Ride into the White Mountain Bicycle Week on two wheels this Memorial Day weekend. New Hampshire is now home to not one but two awesome bike weeks to enjoy. Starting May 28th, the small mountain towns of Lincoln, Woodstock, and Franconia Notch are coming together to celebrate everything bicycle-related in the Western White Mountains while supporting regional non-profits. Whether you prefer the road or the trail, there is something for all cyclists during White Mountain Bicycle Week.
The 2022 event theme is “bike for the better.” Throughout the week, many of the activities will support local non-profit organizations like The Bridge Project and Lincoln Woodstock Friends of Recreation. The Bridge Project supports those who are vulnerable in the Lincoln-Woodstock communities by connecting them with individual and group support networks. Lincoln Woodstock Friends of Recreation promotes community involvement and support for the broadening of services and activities for all ages in the community.
Bike Week also supports the environment and encourages people to try commuting by bicycle to either work or school throughout the week. For those that live a little too far away from work (or over the mountains!), you can park at one of the local participating “safe parking lot” locations and ride your bike from there.
White Mountain Bicycle Week runs from Saturday, May 28th through Saturday, June 4th. Each day features a special “Featured Ride” that will give you a chance to try many of the various biking trails and routes throughout the Western White Mountains. Many of the rides are led by local business owners and cycling enthusiasts. Downhill mountain biking will also be available at Loon Mountain at their state-of-the-art downhill mountain biking course. And stay tuned for over four miles of new terrain opening up later this summer!
On May 28th and 29th there is a town-wide community yard sale supporting the Friends of Recreation. All throughout Lincoln and Woodstock, people will be hosting yard sales at their homes and businesses. If you’re shopping, it’s a great time to explore all the sales by bicycle! If you’re interested in selling, you can sign up for the yard sale with Friends of Recreation.
On Tuesday, May 31st you can ride the Franconia Notch Recreation Trail with Live a Little Fitness’s Margarita Dufresne. Other Meet Up Rides will be led by other local business owners. Wednesday, June 1st is Bike to School Day for Lin-Wood Public School. Start at the Kanc Recreation Area at 7:00 am and ride down Pollard Road to school with all your kid’s classmates. The ride is open to kids from kindergarten through high school. Later that day from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, kiddos from kindergarten through 8th grade can take part in the Kids Bike-a-thon that benefits the Lincoln Woodstock Friends of Recreation. For more information on the Bike-a-thon, visit the Bike-a-thon Flyer page.
The White Mountain Bicycle Week is an inclusive event and on Thursday, June 2nd, children and adults who might not be able to ride a traditional two-wheeled bicycle can enjoy a bike ride using adaptive equipment with New England Disabled Sports. During the event, a NEDS facilitator will help you determine what cycle is best suited for your skill level and give you a chance to explore the trails on it. Reservations for the event are required. Afterward, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, join the Chamber Business After Hours Event at the NEDS Building to mingle with local business owners and community residents. You can even try some of the adaptive bikes, too! The event is open to all current and future Chamber members. RSVPs are recommended.
On Saturday, June 4th, raise awareness for recovery during the Pedal it Purple to support The Bridge Project. Open to all ages and abilities, the ride begins at the Kanc Recreation Center and has three bike route options. The first is just over a mile long. The second is a 5k (3.1 miles) and the third is just over five miles in length. Each route will take you through the towns of Lincoln and North Woodstock on paved roads. There are prizes for the best-decorated bike and a BBQ lunch is included for all riders. To find out more information and to register, please visit the Pedal it Purple website.
As the White Mountain Bicycle Week gets closer, more information on the featured rides and other events will become available. May is a beautiful time to visit the Western White Mountains and exploring the region on two wheels is a great opportunity to get closer to natural beauty while getting a little exercise!
