Racing for Kids and Teens
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my junior need a USA Cycling membership to race in a high school league?
If your junior is part of a NICA league they are not required to have a USA Cycling membership, however not all high school leagues are part of the NICA brand. If you want to race in a USA Cycling-sanctioned event, you must be a member. More information about our Junior membership can be found here.
If your junior is part of a NICA league they are not required to have a USA Cycling membership, however not all high school leagues are part of the NICA brand. If you want to race in a USA Cycling-sanctioned event, you must be a member. More information about our Junior membership can be found here.
Does my junior need to be part of a team to race in a USA Cycling event?
No! Your junior does not need to be on a registered team in order to race in one of our events.
No! Your junior does not need to be on a registered team in order to race in one of our events.
Is there a program my junior can join once they graduate high school?
Yes! We encourage your rider to look and see if the college they are interested in attending has a collegiate team. You can find more information about our collegiate program here. After high school, your junior can continue to race outside of an interscholastic setting. We have age group racing at the majority of our sanctioned events.
Yes! We encourage your rider to look and see if the college they are interested in attending has a collegiate team. You can find more information about our collegiate program here. After high school, your junior can continue to race outside of an interscholastic setting. We have age group racing at the majority of our sanctioned events.
What is a sanctioned event?
A sanctioned event is any event that is permitted through USA Cycling. Our permits provide insurance for events and the riders that are participating at the event.
A sanctioned event is any event that is permitted through USA Cycling. Our permits provide insurance for events and the riders that are participating at the event.
I am a parent that is new to the sport, what do I need to know?
Welcome to USA Cycling! Due to the nature of bike racing, we often see many of the same questions. We encourage you to use our resource portal to learn more about the nuances of the sport.
Welcome to USA Cycling! Due to the nature of bike racing, we often see many of the same questions. We encourage you to use our resource portal to learn more about the nuances of the sport.
What is a national championship and how does my junior race in one?
Our national championships are our premier events where riders from all over the country race against each other to win the stars and stripes jersey. Your junior must qualify if they want to race in one.
Our national championships are our premier events where riders from all over the country race against each other to win the stars and stripes jersey. Your junior must qualify if they want to race in one.
Race License
YOU MUST HAVE A USA CYCLING RACE LICENSE IN ORDER TO RACE IN A USA CYCLING SANCTIONED EVENT. YOUR JUNIOR OR JUNIOR+ LICENSE WILL GRANT YOU ACCESS.
Purchase License
EQUIPMENT
YOUR JUNIOR RIDER DOES NOT NEED THE MOST ADVANCED EQUIPMENT TO RACE IN A USA CYCLING EVENT. WE ENCOURAGE NEW JUNIORS TO RACE WITH THE EQUIPMENT THEY ALREADY HAVE.
Picking my equipment
CATEGORY
JUNIOR RACERS ARE GENERALLY SEPARATED OUT BY GENDER AND AGE GROUP. MAKE SURE YOUR JUNIOR SIGNS UP FOR THE CORRECT CATEGORY WHEN REGISTERING FOR AN EVENT.
CATEGORY UPGRADES
Coaching
WHEN YOUR CHILD IS JUST STARTING OUT, WE ENCOURGE THEM TO HAVE FUN. WHEN THEY WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, USA CYCLING HAS A NETWORK OF COACHES THAT SPECIALIZE IN JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT. WHEN YOUR RIDER IS READY TO EXPLORE STRUCTURED TRAINING, FIND A COACH TO HELP.
FIND A COACH
