There is exciting news in Manchester! In addition to the brand new 9-hole disc golf course and pickleball courts at Chi Bro Park by the water tower, we will soon have a multi-use, single-track trail. The new trail will also start at Chi Bro and wind through the woods and fields on city and school property, with some connecting trails on private property. Bikers, walkers, runners and even e-bikers will be allowed on the trail, which is sponsored by the new Manchester school mountain bike team, the Rolling Dutch. The team is open to all 6-12 graders, of any skill level, from all around the area, and is not limited to Manchester middle and high school kids.
Made Possible by the Efforts of an Experienced Coach & Former Mountain Bike Racer
The project, spearheaded by Coach Christian Burrell, will rely on volunteer user groups for trail maintenance. Coach Burrell has extensive experience building both large and small trail networks for mountain bikers. His experience comes from many years working and riding in Idaho, Montana and California. In addition to decades of coaching young bike riders, Coach Burrell was a national-caliber mountain bike racer himself and has competed in hundreds of events.
Youth Riders Learn Skills, Sportsmanship, Stewardship & Safety
The Rolling Dutch Mountain Bike Team is sponsored by Sharon Valley Bicycle Shoppe in Manchester. The team was started in March and operates under the umbrella of MISCA, the Michigan Scholastic Cycling Association. It empowers communities to develop and grow K-12 youth mountain biking programs. MISCA puts on a racing schedule that starts at the end of August and runs into October. These age-group specific races are held throughout Michigan and are open to all racers and teams registered on the MISCA website. It is not required to race to be on the Rolling Dutch team. The goals of the program are to have fun, get outdoors for good exercise, learn environmental stewardship, meet other kids and parents and be safe.
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Get Involved
Currently the Rolling Dutch practice at 2:00 pm on Sundays. The students learn about bike maintenance, including service and repair of used bikes, and safety, plus drills and skills designed to make them better, safer riders. All team members are required to have the following accessories: a helmet and a water bottle(s); it’s also advised to wear protective gloves. While the larger trail network, which has been approved by Manchester’s City Council, is being built, students will ride the current trails in Manchester and travel to other parks to ride. Last weekend, for example, the team made a road trip up to the DTE Trails, which are north of Chelsea and run by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The team is seeking more riders and more parent volunteers to help coach and ride with the kids. If you and your kids are interested in joining as new bike riders, please contact Coach Burrell at [email protected]. If you’d like to explore the bikes and accessories available for safe and comfortable riding, contact us at Sharon Valley Bicycle Shoppe.
Exciting New Opportunity for Youth Mountain Bike Riders Around Manchester
Serving Manchester, Chelsea, Dexter, Adrian, Brooklyn, Clinton, Monroe, Napoleon & Tecumseh
Posted on April 30, 2024 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business
Submitted by Christi Mersereau