Capturing the joy of riding bikes, on dirt, in New England.
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KRAMPUS KLASSIC - Dec. 15th, 2024 - Registration Now Open
KRAMPUS KLASSIC - Dec. 15th, 2024 - Registration Now Open
The Krampus Klassic is a celebration of the darker side of the holiday season! Is the Krampus a kind soul providing lots of flowy singletrack and open gravel roads inducing endless smiles and joyous giggles? Or is the Krampus evil, forcing chunky technical terrain, annoying road sections, with unbearable winter conditions??? One may only learn after successfully completing this year's Krampus Klassic.
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What started out as a podcast dedicated to sharing the joys of riding dirt in New England, NE Dirt has grown to include both long-form content and events.
You’ll find content on Bikepacking, Mixed-surface riding, Mountain biking, Fatbiking, and Gravel.
MTB Ben will also be bringing new cycling events to the area. Check out Tour De Tooky for more information!
NE Dirt Podcast
On this episode of New England Dirt, I’m joined by Seth Page and Stuart Horner of Gigantic Hawk Racing, 2 of the 4 event organizers responsible for bringing Single Speed New England to life. I’m also joined by Taylor Clark and Paul Martin, members of the Clark Brothers’ Racing team who came out in force for the first annual New England Single Speed event.
This episode is recorded live at the event, so I apologize in advance for any inconsistencies in the audio, as well as the background noises from other attendees and weather.
Overall this event was a freaking blast. Great times with some truly fun people. There was a ton of local community support that made this event happen, especially from Hub North and Big Day Brewing.
In this episode I’m joined by Noelle Battle, Executive Director of Bikepacking Roots, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, advancing, and diversifying the bikepacking community, the access to lands for bikepacking, and conservation of the places we ride.
I was just recently named one of the board members of Bikepacking Roots, and I wanted to take some time to bring more attention to this amazing organization. We are in the middle of our summer fundraising campaign and in order to help increase awareness of this effort and ask for your support, I thought it was only right to invite Noelle on to talk with me.
Noelle and I discuss her background a bit to learn more about why she rides and how she got involved in bikepacking. How that led to her becoming the Executive Director of Bikepacking Roots. We also learn more about the organization, how it was founded and why, plus what the mission of the organization is all about. We also talk about the fundraiser, what it supports, and how you can win some really cool prizes.
Over the years I’ve learned that even some of your closest friends have some of the greatest stories to tell and lessons to teach. I’ve had the pleasure of recording many episodes with various friends since I launched this pod back in 2018. But in this episode, you’ll hear from one of my best friends, Pat Engleman, who is a lifelong cyclist, event and race organizer, NICA Coach, and all around good dude. Simply put, Pat is as dedicated to getting more people on bikes as anyone I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, riding with, or getting to know. The fact that I get to call him a dear friend is something I’m honored to do.
In this episode of New England Dirt, I’m joined by Brian Gilman and Eric Corum, local riders who, along with their partners Seth Page and Stuart Horner of Gigantic Hawk Racing have teamed up to create Single Speed New England. A single speed race, ride, and party that will bring together a fun loving community of riders late June in Gorham NH (exact dates are Friday the 28th through Sunday the 30th).
Continuing with my new Why We Ride series, Brian, Eric, and I discuss the ins and outs of single speed mountain biking, why they both choose to commit to a single gear, and how this community of riders are truly a welcoming, albeit rambunctious, group of down to earth cyclists.
New England Dirt is back for another season with a new series, "Why We Ride" which focuses on the reason behind the ride for MTB Ben, his friends, and those who inspire him.
MTB Ben gives a very personal look into his past few months, beaten down by depression and self-doubt he struggled to not only find inspiration to record new episodes for NE Dirt, but to also just go out and ride.
In this episode, inspired by a recent bikepacking trip in Vermont, MTB Ben talks with Greg Western, Executive Director of the Cross Vermont Trail Association.
MTB Ben is joined by longtime friend and accomplished bike pack racer Maggie Livelsberger in this episode of New England Dirt to discuss her entry and passion for Endurance Bike Pack Racing!
When I originally started this podcast back in 2018 my goal was to shed a light on the amazing mountain biking we have here in New England. I wanted to highlight the trails, groups, brands, shops, and community that makes this region of the world what it is. Here are my Top 5 Favorite MTB Spots in New England!
Part 2 of the Great Belgium Randonnee get's us back into the mix with MTB Ben and Aidan. They continue their adventure where we left them at the tiny trailer. Aidan has to start the day with a 7km round trip ride into Malmady to get some money to pay for the trailer the boys slept in, and then they're off again on the Ardennes Abralete.
