Adrenaline provides fuel for mountain bike ride

Helmet. Check. Hydration pack. Check. Look over bicycle. Check. Lastly, examine the map of the trails, and start pedaling.

Heart pounding, sweat dripping down the bridge of my nose. I had made it up the Cady Hill Climb in Stowe for the first time this season, and had never felt less in shape in my life.

Taking a break at the Green Chair Outlook, I was almost glad that I took on the trails alone, so nobody could see how out of breath I was — though having a more experienced rider with me may have been a motivator to push forward.

After some much-needed water, and a few riders who passed by, I continued on, my focus on one thing: navigating the winding mountain bike trails.

Flying downhill at 15 miles per hour, trying to avoid the trees and rocks that rush up before me, I was in the zone. Adrenaline fuels the climb up the next hill, and down the other side as I get into the attack position to tackle the gnarl in front of me.

There’s no time to look away from the trail, because one stump, one rock, can cause even the best of riders to go over their handlebars in an acrobatic feat, especially if you end up on the wrong track.

Beginners, beware when you ride the Cady Hill Forest Trails in Stowe. Though a number of trails are marked for all levels of riders, one wrong turn could lead you to the advanced trail loops with faster dips, sharper turns and rock gardens. Even for the advanced biker, without the right equipment, it could get tricky.

Pedaling down the more technical Zog’s trail, I had to walk my bike a few times, because without rear suspension, and little front suspension, it became difficult to navigate my Schwinn Sidewinder through some of the rocky spots.

Finishing my ride, I exited via Charlie’s Trail — behind iRide — and made my way up Mountain Road, back to the main parking lot across from Town & Country Resort.

Ride Stowe

The Cady Hill Forest property consists of 258 acres with an estimated 11 miles of single-track and double-track trail.

The land is open to the public for a variety of non-motorized recreational activities, including running, hunting, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and biking.

But Cady Hill is just one of many places in the Stowe area to get out on your mountain bike. Cyclists have lots of choices, and many of the trails are networked.

The trails have evolved over the years and, according to Evan Chismark, executive director of Stowe Mountain Bike Club, the beauty of riding in Stowe is that everyone is on different bikes and riding at different levels, but they can all use the trails.

Chismark joined Stowe Mountain Bike Club’s board of directors when he moved to the area in 2012, and became its executive director this year.

Chismark says Stowe is becoming a hub for mountain biking in Vermont because you can ride, eat and stay right in the town.

“The mountain biking scene in Stowe is really becoming the ski season for the summer,” Chismark said. “It draws in more tourism, and after the winter we’ve just had, we need it.”

Chismark began his journey along the Stowe trails by joining group rides, then began exploring paths to take on his own.

Dylan Conte, leader of the Thursday group rides in the Cady Hill Forest — which leave from Piecasso on an almost weekly basis — agrees with Chismark.

“If anything, mountain biking keeps you in shape for the ski season,” Conte said. “And Stowe is one of the places to be for the sport.”

Conte has been involved in mountain biking in Stowe for several years.

He got started at the dirt jumps that used to be at the Polo Fields on Mayo Farm Road, and now works for iRide and competes in downhill races on the pro circuit all across the country.

Andrew Smith joined Conte’s ride last Thursday, and says it’s nice to live in a place where you can go out the door and ride on all manner of trails.

“Since I started, mountain biking has really grown a lot here,” Smith said. “You see a lot more families as well as more women’s groups out on the trails, and there is everything to ride.”

For some, riding has become a family affair.

Middle school student Alsacia Timmerman started downhilling with her dad — Erik Timmerman, a member of Stowe Mountain Bike Club’s board of directors — at a young age, and has since graduated to the mountain bike trails.

She has also helped her dad build some of the trails, and says “machine-built trails are the best to ride on.”

Cady Hill has a combination of machine and hand-built trails.

Aside from the Cady Hill network, Stowe is also home to the Adams Camp trails — just past the Matterhorn — which are geared toward intermediate or advanced riders.

Cotton Brook and Kirchner Woods and Sterling Forest have trails for all levels.