Bainbridge (and world renowned) coach Joe Holmes with two junior riders from the Kiel Reijnen All Stars Team, brothers Tomás and Milo McIntosh (who took 4th and 7th place at Cyclocross Nationals in Dec 2019)
Family Riding:
Bainbridge Island has an abundance of trails for family riding. For dirt-loving newbies, the gravel loop at Battle Point is a hot ticket and the park boasts a small pump track for kids. Older kids will appreciate loops in Gazam Park as well as the Grand Forest and Fort Ward. Many of these can be connected with streets and local neighborhood trails, such as the Bluff Trail, the Old Mill Trail, and the Blakely Cemetery Trail (Walk your bike through the cemetery itself).
Road riders appreciate loops such as the Chilly Hilly Loop and many riders will ride the South End of the island for a flatter ride with less traffic. Start at Fort Ward Park and head out on South Beach Drive as an out and back and take in the beauty of Blake Island and the Sound in the process.
Annual Bainbridge Rides/Races:
Weekend Warrior Riding (AKA riding for sanity):
Warriors Jess Henderson, Marisa Robba, and Akiko Westerhout hit the trails hard on any given day.
Along with the plethora of Island riding, the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula offer countless trails for the weekend warrior type, including:
Green Mountain- Gold Creek
Adolescent & Teen Programs: Gear Grinders:
The Gear Grinders are a co-ed middle school and high school level mountain bike team open to students at Bainbridge Island Middle and High Schools. The team is part of the Washington State Student Cycling League and receives financial support from the newly founded Bainbridge Island Mountain Biking Club (BIMBC). The League promotes the sport of cross-country riding, both competitive and recreational.
Professional Riding and Coaching:
Joe Holmes in the early days
Islander, Joe Holmes, is a USA licensed cycling coach, an Associate National Team Coach and has been a competitive cyclist himself for over 35 years. He has been the sport director for both amateur and professional cycling teams and has worked with the US National Junior Program as an Associate Coach and Team Director in Europe. Holmes has coached a three-time World Champion, an Olympic Silver medalist and a twelve-time National Champion. He is one of only two Americans to hold a coaching diploma from the UCI (International Governing Body of Cycling).
Pro Cyclist and Bainbridge native Heidi Franz has been working with Holmes for over three years now and at only 24 holds quite the resume.
Holmes coaches under the name: Tête de la Course Cycling and if you live on Bainbridge you have surely seen him biking hard down Highway 305 through sun/rain/sleet, without a helmet (do not call him out on that!).
He has coached a number of athletes to National Championship medals in road, track and cyclocross and developed a rider from a 13 year old junior into a World Tour Pro.
Milo McIntosh, a 13 year-old Bainbridge cycling prodigy, training for the Cyclocross Nationals
Holmes has worked extensively with local biking legend Kiel Reijnen, who now coaches his own group of riders with Holmes & Heidi Franz called the Kiel Reijnen All Stars.
Mud, sweat, and lots of gears is their tagline.
Kiel Reijnen All Stars rider Tomás McIntosh standing proud on the podium for 4th place at Junior Nationals!
Visiting the Island and in need of biking gear or a rental?
Bainbridge bike Shops:
Bike Rentals:
Spin Classes and more:
Squeaky Wheels a local cycling advocacy group
The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance- West Sound Chapter
is a great way to get more involved in riding and trail work. They offer weekly rides, including a Tuesday evening ride, year-round,in the Port Gamble trails.
Bainbridge has something for all types of riders!
And here is the Funny, with cyclist Kiel Reijnen ...