Executive Director's Note

With the finish of our fall league season and my recent participation at the IMBA World Summit along with four NICA student-athletes, I am feeling incredibly thankful for everyone who has contributed to our efforts to get more kids riding and adults coaching! While the league races garner the greatest attention, what is happening on team rides, workouts, trail work days and behind the scenes between coaches and student-athletes is where NICA's greatest impact lies.

The stories I hear from student-athletes, parents and coaches across NICA leagues paint an incredibly powerful and meaningful picture of the true power of organized bicycling to help today's youth gain their footing as they enter adulthood. I encourage you to read Teen Trail Corps Captain Izzy Phraner's speech from the IMBA World Summit reception as her story is reflective of what many NICA student-athletes are experiencing.

As Izzy demonstrates, our efforts are having a profound impact on those involved and participation continues to steadily increase as word spreads about NICA across America. Now is the time for us to come together to Share the Ride with more communities who have yet to experience interscholastic cycling under the mentorship of NICA licensed coaches.

I hope that you will support the brands that make our efforts possible this holiday season by shopping from our Annual Gift Guide and that you might consider bidding on a chance to score a much coveted entry into the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo; act today as the auction closes tomorrow!

Thanks for riding with us this year and may you and your family enjoy the holidays safely.

Austin McInerny

NICA's Official Holiday Gift Guide: 2016

It's that time of year again! No matter which holiday(s) you celebrate, we have you covered with a fantastic line-up of gift ideas, brought to you by NICA, our sponsors and partners.

From discount codes to stocking stuffers, there's something for everyone inside!

View NICA's Official Holiday Gift Guide: 2016!

Win A #24HOP Team Entry

Celebrating 18 years of riding single track in the Sonoran Desert, the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo presented by Tucson Medical Center is one of the largest 24 Hour events in the world.

The event, which will be held on February 17-19, 2017 in Tuscon Arizona, sold out in a record 37 hours. But, fortunately for those who weren't able to register in time, there is still a chance to win a team entry in the #24HOP Registration Fun-Raiser!

There are three last chances to win a team entry for the #24HOP. The second-annual Fun-Raiser is an eBay-style auction where all proceeds will go to benefit three non-profit organizations, with NICA being one of them! Not only will the highest bidder in each of the three auctions win a team entry, but they'll also be contributing to three very worthy causes, so we encourage everyone vying for a spot to bid early and often.

What are you waiting for? Bid for NICA!

Ten Days Left to Share the Ride!

December 15th marks the end of NICA's Share the Ride fundraising campaign!

Our goal is to raise $100,000 for youth cycling, and thanks to those who have donated so far, we're well on the way! You can choose to donate directly to an existing NICA League, or to the National Office so we can keep sharing the NICA experience around the country.

Want to learn more about what you're supporting!? Check out the stories behind the images above.

2016 IMBA World Summit Recap

Earlier this month IMBA held their biennial World Summit in Bentonville, AR. The event provided a forum for learning, sharing ideas, and developing new collaborations. Attendees attended sessions that ranged in topics from women in mountain biking to e-bikes, and from bikepacking to advocacy.

One of the most talked about presences at the summit was that of the NICA's collaboration with IMBA, REI, and Shimano to create the Teen Trail Corps - a program designed to inspire and train the next generation of trail stewards and advocates.

“Mountain biking has, for me, provided the tools to deal with the stressors of a rigorous academic and professional life, as well as teaching me the importance of community.” - Isabelle Phraner, NICA Alumna.

Read the whole story here.

Partner Spotlight: Training Peaks & LW Coaching

TrainingPeaks offers a great blog for the latest training, racing, nutrition and coaching insight from the leading experts in endurance sports. Both Training Peaks and LW Coaching are supporters of NICA and author educational resources for mountain bike athletes, including this great training article:

“Unlike road riding, there is no magical most-efficient rpm range for mountain bike racing. On the trail, you need to be great at mashing a low cadence when you have run out of gears on long steep climbs. You also need to spin a high cadence for accelerations to pass riders, accelerate out of corners and in to obstacles.”

Read the entire article: Four Cadence Training Workouts for Mountain Bike Racers

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