PERRYSVILLE — Mat Mesarchik acted on years of feedback from fellow mountain bike riders.
The result was a successful race June 14 at Mohican State Park — the first Northern Ohio Mountain Bike Series organized race at Mohican.
Mesarchik founded NOMBS in 2023. He currently serves as the series director for NOMBS — a USA Cycling sanctioned race series. USA Cycling is the national governing body for cycling as an Olympic sport, Mesarchik said near the end of June.
“I’m really proud to bring that level of competition back into Ohio,” he said.
NOMBS organizes about eight races per year. Upcoming races in 2026 include the Ohio state championship race Aug. 2 at West Branch, Sept. 6 in Toledo, Sept. 27 at Lake Milton and Oct. 11 at Vulture’s Knob.
“There are so many amazing trails in Ohio and you can’t race them all in one year. We tend to race a location for a few years and then we like to rotate some in and out every year,” the series director said.
“We will definitely be back at Mohican next year.”
All photos in this story were contributed by Josh Reuck / Josh Reuck Photography.
The June 14 race at Mohican was made possible by partnering with the Mohican Lodge, Mesarchik said. Racers started in the lodge parking lot and raced the “Lodge Trails,” which have never been used for a race before.
“They were willing to take a gamble on hosting a mountain bike race and after party, and together we created and incredible experience,” the series director said.
“James, Billie and Liz and the kitchen and bar crew from Mohican Lodge went above and beyond to help make this race day spectacular,” Mesarchik said. “Our race finish line was at the patio and racers were able to order food and drinks from the bar during the after-party and awards. The patio was packed.”
Drew Purcel was the lead volunteer for race day. He was in charge of volunteer assignments and course design, Mesarchik said. The Mohican-Malabar Bike Club assisted with course marking and providing course marshals at intersections.
Mesarchik said it was challenging to layout a race course on the “Lodge Trails,” but the excitement of using those trails for the first time was worth the effort.
“They put their heart and soul into it,” he said of the Mohican-Malabar Bike Club, which created and maintain the trails.
By the end of the event, NOMBS presented a check for $1,110 to Mohican-Malabar Bike Club to help continue its work maintaining local trails.
Mesarchik said the entire race weekend was also possible thanks to support from Ashland Bike Company and Fin Feather Fur outfitters. Both are series sponsors and donated swag and prizes.
More about NOMBS
Each NOMBS race has a local host who largely takes care of the on-the-ground work such as course design, marking, marshalling and hydration stations.
Mesarchik said NOMBS has a mission to give back to the hosts and trails the series uses, donating more than $20,000 per year for the past three years to trails and youth cycling programs.
Another emphasis is structuring events to have a family focus. Race days are structured so families with parents and kids who are both racing all have the best experience possible, he said. For example, junior novice races begin at 10 a.m. on race days while experienced juniors race with adults at noon.
Riders from ages 8 to 70-plus have participated in NOMBS races, Mesarchik said. Riders ages 5 to 6 even participate in NOMBS “Little Sasquatches” events.
“The camaraderie and good-natured rivalries across a generation gap is something that I think is very unique in the cycling community,” he said.
NOMBS also makes every effort to make sure women know they are welcome and valued on its start lines, Mesarchik said. The series also organized a women’s-only mountain bike skills camp at Camp Nuhop the same weekend of the race.
“We’re a community first and a race series second,” he said.
Planning for the skills camp and race are already underway for 2027.
