A Quick Look at Riding in 2024
The snow has melted and the trails are finally beginning to dry. The momentum continues in the Mt. Washington Valley as mountain biking’s popularity continues to grow. From North Conway to Gorham and west to Bethlehem, trails continue to improve and events continue to grow. Here is a brief look at what to expect in 2024.
Ride NoCo
Development and Sustainability in the MWV
The mission of Ride NoCo is to advocate and grow mountain biking in the White Mountains. They maintain—and responsibly build—trails for riding opportunities available to all abilities. Ride NoCo works with the local mountain bike community as the liaison to land managers and owners for continued and future access of public and private lands.
Ride NoCo builds awareness to progress mountain biking responsibly in the region. They do this by promoting sustainable land use, providing educational opportunities, and hosting events for new and experienced riders.
The Ride NoCo board often talks about the “endless potential” of the Hurricane Mountain Zone. That potential fills dreams and keeps the group energized, and why they are stoked to announce a capital campaign for $100,000 that will fund projects to expand the Hurricane Mountain Zone and maintain and revitalize existing trails over the next couple years.
All membership fees and donations will be counted towards their goals. For 2024, the fundraising goal is $32,000. They hope that the community is as excited as they are about the proposed projects, some of which will occur in 2024. Ride NoCo will undertake the projects with a price tag as soon as funding allows. The riding community can be on the lookout for a GoFundMe to raise money for the first phase of this capital campaign. In the meantime—become a member or donate on the website. All membership fees and donations will be counted towards the capital campaign goal.
RIDE NOCO
White Mountains NEMBA
Trails, Advocacy, Community.
There are many trails here in the Mt. Washington Valley and throughout the White Mountains, and they all need a little attention. The group was very fortunate to avoid serious damage from the flooding this winter in North Conway, while others in the area were not so fortunate.
This year, the focus is on completing the High School trail project on the West Side network. Thank you if you helped with the initial corridor cutting on trail day in November! Trail work days typically begin in May and wrap up in the fall. The high school trail project will create an actual loop that keeps you in the forest rather than on the Forest Service road, with a connector to the Marshall network on the southern end and the rest of the West Side network on the northern end.
Mark your calendar for the annual Fat Tire Fest, September 20 through 22, three days of MTB mayhem in the MWV! Camping, trail shuttles, live music, and beer, located in the spectacular Fields of Attitash.
Follow social channels noted below for up-to-date info.
Click for a high-resolution PDF
NEMBA
Coös Cycling Club
All Hands On Deck!
This year will be an important one for the Coös Cycling Club. The trail network took a tough hit this past December, with extensive flooding and erosion across the entire network. Volunteers will be needed all spring into early summer, so please keep an eye on their social channels and websites for trail days. Trail workdays will also be listed on their events calendar on the Coös Cycling Club website.
Summer trail repair efforts will be fueled financially by the second iteration of the Frost Heave backcountry mountain bike event held on May 18 in beautiful Jericho Mountain State Park. Look online to register at www.bikereg.com/frostheave#Register. This unique early-season event is held on a diverse network of trails often reserved for motorized vehicles. Participants can expect challenging climbs, rugged descents, and a large dose of unexpected mountain bike gnar, all offered up one week before the park opens to motorized users.
www.facebook.com/p/Coos-cycling-club
www.instagram.com/cooscyclingclub
BETHLEHEM TRAILS ASSOCIATION
Check out the gear shed for free outdoor gear rentals!
The first public gear library is part of Bethlehem Trails Association and has been available by free membership since 2022. It offers balance bikes, youth bikes, and baby carriers for the kids, as well as helmets, poles, MICROspikes®, snowshoes, and now even fat bikes! Most of the gear is free to rent, or you can make a rental donation. All paid rentals help maintain and grow the library.
The gear shed is funded by generous donations from members, community grants, and local businesses around Bethlehem. Just sign up to become a member (to get access to the lock code) at www.thegearlibrarynh.org, reserve what you need and the date and time that you need it, and then head over to the red shed located behind rek’•lis brewing company! The Gear Shed continues to grow and is always looking for free, high-quality outdoor gear to build the collection. The Gear Library – www.thegearlibrarynh.org 2085 Main St., Bethlehem
www.facebook.com/bethlehemtrailsassoc
www.instagram.com/bethlehemtrails
EVENTS
SINGLE-SPEED NEW ENGLAND
Hits Gorham, NH. June 28-30, 2024
There are people you see only once a year—people whose friendship transcends time and space, people who will help you fix a flat tire or hold your hair back. These people are single speeders. It doesn’t matter when or where, but you know that you will see each other again and that great times will be had. This is where Single Speed New England (SSNE) comes in.
SSNE has traveled the country chasing Single Speed USA as it bounces from one location to another. SSNE has even hosted the notorious event in Carrabasset Valley, Maine. Now, we are bringing it back as Single Speed New England, specifically to Gorham, NH, June 28-30, 2024. SSNE will bring the same energy as SSUSA, but we are keeping it local for those who can’t wander the country.
SSNE is partnering with Hub North and Big Day Brewing to bring you a two-day event steeped in single-speed culture. This event is for fostering lifelong friendships and for wearing your favorite pair of jorts. Friday will be a for-fun ride that ends at Big Day Brewing. Saturday will consist of two categories: Race Pace and Party Pace. Race Pace is for those who can’t stop to smell the roses. Will there be prizes? You’ll have to wait and see. Party Pace is for those who are here for a good time. This is where lasting friendships are made; this is where trailside flasks get passed around. And because SSNE is always looking to drag in newcomers, there is a Geared category as well. This category is for those that are single-speed curious. There is no plan for this category other than you can join in the fun and be the butt of the jokes. Proceeds for this event will go directly into supporting the local trail system.
www.facebook.com/SingleSpeedNew England
www.instagram.com/singlespeednewengland
Great Glen Trails
Celebrating 24 in 24 at the 24 in the Glen: August 3-4, 2024
Moat Mountain 24 Hours of Great Glen, the most beloved and iconic mountain bike race in New England, returns! The course itself is a roughly 9-mile loop that winds its way around the carriage roads, doubletrack, bridges, and technical singletrack at the base of Mt. Washington. The course features challenging segments such as the infamous floating bridge over the Glen Pond. Racers can join in any of the race categories in the 24 or 12 Hour divisions.
www.greatglentrails.com/24-hours
