Northampton cycling club

For up-to-the-minute info on rides, weather cancellations/re-schedules, and more, please join us on Slack: NCC Trail Blasters

Trail Blaster recreational mountain bike rides are offered weekly for kids in grades 3-12 from April-June and August-October. Depending on who shows up to ride, we will typically break the whole group into elementary (grades 5 and under), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12) groups or mixed aged groups based on skill and fitness level. Each group will have 4-10 kids riding with 2-3 adults. This provides for a lot of opportunity for one-on-one instruction during the rides. Adults (parents, caregivers, family members, family friends) are welcome to ride with the group.

Kids are usually ready to ride trails starting in third grade, give or take a year. All riders should have a trail-ready bike; this means a bike with working gears, two working and tuned brakes, and at least 24" wheels. Riders should also wear sturdy shoes and a well-fitting helmet (just ask if you need help with fit), and bring a water bottle or hydration pack and snacks. If you’re at all unsure whether your child is ready or if their bike is appropriate for trail riding, please feel free to reach out to us. We would be happy to chat with you. 

We require that all riders either sign a trial waiver (a free pass good for two rides–link coming soon) or become a member of the club. If you’re dropping your kid off with us, then you can sign them up for a junior membership ($25). If one or more kids and adults will be riding, then you can sign up for a family membership ($75).

Weekly Ride Schedule

We ride every Friday evening April-June and August-October.
Location Update: Starting Friday, August 1st, rides will at Earls Trails in Hadley, MA. 

Meet at the parking area at the end Chmura Road:

106-92 Chmura Rd, Hadley, MA (some GPS will say Amherst too; drive down Chmura Road and you'll see a parking lot and trail head).

Coaches

Our coaches are Safesport certified and have years of experience running youth cycling programs. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. Thank you Coach Craig for starting these recreational mountain bike rides in 2019! 

Craig Neal
Trail Blasters Head Coach
bikeharder36@yahoo.com

Tom Hoogendyk
NCC Youth Programs Coordinator
Trail Blasters Assistant Coach
thoogendyk@nohobikeclub.org

Amy Stephens
Trail Blasters Coach
astephens@nohobikeclub.org

Jasper Sargent
Trail Blasters Coach
jsargent@nohobikeclub.org