Philosophy

Trinity-Pawling’s Mountain Biking team believes we should explore the outdoors as fast as possible. We encourage riders of all abilities to join the team and discover new skills. In addition to training, riders also gain a new respect for the outdoors through trail building, maintenance, and forest exploration. The team trains on a variety of terrain and courses — from our home course on campus to many local and state parks throughout New York and Connecticut. As a team, we mainly race XC and Trail, but strive to ride everything we can to build a wide range of skills. Let’s ride!

History

Mountain biking at Trinity-Pawling started in the spring of 2020 as a club sport, and became an official team in the fall of 2020. The 2021-2022 school year was the team’s first interscholastic competitive season and they placed first in the league, claiming the championship title in the final race!

League

The team races in the Housatonic Mountain Bike League (HMBL). It is a growing collection of independent day and boarding schools.

Training

Mountain biking competes in the fall season. As a team, we ride 5-6 days a week during the season, with most races held on Wednesdays. During the off-season, students have the opportunity to have guided rides 2-3 times a week and the ability to ride and train daily on our home trails.

Facilities

On-Campus Trails

The campus at Trinity-Pawling currently offers approximately 4 miles of single track trails on campus, as well as 1.5 miles of doubletrack. The team is constantly working to expand the trails, and utilize the 100-acres of back campus to its fullest!

Off-Campus Trails

• Lakeside Park, Pawling, NY: This is a 6-mile rooty singletrack loop that’s great for beginner and intermediate riders to train and for advanced riders to learn to build speed and endurance.
• Farrington Woods, Danbury, CT: Featuring a mix of flow and rocky climbs, Farrington is a great place for students to build their bike handling skills.
• Taconic Hereford Multiuse Area (909), Pleasant Valley, NY: A state park with over 20 miles of varied trails, this is one of the trail systems the team rides on most often. It is an incredibly popular Hudson Valley mountain biking destination, with trails that challenge the most advanced riders and help novices become great riders.
• Stewart State Forest, Rock Tavern, NY: Stewart is a flowy, XC lover’s dream with nearly 30 miles of trail. It is a spectacular place to build endurance.

Questions about the Trinity-Pawling mountain biking program? Contact Head Coach Gabe Avis.

Mountain Biking Coach