Overview: Practices are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning in early July and running through October. Athletes ride in groups based on age and skill level. Most practices start at trailheads along Mt Rose Highway, including: Callahan Park, Thomas Creek, Sky Tavern, Tamarack Lake, Tahoe Meadows and Incline Flume. Fridays are longer trail rides and sometimes in other parts of Reno or Carson City. As the season proceeds practices end after dark. A good bike light is required so that we can ride after the sun goes down.
Team Snap: All team communication is done through the Team Snap phone app and website. Athletes are expected to mark availability on Team Snap for each practice to allow coaches to make ride groups.
Prior to practice athletes need to:
- Mark availability in TeamSnap – by noon day of practice
- Fuel up and hydrate.
- ABCDE bike check – lube chain, inflate tires
- Tire pressure recommendation:
- Tubeless Tires: front 18-22 psi, rear 20-24 psi
- Tube Tires: front 20-24 psi, rear 22-26 psi
- Tire pressure recommendation:
- Bring to practice: bike, helmet, water, nutrition (energy bar), bike light, bike tube for your bike’s wheel size, quick link for your bike’s chain (these vary by the number of gears your bike has), clothing appropriate for the season (by late fall carry a light jacket).
Practice Schedule
Before practice – DO NOT ride in parking lot – NO WHEELIES EVER
- 5:30 -5:45 – arrive at trailhead
- 5:45 5:55 – gear up and check-in, get group assignment, bike check
- 5:50-5:55 – coach meeting – athletes in their groups
- 5:55-6:00 – check in with group coach, practice plan
- 6:00 practice starts
- Monday and Wednesday practice is 2 hours.
- Friday practice is 2.5 hours.
- Practice ends with debrief, stretch and check-out with coach.
- Athlete Pickup
- 8:00pm Monday and Wednesday
- 8:30pm Fridays.
After practice – DO NOT RIDE in parking lot – NO WHEELIES
- Coaches available for athlete questions
- Socializing
- Stretch
Riding Groups: Athletes ride in groups are organized by color. Grade level is taken into account in the way the athletes are grouped. Groups maintain NICA athlete-to-coach ratios for safety.
- Black – varsity boys
- Blue – grades 10-12 (non-varsity boys)
- Green – grades 8-9
- Maroon – grades 10-12 – combo of racers and non-racers
- Orange – grades 10-12 – combo of racers and non-racers
- Red – grades 8-9
- Silver – middle school only
- Teal – high school only
- White – middle school only
- Yellow – middle school only
Parents – please contact coaches outside of practice time if you have questions so that we are able to focus on the athletes. Thank you!
