With mountain biking season in sight, members of the Bike Borderlands collaborative have big plans for this summer and beyond. The Center coordinates the Borderlands initiative, which is composed of nine independent trail organizations whose mission is to support development and stewardship of mountain bike trails and programs that benefit local residents and businesses.

The Borderlands networks are all holding events again this year, ranging from local volunteer days to Enduro World Series competitions and plenty in between. Bike Borderlands will partner with the Vermont Mountain Biking Association and New England Mountain Biking Association on a series of “Flow to Fest” gatherings between the Flow State mountain biking festival in Ascutney, Vermont, one weekend and NEMBAFest in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, the next. Each network will also be holding a special Borderlands event sometime during the season – keep an eye out for dates!

The Center will be hiring an intern this summer to build awareness of Borderlands and our “Ride With Gratitude” campaign to build a more respectful mountain biking culture. That person will also serve as a Ride With Gratitude ambassador at Borderlands networks over the season, chatting with riders at trailheads about the campaign and helping orient them to the network and community. We’ll be posting the internship in April. Meanwhile, we encourage you to take the Ride With Gratitude pledge to affirm your support for its principles.

Finally, the Center will be directly supporting member organizations’ trails and programs thanks to grants from You Have Our Trust and an anonymous foundation. Likely projects to be funded include a kids’ camp in Gorham, NH (Coos Cycling Club), a connector trail suitable for adaptive athletes in Franconia, NH (Franconia Area NEMBA), and improvements to existing trails in Littleton, NH (PRKR MTN). The grants will also support trail maintenance, strategic planning, and other activities that help Borderlands members steward their trails and advance their missions.

“We’re excited to see how these expanded activities benefit communities this year and look forward to sharing news and accomplishments as we go,” said Maura Adams, community investment director for the Center.