Groton Pump Track!

Please help Bike Groton bring a new and exciting bike riding activity to Groton and southeast Connecticut.  The Groton Pump Track will be open and rideable for kids and adults.  Pump track riding is so much fun it's contagious!  You push and pull the bike over the mounds (rollers) without pedaling around the track.  It's easy to learn and the sensation of acceleration, up, down, and whipping thru the banked corners (berms) is exhilarating.  To top it off, pump track riding is as easy or as challenging as you make it, but for all riders it's a great full body workout that will leave you smiling!

Donors will be recognized for the following:
Big Air Donors: $3,000 and up
High Rollers: $500 - 2,999
Club Ride: $50 - 499

Who We Are:

BIKE GROTON is 501c3 organization (formerly known as Mystic Community Bikes) with a Board of Directors that includes representation from business owners, health district, retired persons, and avid cyclists.  We advocate for improved conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians in Groton and Southeast Connecticut.  Bike Groton is currently advocating for a town-wide Complete Streets Policy now under consideration by the Town.   At the regional level we  coordinate activities with neighboring municipalities, Southeast CT Council of Governments (SCCOG), and the CT Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board.  Bike Groton is a member of the League of American Bicyclists and Bike Walk CT.

Why This Project:

Bike Groton chose this project because we determined that it is within the fundraising capability of our organization and that it will benefit people of all ages and backgrounds and increase interest and enthusiasm for bicycling in the community.  Pump Tracks tracks are very rare in New England; there is only one other public track in CT that we are aware of - Rockland Bike Park in Madison.  The Groton pump track will open a new experience of bike riding that most residents have never been expose to.  We anticipate high usage from kids and adults that live in the Poquonnock Bridge neighborhood, the larger community, and region. 

Our Partners:

The Groton Parks & Rec Department has been an enthusiastic supporter from the beginning.  This was followed by endorsement of the Parks & Rec. Commission and the Town Council approved our proposal in early March 2021.  Since then we have been reaching out to local individuals and organizations for support.  The Southeast CT chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) has come on board to assist.  All local bike shops and recreation retailers have been informed and have expressed strong support.  We are talking to the local press, and civic organizations and the larger cycling community through social networking.

How It Will Be Used:

The dirt pump track will be open 24/7 from its season opening (typically in late April/early May) until its off-season closure (typically mid-December).  The track will contain traditional features of rollers and berms but also more advanced features like tabletops, double rollers (that can be jumped) and other challenges.  A small skills area on the concrete slab of an adjacent former industrial building is also proposed.  The Groton Parks & Rec. Dept will run programs at the pump track that teach basic and intermediate bike handling skills.  Special events/demonstrations by expert riders are anticipated.