FAQ
The following are anawers to frequently asked questions​
What age levels can particpate?
Any high school, middle school, or elementary school. All students from 5th to 12th grade can participate. No elementary students are allowed to participate.
What schools can participate?
Any student attending a public, charter, or private school Durham County that does not have a NICA school-based team will join Durham Composite. If your school already has a team, you are required to join that team. Please note that NICA determines team placement based on the school your child attends and not where you live.
What if my child is home schooled?
Home-school students can participate if their home-school is registered in Durham County.
What is the team seaosn?
The pre-season starts Oct 1 (regular season begins Dec 1) and the season ends early June.
When do team practice?
Practices will vary by individual teams. However, in general, teams practice days are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday or Sunday. All practices are optional.
Where do teams ride?
Location can vary depending on the conditions. Common riding locations are Brumley Nature Preserve, Carolina North Forest, Durham Stadium, Little River Park.
What riding level do you need to join?
We don’t teach students to ride a bike and expect riders to come with basic riding skills. We base group rides on ability. We do teach basic mountain bike skills. If your son/daughter is an advanced rider we will move them up into a faster group.
Is riding mountain bikes dangerous?
NICA has a strong track record of being very safe, however, mountain biking, like any sport/activity, can be dangerous. Students are required to wear helmets and ride with a coach at all times. NOTE: Biking cannot be made safe – it always has an inherent risk. NICA's first priority is the safety of our student-athletes.
What equipment do you need?
We know mountain biking can be a cost commitment. If new we suggest trying it out, bring yourself, a mountian bike, gloves, and helment. For some team practices, a bike light will also be neccesary. As students athletes progress and choose to do more, like races, we would suggest you check out NICA's pre-race equipment checklist.
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If you are thinking about buying a bike, we suggest you talk with a coach first to learn more about what bike will be best for your child for participating in NICA events.
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Durham County does have some loaner bikes that can be borrowed if you cannot afford a mountain bike or want to try it out first before investing in one.
What type of training do coaches have?
All coaches are NICA trained and have concussion and risk management training as well as a background check.
Can I ride or coach with the team?
If you become a NICA level coach and do the NICA concussion and risk management training as well as background check you can coach.
Do girls participate on the teams?
Yes, we have many female athletes who ride and race. NICA also offers the Girls Ride Together (GRIT) events that are designed to encourage and support female riders.
Do you have to race?
No, racing is optional. We do encourage all team members to try a race. The NC NICA league also hosts several non-ride events.
Student riders will race against their same gender and level student athletes.