North Bay Enduro Bike Champ Shares Top Trails and Tips

At 69 years old, this enduro-racing Ontario mountain bike champ from North Bay isn’t slowing down one bit.

In 2021, on her way to compete in South Africa for a powerlifting competition, Covid happened. That’s when Kim Crumpton found mountain biking. When public gatherings resumed, she started riding the local weekly races which morphed into racing the Ontario Cup series. “My husband says I’m obsessed with it.”

Since she began racing, she hasn’t been off the podium once.

A few notables include a silver at the 2022 Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships and the Masters Woman 65+ 2022 Ontario Provincial Mountain Bike champion. She’s tried cyclecross, and now loves the speed of enduro. “I never thought I’d be doing drops or rocking down a mountain, but it’s just the best.”

Kim has many favourite trails, and when she’s not riding, she loves the local vibe at a lakeside restaurant and homemade pottery.

Favourite North Bay Bike Trails

The Three Towers Trail System is, hands down, Kim’s favourite trail system: “These trails have it all: wooden features, pump track, steep inclines, fast downhills, technical rocky climbs, interesting switchbacks and challenging drops.”

The former fire tower turned mountain bike network has grown steadily thanks to huge community involvement and the work of The North Bay Mountain Bike Association (NBMBA).  What began as a few trails, about 5 km, has grown to 13 km, including three new downhill trails and a slew of connecting trails. During the riding season, the trails have a weekly race series and several events, including the new enduro.

But the riding doesn’t end with the summer. Kim loves the Laurentian Escarpment Trails because they are groomed in the winter for fat biking. And, in the summer, she can practice her skills: “If you like jumping, this is the place to go with a variety of wooden jumps interspersed through the trail system. Lots of short, punchy up hills, which are great for conditioning the legs.” The NBMBA maintains two bike trails: the Fred McNutt Family Trail (2.1 km) and the Richardson Ridge Trail (6.6 km loop). Bring your GPS, as the trails are not well-marked.

Monastery Trails (aka. Horse Trails) is another one of Kim’s favourite. The trails combine double track, single and sandy flow mountain bike trails, also suitable for a gravel bike. Once the site of a former monastery and horse stable, Kim says the trails here are serene and good for beginners.

“It’s just technical enough to keep it interesting without overwhelming beginners.” The trails are smooth, fast and flowy, often traversing streams, and from above, there are great views of the city and Lake Nipissing. “I love to use these trails for those ‘fall in love with mountain biking’ all over again recovery days,” says Kim.

The Kiwanis All Wheel Park is North Bay’s new waterfront pump track. “I will use this site to practice being smooth and efficient on rolls and berms, which will make me faster for both cross country and enduro racing,” says Kim. The track is a great stop for families whose kids need to get their wiggles out. The undulating pump track and bowls are great for skateboards and BMX bikes.

And for those who want to ride but not hit the mountain biking trails, North Bay’s Discovery Routes offers exciting cycling for fat bikers, gravel riders and road cyclists.

Shops and Eats for North Bay Cyclists

Average Joe’s Eatery & Patio is North Bay’s only year-round lakefront restaurant. Located on Trout Lake, in the summer, you can pull up for ice cream or a meal outside on the patio overlooking the lake; in the winter, diners arrive on a sled or fat bike. “It’s got great views of the lake, and it’s a great place to come post-ride,” says Kim.

The menu includes loads of local items, including fresh lake pickerel and trout. For meat lovers, bison sirloin is served with wild mushroom cognac cream. The bar hosts live bands and Boatapalooza, a summertime event whereby a sea-doo will bring your order to your boat, kayak or canoe. In the winter, guests can warm up beside the outdoor fire pit while sipping on a hot toddy.

Not far from Average Joe’s, Kim declares that Orchards Fresh Food Market is a “must stop” for visitors to North Bay. “This beautiful fresh food market has you covered for meals on the go and healthy fruit and snacks for the trails.” She especially loves the specialty bread, energy bites, desserts, pies and sweets, all made in-house. Every month, the store features a special cheese, too.

Kim loves a good mug of joe, especially when it’s made locally. Pottery has a long history in North Bay.

Anne Tremblay-Pedersen of Northern Lakes Pottery shows up at farmers’ markets, creating  

cycling-themed pottery. It’s a favourite of Kim’s when she wants something special for a bike friend: “She supports all the local cycling events here in North Bay with displays of her work and secondly, much of her work is cycling themed. Think coffee cups and pottery with pictures of mountain bikers on them.”

Find even more cycling-friendly businesses in North Bay at Ontario By Bike.

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