Jake is a board member of BicycLincoln and a youth cycling coach. He writes here about youth cycling opportunities from learning to ride to local USA Cycling sanctioned youth cycling.
Coaching youth (and beyond!) cycling in Lincoln and Lancaster County
Lincoln and Lancaster County have several fantastic opportunities for kids and adults to learn and coach cycling. From learning to ride a bike to off-road riding and even mountain bike racing, there are plenty of opportunities for all ages to get involved. Each of these local opportunities are staffed by wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time to getting more people on bikes.
Wheelie Good Ride Academy
Wheelie Good Ride Academy is a local non-profit dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of how to ride a bike to all ages, kids through adults. Classes begin with fun balance games, progress through balance bikes, and on to pedal bikes for those that feel ready. Now featuring several coaches, the academy hosts regular training sessions for all ages and attends several community events such as earth day and a booth/kids race at Gravel Worlds, hosted in August at the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln. Interested in signing up as a ride or a coach? Head on over to http://www.wheeliegoodrideacademy.org to learn more about the program and register, new classes begin each month!
DEVO
DEVO, founded in 2010 in Omaha, now has several riding groups throughout Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa. Focused on developing fundamental mountain bike / off road riding skills for kids age 5-18, DEVO groups meet weekly and progress through a skillset in age groups. Lincoln DEVO sessions are held on Mondays in June and July at both Wilderness Park and Van Dorn Park. Coaches for DEVO receive coach specific training on the skills before the season starts, and have first aid training along with a background check. Interested in signing your child up for DEVO? Kids of age that can ride a pedal bike without training wheels can sign up at http://www.nebraskadevo.org/register. Registration opens on April 1st, and act fast, it sells out every year! As a bonus, coaches get early sign up for their children, so if you’re interested in guaranteeing a spot and would like to coach head to http://www.nebraskadevo.org/coaches to fill out an interest form. Several coaches do not have kids in the program so it’s certainly not a requirement.
NICA
NICA, or National Interscholastic Cycling Association, was founded in 2009 in California. Since then, NICA has expanded to 33 leagues in 31 states (plus Australia!). The Nebraska league was founded in 2019 and now features teams throughout Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa. Practice begins in July, with 5 race weekends throughout August and October. Our local team, Lancaster Composite, is composed of kids and coaches throughout the Lancaster County and surrounding areas. Students entering 5th grade through Seniors in high school are welcome to join. Practices are held throughout Lancaster County on Thursday evenings each week. Students learn the basics of mountain biking / off road riding, then begin to learn race techniques and goal setting. The Lancaster Composite team is split into three groups by ability, ensuring kids ride in like minded / ability groups. Coaches are volunteers, with 3 levels of NICA coaching certification to be achieved. To start coaches will pass a background check, some health and first aid training, and register with the league. As coaches progress through the certification phases they will receive more league training with focuses on interacting with children, setting goals and plans, interacting with the league, and advanced first aid. Like DEVO, many coaches do not have kids on the team. Lancaster Composite welcomes kids and coaches of all skill levels to join the team, with a try a ride option for one practice before signing up. Interested in registering your child for our next season? Visit http://www.nebraskamtb.org/student-athletes/. Interested in signing up to coach youth MTB racing? Visit www.nebraskamtb.org/coaches/become-a-coach/ for more information about coaching with NICA.
Inspire MTB Team
Inspire MTB Team is Lincoln’s local USA Cycling sanctioned youth cycling club catering to MTB riding. This group of youth athletes meets throughout the week at various locations in Lincoln and the surrounding areas to practice a higher level of MTB racing, with athletes competing in NOS (Nebraska Offroad Series) races as well as large events throughout the Midwest. Athletes and coaches have USA Cycling licenses that are yearly paid dues allowing them to compete and coach in USA Cycling sanctioned races anywhere in the country. Interested in signing up your athlete or volunteering as a coach? Visit www.usacycling.sport80.com/public/widget/1 and search for Inspire MTB for instructions on reaching out.