Fisher Farm clinic Sat.

Team CyclePath presents a free Halloween Bike Skills Clinic Saturday, Oct. 31, at noon, at Fisher Farm Park, off Shearer Road. Includes 45-minute clinic, followed by riding on the trails. Helmet required, flat pedals recommended. Riders under 18 need a parent or guardian.

Jay Fesperman races at Snowshoe, W.Va.

Considering the flat terrain around Lake Norman, one might not expect to find a local downhill mountain-biking team, but that’s indeed the case with Team CyclePath. After traveling to the mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Jersey, the team recently completed its first season of competition.

Team creator and manager Steve Ford of Davidson recruited riders ages 13-35 to compete in amateur/expert categories of downhill mountain bike races around the Southeast (Ford is the oldest at 35 and 13 year old Jay Fesperman also of Davidson is the youngest member of the team.) Sponsored and supported by local bike shop The Cycle Path in Cornelius, the team received significant support from shop owner Mark Sullivan. From designing race jerseys to providing a team mechanic for key race events, Sullivan helped make the team a success.

From left, Travis Fields, Jay Fesperman, Ben Calhoun, Cycle Path mechanic Mike Napoli, Drew Barringer, Steve Ford. (Not pictured: Leanne McCann)

Downhill mountain biking, sometimes referred to as a “gravity sport,” pits riders against the clock on specific, steep, mountain-side trails, over rocks, roots and drop-offs. The adrenalin-filled rush to the bottom of the mountain typically takes 3-6 minutes. Races typically are held at ski resorts in the natural area between the ski runs, resulting in high speed descents with extended air-time off jumps and other obstacles.

2009 Team Cyclepath members include: Steve Ford (age 35), Leanne McCann (age 33),  Travis Fields III (age 27), Drew Barringer (age 23), Ben Calhoun (age 16), and Jay Fesperman (age 13).

The team has taken more than a dozen race and series podiums (placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd) in their inaugural year. Some notable finishes (in their respective age categories) include:  Beech Mountain Triple Crown series (Ford: 2nd; Calhoun: 2nd; Fesperman: 3rd.  Snowshoe WV series (Calhoun: 2nd; Fesperman: 3rd.) Individual race highlights include: Snowshoe Race No. 4 (Fields: 2nd.)  “The Dirty Bird” Race at Hawks Nest NC (Calhoun: 1st) Beech Mountain Race #1 (McCann: 1st.) Paris Mountain SC (Calhoun: 2nd; Fesperman: 3rd.)