Welcome to AZ NICA Season 2025!
We are excited to help you understand our core program – Racing. Race weekend is an exciting time for the student athletes, families and coaches to come together and bond over a shared love of cycling. Here is general information to help you have a great experience and feel prepared.
Parking and Pit Zone Access
When you arrive, you will be directed by parking attendants. Based on the race venue, you may need to pay ahead, at the gate or with cash on site. Arrive early to get the best spot.
- Race day parking can be congested, and some venues may require walking to the race infield from a separate parking lot so plan ahead.
- ADA parking is provided at all venues. ADA access is granted by notifying the parking attendant on site for directions.
- Parking is only permitted in designated parking areas. Parking is not permitted in Pit Zone or infield.
- Head coaches are granted 1 coach parking pass per season to allow quicker access to infield and pit zone. Please provide to your designated coach before the event to prevent delays and confusion.
Pit zone supply drops are permitted only during open pit zone times. Vehicles needed for pit take down/setup will not be permitted during active racing. Access to pit zone/infield will be granted again when all of our student athletes have finished racing. This time may vary per race and will be announced on site when vehicles can reenter pit zone/infield.
Teams disregarding the safety our of student athletes by attempting vehicular traffic during closed periods will be penalized.
Pre-Riding
The course will be open for pre-riding the day before racing. Student Athletes and coaches must have a race plate attached on their bikes to pre-ride on race weekend. ted coach supervision (who also need a coach plate). Pre-riding is a great way to get a feel for course conditions and check out a trail that you may not have experienced before. Timing of pre-ride typically is 3:00PM to 6:00PM or sunset, whichever is first.
Public courses are also available to pre-ride before the event weekend, but the course will not be marked until race weekend. Courses on private land will not be open to pre-ride until the designated dates provided in the race event page (see events for details).
Party in the Pit and League Spaghetti Dinner
Party in the Pit is our Friday night kickoff event for the whole family. A fun activity and treat will be provided as a way to mingle and build community with your fellow AZ NICA race families. These activities are themed to the races and typically last one hour.
Friday nights are also League spaghetti dinner night. For only 5$ a plate, come share a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, dinner roll and a bottle of water. Stay and share stories, meet new people and commiserate with fellow families and student athletes all preparing to challenge themselves during race day.
Camping
Camping is great opportunity to be on site near the action, mingling with fellow families. Camping is site specific, please refer to the sign-up link for specifics related to the Race/Venue and can be found on the Events Page
- Registration is required to camp. Registration for camping is open from season opening until the Monday before the race or when space runs out – whichever comes first. Sign up early to ensure you have a spot.
- We attempt to camp teams together where possible if this information is provided when you sign up.
- Parking attendants will assist in finding space when arriving at the venue.
- We currently do not have length limits for our venues, but please your rig’s length when registering to help coordinate space.
- Generators are permitted; be respectful with the times you are running them.
- Only Propane stoves and fires pits are permitted with adult supervision. No wood burning or charcoal fires or grilling allowed.
Typical Race camping is “dry primitive” camping in a designated area of venue parking with no hookups or reserved site numbers. Regional Park venues typically have water, trash and tank dumps on site that can be used. Some Regional Parks also have showers for paid campers as well. See Regional Park site for more information.
Dog and Leash
- Dogs are welcome during race weekend provided they behave themselves and are leashed at all times.
- Please be courteous and pick up after your pets.
- Keep a safe distance from student athletes to ensure their safety.
Race Readiness
Racing is an exciting way for all student athletes to challenge themselves and demonstrate the skills learned throughout the season. Being prepared ahead of time enhances Race Day. We have a few suggestions to help everyone have the best possible experience for their race weekend.
- Arrive early to find parking and warm up
- Read and review the Race Event Site guide to confirm staging and start times
- Confirm registration is complete and race categories are correct via the NICA Pit Zone Website. (Please see the onsite AZ NICA Registration Tent if corrections are needed as soon as possible.)
- Confirm call ups are accurate and reflect any recent changes. (Please see your head coach if corrections are needed as soon as possible.)
- Prepare your race strategy for nutrition and hydration. When and how much you need will vary by student athlete.
- Understand weather conditions for the time you will be racing and dress/hydrate appropriately.
- Review your equipment and ensure ABC’s have been performed so your equipment is in peak racing condition.
- Bring extra supplies like tools, chain lube, tubes, sealant, zip ties, etc. to address things that are found.
- Remember, things like temperature, elevation, and long travel distances on a rack can negatively impact your bicycle/equipment.
- Find Support. If assistance is needed, locate your team pit or “Neutral” Support.
- Neutral support is a volunteer bike shop setup on site to provide all our races with emergency mechanical bicycle assistance. This free service open to all registered student athletes.
Food Vendors
We typically have 2-3 food vendors that vary per venue. We will have a drink, food and treat truck that stay from early Saturday morning to around 3:30PM when racing typically finishes.
Outside food and drinks are also welcome.