Adirondack Sports & Fitness: Grafton Lakes Mountain Bike Festival

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Mountain Biking

Grafton Lakes Mountain Bike Festival

Rides for All at Tenth Anniversary Event

by Dick Gibbs

The Mohawk-Hudson Cycling Club is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Grafton Lakes Mountain Bike Festival on Saturday, September 17. The friendly, low-dough event welcomes mountain bikers with rides and fun activities for all levels and abilities at Grafton Lakes State Park in Grafton, which is 12 miles east of Troy.

Mountain bike riding at Grafton took hold in the late 70s and early 80s when knobby tires were first fitted on old road bike frames. Not only is the Grafton terrain varied and challenging, the acceptance of mountain bikes on the trail network at the park is a model of how mountain bike riders have learned to work with land managers to secure riding privileges. MHCC members have served on the Grafton multi-user trails committee since the inception of this group advising for all trail plans and designations.

Moreover, Mohawk-Hudson Cycling Club mountain bike riders have contributed many trail work days of “pick and shovel” sweat equity to improve trails for all park visitors. The upshot of the long-term relationship between the club’s mountain bike riders and state park is that the park has been happy to host the annual Grafton Lakes Mountain Bike Festival. Come see for yourself at this year’s tenth anniversary event!

The mountain bike festival attracts up to 150 attendees and caters to riders of all ages and level of fitness and ability. A skills clinic instruction class for basic mountain bike off-road handling is one of the festival sessions to help you get started. Or, hone your skills if you are already an intermediate-advanced rider. If you have never been on a mountain bike in rough trail settings, it is strongly advised that you take advantage of a clinic — and then go out on a great ride! There is also a women-only ride on the schedule. There is enough time in the schedule to do multiple rides. Starting in a controlled environment with a knowledgeable instructor is the best way to get introduced to or increase your enjoyment of real mountain bike riding!

Schedule of Events
Registration 8:30am-3:30pm
Beginner Clinic 9:00am
Level I Ride 9:45am
Level II Ride 9:00am
Level III Ride 9:00am
Level I Womens’ Ride 10:30am
Lunch/Skills Play 11:30am-12:30pm
Level I Ride 12:30pm
Level II Ride 12:30pm
Level III Ride 12:30pm
New: “Belly Up” Hill Climb 2:00pm
“No Dab” Rock Garden Challenge 3:30pm

Level I Ride: Novice ride with flat trails and some roots/rocks. Pace is easygoing with frequent regrouping.
Level II Ride: Intermediate ride with climbing/descending and more rocks/roots. Pace is quicker with regrouping at intersections.
Level III Ride: Advanced ride with over 1,000 feet elevation loss/gain and descents through boulder fields. High technical ability needed for 7-mile loop of singletrack in Pittstown State Forest at bottom of mountain.

Another fun aspect of the festival especially suited to youngsters, is the Bike-A-Thon Benefit Ride which raises money to support the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. This low-key fundraiser event is run by local Grafton residents. The MHCC Grafton Lakes Mountain Bike Festival shares park facilities with bike-a-thon participants, and we encourage festival participants to send their children on the short loop around the beach that is used for the bike-a-thon. Mountain bike festival participants are also encouraged to chip in with on the spot sponsorship of bike-a-thon riders. Your child can participate without pre-registering, but it is suggested that you call Shelly Bedford at (518) 279-1238 for more information.

At the festival, complimentary bike repair and service are provided courtesy of The Downtube in Albany. Support given by The Downtube has helped many riders who come to the festival having mechanical problems that would have stopped them from enjoying rides.

One of the special events held each year is the “No Dab” Rock Garden Challenge, a very challenging course through a 50-yard section of continuous rocks. Come give it a try and expect a colorful send-off by starter Jim MacNaughton, MHCC’s VP of mountain biking and festival organizer. If you don’t care to ride the “garden” it is great fun to be a cheering spectator!

Other anniversary events are being planned, including a new two-mile “Belly Up” Hill Climb time trial on the infamous “Kautz Hollow” hill that ascends about 800 feet on an unmaintained (dirt) town road. Come with your lungs and legs to put your mark on the first page of the record book for this technical climb.

Located at the Grafton Lakes State Park beach area, the festival relies on the park concessions for food, but festival participants are free to bring their own food and refreshments. Grills will be up and running for you to use. The state park day fee must be paid and there is a small charge to register for the festival rides. These nominal fees cover the cost of park facilities and MHCC event insurance.

So pack a picnic, bring some friends or family and your mountain bikes to enjoy some of the best mountain bike trails in the region. Remember, Saturday, September 17 (rain date: September 18). Note that it has to rain hard to change the date, so call the park at (518) 279-1155 if questionable weather. For more information, contact Dick Gibbs at (518) 283-0155 or rgibbs@nycap.rr.com.

Dick Gibbs has been active in road and mountain biking for many years. With his wife Shari, he hosts the MHCC mountain biking skills clinics on their farm in North Greenbush. A research scientist at NYS-DEC for the past 33 years, Dick has worked on all aspects of emissions from motor vehicles.