Mountain Biking Experiencing a Surge in Popularity
Mountain Biking Experiencing a Surge in Popularity
By Leigh Sharps
People are looking for ways to escape the rigors of the pandemic restrictions this summer, and outdoor activities are exploding with participation like never before.
A sport that came actively onto the scene in the early 1990s, and has grown immensely since, is mountain biking. It is currently experiencing even greater popularity for those seeking the comfort, beauty and peace of the outdoors.
It is not surprising that Slade Warner and Mike Bombara, co-owners of Rhino Bike Works in Plymouth (there for nearly 30 years) are currently so busy with spring tune-ups and repairs they can hardly keep up. The COVID-19 epidemic has forced them, like many small businesses, to adjust their working hours and limit some services. Although they deliver curb-side requests for parts, etc., all other work on bikes must be done inside with a limited staff. Says Warner, “Business has been challenging with the lock-down. Mike and I do most of the work. People can order services by phone. It’s worked out well. There’s not too much left to browse inside now anyway, but we’re hoping for a partial reopening in the near future.”
Sean O'Leary of Ashland takes a trail at Fox Park in Plymouth.
With the decline of street biking and the constantly burgeoning mountain bike industry, it is no wonder their business has sold out of all bikes, both street and mountain, under the price of $1,000. “We now only have on hand ‘boutique’ type bikes, as we call them, on the upper end between $3,000 to $5,000,” says Warner. “Other than that I cannot get them…I have none left. It’s a global phenomenon right now, even getting parts is difficult. I’m hoping to get some bikes by August but I’m not sure at this point.”
He says street biking has definitely waned in the last decade and it’s why motorists do not see as many large groups of bikers on the roadways. “Road biking was once more popular than it is currently....people are really nervous about getting run over due to cell phone and other electronic device uses by drivers. There is more running and walking now than street biking. Mountain biking, particularly in this region, has grown immensely.”
Safety equipment such as helmets and body padding are of utmost importance for riders and, along with their advice, Warner and Bombara are happy to bring these out for riders in their parking lot. “Head protection is most important and, personally, I wear eye protection,” adds Warner and he recommends bikers bring water, tools, and a charged phone, besides head gear, when riding, especially if one is alone, and to always alert someone where they intend to be riding for the day.
Bikes, physically, have changed dramatically since the sport has evolved over the decades. “That could be a whole other story,” notes Warner. “Everything has changed: narrow tires to fat tubeless tires, materials bikes are constructed from, the suspension has changed to eliminate jarring trail features, the pedals have changed, there’s hydraulic disc brakes now, the way gearing operates….it’s all different; it’s endless. The comfort of bikes has totally progressed. All these changes, it’s the most interesting part of this sport to watch!”
People are taking to the more natural, scenic woods bike rides in the Pemi Valley and Central N.H. areas. There are trails for every level of rider from beginner to the advanced rider and family and pet oriented trails as well.
L-R: Slade Warner and Mike Bombara, co-owners of Rhino Bike Works in Plymouth with a top-of-the-line Santa Cruz mountain bike. (Leigh Sharps photo)
A recent President of the Pemi Valley Mountain Bike Association, part of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA, a 501-not-for-profit organization), Warner notes since the inception of the club in 2014, the trail system has grown and is now the most extensive in the Pemi Valley area. A nearby and beginner/moderate trail is the Gyro trail system starting behind the Plymouth State University ice arena and alongside the Pemigewassett River. “It’s convenient,” says Warner. Another access point is at Fox Park (on Prince Haven St., also in Plymouth). A few years ago the Pemi group organized the Gyro network, connecting it to Langdon and Fox Parks and a town-wide map was created with added ‘You Are Here’ signs for travelers. (Thanks to Greg DiSanto for his assistance in this effort).
Before the Pemi group joined, NEMBA trails were largely unmarked and maintenance was informal; now they are marked and maintained.
Club members go out, typically in the spring, and cut down trees, look for obstacles, wash-outs, and make repairs. “This group is very active every season and, of course, bikers will get off their bikes and clear debris in the trail when they encounter it after spring clean-up,” says Warner.