In Part 1 of this 2 part episdoe, MTB Ben and his son Aidan take you on their journey riding the Ardennes Arbalete in Belgium.
NE Dirt Videos
MTB Ben takes a bikepacking trip in Vermont with his riding buddy Kris, exploring parts of the Cross VT Trail and Groton State Forest.
This past Labor Day Weekend, my buddy Kris Ivers (who you might remember from my New England Dirt Podcast, Adventures in Bikepacking Ep. 2) and I rode the Rivers, Ridges, and Rails bikepacking route through North East Vermont.
This 75 mile, overnight route starts in St. Johnsbury VT, following route 5 south into Wells River, where you pick up the Cross VT Trail west through Groton State Forest (where you camp for the night) and then into Marshfield VT. Here riders leave the Cross VT trail to climb up over Cabot and into Danvers where the Lamoille Valley Rail trails return “Loopers” (this is what the state park staff refers to riders bikepacking the route) to St. Johnsbury.
I had been looking forward to riding this loop for quite some time as Groton State Forest holds a very special place in my heart, being the place where we spent most summer vacations when I was a kid. However, after this past June and July’s constant barrage of rain on many parts of Vermont,
Hands down, the most enjoyable section of this route is the section that follows the Cross VT Trail. We rode 25 miles of this multi-use 90 mile path connecting towns, communities and natural areas across North Central Vermont from Lake Champlain to the Connecticut River in New Hampshire. The portion we rode was a beautiful mix of paved and gravel roads and rail trail that meanders its way through an absolutely gorgeous part of Vermont.
Follow Kris and I along our ride as we experience lots of great riding throughout the region and are blown away by the flood damage areas both on and off the trail.
For more information on the route: https://bikepacking.com/routes/ridges...
For more information on the Cross Vermont Trail: https://www.crossvermont.org/
To listen to MTB Ben's Podcast interview with Greg Western, Ex. Dir. of Cross Vermont Trail: nedirt.com/episodes/episode-10-cross-vermont-trail-with-greg-western
MTB Ben hosts the first Wednesday Night Rad A.F. Ride. This ride is a mixed surface ride intended to be about having fun on any bike, with any group, on any surfaces.
As a non-drop social ride, the goal is to maximize fun amongst the community rather than competition within. Enough ego lives out there in the bike world – let’s embrace the childlike aspect of this sport and just have a Rad As Fuck time doing it.
Follow MTB Ben at @mtbben603 or @ne_dirt_podcast on instagram.
Visit nedirt.com for more content including various podcasts about riding bikes on dirt in New England.
Email MTB Ben at ben@nedirt.com with any content ideas, feedback, or questions.
MUSIC:
Provided by epidemicsound.com – check them out for more resources on music for creators.
MTB Ben takes a beat to explain how he’s packing for his first international bikepacking trip.
In preparation for his upcoming trip to Belgium, MTB Ben shares how he is packing for his first international bikepacking trip. He breaks down the steps he took to choose the right bike, bags, and gear to make this trip a most memorable one!
Check out the Ardennes Arbalete route: https://bikepacking.com/routes/ardenn...
Thanks to the following great brands and shops for their continued support:
- S&W Sports: http://www.swsports.net/
- Revelate Designs: https://www.revelatedesigns.com/
- Wolf Tooth Components: https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/
- Hand Up Gloves: https://handupgloves.com/
NE Dirt Events
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Tour De Tooky
A 75km Mixed-surface ride around Contoocook “Tooky”, New Hampshire. Featuring some of the areas best singletrack, double track and gravel roads - all connected with short paved sections. Bike selection is of the upmost importance!
Coming Fall, 2024
August Rides presents a year in review for 2023 - August at only 8 years old shows off his skills riding his home mountain of Highland Mountain Bike Park. He also takes us along as he explores Killington Bike Park in Vermont and the newest park in Keene, New Hampshire, Granite Gorge.
It's great to see these little mountain bikers getting so much better at such a young age. We've already got plans to visit more bike parks this summer.
Follow August's adventures at @august.rides on Instagram.
Follow MTB Ben at @mtbben603 or @ne_dirt_podcast on Instagram.
Email MTB Ben at ben@nedirt.com with any content ideas, feedback, or questions.
MUSIC:Opening Segment - Detroit Rock City - KISS (purchased audio)
All other tracks provided by epidemicsound.com – check them out for more resources on music for creators.