Los Alamos mountain bikers invite families to community ride, picnic

Children and parents looking for a simple way into mountain biking had one at North Mesa Pavilion, where Los Alamos Mountain Bikers invited families to a community ride and picnic on Thursday, June 4 at 5:30 p.m. The gathering was aimed at all ages, and the flyer pitched it as an easy way to learn more about the Los Alamos MTB Team and TUFF TYKES without the pressure that often comes with youth sports.

The evening was built to feel welcoming rather than competitive. Families were told they could meet coaches and athletes, hear about team rides, and get a preview of the fall race season. The flyer also tied the event to the core values of NICA, the national youth mountain biking organization behind the program: fun, inclusivity, equity, respect and community.

That structure fit the broader New Mexico NICA Try-It-Out model, which is designed as a half-day introduction to mountain biking and the NICA community. Try-It-Out events are open to youth in grades 5 through 12, and parents and community members are welcome, too. The flyer also listed preseason rides for grades 5 through 12 on June 4, June 16 and June 23, making clear this community ride was part of a larger summer run-up to the season rather than a one-night outing.

Los Alamos MTB says its team includes riders in grades 6 through 12 from White Rock and Los Alamos. The team’s registration information says coach registration opens in March, student-athlete registration opens in April, pre-season activities start in May, and the full season runs from July 1 to November 1. A 2023 team update said there were no tryouts and that racing is optional, not required, reflecting a “fun first” philosophy.

The cost matters for families weighing another activity against a tight budget. New Mexico NICA says full student-athlete participation for the 2026 season costs $330, and that fee includes NICA membership, league registration, optional race and event weekends, insurance, team practices and certified coaching support. The league also says any adult who participates in team practices must be registered and background-checked.

North Mesa Picnic Grounds, at 280 North Mesa Road, offered a practical setting for the event, with a pavilion, grills, picnic tables, restrooms, drinking fountains, a volleyball court and a 9-hole disc golf course. In a county where Trailforks lists 267 trails and 203 mountain bike trails, the ride gave new families a low-pressure entry into a sport that already has deep local roots.