Ride With Us

Group rides are back! No registration is required.

DMBA rides are intended for members and are open to the public as well. This is a great way for riders to learn the best trails in the area and make new friends! We rate our rides in four ways: technical difficulty of the trails, pace of the group, the distance and the duration of the ride.

When you arrive at a group ride, there will be organizers to guide you so you can confidently join the appropriate group.

Tag System

When a larger group (15-20 riders) starts out it will start to break up into smaller groups. To keep the entire group on the same course we use the Tag System. If you are the last person in one of the smaller groups your job is to wait until you can see the first person in the next smaller group. You let them know which way the whole group is going and start riding again. Everyone does this until the last person, the sweeper, comes along.

Free To Members

Participants must be 14 and older and able to ride a mountain bike. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Our events are completely free for all DMBA members! Become a member today to take advantage of all the events we have throughout the season.

Group Pace & Skill Level

Beginner: Less than 8km/hr average with lots of rests, riding only double track and gentle single track trails with patient ride leaders willing to take the time to help newcomers become more familiar with the sport and the trail network. This is a very relaxed ride, nobody is left behind and the group stays together closely while becoming familiar with the tag system.

Easy: ~10km/h average, lots of rests, rests in the 5 minute range rides, riding all trail types but avoiding the more advanced trails and features. Rides are 1 to 1.25 hours in duration – Distance 10-12 km

Intermediate: ~12 km/h average, fewer rests, rests less than 5 minutes, riding all trail types, uses the tag system, rides are 1.5 hours – Distance 15-18 km

Advanced: ~15 km/h average, rests are the exception, uses the tag system to keep the group together, rides are closer to 2 hours, riding all trail types and difficulties, Distance 22-30 km

Expert: > 18 km/h average, no rests, riding all trail types and difficulties, no tag system, rides range from 2 to 3 hours. Distance 25 – 40km with much bigger drops, tighter off camber turns, higher speeds, loose soil.

Skill Level

Beginner: Double track and some novice single track.

Easy: Mostly single track trails with options to avoid advanced obstacles.

Intermediate: Single track that has some obstacles or features: log overs, roots, small rocks, etc.

Advanced: Single track that has more technicality involved, maybe some drop offs, rock faces, steep sections, off camber sections, big log overs, bridges etc.

Duration

Duration is up to the ride organizer, but typically the beginner/easy pace rides will be shorter; in the 1.25 to 1.5 hours range, and the advanced/hard pace rides will be in the 2 to 2.5 hour range (possibly even longer).

Weekly Group Rides

2024 Summer Schedule

Weekly rides typically begin in early May. Watch our social channels for more updates. No Registration Required. When You Arrive At The Forest For A Ride, Please Head To The Clearing And Listen For The Group That Best Suits Your Skill Level.

We’ll host regular group rides on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, plus Saturday mornings. For evening rides there is a 6 pm start. Remember to gather 15 minutes early and bring water and post-ride bevvies. For weekend rides we gather at 9:45 am and start at 10 am from the main clearing at Durham Forest. All rides will start at Durham Forest main clearing unless otherwise noted. Watch for updates on weather in our social media channels and a regular email every Sunday with ride location and times.

Monday Evenings

Women’s Ride: Join us for the women’s night on the trails! Beginner & Intermediate groups will be fun, social, guided & coached. Advanced rides will be for those women looking for a faster and more challenging ride. Rides will be 1.5 – 2 hours. Lights will be required on fall rides.

Summer Schedule (until mid-August): Ride locations move around, please check the schedule below before you leave. Rides start at 6 pm, remember to show up 15 minutes early as our rides start promptly.

May