Take the Kids Mountain Biking (Free) this Saturday

The owner of the Bicycle Habitat in downtown Manhattan will be offering a free mountain bike day in Cunningham Park, Queens using demo Trek bicycles this weekend.

The store has partnered with Trips for Kids NY to celebrate “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day,” a special day of sorts established by the International Mountain Biking Association.

New Yorkers can travel to a stop on the Long Island Rail Road or take the F train, get fitted on a mountain bike and ride for most of the day this Saturday, Oct. 5.

A clinic will be available for people of all ages, including kids and especially kids, said Charlie McCorkell, owner of Bicycle Habitat.

The store will be offering their newest 2014 Trek women’s, men’s and children’s bicycles for those who want to come., such as the Slash, Remedy, Stache, Lush, Superfly, Madone and Domane. Participants can also bring their own bikes if they prefer.

Cunningham Park has almost seven miles of mountain bike trails, said McCorkell. Of those trails, 33% are for beginners, 33% intermediate, 33% expert cross country trails, plus a beginner and intermediate dirt jump park with pump track, according to New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Cunningham Park is just East of Kissena Park, and is easily visible on this map of Queens. (Look for Bayside.)

There will be women’s clinics with Kristen Phillips, pump track clinics with former pro Tom Oates, and instruction on handling and performance techniques.

The event will be held from 10 AM to 3 PM in Cunningham Park, Queens, and requires a (free) online registration through EventBrite.

DIRECTIONS

DIRECTIONS:

Cunningham Park is very accessible. The event will be centered near the trailhead, at the 210th Street playground on 210th St @ 73rd Avenue.

  • By train: Take the F train to Jamaica/179 Street. Ride east on Hillside Avenue, then turn left on 188th St (Saul Weprin St.) Right on 73rd Avenue to the demo area at 210th St.
  • By LIRR: Cunningham is a quick 5-minute ride from the LIRR, accessible from both Atlantic and Penn Station terminals. Take the Bayside stop and ride south to Cunningham Park, or exit at Hollis and ride north.
  • By bus: From midtown, take the express bus QM6 from one of two stops, 6th Avenue and 36th Steet or 3rd Avenue and 57th street. Exit at Union Turnpike stop and 193rd Street. (Bus is the quickest route!)
  • By car (driving):
    From Manhattan or Brooklyn — Take 495 to exit 26, Francis Lewis Blvd. Take a right on Francis Lewis, going south. Turn left on 73rd Ave. Event area is at 210th and 73rd ave.
    From Long Island — Take the Long Island Expressway to exit 27, Clearview Expressway, and go south. Exit at 73rd Avenue, turn left. Go to 210th St and turn left. The trailhead is at the corner of 67th Avenue; the demo and registration area is at 210th and 73rd Avenue. On-street parking is available.
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