FAQ's

Questions?  We have answers for you!

Who is Orem Youth Cycling Association and what is NICA? 

  • Orem Youth Cycling Association is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been set up to promote and encourge mountian biking in Orem and the surrounding communities.  We support the following teams which are registered with the Utah High School Cycling League: Timpanogos HS, Orem HS, Mountain View HS, and Orem Junior Developement.  The Utah League is a chapter of NICA the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.  NICA develops interscholastic mountain biking programs for student athletes across the United States.

Who can be on the team?

  • Girls & boys, starting 7th-12th grades in the fall and attending the following schools:
    • 10-12 graders enrolling at Timpanogos, Orem, or Mountain View high schools this fall.
    • 7-9 graders enrolling at Lakeridge, Canyon View, Oak Canyon, or Orem junior high schools and plan to attend one of the high schools listed above.
    • 6th graders graduating elementary school this spring and beginning 7th grade this fall at one of the junior high schools listed abover can register. 

What if I’m home schooled or attend private school?

  • No problem, if you live in the boundaries for Timpanogos, Orem, or Mountain View high schools, you can participate on the team.

How do you decide who is on the team? 

  • League guidelines state that our teams are inclusive. There are no try outs. We will accept any fitness, endurance, or skill level. We have ride groups that practice at all levels. We train in those groups for 3-5 races that happen in various locations in the state.

How often do you practice and how long are they?

  • Between April and May, we will have 6-8 preseason activities focusing primarily on skills, maintenance, and safety.  From June 1st through the end of October, the team will have 2-3 practices each week.  Weekday practices are 2 hours (Tues & Thurs).  Saturday morning practices can go as long as 4-5 hours (including travel time) depending on where we ride.

Where do you ride?

  • For most practices we meet at Timpanogos High School and ride to Provo Canyon, the Timp Foothills, Dry Canyon, & Valley Vista.  Meeting locations can change and will be indicated on the calendar in TeamSnap.  We will do some Saturday rides up AF Canyon, Heber Valley, Park City, Eagle Mountain, or other locations.

Who rides with the kids?

  • Coaches and ride leaders will ride with the kids. We try to have at least 2 ride leaders in each group with no more than 6 kids per ride leader.  The coaches and ride leaders are all trained on safety, skills, and first-aid.

As a parent, can I ride with the team? 

  • Absolutely! You will need to register with NICA, complete the waivers, a background check, and a few online courses but it’s a relatively painless process.  Everyone who rides with the team must be at least level 1 certified through NICA.  To get started or to learn more, click on become a ride leader under the volunteer tab.  We would love for you to take the next step, complete the level 2 certification, and help us by becoming a ride leader.

Is mountain biking a sanctioned high school sport?

  • Teams are not part of the Utah High School Athletic Association.  Instead, they are operated as an athletic club sport for each of the high schools.  As a club, all coaches and other supporting staff are volunteers and all costs are covered by sponsorships, donors, and team fees.

Can my business sponsor your team? 

  • Absolutely! Visit our sponsor page for more details on sponsorship levels and benefits.

What does it costs? 

What equipment do I need? 

  • Mountain Bike – This needs to be a quality bike from a bike shop.  We’ve found that dept. store bikes won’t hold up to the abuse.
  • Helmet – One that fits properly and meets current certifications.  If it’s been kicking around your garage for a couple of years you might need a new one.
  • Team Kit – Jersey/shorts
  • Hydration – A hydration pack or water bottles & cages.
  • Closed Toe Shoes & Gloves
  • Spare tube, pump, tire levers
  • Chain Lube

Are the coaches paid?

  • No.  All of the head coaches, team directors, ride leaders, and others do this because we love the kids and the sport.  We do our best to keep things organized and running smoothly but be patient with us, we all have full-time jobs and families too.