Nope not at all! Racing in NICA is strictly optional. We encourage everyone to pre-ride and attend the race as spectators if they don’t want to race. Races are fun and exciting for everyone! You can pre-ride with the team on Saturday even if you don't race.

I am really scared about racing; should I wait to race until I am not scared?

Everyone is nervous about racing, even seasoned athletes! Even pros! Being scared or nervous is perfectly normal - it means you are challenging yourself with something new and exciting. Your coaches will give you strategies to deal with the nervousness and channel it into your race.

How long is a race?

Depending on the racer’s category, the races are 5-15 miles and 30-60 min long. Older, more experienced racers do 2-3 laps, while younger or newer racers ride 1 lap.

What is it like on the race course? Who will be racing with me?

You will race on a closed course along with the other racers in your category. Athletes are assigned to categories first based on grade and gender and then by previous race results and experience level. A single school grade will have multiple categories, usually A, B, C for boys and A and B for girls. Several stationary course marshals will be stationed along the course, along with three roving course marshals. There are timing chips at regular intervals that track racer’s progress.

What is the Pit Zone?

An area at the race venue for teams and athletes to congregate and store their bikes and gear. We will be given a designated section in Pit Zone to pitch our team tents. All the Missouri teams have a spot in Pit Zone, and it is a great place for athletes and coaches who are volunteering on race weekend to congregate, prep, and socialize with other teams. Unfortunately, we don't have room in Pit Zone for parents and other family members. Please join our family cheering section instead!

Can I pass other racers? Will I be passed?

Yes, passing is part of bike racing and we will review and practice passing at team practices. There are sections of any trail that make passing difficult and sections that are better for passing. We encourage all racers to communicate. Let other racers know that you want to pass when it is safe to do so. Safe places to pass include wider sections of trail and double-track sections. The rider being passed will indicate when they are comfortable with you passing, and then you can proceed to pass them. Except in rare circumstances, you will always pass on the left. Only pass on the right when the person you are passing explicitly tells you to. Riders being passed should not slow down or stop to let a rider pass, but instead move to one side or the other when it’s safe. You should not block someone from passing you, but should communicate when it’s safe for them to pass.

Where can I get information about the races, such as location, schedule, etc.?

The league will publish a flyer for every race that has all the essential details; see the Missouri Event Calendar or the Race Schedule page of our site. We’ll post all details on our Team Snap schedule. Please make sure to read all team emails, especially during race season. Please also review the league event guide, which has links to the NICA Handbook and Code of Conduct.

Why is the race weekend 2 days?

Putting on a NICA race is a big endeavor. From infield setup to course marking, there’s a lot to do. For most races, we set up the Otters Pit Zone on Saturday at noon. Then we have a coach pre-ride and an all team pre-ride, usually followed by a team dinner. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for parents and grown-ups. See the Race Schedule page for details on how you can help.

Athletes should plan on pre-riding on Saturday so you are prepared for the race; pre-riding is mandatory except in very limited, special circumstances. You will pre-ride with your normal ride group, and it is a lot like a regular practice ride. You are welcome to pre-ride even if you don't want to race! Often athletes end up wanting to race after they experience the pre-ride. There is an optional pre-ride on Sunday at 7am. You must arrange in advance with the head coaches to pre-ride on Sunday.

On Sundays we race! All the categories race between 9a-4pm. Your coaches will help you prepare and warm-up before your race. After racing concludes, we pitch in to break down the infield. Only after all that is done will the awards ceremony start, usually by 4:30pm. Afterwards, we finish packing up the Otters Pit Zone, and then head home.

We know this is a long weekend and a late arrival home on Sunday. We encourage you to stay for the entire day to support your teammates and to help with infield and Pit Zone tear down. It is fun, rewarding work and a great opportunity to get to know athletes and families from across the state.

Why are most of the races so far from St. Louis?

