Question 1

What equipment will my rider need?

Accepted Answer

A safe, well functioning mountain bike:
Look for used or new bikes from reputable bike companies (Trek, Giant, Specialized, etc...) and avoid bikes from big box stores if possible (Target, Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc...).  Bikes from big box stores generally do not have components are durable enough to last a season.
Bikes do not need to be full suspension.  Most riders will do best on a front suspension bike (also known as a hardtail).  They are lighter and less expensive.
A single chain ring up front is preferred over multiple chain rings but is not required.  
A well fitting helmet:
All riders must have and wear a well fitting helmet any time they have a leg over their bike.  A well fitting helmet should not move around when shaking your head from side-to-side or nodding up-and-down.  
If possible, get a helmet with MIPs or some other concussion reduction technology.  Avoid inexpensive helmets as they are not as good at protecting heads from injury.  We only get one brain, so let's protect it well!  Here is a helpful link for fitting a bike helmet.
Clothing:
If your rider is looking to participate in races, they will need a team jersey.  There are a variety of styles and sizes.  The cost of jerseys is generally around $55-$110 depending on the style.  If the cost is a hindrance, please know that the team may have extra jerseys or may be able to support with that cost.  
In general, whatever clothing a rider might wear to do any outdoor activity will work for biking.  It is nice to have some layers for when the weather gets colder in the fall.
Shoes:
Basic tennis or athletic shoes will work great for most riders.  Shoes need to be able to securely connect the rider with the bike, so no flip-flops, crocs, slides, or shoes of that nature.  No open-toed shoes either.  
Water bottle or hydration pack:
Riders should have some way to carry water with them at practice and on adventure rides.  A water bottle works great, just be sure your rider's bike has a water bottle cage to hold the bottle.  Hydration packs work great and so does a light backpack that has a water bottle holder.  NOTE:  NO METAL WATER BOTTLES on bikes (they fall out of the bottle cage and create a hazard in the biking area).

Question 2

What are things that are nice to have as a rider?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the basics of a bike, helmet, cloths, shoes, and a water bottle there are many things that are really nice to have as a biker.  None of these are necessary but they can make the experience more enjoyable:
Padded biking shorts
Quick repair kit: spare tube, tire levers, small pump or CO2, bike specific multi-tool, quick link for chain, tire repair kit.  
A hydration pack or bike specific backpack/fanny pack to carry the repair kit items, layers of clothing for changing weather, and extra water. 
Bike specific shoes (Must be closed-toe)
Bugspray
Sunscreen

Question 3

When is the season and who can join?

Accepted Answer

The season runs from early-July through the end of October.  
Anyone who will be in grades 6-12 at the start of the school year in September can join.

Question 4

When and where are practices and what do riders do at practice?

Accepted Answer

Practices occur twice a week for most of the season, weather permitting.  The first 5-6 practices will be in DeForest, typically at Rivers Turn Park (4601 Innovation Drive, and are focused on basic skills for newer riders and building upon skills for experienced riders.  After this first set of practices, then we will have a skills practice each week and an adventure ride each week where we can apply our skills on real mountain bike trails!  We also tend to play a lot of games at practices that help us practice skills on and off the bike, as well as help us build a fun and supportive community.

For the 2025 season we will practice in DeForest every Monday at local parks - these will be our skills practices.  After our initial 5-6 practices we will try to make our second practice each week an adventure ride.  These trail rides will take place at mountain bike parks in the area such as Sheehan (Sun Prairie), CamRock (Cambridge), Middleton Bike Park, Trek Trails (Waterloo).  We may also get to ride some private mountain bike trails as well!  When possible these trail rides will typically be on Wednesday evenings each week (If no trail ride is available on a Wednesday we will meet at our regular practice location instead).

Although time can vary slightly based on our location and the time of sunset at the end of the season Monday and Wednesday rides are typically from 5:30 - 7:00 PM.

Question 5

As a parent, what is expected of me?

Accepted Answer

Without parents we wouldn't have a team.  You are the ones who transport the riders, purchase the equipment, check emails, and all sorts of things that help our team support our riders!  So thank you!  
Our team needs help from all parents to help create a safe and fun experience for all of our riders.  
Please read all messages from the team and ask questions.  Questions help the team figure out what is best to communicate to families.   
Ensure your rider is abiding by the NICA code of conduct at all times.  When you register with NICA you will be asked to read and agree to the rider code of conduct.  Members of our team represent the team and NICA wherever they are and it is expected that they will be safe, responsible, and respectable at practices, races, events, and in the community.

Question 6

How much does it cost to join?

Accepted Answer

Our fees for joining are relatively low and if the fees are a concern there are many options to support you with these fees.  All together to join our team costs $460.  This amount will cover all league and team fees and allow your rider to practice with our team.

$100 is our local team fee, however we have a sliding scale.  When you register for our team you may elect to pay $25-$150 depending on what is a comfortable amount for your family.   You pay these fees on our team website.  Head over the "Join Us" page.
 
$360 is the newly consolidated fee for NICA, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling League (WICL), NICA technology fee, and event fees.

NICA is the national organization the provides support and infrastructure for our team.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Cycling League (WICL) fee is the Wisconsin League which organizes all of the festival weekends and Wisconsin events, as well as numerous other supports for our team.

The $360 consolidate fee is paid on the NICA PitZone website.  If you are a new rider you will receive an email from the NICA PitZone asking you to join.  If you are a returning rider you can login at any time.

