News

2025 RVC Membership Drive

April 15, 2025 By Chris Norfolk

River Valley Cycling is Fredericton’s mountain bike club. Our priorities are cycling-community building, skills development, and sustainable singletrack trails. We are a volunteer driven non-profit organization that relies on the support of your membership, our volunteers, and the support of partner landowners and local businesses.

Your membership for 2025 will help us succeed and it goes a long way towards maintaining and growing singletrack trails in the Fredericton region. Land access and trail maintenance come with costs, and your support ensures that our RVC Trail Crew has the tools, materials, and insurance they need to keep going. You’ll gain access to RVC group rides, social events, and you’ll be able to register for our races and skills development sessions. We know mountain biking isn’t the most accessible sport, but it can be a family sport – so parents / guardians can add riders under 18 to their membership at no extra cost!

Last year about 20% of our members chose to generously give more to RVC through a Gold or Platinum level membership. Thank you! These options provide us the funds we need to take on those ‘extra’ projects that we couldn’t otherwise do. New signage, volunteer appreciation, and better quality tools for the RVC Trail Crew are only possible because of the generosity of our Gold and Platinum members. You benefit too with perks like being able to add all of the adults in your household and advanced opportunities to register for sessions that have limited capacity.

RVC has big plans for 2025

Programming

Expect beginner group rides, e-bike rides, women’s+ rides, social rides, and a big year-ender as always. Expect both beginner and advanced skills sessions delivered by PMBIA coaches. Our highlight Wooly 4 Race and the Enduro Series are coming on!

Trail Upgrades

Our club priority for trails in 2025 is upgrading. We will host a Monday night build series that will rotate around our trailheads. We’re sure that something new will get built but the focus this year is pouring energy into trails you already love.

Growing the Network

Everyone knows we’ve been working with the City of Fredericton to plan an all new trail network at Killarney Lake. This is the year. We’ll take every opportunity to work on your behalf to see this project succeed. Momentum is building.

Join RVC!

RVC’s Woolastook 4 MTB XC event Presented by Trailway Brewing

July 28, 2023 By Kelly

This long-running favourite event is about having a good time, solo or as a team, at a hammer or chill pace, on a great, flowy course that suits a wide range of abilities. Again this year, we’re excited to be showcasing some new trail in this year’s course! Racers complete as many laps as they can in the allotted time, solo (must be 19+) or as relay teams of 2 or 3. Or just do as many laps as you feel like riding, and hang out at the start/finish cheering and socializing. It’s all fun.

As usual, there will be refreshments, cool swag, and podium stuff from Trailway Brewing, a BBQ and snacks, plus great draw prizes.

Categories are:
Solo Men (must be 19 or older as of December 31, 2024)
Solo Women (must be 19 or older as of December 31, 2024)
Open Team (team members may be any age and gender)
Women’s Team (all team members must be women/girls)
Youth Team (all team members must be 16 or younger)

Here is this year’s course.

Want to stay at the park? Ask us about unserviced camping at the Fox’s Den loop adjacent to the course. As in 2023, Race HQ, parking, and the start/finish will also be in the Fox’s Den. You won’t find it on Google Maps, as it’s not normally open to camping, but HERE are directions to the Fox’s Den from the 102. Basically you’ll follow the campground road all the way around to the campground loops. You’ll pass a set of gates and then a little garbage trailer and then turn left where it’s signed “Fox’s Den.” Race day, it will be signed from the park entrance on the south side of the highway to the start/finish and parking.

Event Day Schedule
9:00-10:30 am Registration and plate pickup
11:00 am Race start
3:00 pm cut-off to begin final lap
3:30 pm awards and draw prizes

REGISTER ONLINE (below) for $40 until 6pm on Saturday, August 24 or on site race day for $50. If you are not a Velo NB member, there is an additional $10 fee for a day license.

