Bike festival rescheduled

    PRESQUE ISLE – Fall foliage, good food, skill-testing single-track trails, and heart-pounding mountain bike races and tours are in store for participants in the second annual The Aroostook Medical Center/Nordic Heritage Center Fat Tire Festival on Oct. 19.     Originally scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28 but canceled due to heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Kyle, organizers and volunteers have crafted a condensed version of the event. According to event director Chad McPherson, the one-day itinerary features many of the same activities.
    “The races, the bike rodeo, the trail tours…it’s all still in (the schedule),” said McPherson. “Even the local bike shops and food vendors have committed to being here. We’re looking forward to putting on a great event.”
    Taking place on the trails of the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle, activities will be centered on cross-country and downhill races for novice, intermediate and expert riders. Volunteers will lead guided tours of the trails, while a bike rodeo and the center’s terrain park will be open throughout the day. Mountain bikers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate.
    The Nordic Heritage Center includes over 20 miles of hand-made and machine-made single track. The trails wind through different forest types and vary from smooth and fluid to narrow and technical. Moderate to expert line options such as log skinnies, exposed bedrock outcrops, and natural drops can be found on some of the trails.
    The Nordic Heritage Center lodge will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    For more information, or to register, please visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org, or contact McPherson at cdmcpherson@maine.rr.com.