River Valley Cycling

Supporting Cycling In and Around Fredericton

Slash n’ Berm

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New trail open (temporarily) at MVP!

Slash n’ berm is a new intermediate flow trail at MVP. The top section is a machine built, hand-finished series of berms, small jumps and rollers. There are no gaps – everything is rollable – but if you are riding fast your tires may leave the ground. The bottom section is still in progress – it is hand-built singletrack – and adding features and flow to this section will be a project for next year.

The trail is still fresh and quite sensitive so choose when to ride it carefully. Ride the trail while the weather is good and the dirt is relatively dry. Traffic in those conditions is a good thing and it will help compact the surface. Don’t ride it right after it’s rained or when frozen dirt is thawing. Don’t be that person who leaves a gaping rut down the trail! The trail will be closed again within the next few weeks when we get into frequent freeze thaw cycles. Ride it now while you can!

Slash n’ Berm has been an entire season project starting back in April when Bev, Norm and Alex scouted the area. Since then, many hours were spent cutting the line, then re-cutting the line and then re-re-cutting the line. Tons of clear-cut slash (hence the name) was moved, stump were chopped, and a mountain of dirt & rocks were shaped. A mountain bike flow trail is a significant effort! Major kudos to Chris F., Norm S., Anthony W., Max G., Justin L, Bev B., Kelly M., and volunteers on the trail day, and to people who stopped while riding to do a few buckets. However, the builder here with the vision and the most time is Alex F – so thank you sir!

Big tune-up at MVP

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Fall is here and it’s an incredible time to be riding around Fredericton. Just in time for the season, RVC’s small but growing enduro-zone at MVP just got a nice tune-up.

A build crew spent the weekend improving and revamping many of the features on two of the city’s most popular progressive trails: Monkey Business and #BlazingDestruction.

In both cases it’s going to be important for riders to get familiar with the layout again – the features have changed. Pre-ride, Re-Ride, Free-Ride! These remain black-diamond trails but there are no mandatory jumps. Everything small can be rolled and the big stuff can be safely avoided. However, when you’re ready we’ve seen some of the new features and they look pretty dialed!

Here’s the report from the crew:

Blazing Destruction:
-Landing of the drop was redone and smoothened.
-Jump out of that drop area was redone and the landing was built up.
-The roller jump before the box was redone.
-The jump to the step up box was reshaped and moved back a foot.

-The landing off the box was push back a foot and steepened/lengthened.
-The hip after the box was touched up and there is an optional side line jump that has a gap.


Monkey Business:
-The second table on the trail was redone.
-The 1 foot drop was removed on one side to allow an easy option to roll down.
-The optional wedge gap jump was roughed up beside the 1 foot drop.
-The take off to the step down was reshaped.
-The area after the step down got a major revamp. This is a totally different section and riders should look first. They are tables but there is a side lip on the second jump that should not be rolled .

Now it’s shout-out time.

Some of you may have noticed that this was no small amount of work. We are lucky to have a crew of builders who invest their time volunteering to make something that we can all enjoy – either today, or when we feel our skills are ready.

So let’s give a big thanks to:
-Chris Furlotte
-Max Guerette
-Justin Leblanc
-Mike Barnhill
-Jase Fitzpatrick, &
-Alex Mctiernan

Oh and one last thing. Do you see that mini-excavator that’s hiding in some of the pictures and video? Yeah – that thing was DONATED to RVC for the weekend free-of-charge by local businessman and owner of JIL Engineering & Construction, Jeff Lenehan. He even dropped it off for the weekend ready to go! We are very lucky to have supporters like this so thank you Mr. Lenehan for helping make this work happen.

Riding Responsibly – Hunting Season

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Hey riders,

Moose season 2025 in New Brunswick is this week until Saturday Sept. 27th. This means that there will be a lot of excitement in the woods as some hunters can wait for decades to be drawn in the lottery for a license. Beyond moose, it’s deer season until December and hunters can try for smaller game later into the winter.

