Ray’s Mountain Bike Park: the ultimate foul weather destination
Massive indoor facility has kept riders on bikes all year long since 2004.
For those of us addicted to cycling, shyte weather can be a real bummer. So can riding a trainer. But riding inside doesn’t have to be miserable. If you’re up for a quick trip stateside, there’s a Valhalla like no other; Ray’s Mountain Bike Park in Cleveland. This is the original mountain bike park. It’s been here since 2004.
So much to ride
Dropping into the green line at Ray’s is crazy fun. You start high up in the rafters, riding down a narrow wooden trail that drops you into a massive, downhill berm. From there, it’s jump after jump, berm after berm. This indoor labyrinth of bike trails is a rider’s paradise, making Ray’s Mountain Bike Park one of the coolest places around for off-season riding.
Escape winter
We made a spontaneous March break trip to Ray’s, but this park is a perfect destination throughout the entire winter. When the snow isn’t enough for skiing, or you want to avoid the cold, Ray’s offers four acres of indoor trails and riding space. The building, a former rayon factory, has been transformed into an indoor playground for riders. It’s a place where winter weather can’t ruin your riding plans.
Riding indoors doesn’t have to suck
Ray’s isn’t your average indoor park. It’s a complex of interconnected rooms, hallways, and trails, making it a challenge to capture in one wide-angle photo. Anything you want to ride is here—whether it’s a skatepark, pump track, skinnies, big jumps, small jumps, or even a foam pit. The four acres of rideable terrain mean there’s always something new to discover.
The unique filth of Ray’s
Ray’s is all about patina. The building’s worn-out look adds to its charm, with buckets catching water from the old ceiling and dusty pipes popping through the walls. It’s not about the aesthetics here; it’s about the riding. Our group fell in love with the Profile World section—set up like a wooden BMX track with jumps and berms for every skill level. Watching kids master their first jumps over tabletops was a highlight of our trip.
Cleveland rocks
While riding is the main event, there’s still plenty to explore in Cleveland. We visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which turned out to be a huge hit with our group. From punk to hip hop, the exhibits offered something for everyone.
Always fresh
Ray’s Mountain Bike Park is a winter riding haven. And in the summer they open sporadically, but it’s mostly about progression. Each summer they close the park to rebuild a bunch of features, add a new building or competely redesign a room. It’s always getting better and it’s always worth revisiting. It offers a riding experience that can’t be matched, especially when the weather outside says no.