New York Mountain Bike TEAM

The Minnewaska Mountain Bike Festival was hosted by GUMBA (Gunks Mountain Biking Association, http://www.gumba.org) and the Fats in the Cats (http://www.fatsinthecats.com).  I was volunteering on behalf of the Fats in the Cats, but I thought it would be nice to share some information and photos here.  This festival was held on a slightly overcast, brisk September Saturday at the Minnewaska State Preserve.  There were many exciting goings on to be festive about—a new Master Plan for the preserve was unleashed at the festival, a plan which includes the construction of *12 MILES* of new singletrack mountain bike trails to be built in the upcoming year!  Over 100 cyclists came to the festival and there were about 20 volunteers from both GUMBA and the Fats organizations.  A bike maintenance clinic was held in addition to a skills clinic.  Rides full of eager bikers went on from 10am to 3pm.  Minnewaska is an astounding place to ride with 100m white sandstone cliffs overlooking Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting.  With new legal singletrack trails and upgraded camping facilities, it will soon become a prime place for mountain bikers to visit!