Leaving the house at 4 am is not the best way to start a weekend except when you are going riding. On Saturday December 6th I, with three other club members, embarked on a road trip south of the border to visit Ray’s Indoor MTB Park.

Our merry band included Ian Parker and his visiting friend and Al Parker. The park is located on the outskirts of Cleveland, a mere 5 ½ hour drive from Toronto. After an speedy and uneventful drive and border crossing we arrived at Ray’s at around 10 am and entered the old factory from a snow covered parking lot to see, laid out in front of us, what looks like a BMX bikers paradise.

Ray, the owner, met us at the door and kindly spent some time telling us “newbies” about his playground and its attractions. At the reception are a large service area and bike rental counter as well as a large lounge with triple fireplaces and big- screen TV. There are many different bikes available to rent (at $10.00/day) including BMX bikes and both geared and single speed bikes suited to the terrain. The price of admission is $36.00 for the weekend pass and that includes protective gear (shin and elbow guards) if desired.
The park includes three rooms (beginner, intermediate and advanced) that each contain at least a dozen different features, including logs, rocks, jumps, ramps, table-top jumps, teeter-totters, etc. There is also a pump track, a street park room (like a skate park), a massive jump track, a large foam pit and a huge 180 degree banking on the table-top run.

The whole thing is tied together by what is called a x-country course that visits each of the rooms in turn and is 0.55 km long. Although this seems like a short course each lap can be extended and modified by adding one or more side trips on the numerous features in each of the three skills rooms. In two places ramps take the rider right up to the buildings rafters with some very fast downhills back to floor level.
It was with some trepidation that I first headed out on the course but it didn’t take long to feel comfortable. Those of you who know me will be surprised to learn that I had the time of my life and that I tried things that I had never contemplated tackling in my worst nightmares. The features in the beginner room are so easy to navigate that anyone (even I) can complete most of them the first time with confidence. From there it’s easy to progress to the intermediate room where the features are a little more challenging and a little further off the floor. Ray has devised a few challenges that will amaze some because of their ingenuity. They include a ramp that slides forward as the rider does a track-stand, waiting to ride off the other end. Some of the other interesting features are an elevator that drops the track-standing rider down a meter before being able to ride away, a ramp that pivots sideways and a double teeter-toter.

After three hours riding we proceeded to check in at the local Holiday Inn with which Ray has a half price deal for riders. The hotel is new and has a nice pool and exercise area. Following food (and a short nap for some) we returned to Ray’s for another three hours of fun before finding an eating establishment and then retiring for the night.

The following morning we returned to ride for another three hours before packing our bags for the return trip to Toronto, where we arrived by 8pm. This is an experience that is highly recommended and that no mountain biker should miss and will add an interesting break to our otherwise bleak Ontario cycling winter.

Ian and I are planning to make another visit to Ray’s and we’ve picked the Feb 28th – March 1st weekend. With enough people it may even be possible to rent a van or bus. Please contact either Ian or I for more details or information and to confirm your attendance.

P.S. The facility is not heated and can get a little chilly until you’ve warmed up enough so it’s recommended to bring long sleeve shirts or leg and arm warmers.