The mission of the UVMBA is to promote safe mountain bicycling opportunities which are environmentally and socially responsible.
ABOUT US:
The Upper Valley Mountain Bike Association (UVMBA) is a group of people who love the outdoors and mountain biking in it. While we all participate in other outdoor recreation—hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, for example—our passion during the drier months is low-impact, human-powered, two-wheeled travel. Fortunately for us, the Upper Valley abounds with opportunities. From town, city, and some private lands (with permission only) to Class IV or VI roads, depending on which side of the river we’re on, we can find exhilarating riding in our back yards.
The UVMBA formed 1999 to create a collective voice for mountain bikers throughout the area and to perform trail work and improvements. In the subsequent years the group has continued to add to and rebuild multiple use trails in Plainfield, Lebanon, Norwich, Hanover, Hartford, and Windsor. Our projects have included assisting the Norwich Conservation Commission with building and maintenance of the Ridge Trail on Gile Mountain – Norwich VT, building and improving trails in Plainfield, stabilizing a eroding bank in Paradise Park for the Windsor Conservation Commission, and most recently rebuilding a bog bridge on the East Side Trail at Boston Lot City of Lebanon Conservation Commission, among other jobs. The UVMBA also assists with the Vermont 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race. Our members believe in giving back to the forests, trails, and community.
When it comes to riding, we have led group rides all over. From early season rides on the rail trail in Lebanon and Enfield, to thirty-mile rides around the perimeter of the Blue Mountain Forest Reserve, we enjoy a variety of trails and conditions. As our members hail from most of the towns in the Upper Valley, we tend to ride close to our homes on a regular basis. Among our favorites are the trails at Boston Lot. When the dam isn’t being rebuilt, we park at the Windsor Dam parking area, head up to Boston Lot Lake, and ride around the West and East Side Trails, and up and around the loop on the side of Burnt Mountain. The West and East side trails are suitable for beginners while Burnt mountain loop provide plenty of challenge for experienced riders. Boston Lot Lake provides an excellent place to cool off on a hot day. In Norwich a favorite trail is the heart-stomping ride up Gile Mountain trail and the six-mile, technically challenging ride out the Gile Mountain Ridge Trail.
A homogenous group in terms of age and gender—members range in age from twenty to sixty—we love to ride. If you are interested in joining us for a group ride, learning how you can help advance the cause of conservation and mountain bike access, or putting some sweat equity into the vast number of trails that need attention through out the Upper Valley, feel free to contact us. No trail work experience is necessary.
For more information call Tim Gilbert @ 603-448-4128 or email Kevin O’Leary @ koleary1@mac.com. The UVMBA is a VIMBA Chapter Club as well as an IMBA affiliated Club. We fully support the IMBA rules of the trail.