LOWER LAKE >> If mountain biking could be summed up in a single cliche, it would be this: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Likewise, when a favorite local mountain bike trail burns down, build a new one — that’s what local high-school cyclists are doing.
Thanks to Six Sigma Ranch & Winery, a few driven community members and a lot of digging in Lower Lake’s mountainous countryside, the Lakeport, Kelseyville and Middletown high school mountain bike teams have a trail to call “home turf.”
“We do a lot of trail work,” said freshman Miranda Cramer as she geared up with her teammates for the rugged miles to come.
Brisk, Sunday morning air clung to the cyclists at the top of the Six Sigma winery, where teens and coaches alike tightened straps, tested shocks and stocked up on food and water. Others biked around the lot to shake off the cold.
Boggs Forest burned down, and with it, the hopes and dreams of mountain bikers in search of local stomping grounds. Moreover, as one of the only established destinations within an hour of Clear Lake, it marked a favorite practicing point for up-and-coming mountain bikers. The twelve-mile network of trails on Cobb Mountain made for perfect racing terrain.
Boggs Forest remains closed as surrounding crews work to clear out felled trees.
“It’s really unfortunate that Boggs burned down,” said Lakeport team coach Jeff Cramer. As both a cycling enthusiast and the owner of Lakeport’s Main Street Bicycles, he said the loss has affected many local cyclists — he sells far more road bikes than mountain bikes these days. “So many people have lost their daily destination for mountain biking.”
Nearing departure time, 19 young cyclists gathered before their coaches to perform a final gear checklist: helmet, glasses, spare tubes, water, pump, gloves, etc. As ready as a group of high schoolers could ever be, they began their descent down the driveway to Six Sigma Winery and the heart of Lake County’s back mountains.
Soon after Boggs went up in smoke, the teams’ coaches reached out to the community in hopes of something — anything — they could dig their wheels into. It wasn’t long before Six Sigma offered up their vast, 4,300-acre ranch.
“Parents love to get their kids outside,” said Christian Ahlmann, who suggested the collaboration. His parents own the property, and as cyclist himself, he welcomed the idea of a local trail. “The kids need some local things to do outside.”
Home to various Six Sigma cattle, pigs and sheep, the wooded hills and rocky fields couldn’t be better suited for mountain biking. To warm up, the teams made their way up a wide ranch road, trekking over rocky terrain and splashing through patches of mud. Many stretches pose technical challenges, and coaches shouted out tips and tricks to keep their athletes in the saddle.
The high schoolers are preparing. In addition to honing their skills and muscles, the teams hope to have their homemade trails ready for a true Norcal High School Cycling League Race in April. So far, they’re on track.
“Last year there was a lot of plotting” said freshman Bron Falkenberg. “But there wasn’t a trail.”
On Saturdays, Jeff Cramer and the high schoolers take to the trails with shovels and picks to dig out and maintain new sections of single-track. So far, they have about six miles of single-track, arranged in a loop of switchbacks, berms and descents, spanning nearly 600 feet of elevation.
Cramer said he hopes the teens’ contribution to the trail will be all the more encouragement to ride them and get further involved with the sport.
“The idea is that they get a sense of ownership, not entitlement,” Cramer said. “Once they see how much work it is to build them, they’ll treat them well.”
With the “warm-up” completed — nearly 6 miles of eroded ranch roads and stone-scattered prairie, the teams climbed back up the Six Sigma driveway toward the single-track trailhead. Though custom built by and for cyclists, the trail still proves difficult — the sport wouldn’t be any fun if it were easy.
Coach Dave Garzoli said it’s about more than race scores.
“It’s about life skills,” Garzoli said, who “encourages” kids to bring all the appropriate gear and prepare both the bike and the body for long trips into the wilderness. “It’s about being self-sufficient, knowing how to take care of yourself if something goes wrong. There’s not many people out here.”
Jude Maldonado, also a coach, said the sport gives kids an option outside of conventional school sports.
“Mountain biking has impacted my life so much,” he said. “It’s good to share that and teach the next generation.”
Maldonado suggested the sport introduces many life lessons about discipline, effort and reward, but doesn’t focus entirely on the leaderboard; he and the other coaches just want to help teach the kids about something they can enjoy.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been on the (racing) podium,” he said, “but we’re not going to make these kids do anything we wouldn’t do.”
No matter the make or model of their bikes, the teens powered up and over obstacles, encouraged to “just keep pedaling.” Severely muddied and decently tired, the coaches and teammates cranked out the last mile to the Six Sigma gates, over three hours after they departed for the trails.
But the homemade trails have done more than keep cyclists cycling. Debbie Bloomquist, a Middletown coach, said the opportunity has attracted rookies.
“Our team almost doubled,” Bloomquist said. She also said most of the new recruits are freshmen. Middle schoolers have also shown interest in joining up in the future. The combined total number of kids on the Lakeport, Kelseyville and Middletown team is nearly 30.
As suggested, the trail will likely ping on cyclists’ radars in and around Lake County, but as for now, the trail isn’t open to the public.
“It’s a liability issue,” Ahlmann said. He said the trail is mostly for the high school league, but he figures rides will be scheduled so local riders, high school or otherwise, can have a taste of the newest Six Sigma feature, which isn’t wine or meat.
“I may announce some rides on Facebook,” Ahlmann said, who rides on his property often. “The trails are a hoot.”
