East Bound and Down: The 2016 Retrospective
I set out to accomplish a handful of things during each of these trips, but my ultimate hope is to serve each community well in the way I share their story. The truth is that 2,500 words, 50 or so pictures, and a 75 second video can never come close enough to fully convey the years of hard, often thankless work put into these places by who knows how many people. But this is the internet, and I know I'm already testing the limits of attention span, so it'll have to do. I will say that 2016 in particular has been an especially eye opening year. One of my favorite narratives shared by everywhere I've visited so far is the sense of value that each respective region sees in mountain biking, and it's not just the mountain bikers who see it that way. More and more frequently, we're seeing communities look to mountain biking as not just a viable economic asset, but a social one as well. Connections between mountain bike clubs and organizations, and their townships, tourism bureaus, and city councils continue to grow stronger and stronger as riders make their presence more well known. Progressive trail design is becoming more widely accepted as a boost to local trail networks and towns, and less of a liability to them.
Ultimately, I have an equal amount of appreciation and love for the differences found from one destination to another as I do the similarities. For me, it creates a sense of kinship and community that goes beyond city and state lines. Thank you to each and every person that was a part of the adventure this year. Trails are rad to be sure, but it's the people who make mountain biking special for so many of us. I for one am looking forward to even more of these adventures next year.
Ray Petro's woodwork is appreciated by riders of all ages.
Reaching for some of the day's last light, high above the big set.
Ashton Nau battled strep throat during our photo session, and still managed to deliver top notch style and amplitude.
The Vortex is the centerpiece to the Santos Trails, with XC trails, loads of wooden features, and of course dirt jumps.
Every Wednesday, scores of kids gather on the trails for 'practice'. It's got a soccer practice vibe, but it's on bikes, so the rad factor is exponentially higher.
Ray Petro calls this place home during the winter, and his efforts here have been lauded by locals and visitors alike.
Local pinners, Casey Coull and Scotty Miller slog up a steep and chunky climb at nearby French Creek.
These guys have it good and they've long known it. Now they're looking to extend the invitation to the rest of the world.
Fred Heinly is the brains and brawn behind the infamous Duryea Downhill race.
There used to be meat in them there lockers.
Marine and former police officer, and the current B.A.M.B.A. (Berks Area Mountain Bike Association) youth coordinator, John Pacharis has a renewed love for riding on Mount Penn.
Scotty Miller out on a quality control mission at French Creek.
You won't see many flashy kits or a whole lot of super bikes in Davis, but you will see a bit of style and a lot of fun when you make the trip.
Rob Stull and Brian Sarfino stay close between a rock and a hard place. Oh, and another rock.
Jason Cyr shows us the benefits of sub 750mm wide handlebars.
Brian Sarfino is full throttle through the green glow of this ancient Appalachian wilderness.
There's more than enough top soil to go round.
The future is looking bright for Davis.
Alexe Lacroix is the founder of the local women's mountain bike club, the QC MTB Girls.
The trails of Sentiers don't feature a ton of vertical relief with 600 feet of elevation change, but there are a lot of them and they will have you smiling from top to bottom.
Carolanne Gariepy floats over some rocks during a QC MTB Girls group ride.
Will and Mark of the Free Radicals drive around the world in a van, but they still appreciate time together on wall rides as well.
Benoit Paradis parties down the trail before eventually hosting a party on his deck later in the day.
Will flattens out a hip on La Yable at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Brian Hann and Mary Beth Tugwell's farm full of jumps has played host to the annual Fall Fest for years, but the event has since outgrown his property and this year they hosted the event at Baker Creek Preserve.
Travis Davis with a twilight wallride at the top of the Devil's Racetrack.
Kaysee Armstrong almost moved to Pisgah, but saw what was happening in Knoxville, and is now a happy homeowner.
Missy Petty helps lead an incredible contingent of women here. Knoxville has an already impressive, and still growing community of female shredders.
Retired surgeon Kevin Zirkle is about as passionate and authentic as they make 'em.
Earlier this fall, Sean Leader teamed up with Neko Mulally to manage 450 acres of amazing terrain with a shuttle service-based downhill park called Windrock, located 45 minutes west of the city.
