HARDY KIDS MTB RACE
REGISTRATION CLOSES 6PM FRIDAY: www.bit.ly/HardyKids

Started by kids, for kids; now proudly hosted by BETA. Riders from pre-K to high school are invited to participate in this fun ride & race. Stick around after the race for a trailhead BBQ.

Check-in 8:00am to 8:45am; races start at 9:00am. Grilling to kick off around 9:30am -- stick around for a hot dog and to meet other families🌭

Thank you so much to the riders, volunteers, and sponsors (below) who make this event possible!  

PEDAL & POTLUCK
Meet you at the Wilmington Town Park for a Wilmington MTB-themed scavenger hunt, group rides, and a community potluck.

👀 SCAVENGER HUNT 
Stop by the park anytime after 7:30am to pick up a Wilmington MTB-themed scavenger hunt list of side quests and do your best to collect them all with a selfie. Go solo or bring your crew, whatever floats your boat. Turn in your completed scavenger hunt list right back at the park during the potluck, between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

🚵 GROUP RIDES
 Not so into the scavenger hunt, but want to ride in good company? Join a group ride. Sign up sheets will be posted at the park beforehand.
🚵 The advanced group ride led by Patrick Carey and Eli Land will meet at the park at 10:00am, wheels rolling by 10:15am. That ride will be 20-25 miles and include a tour of the Flume and Cooper Kiln, pit stop at the park, and then down to Hardy Road.
🚵The intermediate group ride led by Dan Cash will meet at 1:45pm at the park, wheels rolling by 2:00pm.

🌭 POTLUCK
​From 4:00pm to 7:00pm, we're sharing a meal at the park. BYOP, BYOB, BYOC -- bring your own plate, beverage, and chair. Please bring something to share with the group -- thank you!

PEDAL & POTLUCK SCHEDULE:
⭐7:30am -- Scavenger hunt opens; stop by the Wilmington Recreation Park to pick up the scavenger hunt list of quests.
⭐10:00am -- Advanced group ride meets at the park at 10:00am, wheels rolling by 10:15am.
⭐12:00pm -- Kaley (board Secretary) and Bryan (board Co-Chair) will be at the park to man the scavenger hunt and group ride sign up. If you have questions, stop by to see them.
⭐1:45pm -- Intermediate group ride meets at the park at 1:45pm, wheels rolling by 2:00pm.
⭐4:00pm -- Potluck begins. Bring something to share, your beverage of choice, and a lawn chair. Bathrooms will be open. If you did the scavenger hunt, turn in your sheet at the sign up station to collect your kudos, bragging rights, and maybe even a little prize.
⭐7:00pm -- Potluck wraps up. Thanks for coming!

​Last SYRR of the season!

Great crew for the Slow Your Roll Ride at Fowler's Crossing, Saranac Lake last night. Thanks for an awesome season of group rides, everyone!

HARDY KIDS MTB RACE | AUGUST 29th | HARDY ROAD, WILMINGTON, NY

Don't miss this mountain bike fun ride and race for kids in pre-K through high school! Come for the race, stay for the BBQ and socialize.

​This awesome event was started 8 years ago by kids, for kids; BETA is proud to host it for the first time this year.

Wow, what a ride! Thank you so much to everyone who came out for 1000 Animals Social Athletic Club Group Ride last week, it was such a great time seeing everyone and sharing the trails. We don’t host many big group rides like this one so 1000 Animals is extra special to us. It’s always such a treat to see the trails taken over by costume-clad compatriots, whooping and hollering, smiling ear to ear. Not to mention, the BBQ was a great way to finish the evening.

Special cheers to the two folks whose very first mountain biking excursion was 1000 Animals – honored to be part of your mountain biking journey. Glad you both had a stellar time, looking forward to seeing you on the trails again.

A great big thank you to our ride leaders: Patrick, Tat, and everyone who volunteered to assist for leading us through the woods; to our event sponsors Placid Planet Bicycles and West Shore BBQ for giving us a great place to start/stop; and to each and every person who came out for the evening. Until next time – see you on the trails!

In early May, we hosted our Annual Meeting and celebrated our 40th anniversary. It was amazing to see so many friendly faces and reflect on 40 years of work by the Adirondack Ski Touring Council and the Barkeater Trails Alliance.

We were honored to be awarded a citation from Assemblyman Cashman recognizing BETA's impact and role within the community. Cashman spoke briefly about the importance of recreational trails as vital infrastructure and the majesty of the Adirondacks and the people who call it home.

Thank you so much to all the folks who came out to celebrate with us -- it was great to see you. Cheers to another 40 years!

​After careful consideration, we have decided not to hold BETA’s Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival this year. 

One important reason that led us to make this decision is that Crankworx -- a massive international mountain biking festival -- is coming to Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec over Labor Day weekend which is when we have always hosted Bike Fest.

There are a number of other factors we considered, including a busy calendar of mountain biking events around the northeast, that made this the right call.

Bike Fest holds a special place in many people's hearts. It’s created a lot of good days, great memories, and connections that have lasted well beyond a single weekend. While we will not host Bike Fest this year, we remain committed to hosting events that build community around our shared love of trails and riding. We are planning other events across our region that do just that. For the latest updates, please visit our events page. 

Thank you to everyone who has been part of Bike Fest over the years, and to the volunteers, ride leaders, and partners who helped make it possible. It has been a joy to host it and we are excited to bring that energy to more events this season.

Even the youngsters who hadn't brought their bikes were in luck: the Lake Placid Elementary School generously lent us a portion of their bike fleet.  Those bikes were in use from start to finish.  They were in such high demand that on occasion, someone walking a bike back to the rack would be intercepted by a hopeful rider.  It reminded me of asking someone who is putting on their coat if you could have their table when there are no other empty seats in the coffee shop.  High demand, indeed. 

Imagine: a little after 6:30pm, the sun low in the sky, the Oval grass busy with kids of all ages looping around one another to take their turn on the feature(s) of their choice.  Some do wheelies, some are just trying to stay upright.  Adults peruse the booths set up by BETA, Bike ADK, Placid Planet Bicycles, High Peaks Cyclery, and the Regional Official of Sustainable Tourism.  People stand in groups at whatever distance from the features feels comfortable, enjoying a pleasant evening, when suddenly...from the area under the row of flags at the northern crest of the Oval, a dramatic and thundering drumbeat.  Just one, and then two, and then many, many more.  

Fogo Azul had arrived.

This woman-led samba drumline descended the steps into the Oval and marched around the bike features.  They curled around, creating a face-to-face drum-off between two sections of the band.  People linked arm-in-arm danced down the aisle separating the two groups of drummers.  Kids took the opportunity to ride through as well, toothy grins galore.  We heard from the musicians that this was the first time they'd ever had people ride bikes through the drum-off and it was quite the experience for them, too.

After sufficient drumming, oohing and aahing, Fogo Azul retreated, still playing, to their starting point before bringing their music to an end.  While the action seemed to ebb, the lull didn't last long.

The announcer for KRUSHER BMX fired up their speakers and jumped on the mic, informing the crowd (which had grown significantly during Fogo Azul's playing, drawing in folks who had originally planned to just walk by the Oval) that the show was about to begin.  The stunt team had warmed up sufficiently and were ready to get to flipping.  With a soundtrack of fan favorite classic rock tunes and energizing ballads, the team executing trick after trick -- flips, 180s, tailwhips, and so many more (whose names elude me) -- now under the brilliant Oval floodlights since the sun had fully and truly set.  The crowd of at least 300 watched from either side of the series of ramps and quarter pipes, some standing along the galvanized barriers and some seated on the hill between the High School and the Oval, cheering and clapping with each expertly executed stunt.  "Really enjoyed the BMX show (my daughter loved it). Would come again," one person attested.