Cycling Series: Riding With A Mountain Biking Legend
Scot Nicol, A Founder Of Mountain Biking, Is A Heck Of A Rider In His 60s.
Scot Nicol “just keeps riding”, a great lesson for seniors.
Credit: Pat McCloskey
Dirt Fest is an annual event that is presented by Dirt Rag Magazine and always takes place in May at Raystown Lake, Pa. The nationally known Alligrippis Trails are there, and it is an opportunity for 5,000-plus people to attend, ride the trails, and intermingle with industry types who set up shop with demo equipment. One of the exhibitors is Ibis Bicycles of Santa Cruz, California headed up by their founder Scot Nicol. Scot is an icon in the world of mountain biking and at 61 years old, one heck of a good rider. One of the stops on their way from Santa Cruz is always in Pittsburgh, Pa to North Park which is a county park north of the city that has 42 miles of very enjoyable trails. An added attraction is the OTB Café which is situated in the boat house on North Park Lake. A great meeting place with great food and fellowship with the active set. The scene was set for an enjoyable stop and demo on the way to Dirt Fest by the Ibis crew.
Fast forward to the ride. It was quite a vision to see the trails filled with about 30 riders on Ibis Ripleys, MojoHD3, and other new versions of dual suspension and hard tail design. The local trails did not disappoint, and the riders eventually split into separate groups but riding with Scot was a priority for me since we were both senior riders of the same age. Interestingly, we were the elder statesmen of the ride by a good 20-plus years, but, as an industry icon and a guy who takes his fitness seriously, Scot has the ability to ride a great line on trails with which he is not familiar. The younger set were amazed as Scot and his California crew rode at the front of the group. As we descended the final trail, I was at my limit with a fast and furious pace driven by a guy who is a very talented senior rider.
Now most people our age would consider flying over the rocks and the roots of Eastern single-track impossible. Many of them would even scoff at why we would even be interested in “punishing” ourselves rather than kicking back and enjoying our older years. When I discussed this on the road back with Scot, he looked at me with that California cool and said, “Just keep riding and don’t even think about it.” Validation for me for what I think is a healthy lifestyle that I would like to continue for a long time.
Every year you have benchmarks where you can compare and test yourself. Skiing the chutes and the black and double black diamonds are always a benchmark test for me and other senior skiers. Riding with Scot Nicol and the younger set of our mountain bike group is always another benchmark test. “Just keep riding.” So true for all of us in so many ways.
Bike Riders in North Park, PA, a warren of 42 miles of trails just north of Pittsburgh.
Credit: Pat McCloskey
Maine Island Trail: Kayaking Paradise For Seniors
For Seniors New To Sea Kayaking, Join The Maine Island Trail Association.
The coast of Maine has hundreds of beautiful islands that can be visited by kayak. MITA can tell you where and how to do it.
Credit: Tamsin Venn
If you’re new to sea kayaking, and if you live in the Northeast, one of the best resources for where to paddle is the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) Guidebook. You know summer has arrived when this annually updated treasure trove arrives in the mail. Or, “digital members” can download new online version from iTunes. For the price of membership, you can get down to some serious paddling adventure planning this summer.
The Maine Island Trail is a 375-mile recreational waterway that spans the entire coast of Maine. It connects more than 200 island and mainland sites open for day visits or overnight camping. The Maine islands are some of the most beautiful spots you can kayak to. Think smooth granite ledges, islands decked with fir trees, clear water colored Caribbean blue from crushed white shells, spectacular sunsets, and friendly visits from porpoises and seals.
Many of the islands are close together, making island hopping eminently doable.
The annual Trail Guide has comprehensive descriptions and usage guidelines for the islands, and offers details on accessing dozens of privately owned sites that are not open to the general public. The online app has photos of the islands so you can put a place to a name on the nautical chart.
The concept of the Maine Island Trail was founded on the simple premise that those who paddled to these islands would also want to engage in their stewardship. That premise has been born out, by the increasing number of private owners who entrust their islands’ care to MITA.
The guidebook always sends me into flights of fancy. Will this be the summer I paddle the entire trail, from Kittery Point to Machias? Or will I revisit a well-loved spot, like the Deer Island Thorofare, or discover a new place, with family and friends?
Note that while the Trail offers enticing journeys, it is a maritime environment with all the vagaries of ocean conditions, including strong afternoon winds. Kayakers who have accidents tend to become debilitated from cold water and hypothermia more than any other cause. Traveling here is not for the uninitiated. It is best to go with a tour operator (there are many good ones in Maine) or get some instruction and safety information under your PFD (personal floatation device). A good place to start is the guidebook.
The guidebook explains the areas that are riskiest for kayakers but also covers the essentials like what to carry for safety measures, wildlife protection and viewing, camping regulations, leave-no-trace ethics, what to do with waste and trash, afternoon winds and weather, and how to tie some sturdy knots. All of it is incredibly useful information, admonitions interspersed with basic know-how.
MITA also offers volunteer island clean-ups and meet-ups, a great way to get to know other senior kayakers.
Summer is not summer without a trip to a Maine island. For the price of membership in MITA, you have all the information you need to make that happen. Go to www.mita.org.
See you on a Maine island this summer!
This is the 25th year Tamsin Venn has been publishing Atlantic Coastal Kayaker Magazine. For a subscription, go to www.atlanticcoastalkayaker.com
Dick Gilbane (rowing) and Kristen Roos (paddling) pass Little Ram Island in the Sheepscot River.
Credit: Tamsin Venn
Happy Independence Day!
Credit: Tufts Ski Team
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