NICA Partners with Blackburn and Bikepacking Roots for Bikepacking Curriculum

Bikepacking for beginners can be an intimidating experience: knowing what gear to get, and how to use it on top of riding a decent distance every day can seem like an insurmountable barrier. To overcome this, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) has partnered with Blackburn Designs and Bikepacking Roots to get high school aged athletes out in the woods on bikepacking trips. Read on after the break for more info.

The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), Blackburn Designs, and Bikepacking Roots are excited to announce a new partnership that establishes a bikepacking curriculum and traveling gear library for NICA student-athletes and coaches. Bikepacking Roots is providing the on-trail expertise and Blackburn is providing the funding and bikepacking kit for 20 riders as part of their Bronze Level sponsorship with NICA for 2020.

While the original intent was to have the groups of 20 students participate in bikepacking adventures with the travelling gear library, COVID-19 restrictions mean that the program will likely see more socially distant, daycamp style adventures in 2020. With NICA participation growing at 20% annually according to NICA President Steve Matous, there's no doubt that more and bigger trips are in the organization's future.