Group pedals fun

May was National Bike Month. Did you drag your two-wheeler out of the garage? If it’s still in there collecting dust, now is the perfect time to bring it out into the North Idaho sun. Need some motivation? For every hour biked at an easy pace you can burn around 400 calories. Add a little effort and that number shoots up to 500 or better. Of course, an even better reason to bike is for the sheer enjoyment of it, and nothing ups the fun factor more than finding like-minded individuals to share the ride.

One local group to get acquainted with is the Sandpoint based Pend Oreille Pedalers Bicycle Club – a fun-loving group of locals who refer to themselves as “mountain biking and road riding addicts.”

“We formed in 2004,” said Mark Savarise, past president. “The idea came to a group of us who were concerned that with the extraordinary growth in our area, our trails were being turned into luxury subdivisions.” Instead of lamenting about the loss of trails, the group decided to take action.

“We approached some private landowners about preserving some of the trails which existed on their property,” Savarise explains. “Some said no, but a couple of key people said yes.” In 2005 the club hosted the International Mountain Biking Association trail crew, who taught them about building sustainable trails. Since then, they’ve built about 3 miles of new trail with pure manual labor.

“Our next big project,” says current club president Chris Bier, “is working with the Forest Service on a continuation of the popular Mineral Point Trail out near Garfield Bay.” After receiving a Rural Trails program grant to add 3.5 miles to the trail, POP members laid out the proposed addition, the Forest Service liked it, and now all that’s left to do is the hard work.

Bier explained the process. “First a brush crew goes through to clear brush and downed trees. Then a trail excavator roughs out the trail bed. …We come through and do the final grades, water crossings, etc.” Already one of Bier’s favorite trails, due to the spectacular wildflowers and the gorgeous views up and down Lake Pend Oreille, the extension to Mineral Point Trail will make it even better. “It will have some incredible views looking up the Clark Fork delta,” he adds.

The group is working with the Sandpoint Recreation Department and Schweitzer Mountain Resort to create a mountain bike and BMX skills park. They also plan to volunteer to restore the popular Gold Hill trail for the Forest Service to repair damage to the hillside caused by shortcuts and to improve switchbacks.

With all these advocacy and trail building projects, do members ever get a chance to do what they love best – ride their bikes? You bet. The group hosts weekly rides for bike enthusiasts of all ages. Monday is for roadies, and Wednesday is for the dirt. These rides cover everything from easy treks on paved roads to strenuous uphill climbs.

Beginners looking for a family outing may want to consider the Round Lake Trail, located about 10 miles south of Sandpoint. It’s an easy 3-mile circle around the lake on mostly smooth, level double track with a few roots and two short hills thrown in. Riding across a small dam and wooden boardwalks boost the excitement factor. Round Lake is also a great spot to picnic, swim or fish. There’s a minimal daily fee.

If you prefer something a bit more challenging, many rides fall into the intermediate category, such as the Lakeshore Drive to Priest River Loop – a long, but fairly flat scenic loop, which takes you past nesting osprey and other outstanding scenery.

Finally, die-hard mountain bikers who love to work up a good sweat can go for one of the strenuous rides, like the Schweitzer Mountain Climb, a demanding 18 mile ride with a 2,500 foot climb, considered the premier road climbing challenge in the area.