New mountain biking program in Greensboro aims to grow the sport in the Piedmont

A new program to grow the sport of mountain biking is coming to Greensboro: Greensboro Mountain Biking Experience. It was launched by Greensboro Parks and Recreation to bring together residents, instructors and the department's new mountain bikes. 

Open houses are available and take place in the city's parks. Superintendent for special programs Carla Hoover says trail usage went up by nearly 80% during the pandemic as people sought new socially distant outdoor activities to try. With the surging interest in mountain biking, she says the instruction effort came about by popular demand.

"We had some people asking if we could do classes, and so we found an instructor that we contracted with last year to do six clinics last year for youth and teen mountain biking, and we held one family clinic as well," says Hoover. "So, we've actually hired an instructor on payroll that will be able to do that year-round now."

Beginner instruction for children and adults includes identifying the appropriate size bike frame, how to replace the chain if it pops off, and repairing a flat tire. The emphasis is on safety: eyes on the trail, how to get over a tree stump, and other basic skills to prepare riders for any of Greensboro's seven mountain biking trails.

The next session is Saturday, May 14 at Keely Park. It's free and open to the public.