One of the great things about cycling is that it can be a fun family activity for all ages. In the account below, Alexis Ricci shares her family’s experience of mountain biking together. The Riccis are involved with the NorCal League of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), a Buck Up for Bikes partner organization of BikeFlights.com.
My involvement in mountain biking started 22 years ago with a promise. A promise of adventure, beautiful scenery, exercise and post-ride drinks. My husband Jack introduced me to this wonderful sport in the Sierra Foothills, and we routinely “bike dated” throughout college and in our early married life. It was our way to connect, to spend time in the great outdoors and to explore. Biking led to new friendships, an increased sense of adventure and courage and ultimately a stronger relationship with each other. It was our place of peace, our freedom.
And then we had children. Naturally, we thought, our kiddos will ride. They have no choice. We love it. They will love it, too, we thought. And love it they did.
When our then 4-year-old Mina’s training wheels came off, her two-year-old brother Skye was right behind her, cruising his two wheeler down the road before we could even stop him. No training wheels for this guy! The smiles on their faces that day were priceless.
And so the love of biking began for our children. We were thrilled.
Countless cruiser rides around our local Marin County trails began, full of animal sightings, fairy house building and snacks. Over time, the rides got longer, the terrain more advanced. We rode in sunshine and in rain. And yet the smiles remained on their faces and ours.
We had become a biking family. Totally awesome.
We were sharing our passion with the two people we loved the most. And Mina and Skye were just as thrilled to be part of the adventure.
They soon met other grommets who loved the sport as much as they did, bagging Railroad Grade and Tamarancho trails as young tweens. We visited every bike shop in Marin County. We became regular viewers of every mountain bike video out there, and the kids were fascinated by trials, downhill, free riding and road riding. But it was cross country biking that became their ultimate love – exploring miles of gorgeous terrain without cars and even seeing other riders – that made them, and us, most happy.
Fast forward several years, and we’re still biking together. With patience and regular practice, the kids’ skills had improved enough to start traveling more through NorCal, up to Oregon and British Columbia, hitting Whistler and Vancouver Island trail systems. Just. Plain. Epic.
And then this fantastic event called the NICA California State Mountain Bike Championships was held at Stafford Lake Park in Novato. The kids were mesmerized - bikes galore, riders everywhere, cowbells, and cheering. Wow, we thought! This is the next level of awesomeness- racing among peers. The kids were still far away from high school, but we were all hooked.
NICA put together a “little” movie called Singletrack High, which showcased a few high school riders’ experiences during their high school mountain bike season. We were fortunate enough to screen the movie at the Mill Valley Throckmorton Theater and sit among some of the fastest racers in the country – both old and new. The energy couldn’t get any bigger in that room, and the kids turned to us and said, “We want to race too.”
Time went by, and we moved away from Marin County to Nevada City, a small little town in the Sierra Foothills. Both kids were settled into their respective schools, and we discovered the local high school had a mountain bike club.
“Just try it,” we asked Mina. “We think you’ll like it.” Reluctantly (and emphasis on reluctantly), she said yes. About three weeks into the training season, she was hooked. Between the rowdy teenage riders, the tough terrain, challenging training schedule and the post-ride snacks, she expanded her love of biking tenfold. Mina figured out she was good at this biking thing and she found her mojo. She, and subsequently we, became part of the Northern California High School Mountain Biking League.
Our first year with the League was a whirlwind of excitement and awe. The Nevada Union Miners welcomed any willing and able parent and sibling on training riders and to assist with the team, which suited our family perfectly. We were given an opportunity to teach and inspire riders of all levels, particularly the young female riders. To make the training fun so that the kids would smile just as much as they would sweat. To share the importance of good nutrition, adequate sleep and mental preparation before important events. To bring glitter and cheer to the amazing NICA races.
We were having a blast. And so were the kids, enough for Skye to ask, “Can I race next year? Please? Please?” We knew this meant skipping a grade for Skye, who was still too young to race in the high school series. But, he wanted to race and hunkered down, did the work, and skipped a grade. All for the opportunity to race in NICA.
During our second NICA season, we got a “two for one” deal on the races! Not only were we able to enjoy watching MIna race the Varsity Women’s category, but we also got the joy of watching Skye race with the Freshman Boys. Race day was a very organized, yet busy day for our family. The importance of pre-race strategy, preparedness and setting intentions became paramount for us, which allowed everyone to maximize the “fruits of their labor” and enjoy the day. Jack and I regularly hi-fived each other during our afternoon Feed Zone seasons, commenting on the awesomeness of the morning’s events.
And so began a new season in life for us, focused and centered around NICA racing, loving it enough to celebrate wedding anniversaries, birthdays and Mother’s day events at races!
The joy and love we share for biking has only increased and inspired new sets of goals for everyone. Naturally, the kids want to continue their successful racing with NICA, and Jack and I are more involved than ever with our new high school team, Tam High. I am especially focused to inspire young women riders to join the League; the benefits to myself and my daughter have been so rewarding and positive. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see us both sweeping a NICA race this upcoming season. That is, if any other bike loving parents want to share the opportunity!
Thanks for the continual joy NICA,
Alexis, Jack, Mina and Skye Ricci
Learn more about NICA and support their programs by donating a buck (or four!) through our Buck Up for Bikes Program every time you ship.
All photos courtesy of NICA.
Congratulations also go out to Mina, who was just selected for the U.S. Team heading to the 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
What can I say? A double rainbow on my birthday. With friends. Celebrating the old and the new. The past and the future. Forty-seven years young and still taking on big adventures and big commitments into the unknown. You can't do these things without the support of great friends. Here in Brevard and Hendersonville, NC the high school mountain biking community has taken me in. I hope I have given enough of myself to have earned their respect. I find solace in giving so much to those around me. Thank you to everyone, near and far, on the phone or social media, who has made this day so special. #birthdaygirl #blessed #highschoolmountainbiking #mtblife #brevardnc #hendersonvillenc #rainbow #doublerainbow #dupontstateforest (at DuPont State Forest)
