HELLO ARKANSAS NICA!!!

We finished our main coach training season June 5&6 with the Leader’s Summit at Thaden School in Bentonville. We had a weekend full of information, fun, training, and riding for new and experienced coaches alike. One of the highlights was a panel discussion with advocates from across the cycling community to talk about what volunteerism means to their organizations and how NICA teams can work together with them.

Don’t worry! We still have coaching classes coming for coaches that haven’t had a chance to get to them yet – On-the-Bike Skills 101 and First Aid are already on the calendar, and On-the-Bike Skills 201 will be coming later in the summer.

Ride safe and happy,

Kyla, Terry, and the Arkansas NICA Team.

Raking Fridays

Rake what you Ride! Every Friday in June, Arkansas NICA, NWA Trailblazers, and FAST are teaming up to bring opportunities for student athletes, and families to give back to the trails. If you don’t live in NW Arkansas, get out on your local trails and rake there.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 11:00 AM

Meet at Coler Grove Parking Lot, 2500 NW Grove Lane, Bentonville

Brain Freeze Snow cones afterward.

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 11:00 AM

Meet at 2909 NE J Street, Bentonville

Optional, non-NICA ride of Keystone trails before they open after we rake them. Cookout and Kona Ice to follow!

Season Events Overview

We have a great season planned for the league, with some new concept events. NICA events are not the type of event you just show up for your own race and then leave – the great part about them is hanging with and cheering for your friends, experiencing the community and the venue together. The races are on Sundays with a preride of the course on Saturday afternoon after the course is set. Many choose to camp close by to extend their experience.

• August 7-8 – AR-MO Adventure at the High Ground Mountain Bike Preserve. This non-competition event will have us having fun on and off the bikes all day.  Camping will be allowed on site.
• August 28-29 – Prelude Time Trial at Sagar Creek Trails at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. Time trial was a brand new format for our league last year. Athletes start one at a time and will do one lap on the trails. Results from this race will stage our first race of the season.  
• September 11-12 – Race 1 at Spring Hill Park in Barling. We are back at a familiar venue for our first race. The course has spectating all along the course, which can make for an exciting race. 
• September 25-26 – Race 2 at Clysta Willett Park in Mountain Home. A brand new venue for us, this course was built by and for the NICA team in Mountain Home! We are excited to bring our whole league to this community.
• October 9-10 – Race 3 at Camp War Eagle east of Rogers. This is a private camp but they are allowing us to come on the property just for the race! We will also have a trail cleanup and preride day before our race.
• October 30-31 – Race 4 at Centennial Park in Fayetteville. These world class trails were home of the Oz Trails Pro Cup this spring and the World Championship Cyclocross race in January 2022.

Season Costs

• Registration for the league is $85.
• The two August events are $25 each.
• You can buy a four-race package for the Race Series before August 1 for $110. After that the races will be $40 individually.
• As always, fill out the financial aid form if cost is an issue for your family.

GRIT Rides This Weekend!

We have two opportunities for GRIT rides this weekend!

1. NWA GRiT Ride – FRIDAY. Meet at 8th Street Market by the big chair (SE corner) to ride the trails with pro riders Annike Beerten and Xylena Hoppen! We’ll share some snacks and Q&A time with the pros after we ride.

2. Central Ark GRiT Ride – GRiT Girls ride at the Monument Trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock Saturday at 9 am. Snacks and drinks afterward. Girls in NWA are welcome to this ride too! The proceeds of this race go to our Conway Bearcats NICA team

New Team Try-it-Out Events

We have new teams forming across the state! Do you know someone who would love to ride with NICA that lives in one of these towns? Tell them to come Try It Out!

Upcoming events:

Clarksville – June 26

North Little Rock – Date TBD

Dequeen – July 10

Check out our Facebook events page or email Terry@arkansasmtb.org for more information.

Arkansas NICA Season Events

August 7-8 – AR-MO Adventure

August 28-29 – Time Trial Season Prelude

September 11-12 – Race 1 – Spring Hill, Barling

September 25-26 – Race 2 – Clysta Willett Park, Mountain Home

October 9-10 – Race 3 – Camp War Eagle, Rogers

October 30-31 – Race 4 – Centennial Park, Fayetteville

Upcoming Coaching Classes

June 26 – NICA On-the-Bike Skills 101 in Clarksville

July 10 – NICA On-the-Bike Skills 101 in Pea Ridge

July 11 – NICA Approved 8 Hour First Aid in Little Rock

August 15 – NICA Approved 8 Hour First Aid in Springdale

Sign up for coach education on our Eventbrite Page!