The Ashland Bike Project is an Ohio not-for-profit corporation seeking to use the power of bikes to make a positive change in the community. Its board members are made up of community members with a heart for young people that share the vision of helping make our community a better place. We know that bicycles are just one of the ways to do so because we’ve been affected by them in the same way. Funds raised by ABP go towards supplying equipment, building trails, and running our summer youth program known as Team WILD.
Team WILD Mission:
To provide the opportunity for youth of Ashland and its surrounding communities to unplug and enjoy the outdoors through the power of the bicycle. We wish to inspire young riders to challenge themselves to accomplish things they never thought possible, grow physically stronger and healthier, and develop a lifelong healthy lifestyle. We will do this by providing equipment, instruction, and infrastructure to make this possible.
The name is an acronym for the four core values we wish to pass on to our young people;
Wellness lifestyle,
Inspire others,
Learn new things,
and Determined to succeed.
Equipment:
Through grants, donations, and fundraisers, we will purchase bicycles, helmets, and other necessary safety gear to provide every opportunity for youth to enjoy cycling, regardless of whether or not they have the means to purchase the equipment for themselves. Our goal by providing equipment is to eliminate the financial restrictions to enjoying the sport of cycling.
Instruction:
Ashland Bike Company has dedicated their ambassador team to helping conduct the Team WILD program during the summer months. Riders on the team have volunteered their time for instruction 2 nights each month in addition to youth races around the state with partnership of the Ohio Mountain Bike Championship Series (OMBC) and other youth development teams around the state. Riders on this team are expert riders and or very passionate volunteers dedicated to the safety of the youth participants. Members of the ambassador team include firefighters, experienced nurses, teachers, engineers, and construction workers. This ensures that participants will be as safe as possible, whether its includes falling off their bike or just making sure any bike course construction will be solid and safe. Team WILD is overseen by ABP board member, Ashley Hendershot: a national champion e-mountain bike racer, and high school agriculture teacher, Troy Chipka: an expert level mountain bike racer, bike mechanic, and high school swimming coach, and Anthony Bunt: owner of Ashland Bike Company.
Infrastructure:
The City of Ashland and Ashland Bike Company recently partnered together to create the Brookside Mountain Bike Trail, located at Brookside West Park in Ashland, Ohio. With the help of community members, ABC has developed the trail and maintained it, and now through the ABP we hope to add a dirt pump track to the park to be used in the youth riding program. We will also use grants awarded through Specialized Bicycle Components’ Outride Fund to offset the costs of the pump track. We will also utilize the vast space and diverse landscape available at Brookside West Park to conduct the Team WILD practices and events. Riders who are new to bicycles will have flat, level surfaces to practice their balance, while intermediate and advanced level riders can work their way up to riding the mountain bike trail.
Team WILD format and schedule:
Youth riders 14 and under have the opportunity to participate in the program. (Older youth riders are considered part of our NICA team).
Cost: $25 (per individual participant) or $40 (per family)
Parent waiver required. Parents may remain at practices but may not interact with their children during the practice unless requested by Team WILD coaches.
Safety: Background checks are required for all supervisors (1 supervisor per group, numerous volunteer rider coaches per group). Nurse or other medical staff is available at each practice.
Accountability: Youth participants must adhere to safety rules and behavior standards set forth on sign-up letter. Failure to do so will result in removal from the team.
April: Ambassador instructors will be trained, assigned scheduled practices, and Team WILD jerseys and number plates will be designed.
May: Sign-ups for Team WILD will begin, closing is the date of the first practice.
June-August: Practices occur 2 times per month with an open ride day each month. All practices start at 6:30pm at the Brookside West Mountain Bike Trail head. Schedule:
Parent Meeting and Team Cook Out Tuesday June 8th, 2021 at 6:30pm at the Brookside West Mountain Bike Trail head.
June Practices: 15th and 22nd. Open Ride Day is the 29th at Alum Creek Part 1 MTB trail.
July Practices: 13th and 27th. Open Ride Day is the 20th at Findley State Park.
August Practices: 10th and 17th.
September 25th, 2021 from Noon to 3:00pm: End of the season all-team race and picnic. Awards and prizes given!!
Ashland Bike Project 