Please note:
(1) There is no potable water on site. Bathroom facilities are a rustic outhouse and a Port-o-John. We’ll have some bottled water, but do yourself and the environment a favour and plan ahead.
(2) There’s also not a lot of furniture on site. If you prefer to sit somewhere other than on the grass, bring a portable chair of some sort.
(3) The event runs rain or shine.
(4) Parking is in the campground loop near the start/finish. Pull into a site or clearing or pull up on the side of the road where there’s room, don’t block people in or park on any tents.

Moving the Odell park plan closer to action

August 8, 2021 By Chris Norfolk

A little more than a year ago the city wrapped up the master plan for Odell Park. We let you know what we thought of it at the time. Now we’ve got an update.

Progress was slow during the pandemic but this summer the city and RVC have reengaged to talk about moving towards implementation. We’ve walked trails in the park with city staff, talking about both issues and opportunities. We met with them again in the park in July, and we now understand a little more about the future of the trails. RVC has been asked to propose an implementation plan that sticks true to the objectives of the master plan, reflects our discussions on the ground.

Here’s what we know:

Many of the existing trails will stay although there are issues to address through signage, improvements, or small re-routes.
There are opportunities for new connections – particularly where new builds would avoid sensitive areas and better link existing trails.
We can expect the city to close ‘Evil Streambed’. This one is of particular concern for Phyllis creek. That trail seems destined to be decommissioned and revegetated in the future.
RVC will be a partner in implementation, but work will need to be supervised by city staff.

Once we’ve put in RVC’s implementation proposal it will need to be approved by city staff (and possibly council).

This is a good outcome for the Odell park planning process that began way back in 2017 and had a few rocky stretches along the way. Riders could be in a very different position right now. We believe the city should demonstrate progress in 2021 by giving us the ok to put the existing trails back on Trailforks and allowing us to do some leaf-blowing this fall. We’ll include that in our proposal.

We’ll need help from RVC members. Rogue trail work won’t be helpful at this point. If you’ve got good ideas that you’d like to see in our trail proposal, or if you’d like to get involved when/if work starts happening – please get in touch with us! The balance in Odell is fragile. Remember to share the trails and use good rider etiquette.

Please let us know what you think… and join RVC!

New Pumptrack in Mactaquac Park

July 2, 2021 By Chris Norfolk

At our AGM earlier this year we laid out our priorities for 2020 and mentioned that a new partnership with Mactaquac Provincial Park was something in the works. The staff at the park have been doing a lot to develop it as a riding area over the last 2 years – starting with a great winterbike grooming effort and fatbike rentals on-site. The goal now is year-round riding, so when they approached RVC about collaborating on a new pumptrack the answer was yes!

Over the last month RVC volunteer and exec. member Chris F designed and lead the construction of what is now the first proper pumptrack in the Fredericton region. Check this out!

Master builder and volunteer Chris F. with his latest creation in the background!

Set up with a compacted base and flowing curves, this thing should be a blast for riders of all ages and skill levels.

While the site still has some finishing touches yet to come, it is open for riding now (try closing a new pumptrack next to a playground and campground full of kids).

Never ridden a pumptrack before? Check this out:

Where is it? Here:

Trailforks.com

Where is this collaboration with Mactaquac Provincial Park going in the future – good places! We’ve got some more trails on the go in the area that we’ll talk about soon. With plenty of camping, good food, and good trails in the area between Mactaquac and Woolastook, the headpond is ripe to become a great riding destination.

July 2020 Newsletter

July 1, 2020 By Chris Norfolk

Welcome to the July 2020 Newsletter. RVC Newsletters are intended to keep you up to date on events in our community as well as RVC initiatives. 2020 has been a strange year so far for everyone, but there are some positive developments to talk about. Please have a look and drop us an email with suggestions that you might have to improve the newsletter.

Coronavirus & RVC’s Focus for 2020

Several months of social lockdown was hard. Many of us took to the trails where we could get fresh air, exercise, relieve stress, and focus only on the 2 metres in front of us. Having a number of well maintained trail networks was a blessing for the whole community when there wasn’t much else that one could safely do. If you felt the same way, say thanks to the next person you see out clearing deadfall, blowing leaves, or tuning a berm. We have not escaped impact though.

