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North Country Cycling News

Lots of cycling going on in the North Country these days.

May saw a plethora of cycling education and bike rodeos as five towns and schools participated with about 200 kids learning some great riding skills and bike etiquette and rules.

Bike etiquette for both trail and road riding, as well as riders and drivers, was pushed again this spring with about 100 businesses promoting bike etiquette through posters.  Local restaurants used over 6,000 bike etiquette placemats, and more are being printed.

Thanks to Profile School’s generosity, 14 fat tire bikes were put into the community for everyone’s use over the summer. The Franconia Rec Department borrowed several and have integrated cycling into their program, similar to what Littleton has done for several years. And the Bethlehem Gear Library has several of the bikes, as well as additional kids bikes to ensure riders of all ages can borrow a bike.

And the local police departments are getting in on the action as well. Both Bethlehem and Lisbon requested bikes, and through the generosity of Eversource and the Tillotson Foundations, bikes were donated to those departments to help get officers closer to residents, enable them to ride during town events, and to be on the trails to help people who might need assistance. Oh, and it reduces emissions!

And by the time this newsletter is issued, there will be comprehensive maps available, also thanks to the Tillotson Foundation. The maps will incorporate all the local mountain bike trails, the Cross NH Adventure Trail, as well as all the great road and gravel routes in the area. It will also highlight all the cycling resources such as gear shops, public repair stands and pumps, as well as all the supporting businesses – think coffee shops, breweries, and great places to eat and stay. The maps will be given out free to encourage people to explore the great outdoor resources available.

Reach out through BikeTheNorthCountry.com or e-mail direct at tritown.bikefriendlycommunity@gmail.com for a free map and stickers, or to just see what else is happening in the cycling world in the North Country.