Video: New Hampshire's Fall Riding Looks Phenomenal in 'Home in the Wild Whites'

Nov 18, 2018
by Rocky Mountain  


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HOME
IN THE
WILD WHITES


The Mount Washington Valley in North Conway, New Hampshire is renowned for world-class hiking and rock climbing, but for mountain bikers, this place is truly unique. The riding here has a certain style that's unlike anywhere else in New England, and for Peter Ostroski, the changing of the seasons marks the perfect time to dial back the training, put a hold on the racing, and head home to have some fun.


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Peter grew up riding on hiking trails filled with technical root sections and imperfect corners. Trails like these can often be an acquired taste but often feel quite rewarding when mastered. With the help of an enthusiastic group of locals, the mountain bike infrastructure and riding scene are growing rapidly, and along with it a growing number of trails. Peter's never shied away from adventuring deep into the woods to ride those particularly difficult sections of trail, and the way he sees it, his home network is only getting better.


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Peter's aspirations to find his place as a World Cup cross-country racer has fuelled his cycling addiction from a young age. It pushed him to explore the rugged terrain of his backyard, but ultimately his aspirations developed a skillset more in line with enduro racing than cross-country.

Today, Peter races the Enduro World Series circuit and spends his summers travelling and training. He credits his success at an international level to a childhood spent riding these trails that were primarily designed for hiking, in a range of wild weather that the area is known for.

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bigquotesGrowing up riding these trails on a short travel bike forced me to accept the fact that I was going to the bottom of my travel on every ride. I became used to hitting roots and rocks at a high speed and that mentality of just going for it helped me evolve into a better rider.—Peter Ostroski


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bigquotesI don't think many people know how amazing the riding is out here. Honestly, it's really underrated. When I'm doing the more epic rides in the Valley and I take a second to stop and look around, it makes me proud to call this place home.—Peter Ostroski

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91 Comments
  • 46 14
 Why has Pinkbike gone for clickbait "Youtube" style titles for videos when it used to be that you would call the video the actual title - e.g Home in the Wild Whites. In this case, I'd agree - The Fall Riding in New Hamsphire Looks Phenomenal. But most of the time, these titles are total exaggeration and pretty patronising.
  • 16 2
 When the business model is advertising, more eyeballs mean more revenue. Unfortunately, clickbait titles (as patronizing, and idiotic as they might be) do "work". In this case, at the expense of alienating some viewers. Wish they would stop this and ride a higher line, but this is pinkbike after all.
  • 9 1
 Probably because it gets more clicks Razz
  • 8 0
 if you ain't clickin around, you're dickin around.
  • 4 0
 I’ve seen “must watch” in a PB title more than a couple times.
  • 7 0
 I just hope they don't start putting a number in the title. Like "7 Reasons why you need to Visit Such and Such"

I can't stand those article that have to put a number on something. This video was pretty phenomenal though. I really like that shot starting around 3:08
  • 8 0
 Idk dude, the fall riding in NH is pretty damn phenomenal!!!!!
  • 11 2
 Nah thats where u messed up, this zone is unbelievable, on par with areas in revelstoke and whistler. Most importantly the insane crew of riders who work in this area maintain the trails fresh. Its the best riding in the east coast hands down.
  • 8 0
 @dump: Just posted on Pinkbike - "Video: Trail Dog Lovers Will Adore This".

Pinkbike, stop following this trend it seriously isn't a good long term idea to get people to engage with the site.
  • 2 1
 @ZiggyRibetto: Check what I originally said.
  • 2 1
 @ZiggyRibetto: I don't know about that.... I got to ride the proper... unofficial North Conway area for the first time a couple years ago and while it was beyond a bunch of the other riding around, you cannot compare it to the riding in the PNW, Whistler, Squamish and other spots in the Sunshine Coast.

The scene with committed shredders though, definitely on par.
  • 6 0
 @scott-townes: A few years ago, sure.

Today is a very, very different story.

A good 50-75% of the footage in this vid is on new trail. Everything in this shoot is legal and official at the moment.

Your due for another visit that will change your mind dude.
  • 1 1
 @elsinore: I don't doubt it, especially with that bermie trail at 2:45-2:50. Its still not comparable to the trails in the PNW and north of that, which was my point in the last post. I can't wait to come back to check out to see what's developed. The golden dirt underneath, the rooty/rocky classic NE riding with the bald granite peaks replicating slick rock all on one trail... hard to replicate that.
  • 3 1
 @m3000
Wait, what exactly is the problem with the title of this video? Here’s a news flash for you: high quality, free Internet content sometimes may have an ulterior motive...
  • 2 0
 On second thought, yeah, this title is total clickbait BS! Pinkbike should be able to sustain itself solely on the subscription fees we all pay!
  • 1 0
 @lccomz: They didn't used to phrase it like that - and they still got money from advertisers. If you like it, fair enough. The point is that it always sounds like an exaggeration and personally this puts me off clicking.
  • 5 0
 To PB's credit, when they title something as 'Must Watch' they f*kin mean it
  • 1 0
 @m3000: So you would have already known where the White Mtns were if PB hadn’t clarified they were in New Hampshire in the title?

