Pedal Together Program welcomes all to join weekly cycling events

Thanks to the collaboration of caring Monadnock region residents, the need for an accessible biking program is being met.

“We jumped at the opportunity to be part of this and it’s really taken off,” Rob Gillis, executive director of the Monadnock Worksource, said on Thursday.

Pedal Together, started by Christine Long and Elizabeth Goodhue in collaboration with the Peterborough Recreation Department, hosts weekly bike rides each Thursday at Sargent Camp in Hancock.

“The program is meant for everyone … hence the name: Pedal Together,” Long said.

For Lacey Suter and her mom, Laurie Suter, this program has allowed them to put their adaptive bike to use.

“It’s just amazing,” Laurie said.

‘Everybody’s just riding together’

Long and Goodhue set out to create an adaptive biking group similar to the work done in the Crotched Mountain Accessible Recreation and Sports program, which ended in 2021.

The two are family friends, and Long remembers running into Goodhue and her mentioning starting a bike club in passing.

“We’re both very passionate about getting people out, and it’s not that they can’t. It’s that they can, and people don’t know that,” Goodhue said.

Long volunteers at Sunapee for the New England Healing Sports Association, where she helps provide adaptive skiing opportunities.

Goodhue has built relationships with the Lukas Community and Monadnock Worksource through her son, William Cochran.

“We really like the idea of getting people who don’t ordinarily want to go out biking to just start it, and maybe they’ll really like it and try the rail trail,” Goodhue said.

Currently, the group meets at Sargent Camp and bikes three to five times around the mile loop surrounding the camp.

“If you want to rest, you can stop here, but you’re not left behind. Everybody goes at their own pace, and everybody’s just riding together,” Goodhue explained.

This program invites anyone and everyone to join.

“We’re really having a blast,” Goodhue said.

The crew

Around 20 participants signed up for the group ride on June 18. The cyclists meet each week, rain or shine.

People from all over come to pedal together, including neighbors and groups from the Lukas Community and Monadnock Worksource.

“There are a lot of people who want to get out and ride their bikes and do things, and now they can,” Goodhue said.

Garett Shows, a volunteer, makes sure to do at least five laps around the trail and tries a different adaptive bike each time.

“I absolutely love coming here,” he said.

Laurie Suter and her daughter, Lacey, travel from Hillsborough to participate. Before joining the program, Lacey was not able to use her adaptive bike due to the terrain near her home and the hassle of transportation. Now, Goodhue and Long store the bike for them.

“She’s had it for several years, but we haven’t been able to ride it as much,” Laurie said.

Lacey has CHARGE syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s systems, making it harder for her to control the bike. With her version of the adaptive bike, Lacey is able to pedal and is supported by her mother.

There are many types of adaptive bikes, including tricycles with and without gears, tandem bike additions, push bikes, traditional bikes and different steering options.

The collection of bikes is mostly borrowed or donated by the Monadnock Worksource, Bikes for Peace in Dublin or found on Craigslist.

Partnership

Craig Fraley, director of the Peterborough Recreation Department, said the rec has wanted to do programs like this in the past, but lacked the manpower.

“We’re lucky because Christine came along, and they made it happen,” Fraley said.

In states like Massachusetts, the state provides tax support for adaptive sports programs and a certified therapeutic member on staff, but New Hampshire does not provide these funds.

“We’re trying anything as long as we can find the right people to do it, so it happens,” Fraley said.

Long and Goodhue said they feel grateful for the support the rec has provided with online registration and a large trailer for moving the bikes to Sargent Camp.

‘They’re here every time helping us with the bikers,” Goodhue said.

Through Friends of the Peterborough Recreation Projects, Long and Goodhue were able to create the program easily, avoiding the hurdles of an LLC.

Pedal Together will continue into September and October, depending on the weather.

“It’s really nice to see the rec department have this opportunity to include everybody. They just needed the sort of person to come in and say, ‘I’ll help you do that,'” Goodhue said.

The group meets every Thursday at Nature’s Classroom at Sargent Camp from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. It is $5 per participant and helmets are required. They recommend bringing sneakers, water, snacks and sunscreen. Bikes and helmets can be borrowed upon request, but Long and Goodhue have limited supplies.

To support Pedal Together, donate to the Friends of the Peterborough Recreation Projects to fund storage and the purchase of more adaptive bikes. Registration is on the Peterborough Recreation Department website. Everyone is welcome to participate.