Mountain biking has become a favorite sport among young and old alike – and judging from the number of participants and spectators at weekly mountain biking races in Connecticut – it has become a big time sport.

Even the Olympics now have mountain biking events.

Mountain biking represents the ultimate challenge in man/women, machine and nature.

Paul_Krasowski of Newtown knows this. Krasowski, a senior at Newtown High who also runs on the cross country team, is currently ranked #2 in the Connecticut Circuit and ranked #1 in the New England Circuit (in his age group 15 – 18 year olds).

Paul trains six days a week, consisting of all paved road riding of between 80 and 90 miles per week, and two of those days are only hill rides.

His training, part time job at Lexington Gardens and homework, consume most of his after school time. Tom Johnson, though, owner of Lexington Gardens, has provided a great deal of flexibility in allowing Paul to train during the week and race on Sundays.

In the sport of mountain biking, the participants range from age 10 to over 50, and there are both male and female divisions. The challenge is to follow a trail through the forest, up hills, over small brooks, through mud patches, over rocks, through meadows, on dirt roads and down hills, to finally reach the finish line. The trick is to actually cross the finish line even if your bicycle has become disabled, as many times, riders can be seen running across the finish line carrying their bicycles with there arms through the frame.

Of course, the serious riders want to finish regardless of the method of crossing the finish line, as race dropouts do not get points or credits if they are racing for total points in the series.

Races typically take place on Sundays and have catchy names that are linked to each course, which may be a private farm, city parks or a private recreational facility.  Some Connecticut races include:

Winding Trails – Farmington

Wrath of Sun Valley – Stafford Springs

Jack Rabbit Run – Norwalk 

Meadow Muffin Madness – Quaker City

Winsted Woods – Winsted

Blood Rock Boogie – Monroe

Mountain City Madness – Andover

Visits to these races show enthusiasts from all walks of life, from very young children to older riders who can be distinguished by their gray hairs, beards and faces that command respect as they show the years of enjoyment of racing and competing. 

Mountain biking appeals to everyone as the skills of bicycle riding are the main requirement for finishing a race. Many riders participate for the exercise, companionship, and feeling of accomplishment of completing a race regardless of their position at the finish line.  The Connecticut divisions include First Timers (all ages), Beginners, Sport, Expert and Professional and each division has both male and female races, grouped by age.

Then there are the young enthusiasts who ride for the right to be first on the podium.  After each race the top three finishers are recognized and each is usually given a prize (such as bicycle pumps, bicycle repair tools, tee shirts) to signify their accomplishment.  All participants are required to sign up and riders under 18 require a parent’s signature.

Riders’ races are tracked according to their age and finishes.  Beginners that finish in the top five positions in three or more races are automatically moved into the next higher division in order to keep the Beginner Class Division competitive.