Cape Breton cycling enthusiasts will soon have a new mountain bike course to enjoy as the fall season approaches. Local volunteers and biking enthusiasts have secured access to municipal land near the Emera Centre hockey rink in North Sydney, N.S. This wooded area is deemed ideal for short-track mountain biking, a sport that has been lacking infrastructure in Cape Breton, hindering its accessibility to both youth and adults.
Aaron Whiteway, spearheading the initiative to introduce mountain bike racing to the region, expressed surprise at the limited mountain biking trails upon moving to Cape Breton. Over the past few years, he has been passionately working on establishing a 700-meter course featuring a mix of fast asphalt sections, technical turns through hardwood trees, hills with rocks, and old ATV trails around the arena.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality provided the land, with municipal staff supporting some trail maintenance. They believe that expanding recreational opportunities will benefit the community in the long run. Wil van Hal, the CBRM recreation manager, envisions developing a mountain biking trail system not only for local enthusiasts but also to promote Cape Breton as a mountain biking destination.
Whiteway emphasized that the track will cater to riders of all skill levels and aims to host races later this year. He described the races as fast-paced time events lasting 15 to 20 minutes, with courses spanning half a kilometer to a kilometer. He also expressed interest in making the sport more accessible to local youth by offering lessons on the course to foster its growth.
Violet Anderson, Whiteway’s daughter, highlighted the beginner-friendly nature of the course, stating that anyone who can ride a bike can navigate it with ease after a few runs.
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