Oak Hill High School’s gym teacher, Tim Farrar, has long envisioned a mountain biking program for high school students. His efforts are now coming to fruition with growing support for the initiative.
As the school year drew to a close, Farrar secured 12 mountain bikes through a federal grant and received an additional 12 bikes from the Maine Cycling Club. The club also contributed a trailer to transport the bikes to various trail systems, including Mt. Apatite in Auburn and Libby Hill Forest Trails in Gray.
“Putting kids on bikes is something I have wanted to do for 20 years, and now I have the support,” Farrar said.
Farrar, who previously taught physical education at Fort Kent High School and Lewiston High School, faced challenges in starting such a program until he arrived at Oak Hill. The enthusiastic backing from Principal Marco Aliberti, an avid cyclist who occasionally rides 18 miles home from school, has been instrumental in advancing the project.
“I love to ride bikes all the time,” Aliberti said. “It’s an important part of my life.”
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