What Is a Veloraptors Try-It Ride? A Morning of Bikes, Skills, Trails & Teamwork

On Saturday, October 17, the Somerset Hills Veloraptors welcomed a new group of young riders and their families to Chimney Rock for one of our favorite events of the year: a Veloraptors Try-It Ride.

For many of the kids, it was their first experience riding mountain bike trails as part of a team. For parents, it was a chance to see what NICA and the Veloraptors are really about.

And while there was plenty of mountain biking, a Try-It Ride is about much more than simply going for a ride in the woods.

Starting With Skills and Confidence

Before heading onto the trails, our coaches spent time with the riders working through some basic mountain bike skills.

Kids practiced things like bike positioning, braking, balance, cornering, body movement, and being comfortable controlling their bikes.

One of the biggest benefits of a Try-It Ride is that kids don't have to already be experienced mountain bikers.

Our coaches meet riders where they are.

Some kids arrive with years of riding experience. Others may be comfortable riding around their neighborhood but have never ridden a real mountain bike trail before.

That's okay.

The goal isn't to see who is the fastest rider. It's to help every rider become a little more confident and capable on their bike.

Then We Hit the Trails

Once everyone was warmed up, riders headed into Chimney Rock with our coaches and returning Veloraptors athletes.

This is where those skills start becoming real.

Riders encounter the kinds of things that make mountain biking fun: roots, rocks, hills, turns, small trail features, changing terrain, and plenty of opportunities to figure out how to get their bike through something they might not have thought they could ride.

Our coaches are spread throughout the riding groups, helping kids choose lines, giving them pointers, keeping the group together, and making sure the experience stays fun and safe.

Sometimes coaching means explaining how to tackle an obstacle.

Sometimes it means demonstrating a technique.

And sometimes it simply means saying, "You've got this," and giving a young rider the confidence to try.

That moment when a rider clears something that looked intimidating five minutes earlier is one of the best parts of mountain biking.

Our Athletes Help Lead the Way

One of the things that made this Try-It Ride especially fun was having returning Veloraptors athletes riding alongside our guests.

Eight Veloraptors athletes came out to help.

That gives prospective riders something coaches can't fully provide: a chance to see what being part of the team looks like from another kid's perspective.

Our experienced riders helped welcome new kids, demonstrated skills, rode with the groups, encouraged younger riders, and showed the kind of team culture we're building with the Veloraptors.

Mountain biking may look like an individual sport, but NICA riding is very much a team experience.

Our riders learn to support one another, wait for the group, encourage teammates, help someone after a mistake, celebrate another rider's success, and become leaders themselves.

Coaching Is More Than Riding Behind the Kids

Our volunteer coaches are one of the most important parts of the Veloraptors program.

During a ride, coaches aren't simply following kids around the trails.

They're constantly observing.

Is a rider using the brakes correctly?

Are they looking far enough ahead?

Are they in the right body position?

Would moving their weight slightly make that climb easier?

Is this rider ready to try the next feature, or would it be better to build a little more confidence first?

Great youth mountain bike coaching is about helping kids progress without taking the fun out of riding.

The goal is to challenge riders enough that they improve while creating an environment where it's okay to make mistakes, get off the bike, walk something, try again, and learn.

That's how confidence develops.

Parents Get an Orientation Too

While the kids were riding, parents had their own orientation with the Veloraptors coaching team.

We talked about how the team operates, what practices look like, how riders are grouped, what equipment kids need, how NICA works, and what families can expect during the season.

We also talked about something that surprises many parents:

You can be part of the team too.

NICA relies heavily on volunteer coaches, and parents do not need to be expert mountain bikers to get involved.

In fact, becoming a coach can be a great way to learn the sport yourself.

Parents get the opportunity to ride with their kids, become better riders, get outside, exercise, learn coaching skills, and become part of the team community.

For many families, mountain biking becomes something parents and kids can enjoy together for years.

Bikes Shouldn't Be the Barrier

For our official Try-It events, we're also fortunate to sometimes have access to the NICA Huckwagon.

[PHOTO: Huckwagon / loaner bikes]

The Huckwagon brings a fleet of mountain bikes that allows kids who don't yet own an appropriate bike to experience the sport before their family makes a significant investment.

That's important.

A child shouldn't have to already own an expensive mountain bike just to find out whether they enjoy mountain biking.

A Try-It Ride gives families an opportunity to experience the program first.

If they love it, we can help families understand what type and size of bike makes sense, what equipment is actually necessary, and what can wait until later.

What Kids Take Away From a Try-It Ride

Of course, kids learn mountain bike skills.

But that's only part of it.

They also practice problem solving.

They learn perseverance when they don't clear something on the first attempt.

They build confidence when they do something that initially looked difficult.

They get exercise without it necessarily feeling like "exercise."

They spend a couple of hours outside instead of staring at a screen.

They meet other kids.

They learn trail etiquette and responsibility.

And they discover that sometimes the best adventures are found on two wheels in the woods.

You Don't Have to Race

One important thing for families to understand is that racing is only one part of NICA.

Some Veloraptors athletes love racing.

Others simply love riding trails, improving their skills, spending time with friends, and being part of the team.

Both belong here.

Our program is designed to help kids become lifelong cyclists, whether that eventually means racing mountain bikes, riding recreationally with friends, exploring new trails, or someday riding with their own families.

That's What a Try-It Ride Is Really About

A Veloraptors Try-It Ride isn't an audition.

There isn't a stopwatch.

Nobody is getting cut from the team because they walked a hill or couldn't clear a rock.

It's an opportunity to experience mountain biking in a supportive environment and answer one simple question:

"Is this something I might really enjoy?"

For a lot of kids, the answer turns out to be yes.

And sometimes that first Try-It Ride is the beginning of something much bigger: new skills, new friends, new confidence, new adventures, and a sport they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Missed This Ride? Come Ride With Us!

If these pictures look like something your child would enjoy, we've got great news: there are more opportunities to ride with the Veloraptors this fall!

We're welcoming prospective riders in grades 5–12, from kids who are curious about trying mountain biking for the first time to experienced riders looking for new trails, new friends, and a great team.

Bring-a-Friend Rides: Come Meet the Team!

We're hosting several upcoming Bring-a-Friend Rides where prospective riders can join our returning athletes and coaches for a fun, welcoming trail ride.

These rides are a great opportunity to get a feel for our team, meet some of the kids, experience our coaching, and see whether the Veloraptors might be a good fit.

Interested in joining one? Reach out to us for upcoming dates, locations, and details!

Please note that riders will need to bring their own mountain bike and helmet for Bring-a-Friend Rides. Loaner bikes are not available at these events.

November 14: Our Next Official Try-It Ride!

Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Six Mile Run

Our next official Try-It Ride is another fantastic opportunity for new families to experience the Veloraptors.

We'll introduce riders to mountain bike skills, head out onto the trails with our coaches, and give parents an opportunity to learn more about our program, our team, and how they can get involved.

And even better, the NICA Huckwagon will be joining us again!

That means prospective riders who don't yet have their own mountain bike may be able to use one of the Huckwagon's loaner bikes, subject to availability and appropriate sizing.

Registration is required, so be sure to sign up in advance!

Your Next Adventure Starts Here

Whether your child is already riding trails or has only ridden around the neighborhood, we'd love to introduce them to the Veloraptors.

No racing experience required. No need to be the fastest kid. Just a willingness to try something new, learn some skills, and have fun.

Come meet the team, discover the trails, and see what being a Veloraptor is all about!

Because every mountain biker had a first trail ride.

This might be yours.