There are 30+ Missouri NICA league teams spread throughout the state, so races can be all over. While St Louis has great trails, we don’t have many trailheads that can accommodate 500+ people, the infield, and Pit Zone. Locales in the western part of the state have nice trails and venues that can accommodate larger groups of people. We are fortunate this year to travel only once to the far western part of the state and we look forward to our "home" race in Edwardsville!

What should I wear to race?

You must wear your team race jersey, and your race plate must be affixed to your bike. Coaches will collect your race plates after the racing - do not take it with you! As always, you must wear a helmet!

We suggest you wear padded bike shorts or bibs. You can wear baggie shorts over the bike shorts if you’d like. Note that padded shorts are meant to be worn directly next to your skin, so for maximum comfort, no underclothes under bike shorts.

It’s a good idea to bring dry clothes for after the race. We will have a private changing tent in our Pit Zone.

What time should I arrive for the race?

You should be in Pit Zone one hour before the scheduled pre-ride on Saturday. On race day, arrive at least 1.5 hours before your race so you have time to get ready, warm-up, have a snack, etc. Rushing on race day is the worst so give yourself more time than you think you need.

How will I know what to do, where to be, when to line up, etc.?

Make sure to read the race flyer and all of the event information in Team Snap. Then show up on time and the coaches and volunteers will walk you through everything else! The warm-up and race schedule will be posted on our whiteboard in Pit Zone, and there will be a big clock so you always know the time. We’ll also email a comprehensive weekend schedule with exact race and warm-up start times by the Friday preceding the race.

What should parents and grown-ups do on race weekend?

The most important thing is to help your athlete prepare before the race. Encourage them to take responsibility for making sure their gear is ready (see packing list) instead of packing it for them. Preparing a few days in advance will save the stress of last minute rushing.

Your athlete will be nervous about racing, whether it is their first race or their 20th. Leave space for their anxiety. Don't say "there's nothing to be nervous about". Instead, acknowledge that it is perfectly normal and expected that they are nervous and that everyone is nervous. Then remind them that they have been practicing and preparing for this and encourage them to focus on the fun and any personal goals they have set for themselves. Courage is showing up and trying even when we're scared - remind them that they are courageous and let them know you love them and are proud of them no matter what the race results. Encourage them to talk to coaches and other teammates about how they are feeling.

One of the most important things grown-ups can do on race weekend is - you guessed it - volunteer! The league has many volunteer positions that must be filled. Volunteering is fun, and the league will teach you everything you need to know. We also have many team volunteer positions available, and we will make sure that your volunteering does not interfere with watching your athlete race. See Race Schedule for links to volunteer. All families are expected to volunteer at least 3 hours per season, and race weekends are a great opportunity to fulfill this obligation.

On Saturday, your athlete will pre-ride with the team in their normal ride groups, and then they are free to leave. They must pre-ride to race, except in very limited, special circumstances, so please plan to arrive with plenty of time to pre-ride. After the pre-ride, they are free to leave. At most races, we have a team dinner, and the entire family is encouraged to attend.

On Sunday, please plan to arrive well in advance of your athlete's scheduled warm-up time. Rushing on race morning is a huge stress for the entire family, and allowing extra time is a great way to support your athlete and save your own sanity! One of the most important things an athlete can do on race day is EAT! Offer them a carb fueled breakfast. Like many athletes, they may be too nervous to eat but even a small breakfast is better than no breakfast. Encourage them to try because, as our favorite saying goes, eating wins races! We'll have lots of snacks for them in Pit Zone.

We don't have room for parents in Pit Zone, but we will have a parent tent (or two), so bring a chair, some drinks and snacks, a hat, and plenty of sunscreen and bug spray, and plan to spend the day cheering and supporting your athlete and athletes from across the state. You are welcome to cheer along the course in designated areas, but please respect off limit areas, and do not give your athlete any snacks or water on the course. Bring cowbells, noise makers, and your loud cheering voices! There are food trucks at most races, but lines can be long, so please bring your patience and also pack some filling snacks.

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