A Pemi Valley NEMBA newsletter states, “Over the past three decades, our local mountain biking community has established a large network of trails in the Plymouth, Campton, Thornton and Waterville Valley areas. These trails range from beginner to advanced and are built on a combination of private, public, and federal land.” They have a relationship with the White Mountain National Forest District and they have also formed relationships with Plymouth State University and the Holderness School for land access. The Holderness School, in fact, is the entity allowing mountain bikes on the existing trails in the Gyro system. Altogether, throughout New England, there are 28 chapters in NEMBA with over 7,000 members, with volunteers donating thousands of hours in volunteer trail maintenance, construction, presenting skills clinics, offering trail building schools and they are advocates for mountain biking and other recreational trails. There are thousands of miles of trails in New England with New Hampshire having one of the most extensive trail systems.
D Acres in Dorchester (a not-for-profit Permaculture Farm and Educational Homestead on Route 118) has an extensive connecting trail system which right now, unfortunately, is closed to mountain biking due to COVID-19, but they hope to re-open by early summer. They are still looking currently for volunteers to build and maintain trails. Their trails also extend access to the neighboring Green Woodlands Trail network. They have produced a guide called Pemi Valley ‘Get Outside’ full of hiking and mountain biking maps, including skiing and boating maps in the Plymouth to Warren area. Besides their land and Woodlands, they recommend Gyro, the Warren-Haverhill Railroad Grade and the McVetty Recreation trails. Some of these are ‘double track’ trails, meaning they are wider to allow both bikers and hikers to use the same trails, whereas ‘single track’ trails are just for mountain biking (the majority mentioned in this article). Pemi Valley NEMBA has also volunteered with building and maintaining the connecting trail systems at D Acres.
Avid mountain biker, Sean O’Leary, od Ashland, who bikes alone, with his dog, or with his family of four, recommends his favorite trails. “They’re the Gyro system and Fox Park in Plymouth (Prince Haven Road), Franklin Falls in Franklin (near the dam on Route 127) and Page Hill Trails in Hill (Murray Hill Road).” He notes the Page ride is difficult, Fox and Franklin are moderate/family rides and the Gyro is beginner/family and dog friendly (as are all these trails).
Due to the current virus situation, however, many things have changed currently for bikers this spring. NEMBA has issued guidelines. Some of these are: slow down and stop for others, be patient, bike off-hours and avoid crowded parking lots and locations, ride from your house to trails if possible, do NOT ride in large groups - only immediate family, provide extra space between riders (ideally 30’) and be friendly and respectful of all users’ needs for recreation and physical space; say ‘hi’ to other users. Always bring a fully charged cell phone, riding alone especially.
Also, all NEMBA sponsored events, group rides and in-person meetings have been suspended until further notice. They advise limiting groups and minimizing contact between riders.
Besides the benefits of being able to observe wildlife ‘up close and personal’ there is exquisite scenery to be had, not to mention the fresh air and the physical benefits. “When people first get out and do it they see how fun and healthy it is. They see places they’d never see otherwise. You can take a whole day to hike 12 miles, but on a bike you can do it in an hour and a half! It’s gained in popularity this past decade, particularly, and for a reason: the scenic and recreational value of it. You get out there and can see how very fortunate we are to live in this region!” concludes Warner.
So, if a family member is late for dinner some evening, do not ask why, because they obviously, ‘took the long way home’.
(The current President of the Pemi Valley NEMBA chapter is Kevin Luce. All officers and directors can be found on the Pemi Valley site as well as rules and information. Other trail systems in the Plymouth area include single track riding at the Holderness School, Rattlesnake Mtn. in Rumney, Welch-Dickey region in Thornton and the White Mountain National Forest Recreation area known as Smart’s Brook. Other trails in the White Mountains and central New Hampshire area may be found on the New Hampshire chapter of the NEMBA site. The majority of trails are dog and family friendly. Check NH State Parks on the web as some of the larger and more popular trails are still closed to the public to the end of June. Rhino Bike Works is located off North Main Street at 1 Foster Avenue, beside the Common Man Inn and Spa, call 536-3919, Plymouth, NH. D Acres Director is Josh Trought; their number is 786-2366, Streeter Woods Road, Dorchester, NH.)