The Borderland Bicycle Club is holding its annual “Raid on Reef Point” mountain biking group ride this Sunday (July 13).
The non-competitive event will be held on the Hopkins Bay ski trail and riders of all levels are encouraged to participate.
Club member Jason Jarvis is excited about getting a group of riders out to enjoy the trails at Reef Point.
“We had 15 or 16 riders last year and we’re hoping to do a little better this year,” he noted.
Given the high amount of precipipation the area has received this year, Jarvis said the bottom section of the trail remains water-logged.
“We’re a little late in organizing things,” he conceded.
And because they’re completely saturated with water, it’s been difficult to maintain the trails that often are used by dirt bikes and ATVs.
Jarvis said he’s hoping users respect the area and realize the trails will only be ruined if they’re used in the condition they are in.
The route for Sunday’s group ride, which gets underway at noon following registration from 10:30-11:45 a.m., has been altered slightly to account for the section of trail that’s still unable to be used.
The club is encouraging people to sign up online to speed up the registration on the morning of the ride.
The entry fee is $5, which will be used for future development of the multi-use trail system.
Barbecued hamburgers and cold drinks will be available for sale during and after the ride.
Helmets are mandatory and all riders must have suitable protective gear, including biking gloves, sunglasses, and shin guards.
Those under 18 also must have the signature of a parent or guardian on the waiver form that explains the assumptions of risk inherent with mountain biking.
Skates & Blades, The Great Bear, and Riverside Community Counselling Services are supporting the event.
The Borderland Bicycle Club was formed in 2006 to “encourage safe and responsible cycling in the Rainy River District.”
The club is recreational, with members seeking out road and trail rides throughout the Fort Frances and International Falls area.
The club had agreed it would focus only on organizing one large event this year, which they decided to hold once again at Reef Point.
The Dryden, Atikokan, Kenora, and Thunder Bay clubs also have been invited to attend.
For more information, visit the club’s website or e-mail borderlandbicycleclub@gmail.com
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
