at Fort Ord in October. Riders and coaches from local middle and high school mountain bike teams lead rides and guide kids on obstacle courses. The event is designed for children from preschool- to middle schoolaged, and of all ability levels, whether they are on balance bikes, training wheels or ready for something more advanced. The Community Bike Collective provides bikes and helmets to those who don’t have their own, making it more accessible. The 2025 iteration was the biggest ever, according to Berridge, with more than 100 kids registered, but even more showed up. The benefits of mountain biking are many, Berridge notes—instilling healthy habits, helping build confidence and nurturing a love for the outdoors, which may lead to a desire to steward and protect the land. “Riding bikes can increase focus, improve mood and improve both physical and mental health,” he says. “It’s an important thing to get kids to spend more time in nature.” MORCA operates a similar obstacle course every year during the Life Time Sea Otter Classic at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. But these courses are only available for a few days out of the year, and with Berridge noting they have more demand for such activities than capacity, MORCA is in the midst of a three-year-long effort to build a permanent bike park at Laguna Seca. The park is close to reality, Berridge says, as it has received support from the County of Monterey and Friends of Laguna Seca, the nonprofit COURTESY OF MONTEREY OFF-ROAD CYCLING ASSOCIATION All ages enjoyed the outdoors on bikes during Monterey OffRoad Cycling Association’s annual event. 26 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® FAMILY 2026-2027
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