May 31, 2007 (Barrie, ON) – Everyone who’s been to a mountain bike race in Ontario knows Ann Budge. The cheerful, energetic woman, who knows almost everybody on the racing scene, is celebrating her 70th birthday and her 20th year on a mountain bike. The lively newly inducted septuagenarian has been ripping it up on fat tires for two decades and she’s still going strong. Budge continues to participate in Hardwood Hills’ Wednesday Night Race Series. “I am competitive, so I love the races,” she said, and added she also enjoys the social aspect of the sport.

“I love to bike. I love my mountain bike,” said Budge, who has been an active and integral member of the Ontario mountain biking community since she and her husband bought their first mountain bikes in 1986. Her love of two wheels has been with her since childhood. “I loved my bike when I was a little girl,” she said, so she knew she would like the then fledgling sport of mountain biking.

Budge’s first mountain bike was a 32-pound granny-gear- less Miyata Shore Runner. She started her competitive off-road cycling career in 1987 and her list of achievements — which includes World, Canadian and Provincial titles — is quite long. The McGill graduate said she has always been active and originally started contesting cross-country ski and orienteering races, but since hopping on two wheels, she has completed several 24-hour races, off-road duathlons and adventure races. Budge also sat on the Ontario Mountain Bike Committee for several years, organized races, volunteered at countless events and has encouraged generations of young up-and-coming racers.

“I had an interesting role to play,” when being competitive was no longer a priority in recent years, said Budge. Kids would catch up to her during races and she would coach them through their difficulties and help them with pacing. This role was very important to her, as she cared about the sport and didn’t want first-timers to become discouraged. As the density of riders on race courses increased and the sport became more popular, however, racing became “too scary” for Budge. She still races in the Hardwood Hills Wednesday Nighters, but on a special half-lap. “I do what I love,” she said. “Hardwood Hills is one of my favourite places to ride. I love coming down Home Run.”

Budge is eager to tell stories about the early days of mountain biking. “Do you want me to tell you what happened in the very beginning?” she asked and quickly delved into an anecdote about how competitors first raced up the mountains before racing the downhills, since, in those days, resorts didn’t run chairlifts in summertime. “I even used to do downhill back then,” said Budge, “before it changed. We were a tough bunch.”

“People tell me I’m their mentor,” said Budge. Her words of wisdom: “Just keep riding. Just ride. Ride, ride, ride.”

Cindy Devine, crowned first female UCI Downhill World Champion in 1990, gave Budge the magic words that she still rides by today, every time she pedals her custom-built True North: “Trust your bike, Ann.” Another Canadian mountain biking legend influenced Budge to take a four-month American mountain bike road trip with husband Don. According to Budge, Elladee Brown’s (a teenager at the time) eagerness to ride in Durango, Colorado inspired an unforgettable journey for Budge, which included U.S. mountain biking meccas like Moab, Crested Butte and Durango. “Durango was special for me,” admitted Budge.

“Probably the thing that thrilled me most was when I qualified for the National Team for the World Championships in 1992. It was a dream of mine,” said Budge of her most memorable moment in mountain biking. At age 55, when she found out that she had qualified, Budge ate, slept and thought only about that upcoming race until she crashed only weeks before and injured her ribs. A determined Budge, however, did not let three painful ribs get in the way of her goal of competing at the World Championships.

In 1998, Budge experienced another thrill. Again at the World MTB Championships, she marched down Quebec City’s Grand Allee during the opening ceremonies, proudly wearing the Canadian National Team jersey. It was particularly meaningful, because Budge hails from Quebec City.

Her bike has been a vehicle of discovery for her. Not only has Budge learned about herself through pushing her physical limits, she has also experienced places in a way that no other mode of transportation allows. Growing up in Quebec City, she often drove Route 132, but it wasn’t until she took to the ribbon of road with her bike and trailer for 12 days in 2004, that she really saw the true Route 132 with its friendly people, U-pick strawberries and bakeries with bread fresh out of stone ovens. In 2006, Budge took to the road again, alone, on a five-day pedal on the Magdelene Islands. She told of 50kph wind gusts and fabulous scenery. “Alone, it was fabulous, because I could stop whenever I wanted,” she said.

“My mountain bike has been very important in my life,” said Budge.

When asked why she took up the sport of mountain biking so late (at age 49), Budge replied matter-of-factly, “Because that’s when mountain biking began.”