New Mexico youth mountain biking organization hosts ‘BikeFest’ seasonal kickoff at Oak Flats

TIJERAS — New Mexico’s interscholastic mountain biking community is gearing up to launch the summer trail season with a regional youth cycling festival in the Sandia Mountains later this week.

The New Mexico Interscholastic Cycling League, a state chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), will host its annual NM NICA BikeFest on Saturday, May 30, at the Oak Flats Picnic Area just south of Tijeras. The public community event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and aims to introduce local student-athletes and families to the growing landscape of youth competitive and recreational trail riding.

Organizers have structured the single-day festival to accommodate both experienced riders and newcomers looking to sample the sport. Registration and sign-ins begin at 9 a.m., followed by a series of structured bike games and skills clinics starting at 10 a.m. aimed at sharpening handling skills, balance, and trail safety.

Following a midday community lunch break, participants will take to the regional trail network for a structured scavenger hunt ride at noon. The event concludes with a formal wrap-up session at 1:45 p.m.

NICA programs throughout New Mexico are explicitly structured for students entering the fifth through 12th grades, functioning as an alternative athletic outlet that emphasizes community, outdoor stewardship, and individual skill progression alongside interscholastic competition.

The festival is open to current student-athletes, their families, and prospective area youths interested in joining local composite or school-affiliated mountain bike teams ahead of the fall racing season. Admission is free, though advance registration is requested through the organization’s regional portal. Organizers are also utilizing the gathering to recruit adult trail volunteers, ride leaders, and race support staff for upcoming seasonal events.