As part of the new consolidated fee there are NO additional fees to participate in Festival Weekends, events, and rides. (An additional fee is still required if you opt to camp at the festival site)

A jersey is required to race and our jersey's run from $55-$125.  Podium wear supplies our jerseys.  Info about how to purchase these will come out in April or May.  Jersey's typically must be purchased by mid-July in order for them to arrive before the first Festival Weekend.

Question 7

Can I donate to the team?

Accepted Answer

Uh, yeah!  We could use any of the following items:
Bike Maintenance Tools: Maintenance Kits, pumps, Allen key kits
Bike Repair Stand
Bike parts (tubes, chains, a set of pedals, quick links, grips, etc...)
A-Frame Bike Stand (a stand that holds multiple bikes at races and other events and folds easily for transport)
Portable tool box or bin for holding various tools and parts.  
A storage place for equipment.  We do not have a storage facility or team trailer, so if you have a place where you can store equipment that coaches can access, that would be great.  The items that need storing are a team canopy/tent (about 6' x 2' x 2' and very heavy), team flags (6' long, but very light and skinny), a tool box or bin, the team loaner bikes (2), etc...

Question 8

Level 1 coach/volunteer? YES YOU CAN DO THIS!

Accepted Answer

Our greatest need as a team is for parents to become Level 1 Coaches/Volunteers.  Don't worry you don't need to do any actual coaching and you don't need to be an avid biker!  Level 1 coaches (I prefer to use the term "volunteers") are crucial to the success of our team.  Level 1 volunteers help out the team in many ways:
At skills practices you will be there to help keep kids safe and having fun.  You might be great at pumping kids up by cheering them on, giving them high-fives, and participating in games.  You can model a growth mindset by trying the skills yourself.  You don't have to coach kids on how to bike (unless you want to), you just have to be there to help the Level 2 and 3 coaches maintain a safe and fun environment. 
On adventure rides you will ride at the back of a group of riders to make sure we don't lose any one and to be there in case there is an accident or bike malfunction.  You will always be with a Level 2 or 3 coach who will lead the ride and you will be in radio contact (or using an app) to communicate if a rider or you need support.  You will also only go on trails that you are comfortable with.
At races you will be able to pre-ride the course with the team!  This is awesome because every course is unique and you can only ride it if you are a certified NICA coach.  You will again be paired with Level 2 or 3 coaches and ride at the back of a group just like adventure rides. 
At races you will also be able to help riders by handing them water and/or food in the FeedZone.  Only High School riders have a FeedZone.  We need Level 1 coaches for this role and it is great for someone who wants to help, but doesn't want to get on a bike.

How do I become a Level 1 Coach/Volunteer?
Reach out to the head coach and let them know you are interested.  They will send you an invite to begin the certification process.  
The certification process involves you taking a few on-line courses about safety and the NICA philosophy (takes about 2-3 hours).  
You will pay a small fee to get your coach license (the team will reimburse this fee if you like).  
Why should I become a Level 1 Coach/Volunteer?
The team needs you!  Our riders need you!  
It's super fun!  You get to mountain bike.  It might not seem like it at first, but as kids see you ride more and develop your skills you will build up some serious cred and respect!

Question 9

What are festival weekends like?

Accepted Answer

Festival (race) weekends are awesome!  Before each race a festival weekend itinerary will be shared with you with details for that race.  Festival weekends have events on Saturday and Sunday.  You can expect lots of cheering, noise makers of all kinds, thousands of people running all over, and generally a ton of fun!

On Saturdays there are all kinds of fun things going on that you and your rider may want to be a part of.  The team can pre-ride the course on Saturday.  There are GRiT rides and events (GRiT = Girls Riding Together).  There are adventure courses set up for riders.  You can also expect some food venders around.

You can also camp at the race on race weekends.  Our team usually has a group that camps at every race.  Camping at the races is super fun and super convenient since everything is a bike ride away from our camping area.  In the evening we usually have a bunch of fire pits going (where allowed) and we hang out, roast marshmallows, and have fun.

Racing is NOT required, but we highly encourage every rider to give it a try.  Even if a rider chooses not to race, they can still participate in all of the other race weekend activities!

Question 10

Festival weekend camping

Accepted Answer

Camping at Festival Weekends is awesome!  Camping is nothing fancy at NICA events, but it is tons of fun.  We get a camping area based on who is coming from our team and the equipment they are using.  When registering for camping is available it will be done on our "Shop" page.

Below is what you need to know about camping at Event Weekends:
When?
The team must register our equipment and the number of people camping by midnight of the Friday one week prior to the race weekend.  That means you will need to reserve your space a little more than 10 days before the race weekend.  Reservations are not refundable.  Information will come to you via email about reservations.  
Where?
We camp in a large field.  There are no private sights.  We will always be grouped as a team and there will be plenty of room for all of our camping gear and space for us to gather together around some fire pits (except for Englewood where fire pits are not allowed).  
What to expect?​
Fun!  Camping with the team is fun for adults and riders.  There are always activities for the riders and they tend to have a lot of fun together.  The adults tend to gather together and enjoy some refreshments and conversation.
Bare bones amenities - we camp in large grass fields.  There are porta-potties and hand washing stations.  At some events water is available to fill water tanks - at other races there is not.  There are limited food options.  Firewood may or may not be available.  Basically, bring anything you think you'll need for camping.  
Who can camp?
All families that have a rider on the team can camp at the races.  
Tents, RVs, Toy Haulers, Motor Homes, etc...  Anything you can camp in will be at the campgrounds and you can use whatever equipment you have.  The league also has rental equipment if you are new to camping and don't want to purchase the equipment yet.

Frequently asked questions