Mountain Biking

For more than four decades, cycling at Exeter has involved thin
tires on paved roads. This fall, with area schools struggling to
consistently field enough riders, Big Red is taking a different
path — mountain biking.

“Mountain biking is incredibly popular in our area, and increasingly popular throughout the U.S.,” says Don Mills, the former cycling coach now leading the nascent mountain biking program. “It offers a different set of challenges than cycling. While power and endurance are still key aspects, traversing different terrain and obstacles opens up the sport to a variety of riders.”

Mills is a natural bridge between the sports. He began racing bicycles when he was 15 and eventually joined an elite amateur road cycling team, while also competing in mountain biking and cyclocross. He later transitioned to triathlons and has completed five Ironman races.

Exeter is particularly well positioned for the sport, with easy access to the varied terrain of the Academy’s trail system and nearby Fort Rock and Stratham Hill Park, the squad’s home course. The off-campus venues offer riders a place to gain endurance and opportunities for more technical riding as their skills develop.

“Fort Rock is really a premier destination for mountain bikers,” Mills says. “It has a series of green, blue and black trails, which offers us a great chance for building skills and practicing obstacles that we will see in the racing circuit.”

Big Red will compete in the Northern New England Mountain Biking League against other area schools in a nine-race schedule leading up to a season-ending league championship.

“We are really excited about the opportunity mountain biking creates for
our students,” Director of Athletics and Physical Education Jason Baseden says.

“It gives kids a chance to try something new, challenge themselves in a different way and discover a sport they can enjoy well beyond their time at Exeter.”