New this year: coach-led kids' rides from New England Youth Cycling, so parents and kids can both ride

UXBRIDGE, Mass.,  Blackstone Valley NEMBA, a chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, will host the Best Dam Ride at West Hill Dam on Sunday, October 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is part of the NEMBA Adventure Series presented by MetroWest Subaru and Conte's Bike Shop. It is the chapter's main fundraiser of the year, and the money raised goes to trail projects across the Blackstone Valley.

New this year is a kids' program led by coaches from New England Youth Cycling (NEYC). Parents can drop off their young riders for a coached ride, then head out on a self-guided ride of their own. Three kids' rides will depart between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Each child needs a signed waiver, a helmet and a bike in safe working order.

More than 350 riders came out for the 2025 Best Dam Ride. In 2024, 379 riders attended and rated the day 4.63 out of 5 in a post-event survey.