The seventh-annual edition of the Nickel Days mountain bike race - one, two or three laps around the 15-kilometre Millennium Trail - had a poorer-than-expected turnout, with just four riders completing the course.
Next summer, however, the Thompson Cycle and Nordic Association, which organized this year's event, hopes a new route for the race might spur renewed interest, not only from Thompson but among mountain bikers in surrounding communities as well.
"Next year, we want to have the Nickel Days race on Popeye's trail," said the association's Kristy Prystay, referring to the cross-country skiing route officially known as the John Crolly Trail, which runs out to the stable road from just past the bridge on the northern shore of the Burntwood River.
"We've got a $25,000 grant we put in for to develop Popeye's trail more," said Prystay. "With that, we'll be able to get more brushing done."
Last fall, the TCNA and the city recreation department added two kilometres of new trail toward the stable road and also widened the existing trail to approximately 15 feet across to allow for both classic and skate-ski cross-country techniques.
The grant money will go towards adding another three kilometres to the trail and further brushing, as well as adding base material to marshy areas, which would also make the trial more suitable for use by mountain bikers in the spring and summer.
"Without this money we couldn't do any more," said Prystay, adding that the city recently purchased a "top-notch" pull-behind groomer. "Last year we had problems because we didn't have proper equipment."
Next winter, the association hopes to be able to groom the trail weekly.
The grant came from the provincial government's Sustainable Development Innovation Fund, which provides financial assistance towards development, implementation and promotion of environmental innovation and sustainable development projects. Part of the conditions required to receive the grant included showing evidence of partnerships, which the TCNA has developed with both the City of Thompson and local businesses that have made cash and in-kind donations to the trail rehabilitation project.
