Race Weekends
Race weekends are the highlight of the season: part competition, part camping trip, part team party. If it's your first one, here's what to expect, what to bring, and how it all works.
How NICA Racing Works
The Shredhawks race in the Indiana Interscholastic Cycling League, part of NICA (the National Interscholastic Cycling Association). Races are held at parks across Indiana, and every rider on the team can race. There's no bench and no tryouts.
Riders race in ability-based categories, not by grade level. Coaches help place each athlete in the category that gives them the right mix of challenge and achievement, and the number of laps varies by category. On race day, categories go out in waves, each with its own start time and a "pull time" (when the course closes for that wave). Middle schoolers and high schoolers race in separate categories, and everyone who crosses the line scores points for themselves and the team.
Race day waves (typical order): Middle School Boys race first in the morning, Girls High School & Middle School race late morning, and High School Boys race early afternoon. Exact times are in each race's flyer.
New this year: the JV1 and JV2 girls categories are combined into a single category with one podium.
What a Race Weekend Looks Like
Races are two-day weekends: Saturday is for pre-riding the course and hanging out with the team, and Sunday is race day. Here's the usual flow:
- Saturday, pre-ride day: We head down Saturday. Registration and the Pit Zone open around midday, and athletes pre-ride the course with their coaches to learn the lines before race day. The afternoon brings the fun stuff: the girls-only GRiT ride, Rubber Chicken Relays, and usually an ice cream social in the evening.
- Saturday night, camping & team dinner: The team typically camps at the venue Saturday night, and dinner is usually potluck style. Everyone chips in, and we'll often do something easy for the whole group like tacos. It's a fun way to have everybody together. Camping depends on the race: sometimes it's a primitive open area for tents, and sometimes there are reservable sites with hookups that need to be booked ahead of time. Check each race's details early to figure out what's best for your family.
- Sunday, race day: Things start early. There's a short pre-ride window in the morning, then racing begins mid-morning in waves. Riders need to be at staging about 15 minutes before their start time.
- Awards & pack-up: After the last wave, everyone pitches in on teardown, then the awards ceremony wraps up the weekend (usually mid-afternoon). Plan to stay and celebrate!
Watch the clock, literally. Our venues are in Indiana and a couple sit in the Central time zone, an hour behind Michigan. Every race flyer lists its schedule in venue-local time, so double-check before you plan your drive.
Typical Weekend Schedule
Every race varies a little, and the race flyer always has the exact times, but a typical weekend runs about like this (venue-local time):
Typical Race Weekend Schedule
Tap to view
Times below are typical, based on this season's race flyers. Always confirm against the flyer for your race on the 2026 Races page.
- Sat 11:30 AM Registration & Pit Zone open
- Sat 1:30 PM Athlete pre-ride (must ride with a coach)
- Sat 4:00 PM GRiT ride (girls only)
- Sat 5:00 PM Course closes · Rubber Chicken Relays
- Sat 6:00 PM Party in the Pit Zone (ice cream social)
- Sun 7:00 AM Registration & Pit Zone open
- Sun 7:30 AM Morning pre-ride (closes around 8:30)
- Sun 9:30 AM 🏁 Racing begins, waves through early afternoon
- Sun ~2:45 PM Awards ceremony (after teardown & cleanup)
What to Bring
- Bike & helmet: a race-ready bike and a helmet. The rule is simple: leg over the bike means helmet on
- Race plate: riders get a number plate for the handlebars. It's required for anyone riding on the course, including pre-ride
- Water & snacks: plenty of hydration for your rider, especially in hot weather
- Camp comfort: chairs, shade canopy, sunscreen, bug spray, and layers. You'll be outside all day
- Cash: venue parking is usually a few dollars per vehicle, plus camping donations and food vendors on site
- Camping gear if you're staying over Saturday night, plus something to share for the team potluck
Race-Day Rules of Thumb
- Walk bikes in the Pit Zone (no riding through)
- Athletes pre-ride only with coaches, never solo
- Be at staging 15 minutes before your rider's start time
- Park in designated event parking
- Help keep the venue clean: pack out what you pack in
- Cheer for everyone. That's the NICA way
Volunteering: How Races Actually Happen
Here's the honest truth: races run on parent volunteers. Each race needs around 80 volunteer slots filled, from course marshals out on the trail to help at staging and registration. Every family is expected to pitch in, and honestly, marshaling is one of the best seats in the house.
There are two ways to help:
- League volunteer slots: each race has its own signup link for course marshals and event roles. You'll find it on the 2026 Races page as each race approaches
- Team support: bringing water jugs, food, cups, plates, paper towels, and helping haul the team canopy. Splitting the load keeps it easy for everyone
Ask About Volunteering
League Resources
The league keeps these documents up to date, so they're always worth checking as the season goes on:
Ready for Race Day?
Dates, venues, flyers, course maps, and volunteer signups for every race this season.
See the 2026 Races