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For localmountainbikers, there’s amecca of trails on topof theNiagaraEscarpment. It’s called
Three Stage.Many consider it hallowed ground. For some it’s like a secondhome.They know every
root, every rock, every climb and everydescent. And there’s a lot of trail in there.
But itwasn’t always thatway.The peaceful noise of freewheels clicking and riders yippingused tobe
something else entirely. In the late seventies and early eightiesThree Stagewas synonymouswith the
soundof engines: dirt bikes and four-wheel-drive trucks ruthlessly tore up the terrain.These days it
wouldbe considered an environmental disaster. But back then itwas just fun.
“Itwas a free-for-all ondirt bikes,” remembers longtime local Bill Ford. “Theyused tohave four-
wheel-drive rallies up there.Mybuddyhad aFordF-250; we used to goup there andwatch a lot of
local guys racing in thismudbog.”
And that’swhere thename stems from. If youknowThree Stagewell, you’ll knowwhere the fire
pit is (although there’s nopit there anymore). It offers a great viewofCollingwood andGeorgian
Bay, but back in those days, therewas reallyno vegetation.To get to the fire pit frombelowwas a
gruelling climbon the dirt bikewith ‘three stages’ of hill.That’s been its namesake ever since.
“That’s kindofwhere everyonemet,” remembers Ford. “Thatwas a partypit.We used to goup there
inhigh school. Lots of high school guzzlingwent on there.”
At the time,mountainbikingwas in its infancy.Guys likeCharlieKelly,TomRitchey andGary
Fisherweremore or less inventing the sport out onMountTamalpais inSanFrancisco. JoeBreeze
builtwhatmany consider the first purpose-builtmountainbike in1978. So it took a bit of time
for these kinds of bikes to arrive inCanada. And it coincidedwith the crown landofThree Stage
becomingPrettyRiverValleyProvincial Park in1985. Inotherwords, itwas outwith gas power and
inwithpedal power.
“I gotmy first bike in ’84 andmoveduphere in ’85,” remembers Ford. “I had aNorcoConquest.
Whichwas a top-of-the-line bike.We bought three of them. Beautiful bikes. Suntour [components],
all sealedbearings.No suspension. So thingswere different; we stuck to the doubletrack.Therewere
hiking trails in there.We startedmaking trails, just kicking sticks, trying tomake short cuts.”
HALLOWED
GROUND
TheMTBtrailsof “ThreeStage”:ahistory