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that RVC made the difficult decision to cancel all of our events that involve large gatherings. So 2020 will be the first in many years without the Woolastook 4 race, the short-track series, or the skills clinics that have become rider favorites. Instead, RVC will be focusing on trail access, trail building, and strengthening relationships with the landowners and land managers in our community. It will be a lean year for RVC, as many of the events that we’ve had to cancel are big sources of revenue for the club. Not to worry though, as we’ve already seen our members and businesses in the area rally to our cause (more on that later).

Trail Updates

MVP

It has been a challenging spring at MVP, arguably the heart and soul of our trail network. First, we had to say good-bye to many of the most popular intermediate (blue) trails in the city when our access to Mr. Wilson’s woodlot was withdrawn. Favorites like Wilson’s Loop, Country View, Hole-in-the-Wall, Swanky, and Best Bitter are now closed. As sad as we were to announce this change we thank Mr. Wilson for his generous cooperation with RVC over the years. His property was a catalyst that accelerated mountain biking in Fredericton and it’s unlikely we’d be where we are today without it.

Next MVP experienced a rash of vehicle break-ins that resulted in thousands of dollars in property damage and theft. We haven’t heard of any new reported incidents in the last 3 weeks but we encourage everyone to continue to Park Smart!

Despite all this there has been some exciting work going on at MVP, particularly over in the ‘enduro zone’. Fern Gully, V-Fib, and DNF have all been tuned-up by the trail crew and work on a new climbing trail has started thanks to an early June trail day! Looking good.

A busy spring at MVP has resulted in a lot of fresh features. Look at that fresh loam!

Woolastook

Woolastook has never been in better shape and it’s seen a lot of traffic this spring. In fact, so much traffic that RVC partnered with the campground operator to install an expanded parking lot at the trailhead. The Woolastook loop route is a great family-friendly option for introducing new people to mountain biking.

Islandview

Improvements are also coming to Islandview thanks to a partnership with the Maritime College of Forest Technology (the land manager). RVC and MCFT will be posting all new trail signage this summer in order to help riders navigate the area. This is good news. That terrain can get you turned around and there are spots where cell service isn’t happening. Signage will be a nice improvement project to build upon as the club develops a relationship with the MCFT. Expect to see a call for a volunteer trail day or two in order to get everything installed!

Odell Park

Odell Park’s plan has been in development by the city for more than 2 years now and it’s now nearing an outcome that will have a place for riding in the long-term. RVC, and the mountain-bike community engaged with the city’s process in an organized, respectful, and considerate manner. We met with city staff leading up to the most recent plan and presented solutions for sustainable multi-use trails. We believe the city has listened.

The final management plan for Odell park will place the park’s ecology as the top priority. We are calling for a multidisciplinary team that involves city staff, local ecologists, RVC trailbuilders, and other stakeholders to assess each trail individually for sustainability. We expect there to be a need for upgrades and re-routing in some areas, and the retiring and reforesting of certain trails. Our key ask to the city was that when one trail must end, another begins at the same time – and that RVC be given the opportunity to be involved in delivering both processes. We are hopeful this plan passes full council in July!

Membership

Like we talked about above, 2020 is going to be a tough year on RVC financially and that’s why we are depending on you more than ever to spread the word about the work we do. We have memberships available at an affordable cost for everybody and there’s options to contribute more if that’s something you’re able to do. Already 2020 has been a record year for Gold and Platinum members so thank you so much for your support! Feeling like you’d like to upgrade your membership after reading this sweet newsletter? No problem! Just contact us and we’ll take your money and sort you all out. We are constantly looking to provide new value to members so if you have ideas about how we can do that drop us an email or message and let us know.

Communications

Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. This summer we plan to spend more time talking about good trail etiquette and riding responsibly. Have you seen our latest posts on: