The Granite Fondo is here!!! MRWA is excited to hold what we hope is the first of an annual social MTB ride event on the singletrack trails! Come on out for a day of great riding and mingling on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
Sign-in is at 10:00 am at Hartlen Park. Proof of full vaccination and photo ID required. The first wave of riders will start around 10:30am.
Let us know you are coming! Say you are ‘going’ by Nov 11! Either email mcintoshrun@gmail.com or on the Facebook event page. We need this information to manage the rides and BBQ.
Donation in lieu of Fees We ask that each participants donates $40. This will be used to support Phase 2 trail building efforts next year. Please e-transfer to mcintoshrun@gmail.com. We will also accept credit cards and cash on-site.
ROUTE OPTIONS!
• 34km: Ride nearly all the sanctioned McIntosh trails, some in both directions. Includes expert trails. Led by Kaarin Tae, Mackenzie Myatt and Artur Sagat. Passes NER Feed Zone at 10.5km, 19km and 25.5km. Major regroup at 19km to avoid two-way traffic on Granitude. Route on Trailforks
• 21km: Mostly blues (some dark blues), no black trails. NER Feed Zone at 7km and 13.5km. Led by Catherine-Anne Murray. Route on Trailforks
• 10km: Super fun front country greens and blues, down to Flat Lake. Led by MRWA prez, Alice Morgan. Route on Trailforks.
MORE DETAILS!
• BBQ! Cavicchis Meats, will be at Hartlen Park after the ride. Have a tasty grillable while you warm up, reminisce, and share your ride exploits.
• Feed Zone by NER! The North End Runners are graciously staging a calorie reload stop at the Run bridge for the 21km and 34km route options. Who knows what these runners have planned for cyclists?!
• Parking. Note there is no parking at St Michael’s church. We recommend parking at the Lions Rink trail parking area and riding to Hartlen, or parking elsewhere in Spryfield (where it’s legal) and riding to the trails. Also we can park at Herring Cove Community Dentistry, 303 Herring Cove Road. We are permitted to use their lot for this event only.
• Pace and Guides. The guides will keep a social, chill pace. If you are new to these trails, we recommend you stay close to a guide. This event is a great opportunity to have a guided ride of the trails if you are new to the area. You need significant MTB experience as the none of the routes are good for novice riders.
• Presented and led by Mackenzie Myatt who has raced her bike all over the world as a member of the National Team and is aiming for the next Olympic cycle, and by Kaarin Tae, former Elite National Champion, MRWA volunteer trailbuilder and organizer, and instrumental in developing multiuser nonmotorized trails in general across HRM by volunteering at HRTA.
• Our Helpers. This event is possible because of help from the North End Runners, ECMTB, Cavicchis Meats, Cyclesmith, and NS-DNR, HRM Parks and others who continue to work with MRWA on land access for the trails. Thanks everyone!
• The fine print. Ride at own risk. 16y and over only; any one younger must be accompanied by parent or guardian. This is a social ride, not a fully supported event. Please have what you need to be self-supported in case you need to turn around.
Sounds fun, but I’m a runner/hiker/snowshoer! We’re all about multi-user (feet and bikes!), but one step at a time. Hopefully next year there will be a similar community trail run event too!
