Chambersburg bike park honors local cyclist's memory through weekly race
For area bicyclists, Thursday nights are when it all goes down.
In its sixth season, the Bulldog Bike Park in Chambersburg holds Thursday Throwdowns, a short track mountain bike racing series on Thursday evenings in July. The park is located behind Spring Rise Landscaping at 2091 Edgewood Road.
The five-race weekly series is in memory of Brian Fults, an avid area mountain biker who died of cancer in 2013.
The races are available for all ages – youth, ages up to age 8, participate in a 1-mile race, tweens (ages 9-12) and teens (ages 13-17) in a 5-mile race, and adults, 18 and older, in a 10-mile race.
Series organizer Ralph Pisle, who is also the vice president of Spring Rise Landscaping, had the idea to do a bike series and “went with it” as a way to honor Fults, co-creator Larry Camp said.
“There’s a huge age range (of bikers), from little kids to 60-year-olds,” Camp said. “The course is really fun and accessible to all skill levels. Ralph and (his wife) Heidi have created a huge bike community in the area.”
The event is free, but bicyclists can donate money to cover race costs. Proceeds benefit local high school mountain biking teams in Chambersburg, Carlisle and Adams County. Pisle previously coached the Chambersburg team.
“The throwdowns are intended to give back to the community,” Pisle said.
A total of $350 was raised for the Chambersburg Mountain Bike Team, $470 went to the Carlisle team and more than $275 was given to the Adams County’s team.
What started as an average of 30 bikers per race in Bulldog’s first year has since ballooned to more than 120 bikers per race this year.
“COVID-19 definitely contributed to the boost in outdoor sports,” Pisle said. “Go into any local bike store, there’s a shortage of bikes at all levels – they’re being bought up.”
The increase in attendance can also be attributed to Pisle’s hard work and dedication to the series and the sport of mountain biking in general.
“Ralph has done a world of good for local mountain bikers,” Camp said. “Having no entry fee removed a barrier to get people on bikes.”
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The Thursday throwdowns are possible with a ton of volunteer help, Pisle said. Heidi, Ella, Garnet and Daniel Pisle, Tim Forney, Chris and Jodi Brechbill, Dale and Maryann Bohn, John and Billie Jo Torrey, Amanda Black, Derrick and Jen McAllister, Holly Johnston, Ben Coleman, Brittany Cox and Jeff Hoover all volunteer with the event.
The event is also sponsored by Quick Release Bicycle, Rebound Adventure Cycles, Sollenberger Construction, Wicked Girl Jerseys, Mercury Endurance Cycles, Spring Rise Landscaping, MBM – Mountain Bikers of Michaux, Shippensburg University Cycling, Wertner Signs and the Carlisle Chick-fil-A.
The series will return next summer, with the same, growing environment.
“Biking is intimidating, but everyone is welcome at the throwdowns,” Camp said. “(The throwdowns) give people a trail to ride safely, have fun and come back next week.”