Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association

The Rhinelander Northwoods Composite (RNC) is a mountain biking team comprised of middle and high school students from Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Lakeland, Northland Pines, Three Lakes, Crandon and Phelps.

Member of the NICA WI League.

RNC provides mountain bike riding and racing opportunities locally for youth in grades 6 - 12. Our mission is to build strong minds, bodies, and communities through cycling. We are kids on bikes, we are outside going places, we are stoking a life long passion for riding.

Help us grow this exciting opportunity for our area youth! Your donations will help keep the cost of participating lower for new families and help the team purchase necessary equipment.

"Everybody should have the opportunity to ride bikes with friends." - Jake

THE REST OF THE STORY

The popularity of youth cycling continues to grow here in the Northwoods, including a multitude of disciplines from BMX to Mountain Biking. The result is more kids on bikes participating in a healthy, outdoor activity! The RNC is a unique opportunity for youth to safely learn and experience the growing sport of mountain biking with peers and mentors. As mountain biking opportunities increase in our area thanks to organizations such as LAMBO, LAMBA, and RASTA, it is our vision to see more and more youth on the trails. RNC helps do that!

The RNC practices twice a week from mid-July through mid-October at the Washburn Trails system. All participants are given the opportunity to race 5 times annually around the state. In 2025, we are excited to host the second NICA race to be held in Rhinelander, The Hodag Hustle. Approximately 1000 families from around the state will be visiting Rhinelander! We hope to use this opportunity to continue to recruit new local participants. In addition, RNC is hosting a try-it out event this May to help encourage kids to try mountain biking. Keeping the cost of participation for kids low is key to helping us increase the accessibility of the sport to new families in our area.

FUNDRAISING NEEDS:

RNC is fundraising to help keep costs low for new families. Cost can certainly be a barrier to youth participating in the sport. Expenses include bikes, helmets, race registration, and a cycling kit. Beyond the individuals' expenses, the team has additional needs including equipment and supplies to keep our riders safe and nourished during practices and races.

Thanks to the suport we have received thus far through this fundraising effort, our team was able to purchase a trailer. The trailer is an integral tool in allowing the team to transport tools and equipment.

Additional Immediate Needs: Our team is in need of a new portable bike rack, jerseys, first aid supplies, and race supplies, including tubes chains, and race nutrition.

Since 2016, RASTA has helped promote youth cycling by sponsoring the RNC and by providing safe and fun trails for individuals of all ages and abilities to enjoy. RASTA is the fiscal sponsor of the RNC.