If you haven’t noticed, the youth cycling movement is growing in the Reno-Tahoe region—and at a pretty quick pace. Two organizations are behind the growth and they’re working hand-in-hand to move youth cycling forward.
Reno-Tahoe Junior Cycling (RTJC) and the Nevada Interscholastic Cycling League (NICL) are helping bring exposure to cycling, pushing it from the ranks of functional hobby to competitive sport and lots of points in between.
Founded in 2011, RTJC started with five youth riders who wanted to learn bike skills and techniques to safely enjoy the area’s trails. In 2024, there are more than 600 kids—ages 10-18—participating in the club.
The NICL started in 2016 as a non-profit aimed at developing high school and middle school teams for kids in grades 6-12 in the Reno-Tahoe region but also stretching south to Mammoth, Calif. and east to Elko and Ely.
“At the end of the day, both organizations kind of go by the hashtag ‘More Kids On Bikes,’ and especially more girls on bikes,” says Lane Swall, a long-time volunteer and coach in both organizations, who is serving as the 2024 Reno-Tahoe Cycling Board President. “They are two very different organizations, but they’ve helped one another succeed.
RTJC has boosted interest in cycling by hosting multiple programs, specifically its RenoDeVo race development team and its community rides for kids ages 10 and under, held at various locations around the region to help young riders gain experience.
NICL is a five-race series of sanctioned events aimed at providing student-athletes an opportunity to set and accomplish competitive goals.
Swall, who got involved in the organizations during their early years as his kids grew an affinity for cycling, says it’s been a blessing to watch cycling grow in the Reno-Tahoe region and positively impact so many kids and families.
“I’m involved to this day because of what it did for my family. I owe a debt I’ll never be able to repay and I see other families have the same experience,” he says. “I’ve been lucky to have a front-row seat to see kids grow and mature as mountain bikers and people.
To learn more about the organizations check out their websites at: renotahoejuniorcycling.com and nevadanorthmtb.org
