FAQ

No problem! We have athletes ranging from those that are brand new to trail riding to those that race competitively. While we often introduce/work on skills as a group, we also break up by ability whenever necessary so that all athletes are coached to their skill level and endurance. This is particularly true on the weekend trail rides.

Yes! We offer two pre-season interest rides for you to check it out. Make plans to join us at Rob Wallace Park (Midland) on October 26 at 2:00 or Fisher Farm Park (Davidson) on November 16 at 2:00. During these pre-season rides your child can meet some coaches and team members, ride the trails, play some games, and learn more about our program. This is a great way to see if your child likes riding the trails and can picture themselves on our team! Everyone who attends a pre-season ride, including parents, will need to complete a waiver to ride.

Once our season begins in December you may complete the waiver and attend one practice. The waiver may be found here: https://app.hellosign.com/s/GUoBgIVw. 

Yes!  Everyone is welcome on the team, regardless of whether they race or not.  The primary focus of the organization is youth development, not winning. While the majority of our athletes raced at least once last year, we had several who chose not to or were not able to race. Everyone is valued as a team member, whether they race or not.

A mountain bike and helmet. The mountain bike needs to have knobby tires (vs slick tires like a road bike) and cannot have bar ends. It is also important to have a water bottle and water bottle cage on the bike and/or hydration pack so the student-athlete can stay hydrated. Lastly, we require a strong front light for winter practices. If you need a recommendation on a light, please let us know.  We encourage that the light be a minimum of 500 lumens.

For the 2026 season the league will only have a single “all in” fee of $420 to cover league membership and event registration for all race weekends. To learn more about this fee structure, please click here. 

The 2026 league fee will cover all membership dues and race registrations. All who plan to race will need a team jersey, which we will order in early 2026. The jerseys typically cost around $60.

Absolutely. We (and the league) never want fees and/or the cost of equipment to be barriers to participating with the team. There is always a way for your child to participate. Just contact one of the primary coaches to confidentially discuss. 

You may also complete this scholarship application through NCICL.

In our experience, most bikes that come from a department store such as Walmart, Target and Academy fall apart and become unsafe pretty quickly when they are taken off road. Even though they may be called "mountain bikes"  the quality is so low that they don't hold up and fall apart. We spend more time working on them than we do actually riding them. However, if that's what you have we can definitely make it work for the short-term.

With that being said, there is a pretty robust used marketplace for bikes right now. The critical thing is finding a used one that isn't in bad condition. Look for a reputable brand such as the following: Trek, Giant, Scott, Jamis, Specialized, Santa Cruz, Niner, Pivot (and many more). These bikes usually start life out in a bike shop somewhere and are built to be maintained and repaired. 

We have several loaner bikes and a network of people who have bikes to lend out to allow your student athlete to experience the sport. These can be short term or long term loaners. It really depends on the size. We try not to let the lack of a bike be an excuse not to join up. Many of our families have bikes that their kids have outgrown and would be willing to loan or sell. Come join an interest ride or practice, and you'll find several coaches willing to help you out with the bike search.

Absolutely! The more coaches we have available, the more individualized attention we can provide our student-athletes.  Volunteering as a coach also gives you something to do while your athlete is on the trails and gives you a workout too!  All coaches are required to register with the league, obtain a background check, and take online courses in both concussion training and risk management. Learn more here.

Yes! Just as we have student-athletes of varying abilities and strengths, so too do the coaches. We are happy to share resources with you as well.

Of course!  We have many places you can help:

•  Manage social media 

• Obtain sponsors

• Take photographs at periodic practices or events

• Organize team dinners

• Provide food items on race weekends

Yes! We are always looking for team sponsors. We have various levels of team sponsorship available with corresponding recognition. Last year our jerseys were all paid for through sponsorships!

We also gratefully accept offers to sponsor students in need of help with fees and/or equipment.

We are excited to have your student-athlete join our team! 

1. Please reach out to one of the coaches in person or by email. They will notify the Team Director, who will send you access to Pitzone. Pitzone is the NICA platform for registration for both student-athletes and coaches. 

2. Once you have registered on Pitzone you will receive access to TeamSnap, an app that is used by all NCICL teams for communication within their teams. You will use TeamSnap weekly to communicate with team members, RSVP for all practices and events, share photos, and more.