Talking Sports And Fitness With Zeke

Mitch Raczy, Secretary of BAMBA (Berks Area Mountain Biking Association), a chapter of IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association), shares with Zeke the criteria that was needed for BAMBA to earn a designation as a Bronze-level Ride Center by IMBA. "That's a big deal," Raczy tells Zeke. "We are the only Ride Center in the Northeast corridor. We are one of only 37 Ride Centers in the world, 28 of which are in the United States. Bikers from all over the country want to come to Reading to ride some of the 125 miles of bike trails in the area. Berks met all the criteria for a Ride Center: Trails for all skill levels, hotels within a five-mile radius of the trails, restaurants, craft beer pubs, airport, hospitals, bike shops and community involvement." Raczy tells Zeke that the Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau helped BAMBA obtain the Bronze-level Ride Center designation because such status enhances tourism and economic development in Berks County.