In an effort to evolve our local mountain biking advocacy group, we are pleased to announce the formation of the White Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC), a new local non-profit focused on providing mountain bike opportunities in the Mount Washington Valley. The longstanding goal of the mountain bike community has been to preserve and maintain our current trails, and create new riding opportunities. WMBC seeks to fulfill these longstanding goals, and bring a localized effort to create a sustainable non-profit organization. WMBC will be using “Ride NoCo” as a trademarked brand and logo as part of creating awareness around the growing advocacy group.
The foundation of the original advocacy group, the White Mountains Chapter of NEMBA, New England Mountain Bike Association, was created to give our local mountain bike community backing to what was a fringe sport 30 years ago. Now, being an established group in a sport that has gained popularity and greater involvement in outdoor recreation, the White Mountains NEMBA board has decided to step away from being a sub chapter in NEMBA, and create our own organization, bringing a unique identity to our riding community. This will allow: more localized functionality, a broad membership base (local community and visiting riders), trail work days, and local events. WMBC looks to engage and carry over the current chapter members as well as expand the membership base. We are actively seeking grant funding in an effort to have a sustainable organization, bring the community together, address the spectrum of riding disciplines, and create local job opportunities.
There has been a great deal of work put into our current network of trails from developing the Marshall Conservation Area as a beginner friendly zone, connecting the West Side system, maintaining the popular East Side trails, and creating one of the most popular networks of gravity fed trails in the region. We are fortunate to be in an area that has amazing terrain and supports one of the most diverse trail networks in the region. Our growing partnership with Cranmore has facilitated key capital connectivity projects and opened a safe centralized parking area that will access a majority of the trail network.
In the last two years we have invested time and energy into building awareness around Ride NoCo as a unique identity to riding in the valley. We have created an easy avenue online at ridenoco.org where people can support as members, donors, and corporate sponsors in an effort to build an operational budget and provide needed resources. In 2019, we organized three main events to bring the riding community together and fundraise for trails. These functions are part of our annual plan to bring three key events to the community during the riding season.
·The Spring Sender which saw 200+ people come out for a weekend of riding, music, beers, and a locally supported raffle.
·Our Annual Trail Day in July, where we had over 180 volunteer hours put into trails in one day.
·Our first annual Leaf Peeper Bike Bash event that brought together 300+ people from the region in a celebration of the fall riding season. During the day, rides throughout the valley took place. In the evening at the Theater in the Wood there was live music, local beer, silent auction, bike films, raffle, and a Rocky Mountain Bike raffle which saw over 5,000 raffle tickets sold online in North America.
In the last year we have secured grant funding for key projects through collaboration with White Mountains Trail Collective and the Mount Washington Valley Trails Association. A mountain bike trail parallel to the Cranmore Connector and connecting the Black Cap Trail to Cranmore Mountain will be built by IdeRide Trail Builders during the month of August. Additionally, two trails will be built connecting the base of Cranmore to Sendero on the Kettle Ridge Trail. The latter two trails will be infrastructural trails to allow mountain bikers to access the Hurricane Mountain Zone directly from the Cranmore parking lot. These trails will be built by local trail builders Tyrol Trails and Tulip Trails starting in July.
The Mission of Ride NoCo is to advocate and grow mountain biking in the White Mountains. We 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. We do this by promoting sustainable land use, providing educational opportunities, and hosting events for new and experienced riders.
We continue to grow and support an outdoor recreational culture and contribute to Mount Washington Valley being a better place to live, work, and play.
Annual memberships can be purchased and more info can be found at www.ridenoco.com. Check the @ridenoco Instagram for updates as well.