I just think it’s weird to identify what you consider to be click bait, click on it anyways, then take the time to comment multiple times on it.

Here’s another surprise for you, Pinkbike is actually a BUSINESS. And I’ll be they have a lot more staff to pay now than they did in the “old days.”
  • 1 0
 @m3000: it’s not that I “like” the way they title videos now. It’s that I just don’t care. I just wanna watch videos of good riding in great spots...
  • 2 0
 @lccomz: @lccomz: Ok - for the sake of internet peace we'll agree to disagree
  • 3 0
 There's nothing wrong with this particular title, I think we all agree that the riding in the vid does look phenomenal, and it is factually so in real life. A post's title is supposed to differ from the title of the video as it's trying to inform the reader in the shortest way possible what the post is about. "Home in the Wild White" doesn't do that, we have no idea what that's about. PB's title, on the other hand, does give us a sense of where the video takes place, what it conveys, all before you even click on it. It's not even marketing, just the smart use of words.
  • 1 0
 They get sent to editing, and after that writers don't have too much control
  • 3 0
 As long as they don't start using titles like "This Mountain Biker Started Digging A Hole Under His House to Reduce Belly Fat With This One Weird Trick and His Neighbors Thought He Was Crazy But Look What He found Inside!" I'll be ok.
  • 1 0
 @ZiggyRibetto: Hi ziggy
  • 1 0
 ..
  • 1 0
 @erlkonig: It's just a matter of time Smile
  • 1 0
 @sfrucian: hi sal
  • 2 0
 @scott-townes: ive ridden both pretty extensively. and i will compare them to the PNW, Whistler, Squamish, and the Sunshine Coast. both on quality and variety. maybe not quantity but BC is a lot bigger area than North Conway. But theres a whole lot less people riding Conway which is a plus
  • 1 0
 @tsampson: Yeah that's pretty much my point, they're both incredibly fun but way more vert and exploring to be done in those areas vs. North Conway. I was shocked at how empty the trails are there but then you realize most of the tourists visiting are not riding. There were by far more people on the hiking trail sections.
  • 23 2
 Pete,

Epic video, thanks for sharing this! Now, do you have any suggestions for where to start a ride, trail names, Trailforks routes?
Otherwise I doubt most of us can have the same phenomenal experience of the Whites as you do. It's underrated for a reason, and that is because they're mostly unmarked trails, hiking trails, etc.
What are your riding suggestions that would be biker and hiker friendly?

Thanks!
  • 1 0
 I'd like to know too.
  • 5 3
 Not sure those are all legal mountain bike trails, particularly the shots above tree line
  • 3 7
flag TannerValhouli (Nov 19, 2018 at 15:31) (Below Threshold)
 It’s called trailforks
  • 8 1
 @matthewb8ker: Everything in this video is either legal MTB trail or hiking trail. If not in a wilderness there are no restrictions on biking on Forest Service hiking trails.
www.facebook.com/WMNEMBA/?ref=bookmarks
  • 3 0
 @matthewb8ker: they are. I live at the foot of this mountain
  • 1 0
 @17ryan: fair enough
  • 16 0
 @EngineerOn2Wheels

Here are the trails in the vid:
www.trailforks.com/trails/charlie-don-t-surf-143118
www.trailforks.com/trails/parking-lot-smoothie
www.trailforks.com/trails/sendero

Kandagnar is also in there a bit which was a once secret trail. It is now legal and will be on trailforks this spring.

The clips on the cliff top are of 'Rays Trail', which parallels the Cathedral ledge paved road and will be in trailforks next spring. "Bryce Path' is a hiking trail (legal to ride) also in there which is off of Whitehorse ledge.

The slickrock above treeline stuff is of South Baldface near Evans notch. Its totally legal to ride and unreal if you can deal with the 3000' vert Hikabike to get up to the top. Almost nothing is rideable going up.

