but can’t afford it,” Martin said. The season begins in July and August, with the Dirt Destroyers conducting two sessions a week on improving all sorts of skills. Coaches get training in things like first aid, CPR and child trafficking. All those skills are important for families to know “their children are safe under our watch,” Martin said.

The Dirt Destroyers’ season concludes in September and October with competitive races and adventures that have included visits to Pennsylvania parks for swimming and camping.

With Delaware ridership growing, the national association has explored Lums Pond and Fort du Pont for possible weekend events in the First State.

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