Presque Isle to Host Mountain Biking Events

PRESQUE ISLE – The next two weekends will be busy ones for mountain bike enthusiasts as the Nordic Heritage Center hosts back- to-back mountain bike-themed activities at its new mountain bike trail system on U.S. Route 167 in Presque Isle.

Officials with the Maine Winter Sports Center and the Nordic Heritage Center have worked for years to make the MWSC facility a four-season venue, with free trails for skiers and snowshoers in the winter and for bikers, hikers, runners and nature walkers in the summer. In the last two years, officials have worked with renowned trail builder Rich Edwards of the International Mountain Bicycling Association to build a first-class mountain bike trail system.

Officials this weekend will cap that project – which cost about $50,000 and involved thousands of hours of volunteer work – with all- day IMBA trail and terrain park building clinics.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, officials will host an informal trail building session. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, they will host a formal clinic. To end the weekend, they will host an open house and dedication ceremony for the trail system at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7. Guided tours begin at 2 p.m.

“For this weekend, our hope is that people that are curious or have been trying the trails will come out and get a better understanding of how trails are designed and built,” Greg Rawlings, an MWSC adult development coach and trail coordinator, said Wednesday.

According to Rawlings, the system is the first ever dedicated to non-motorized bikes in Aroostook County and one of only a few in the state.

Rawlings said that the Maine Winter Sports Center supports the project because of what mountain biking has to do with winter sports: cross-training. Many of the center’s skiers use the trails for mountain biking, hiking and trail running in the spring, summer and fall. This “reciprocal” relationship thrives in many communities across the country and even draws a large fan base, which can boost the local economy, Rawlings said.

Officials hope the same will happen in Presque Isle. The new system includes everything from scenic beginner trails to world- class racing challenges.

Just a week after the trail system’s dedication, mountain bike enthusiasts are expected to take to the trails during the MTB, or Mountain Bike Weekend. Activities will kick off from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12. with an MTB Camp social at the Nordic Heritage Center lodge. The event will include an ongoing video and slide show.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, officials will host a women only day, with various clinics, activities and rides. Jacquie Phelan will facilitate some of the activities. Phelan is one of the founders of the National Off Road Bicycling Association, the founder of the Women’s Mountain Bike and Tea Society, or WOMBATS, and a three-time NORBA professional race series championship winner.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, officials will host a coed MTB Camp with coed clinics, activities and rides.

“Our hope here is to get people to dust their bikes off and try riding,” Rawlings said. “We’ll have all different levels – from people who learn to put air in their tires and shift the gears all the way up to people who’d like to improve their technique. This will be a fun social learning environment for biking.”

The cost for the event is $20 a day per person or $30 per person for the entire weekend. Lunch and snacks will be provided on Saturday and Sunday. Participants are responsible for their own lodging.

For more information on any of these events, contact Greg Rawlings at greg@mainewsc.org.