While it is a hunter’s responsibility to identify his/her target there are a few things that riders can keep in mind:

  • Hunting is legal and expected at several of the trailheads that riders frequent.
  • Odell Park and Deer Park are good choices if you want to stick to areas where hunting isn’t permitted. There’s also the UNB Woodlot which is designated as a wildlife sanctuary and offers some good gravel riding circuits. Take a road trip and check out Rockwood Park! Next year we’ll have Killarney Lake to add to this list!
  • Wear blaze orange and other bright colours.
  • You can wait until after dark. Hunting is legal until dusk. Charge those lights up and go for a night ride!

Although it’s extremely unlikely, riders have been involved in hunting accidents.

Remember that many of the trails we ride on are on private land. That hunter you encounter this week may be the landowner, or may be there with the landowner’s permission.

Stay safe and share the woods.

New Route into Islandivew

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Recently RVC has enjoyed great cooperation from the Provincial Tree Nursery at Islandview. They’ve been very accommodating of our recent trail work by allowing vehicles through the property. Through those discussions we’ve also settled on a more straightforward route through the nursery. It’s a small tweak, but it involves fewer twists and turns.

The new route is all signed up (thank you gnomes!) so it should be easy to follow! Please make sure you stick to this access and don’t stray off into the tree orchards.

Remember, riding at Islandview is open to RVC members only after working hours (5:00 pm) and on weekends. The nursery is in operation at the crack of dawn so no early morning rides here.

Turning Over New Ground

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Hey Riders,
RVC’s major project for 2020 is now underway and we’re turning over new ground in Penniac. This is exciting. Let’s have a look at what’s going on.

For several years now RVC has been developing a positive relationship with several local landowners in Penniac. In fact, some of these landowners are avid supporters of the mountain biking community and riders themselves. The club has recently come to several agreements that will see several new, well built trails that are knit into larger plans for sustainable forestry in the area.

The project includes a gradual climbing trail from the valley to the top of Stone Bridges as well as a new full-length downhill trail that will be machine-built with progressive features that are accessible for riders of all skill levels. This will diversify the trail styles available in Penniac, and open up new possibilities for riding loops.

Builds like this require a significant investment and that’s why RVC is thrilled to report that this project is being supported by 2020 RVC Trail Sponsor – Remsoft. Although they are a company with a global reach, Remsoft have been supporters of local trails for several years now beginning with the build of ‘La Woodstock’ at MVP. The company has provided generous financial assistance to this build as well – thank you Remsoft!

Earlier this month, the machine was delivered to the site and it made the long walk up to the top of the ridge, where it has been humming right along ever since. The machine doesn’t do much on its own though. A dedicated trail build team has been on site and has already invested more than 100 hours of sweat equity on the project. A huge shout-out to:

  • Marie-Eve F.
  • Yves B. 
  • Max G. 
  • Mike B.
  • Alex M.
  • Jase F.
  • Justin L.

  • Mike B.
  • Adam B.
  • Stephanie B. 
  • Matthew G 
  • Chris F.
  • Bev B.

Now… what can you do to make this huge project successful?

  1. Volunteer. The work is far from done. We need volunteers willing to come out and clear slash and brush, shape features behind the machine, and work with hand tools on the climb trail. Contact us through email or Facebook if you’re willing to help and we’ll connect you with work!
  2. Join RVC. That’s right. If you like what you’re reading the club can use your support. Your membership contributes to trail work directly and the behind-the-scenes arrangements with landowners that make it possible.
  3. Respect the worksite. For now, these trails are under construction and closed. If you see the trail build crew testing things out that doesn’t mean they’re open to ride yet. Patience. When they are ready to open RVC will make a splash and let you know… trust us!

Proud Members of: Velo New Brunswick

Canadian Cycling Association

International Mountain Biking Association