Riding bikes in the fall here is not to be missed. With a higher dew point, sunny days are met with stunning dirt that gets all the water it needs overnight.
The mid-mountain pumptrack is a nice touch, and fortunately doesn't require much pedaling.
Somehow Robin Payson is all smiles despite the steep kick on the climb up Ragged Mountain.
The deep pockets on Dreadnought are a blast.
Tim Sewall has been doing this on Ragged Mountain for longer than just about anybody, and he's still faster than just about everybody.
Sam Kinney keeps it low underneath the peaking canopy.
For information on the area, including restaurant selections (there are plenty) and activities for the whole family, check of the Ocala/Marion County Convention and Visitor's Bureau website.
Here's the website for the Ocala Mountain Bike Association.
I stayed at the Quality Inn in Ocala. It is bike friendly, has quick WiFi, spacious & clean rooms, a super friendly staff, and is 15 minutes from the trailhead.
If you're interested in helping the Florida Devo group, you can donate here.
Reading EB&D Travel Information:
For information on the area, including restaurant selections, lodging options, and activities for the whole family, check out the Go Greater Reading website.
Here's the website for the BAMBA.
Looking for a bike shop? Head to Shirk's
Davis EB&D Travel Information:
For information on the area, including restaurant selections, lodging options, and activities for the whole family, visit out the Tucker County Tourism website.
Here's the website for the Blackwater Bicycle Association.
Looking for a bike shop? Head to Blackwater Bikes. They're currently looking for a full-time, experienced bike mechanic. Contact information can be found following the link.
Blackwater Falls State Park is the state's most popular. They have a ton of lodging options, including deluxe cabins, perfect for a large group of riders!
Joining the Wednesday night ride? Be sure to join the group at Hellbender Burritos afterward!
Sirianni's Cafe doesn't have a website, but they have a phone! 304-259-5454
Quebec EB&D Travel Information:
For more information regarding the Quebec Destination Velo de Montagne, click here.
For more information regarding Vallee Bras du Nord, click here.
For more information regarding Sentiers du Moulin, click here.
For more information regarding Pat Dorion's work with the GAAP Enduro, click here.
Special thank you to Cafe Noisette for the delicious coffee and snacks!
Thank you to the Northman Insurance Group and its ambassadors; Nick Van Egmond, Mark Taylor and William Coldcastle for making this trip possible. Check them out, they provide insurance for athletes, travelers and other people who revel in adventure.
Looking for a place to stay with you and your pals? The Chalet Montmorency offers riders discounts up to 58% off in the summer. They just want people to come hang and ride at Mont-Sainte-Anne!
Knoxville EB&D Travel Information:
For the most comprehensive travel information on Knoxville, including where to sleep, eat, drink, and be merry, be sure to check out Visit Knoxville.
For trail maps, updates and more information on A.M.B.C., check out their website.
You can also learn more about Legacy Parks here.
Need a bike shop? Well, there are 11 to choose from in town. Harpers, Tennessee Valley Bicycles, and the Bike Zoo are just a few of them.
Camden EB&D Travel Information:
You can download a trail map here, or pick one up at local shops.
Sidecountry Sports is a great place for your bike and ski needs!
For specific information about the Camden Snow Bowl, be sure to check out their website.
For a list of local businesses who actively support mountain biking, see the list on Midcoast Maine NEMBA's website.
Interested in a couple of hours on the water? The crew aboard the Schooner Olad is amazing, as are the views.
Midcoast trails would not be possible without the support of the Town of Camden, The Coastal Mountains Land Trust, and private landowners. Please help mountain biking by respecting the lands we get to ride on!
MENTIONS: @briceshirbach
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The stories and videos bring tangebility to bike destinations throughout the EC.
Keep up the great work Brice! Also, how does one get into your queue for future coverage on EB&D?
Got a killer destination and community that we want to share...
Going to have to dig around and find the other episodes now! Thanks Brice, a perfect distraction from the 8" of snow I had land on my driveway over the past few hours!
i escape hustle of washington dc metro as much as i can down there.
but to be fair, we like to talk about ourselves ;-)