What began as a measure to protect Rose Mountain has evolved into an annual gravel bike event that brings both local enthusiasts and casual riders to the area to raise money for the Piscataquog Land Conservancy.
As the ninth running of the Rose Mountain Rumble approaches on Saturday, Aug. 24, PLC President and CEO Chris Wells said the event continues to grow. In recent years, the PLC has been able to add an 80-mile course to complement the 66-, 45- and 25-mile courses. Wells said the courses overlap, allowing participants to drop off or continue as they please. The courses begin at the Lyndeborough Old Town Hall at 1131 Center Road and take participants through surrounding towns and back to Lyndeborough. The ride is not timed.
“It’s for people who want to go full throttle and go as fast as possible. But it’s also for people who just want to drive and people who only drive occasionally,” Wells said.
Gravel biking is a hybrid of road biking and mountain biking, Wells said. Typically, riders ride over gravel and forest trails, with the bike’s tires and frame similar to those of a road bike but “beefier.”
Wells said this year’s Rose Mountain Rumble raised about $10,000, all of which will go to benefit the land the PLC protects and future projects. Wells said the PLC typically does three to five projects a year.
“It benefits all the communities in the regions we serve,” Wells said.
The PLC protects 136 properties, with 9,541 acres protected, according to its website, plcnh.org. The conservation agency serves 26 towns in the state, including Francestown, Lyndeborough, Mason, New Ipswich, Temple and Wilton.
At the end of the ride, participants will be greeted with a lunch hosted by the Wilton Lyndeborough Women’s Club, which receives funding from the PLC, according to Wells.
The ride has a capacity of 150 people and was sold out on Aug. 13, according to Wells. Wells said there is a waiting list that people can sign up for, but it is unlikely that anyone on the list will be able to participate.
Compared to similar events, the Rose Mountain Rumble is quite small, according to Wells. He said many gravel bike events draw hundreds of people, but he likes that this event is more community-focused because of its size.
“That’s actually why a lot of people say they love it,” Wells said.
