Illinois Finally Has a NICA League!
For years, Illinois was one of the most cycling-passionate states in the country without its own National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) league. That changed in September 2025, when NICA officially launched the Illinois Interscholastic Cycling League — its 33rd U.S.-based league.
At Tailwind Cycles, we couldn’t be more excited. As a bike shop rooted in Chicago’s Northwest Side, we’ve seen firsthand what cycling does for people: the confidence it builds, the communities it creates, and the doors it opens. Now, through our support of Illinois NICA, we’re helping bring those same benefits to the next generation of riders across the state.
What Is NICA?
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association is a nonprofit youth development organization that uses mountain biking to build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities. Founded in 2009 in Berkeley, California, NICA has grown into a nationwide network supporting over 25,000 young riders and 15,000 volunteer coaches annually across more than 30 leagues.
What sets NICA apart from most youth sports is its philosophy: there are no tryouts and no one sits on the bench. Every kid rides. Every kid trains with their team. The organization is guided by core values of fun, inclusivity, equity, respect, and community.
As NICA President Amanda Carey put it when announcing the Illinois league: “All kids deserve the type of sports opportunities and programs that NICA provides”.
The Illinois League
The Illinois Interscholastic Cycling League was founded in 2025 by League Director Micah Ariel-Rohr, with its first season of racing planned for Fall 2026.
The league is building on Illinois’s vibrant cycling culture and inclusive Midwestern ethos. Its leadership team brings deep roots in the Chicago cycling community, including experience with youth programs like Blackstone Bicycle Works, Chicago United cycling team, and the Wisconsin NICA League.
Chicago-based SRAM, a global leader in cycling components and a longtime NICA national partner, played a pivotal role in bringing the league to life, announcing a $25,000 match-giving campaign at launch to support the league’s early operations, outreach, and Girls Riding Together (GRiT) programming.
What Illinois NICA Offers Young Riders
Illinois NICA brings the full suite of NICA programming to the state, including:
- Team-based mountain biking for middle and high school students, with trained volunteer coaches and a challenge-by-choice environment
- Girls Riding Together (GRiT) — NICA’s focused effort to recruit and retain more girls and women in cycling
- Teen Trail Corps — a stewardship program that encourages student-athletes to give back to the trails where they ride
- NICA Adventure — programming that ties together mountain biking, team camaraderie, and time outdoors
The league season runs from July through October, with registration opening in spring and league-wide events — races, adventure rides, and more — beginning in the fall.
Why Tailwind Cycles Supports Illinois NICA
Since 2017, we’ve been helping riders across the city with expert service, bike fits, and a genuine love for the sport. We support Illinois NICA because we believe in what they’re building. When we see a kid come into the shop excited about a ride, or a parent asking about their first mountain bike, we know the spark that cycling can light. NICA gives that spark a home — a team, a coach, a community, and a reason to keep pedaling.
We’re especially proud to support a program that puts inclusivity at its core. Not every kid fits into traditional team sports. NICA meets them where they are and gives every rider a place to belong. That’s the kind of cycling community we want to help grow.
How You Can Get Involved
The Illinois league is actively forming teams and recruiting coaches and volunteers across the state. Here’s how you can help:
- Student-athletes: Find a team near you and register through the NICA Pit Zone at illinoismtb.org
- Adults: Sign up to coach or volunteer — all skill levels welcome
- Everyone: Donate to the Illinois league at illinoismtb.org to help fund operations, outreach, and programming
And of course, if you or your young rider needs a bike, a tune-up, or advice on getting trail-ready, come see us at Tailwind Cycles — 3259 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago. We’re here to help you ride.
Tailwind Cycles is proud to support the Illinois Interscholastic Cycling League and the National Interscholastic Cycling Association’s mission to build strong minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling.