I recently saw the first official announcement of a new NEMBA mountain bike map. It caught my attention for multiple reasons, but, first, and foremost, it signaled the end of an era for my husband, Peter Minnich, and me. Prior to this map for 25 years, we were the producers and sellers of mountain bike maps of the area under our business, Mountain Cycle Guide Services. We were also local mountain bike guides, offering free tours for first Joe Jones Sports, then Red Jersey Cyclery, from the early 1990s to early 2000s.
In 1989, we moved our family to the valley. I took a teaching job in Bartlett, while Peter looked around for jobs in the area. Like many valley residents, he had more than one. He worked at the Fly Shop, Merrill Farm and finally at Joe Jones North Shop (where Sport Thoma is now). Eventually, he ended up at Joe Jones in North Conway, working in the bike and ski repair shop.
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