The Contoocook Valley Chain Gang mountain biking team has begun its new season. The team, which is based in Greenfield, stated with preseason bike checks at local shop partner Alpine Bike Works in Keene, and has been participating in trail cleanup efforts after the winter season.

Team members are now getting ready for the practices and races which will take place throughout the spring and summer months.

The Chain Gang (not affiliated with the ConVal School District) is a co-ed cross-country mountain biking team in the New England Youth Cycling league (NEYC) for youths in grades five to 12. The league is comprised of more than 30 teams that compete in races across New England.

For 2025, races will be held in Massachusetts and Connecticut in May and June. NEYC and the Chain Gang share the goal of “getting more kids on bikes.”

The team practices locally twice a week in the greater Greenfield and Keene areas. The Chain Gang is going into the 2025 race season with 15 registered athletes and 12 coaches.

Each practice is a coordinated effort to determine riding groups, routes and incorporation of skills.  Zach Allen, who is serving as the team’s head coach for his second year,  stated that “each practice is different.”

“We have many variables to quickly plan for leading up to each ride,” Allen stated. “Riding location, group dynamics, weather, trail conditions and athlete input are all considered. When we finish pedaling, it is always rewarding to hear the choir of goodbyes and thank-yous after riding through the forest with friends.”

All volunteer coaches on the team complete a background check and several hours of training to become a certified Level 1 mountain biking coach. Coaches can also reach Levels 2  and 3 certification, which adds CPR and Wilderness Training certification.

“Coaching is really rewarding,”  stated team manager Christine Sullivan. “Our job as coaches is to help our athletes through the process of improvement. We are here to set the foundational basics, but we also give individualized instruction. These kids also learn from each other – if one child is good at, say, nailing a feature on a single track, they are almost always willing to help other kids learn. That said, every practice we see ‘little wins,’ and over the years, we have seen these kids excel as what they do. It is such a rewarding experience all around.”

Registration for the Chain Gang is ongoing into the current season. Racing is optional for team members, but highly encouraged.

NEYC holds several special events for registered athletes and coaches throughout the season, including an entire day at Highland Mountain in Northfield, where the league will join together  at the end of the summer for a celebration of a successful season.

“We see a lot of development of the athletes every season. The legs and lungs get stronger as the skills improve. It’s an incredible transformation in just a few months,” Allen stated. 

As there are no traditional team tryouts, the Contoocook Valley Chain Gang is announcing two special “try it out a practice” dates -- Monday, April 7, in Greenfield and Wednesday, April 9 in Keene.

Any athlete in grades five to 12 who may be thinking about joining the Chain Gang but would like to do a trial run first can attend one or both of these sessions.For details, please contact the Chain Gang at convalchaingangmtb@proton.me or find them on social media at facebook.com/convalchaingangmtb or Instagram at conval_chain_gang.To learn more about NEYC, visit neyouthcycling.com.