Keep your eyes peeled this spring folks. Lots of new trail going on up in NOCO!
  • 2 0
 @elsinore: You live up that way? You care to guide next season? I planned on getting up there with a crew this year but never did. I heard the riding was good up there but now it's a must.
  • 1 0
 I've ridden most of the stuff in this vid, along with alot of stuff that isn't in this vid. As was mentioned if it's not in wilderness it's open to biking. Unfortunately alot of the whites are in wilderness. But, there are a few Gems to be had especially in the North Conway area. I got bored a few years ago with local trails and now enjoy the hike a bike style adventure rides more than anything else in the area...
  • 1 0
 @elsinore: Damn, sorry the Nov 4th group ride event was canceled due to rain. After a never ending swamp ass of a summer, all we got was a transition to a never ending swamp ass of a fall season.
  • 3 0
 @chriskneeland: Yep, I live at the base of all the Hurricane trails and do a lot of building.
Hit me up with a PM if your up this way and I'll give you the tour.
  • 2 0
 @JWadd: This fall was a drag! The wet and snow robbed us of a good month of sweet riding. Now its fatbikes and skis.
  • 2 0
 @ahleich: still living free over there, I see *glares across the Connecticut from VT until town passes anti-glaring ordinance, goes to jail*
  • 1 0
 Bring your all day hiking boots.
  • 13 0
 That was sick! Always wondered about Peter's hometown, rad vid!
  • 1 0
 come on over, can show ya around! Wink
  • 7 1
 Fall has genuinely sucked for riding in the northeast this year. Had about 3 weeks of legitimate fall and then the weather decided it wanted to be winter about halfway through October.
  • 1 0
 Yea the Ottawa area had it brutal too. Hot AF all September, then a week of straight rain and practically winter the next.... There's always next year.....
  • 5 1
 Unfortunately that beautiful fall riding doesn't last long around here. I'm next door in Maine and the weather changes fast. The leaves have been down for a few weeks and qr already have a few inches of snow on the trails. Time to dust off the fat bikes.
  • 4 0
 We mostly missed fall here in Michigan, too. Went from summer to can't feel my fingers in a blink. On the fatbike now. In snow.
  • 8 0
 THIS IS DOPE HELL YES PETTER AND THE FILM CREW!
  • 2 0
 Nice video. I love to see people riding trails in my area way better than me. In that opening shot I thought his drivetrain was on the left side of the bike, but then I realized the raceface logo is also backwards on the wheels.
  • 5 0
 Happy to call this place home: help us who build and maintain:
www.facebook.com/WMNEMBA
  • 3 0
 Dude! Great video Pete and crew! Great photos too! I never thought I would say this, but this makes me want to go ride New England! Looks pretty damn amazing.
  • 2 0
 Looks great. Similar technical riding here in New Brunswick Canada but we don’t have the elevation. Maybe I should t be driving through North Conway to get to Kingdom trails so quick.
  • 2 0
 Too true! The Kingdom used to be my fav, but once you meet up with a NoCo local there is no going back. Do find a local tho, all the best spots are just off the beaten trail.
  • 1 0
 Sounds good. It’s really not that far a drive for us here. And that beer selection is killer at Discount beer and cigarettes @MaineMainiac:
  • 2 0
 Got a tour of some of the riding in the N. Conway area from Pete and a few other locals earlier this fall. Such an amazing place to ride and Pete is a ripper for sure. Good work on the vid.
  • 2 0
 Don’t know how people can whinge about free content.
When I was a young whipper snapper,we used to buy our riding content!(insert old man voice)

And Now we have red bull tv and many mtb streams.
Too spoilt.
  • 1 0
 Looks like Central Finland in the Fall but - with elevation ))

Beautiful spot, nice trails, you guys are lucky.

Meanwhile back in Aus, it's a mtb game of Snakes and Ladders (gettin time of year where snakes hang out sun baking).
  • 2 0
 Great riding and impressive filming! Trail development in the MWV really took off this year. Looking forward to what 2019 brings!
  • 4 0
 Next up. You won't believe what happens next! Click to find out.
  • 4 0
 New Hampshire looks much more fun than the old Hampshire where I live Frown
  • 3 0
 Yeah Pete, givin'er the gas. Love it!
  • 3 4
 Damn, great video and great trails, views, etc.! But don't let anyone fool you, riding in Fall in the northeast is a crapshoot for weather and trail conditions. This year has SUCKED. It's kinda like that Oxyclean commercial, OMG this stuff looks amazing!! Then you try it and you're clothes are just dirty, cold and wet.
  • 1 0
 The NoCo scene is among the best on the east coast. The locals have pumped a lot of new stoke into the network. Can't wait to hit this place up again.
  • 3 0
 All the fall colors!
  • 2 2
 all the color correction
  • 2 0
 Lovely video. Wasn't aware there was much going on in the conway area.
  • 2 0
 Looks like an amazing place to ride!
  • 1 0
 I love riding in Conway and just seeing this makes me want to ride more there back home!
  • 1 0
 Hi Sean
  • 3 0
 Yeah PETE !!
  • 3 0
 That smooth, smooth sax.
  • 2 0
 looks like an amazing place to ride!
  • 2 0
 My state! Though I in much further south.
  • 2 0
 Great video and yay for the Northeast!
  • 2 0
 Hell yeah NH. Great video and great looking riding.
  • 2 1
 Looks spectacular. The colors and all those glorious roots and rocks!
  • 1 0
 no no. it looks pHeNoMeNaL
  • 2 0
 Epic prison muff!
  • 2 0
 the best riding
  • 1 0
 Awesome video! NOCO is sick for sure.
  • 1 0
 Name of that last trail please??!
  • 1 0
 I am moving the family to Noth Conway.
  • 1 0
 East is Beast.
  • 2 3
 Yup. Sounds like Codes...
  • 2 1
 saints*
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