Wheel Family Fun: Summer mountain biking opportunities for kids in the valley
From The Conway Daily Sun
What’s Going On ?
Parents, have your kids outgrown riding around the block or on the Rec Path with you? Do they complain that they’re bored or tired on rides, then come home and run around?
Kids, are you looking for more exciting riding and want to learn new mountain bike skills? Would you rather ride, shred, or race with other kids than go riding with your parents? Do you want to ride over features, not around them?
If any of you, adult or child, said “yes” to these questions, then it’s time to move the young rider up the mountain bike ladder. Sign them up for a summer youth mountain bike program, race series or bike park session.
I did some research into what kid mountain bike opportunities are available this summer in the Mount Washington Valley. This is what I’ve found so far:
• White Mountain New England Mountain Bike Association’s Youth Beginner Mountain Bike Program: This an eight-week program on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. Starting June 26, it runs through Aug. 14. The program is free with NEMBA membership, either youth ($20) or family ($65).
During the first week, riders meet at Cranmore Mountain Resort’s parking lot by the MWV Rec Path at 8:45 am. Locations will vary throughout the duration. It is the responsibility of the participants to provide transportation. The group will be riding in different locations such as the Marshall Conservation Area, Rogers Crossing, the Morrell Family complex, Cranmore Bike Park, East Side trails and other areas. Weekly details will be provided regarding where we will meet each week. Parents or guardians are welcome to ride with us.
This program is for all ages, but riders must have some basic riding skills and equipment: • Riders must be able to ride a pedal mountain bike without training wheels and be able to ride on dirt trails. • They need to know how to use their brakes. • Riders must have a mountain bike in good working order and a bike helmet. • Riders should bring water bottles with them.
This program is for those who want to improve their riding skills in a supervised group with other young riders. Adult ride leaders for the program are Martha Leich and Katrina Zalenski. Jeremiah Beach, WMNEMBA president and Pro Tune bike shop owner in Glen will be joining the group on some days.
For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/3epbseu3.
Although this is the first summer WMNEMBA has offered this youth mountain bike program, Jeremiah told me it was an idea that WMNEMBA’s board has been considering for a while. It has been an “ongoing mission of the board to foster the future of mountain biking in the Mount Washington Valley and youth participation is a key element.”
Jeremiah and Katrina came up with this year’s program to “get more kids out on bikes.”
The goal is “to provide opportunities for youths to develop skills and a love of the sport at little to no cost. The program is currently an all-volunteer effort. Cranmore Mountain Resort is graciously giving full access to its facilities at no cost. Cranmore has also partnered with NEMBA regional to provide additional member benefits.”
WMNEMBA, with Cranmore’s cooperation, plans “to provide a balanced mix of trail and gravity experiences for the youths.”
The mountain bike program’s ride leaders all have years of experience riding with kids of all ages. Martha has volunteered for several years, riding with and teaching young riders in the North Conway Community Center’s youth mountain bike program. In the fall, she’s a regular volunteer with the Kennett High mountain bike team. Martha also volunteers with many kids’ ski programs in the valley.
Katrina, a local teacher and mountain biker, shared her past bike instruction experiences: “My experience teaching kids on bikes started when I became a member of the League of American Cyclists through the Bicycle Coalition of Maine about 15 years ago. Through the BCM, I led bike rodeos, after-school bike programs, grade-school bike safety workshops, and numerous women's bike rides. I also worked with the Yarmouth Rec Department and created mountain bike camps for kids ages 8-12. In 2016 and 2017, I teamed up with Great Glen and the AMC and led a weeklong all-girls mountain biking and swimming trip.”
Jeremiah will join Katrina and Martha in helping kids learn new skills. He told me he “has been involved with kids and mountain biking since the White Mountain Wheel Kids in the late 1990s. I’ve led group rides for kids, skills days and maintenance clinics through the school system.”
These three skilled riders and teachers will manage the group of 10 riders and respond to their needs. They hope to have a “group that is fairly close in ability but are prepared to divide the group or work on common skills when necessary.” They’ll make sure kids have fun learning more about mountain biking.
This summer’s WMNEMBA Youth Beginner Mountain Bike Program sounds like a great program for young riders wanting to build their skills and explore riding varied terrain. Eight weeks of free, fun and adventuresome riding with other kids sounds like a great deal to me. Check it out.
• Summer Race Series presented by NEMBA. A series of monthly dirt races of different types held in various locations, ending with the White Mountain Fat Tire Fest Sept. 12-20 at the Fields of Attitash in Bartlett. Children aged 14-and-under race for free. The next race is this Sunday (June 22) at the Fields of Attitash, starting at noon. For more information, go to summerraceseries.com.
• Cranmore Mountain Resort’s Free Local Students Days: June 23-27. Cranmore is offering students 18 and under, from SAU 9, 13, and MSAD 72, free all-day Mountain Adventure or Bike Park admission to celebrate summer. Take advantage of this great offer to try Cranmore’s trails and activities for free. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/59mk9jk9.
• Great Glen Trails’ Big Day Brewing Summer Mtn Bike Series: Tuesdays, beginning June 24 through July 29, from 3:30-6:45 p.m. This six-week race program is for all ages and abilities. Racers can choose to ride long (5.2 miles), short (2.9 miles) or mini (1.4-mile) courses. It is an individual start race where racers choose when to go. It’s a fun event to attend as a family. Prices are: adults — $69 for the series, $18 for a single race. Kids 17 and under — $49 for the series, $11 for a single race. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/bdvn8n5s.
• Cranmore Mountain’s Mini-Meisters Series: Wednesdays, from July 9-Aug. 13, from 3-7 p.m. This is a downhill bike series for kids aged 16 and under. Series registration is $99, or $24 for a single race. Registration includes lift access starting at 3 p.m. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/phn59as9.
• Pope Memorial Library’s Bike for Books, July 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, at Cranmore Mountain Resort. Parents and kids can choose to either ride the MWV Rec Path for free or the Cranmore Downhill Trails. The price for adults (ages 13 and up) is $35, Kids (12 and under) is $20. Proceeds go to support the Pope Memorial Library’s children’s room, programming, best-seller list and much more. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/acec8jx9.
• Big Day Brewing 24 Hours of Great Glen: Aug. 2-3. Celebrating 25 years of 24-hour races at Great Glen. There are two options for riders — a 24-hour race and a 12-hour race. Racers can go solo or be part of a team. Youths (17 and under) can race in the 12-hour event. It’s another fun family event. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/kztvrc3f.
Summer’s shaping up to be a great one for young mountain bikers. There are lots of opportunities in the valley for building skills, having fun, riding and racing with friends and family. Pick some to try and bike the summer away.
Sally McMurdo is a bike safety instructor and cyclist who lives in Conway.