Father’s Day Edition: Bike Club of Dads Riding Husky’s Milton Campus Trails
At Husky Technologies, some of the best ideas come from everyday challenges. More than a decade ago, a group in our Milton, Vermont Campus found themselves at a similar turning point in life. As they became fathers and started raising young families, they realized their routines were changing and the time they once spent mountain biking after work was becoming harder to maintain. For many of them, it was not about losing interest. It was about finding a way to keep cycling part of their lives.
Instead of stepping away from something they enjoyed, they looked for another way to make it work – at work. What started as a few lunch-break rides and informal conversations gradually turned into an idea: building trails on the beautiful land surrounding the Milton campus so they could stay active close to work.
As Husky celebrates Father’s Day, we also celebrate these fathers from our Milton campus who find a way to stay connected and stay active for over a decade and going strong.
Where It All Started
The story began more than ten years ago when a small group of mountain biking enthusiasts saw potential in the wooded areas surrounding Husky’s Milton campus.
"Riding the trails started when me and my colleagues, Josh Schneider and Matt Niklaus, began having kids and realized we did not have time after work to mountain bike as much as we used to," recalls Nick Tanner, Engineering Manager .
The campus sits on approximately 700 acres of largely undeveloped land bordering property in the Town of Milton, located in the U.S. state of Vermont. Parts of the area had occasionally been used by quad and dirt bike riders over the years, but most of the forest remained untouched. At the time, the site was known for being carefully maintained, so the idea of building trails was not an obvious one.
The group brought a proposal to Husky leadership to develop mountain biking trails through the wooded sections of the property. It reflected both the interest of the team and the potential of the land.
Once approved, the work started during lunch breaks and the occasional after-work session. The group laid out routes, cleared paths and gradually built what would become a network of trails that grew year after year.
"It was a good compromise with the land," Nick says. "The work helped my physical and mental health."
Finding Balance Through the Years
For Ian, who joined Husky 14 years ago, the trails took on a new meaning after he became a father.
Like many parents, he saw his routines shift quickly. The post-work rides that once felt status quo became harder to maintain while he balanced his new family life.
"Like many others, I lost my regular post-work group rides and that personal and physical outlet," he says.
The trails gave him another option. Instead of setting aside an entire evening, he could step outside during his lunch break, spend time in the woods with his active colleagues and return to work feeling recharged.
Even a short loop was enough. "As any outdoor lover would agree, just being in nature and having your 'zen' moments is an underrated and underappreciated gem," Ian says. "A quick three-mile loop helps clear your mind."
Now a father of three, his perspective on the trails has only sharpened. "We all have a lot going on - work, family and life," he says. "Having this resource is a way to recharge and better myself in all areas."
More Than Just Trails
The original trail became a series of loops, approximately 2.5-miles long, used for both mountain biking and running, turning what began with a handful of riders into something shared across Milton campus. As interest increased, the space continued to evolve beyond the trails themselves. Members of the HRC Production Engineering team built a small five-hole disc golf course in the first section of the network, while sidewalks and running paths expanded access for different types of activity. The campus gym was also significantly improved through a grant initiative, led by Kathryn Aiken.
Activity around the trails slowed around 2020, and maintenance naturally decreased over time. In the last few years however, usage has grown again, along with renewed care from team members.
"We have seen a resurgence," Ian says. "New team members, more awareness, more usage and better upkeep."
And more cyclists. Ian continues to introduce others to the trails, especially those new to mountain biking. "It is always fun showing people around," he says. "Mountain biking can feel intimidating at first."
A Resource That Continues to Give Back
Today, these trails remain a distinctive part of the Milton campus and a reflection of how they came to life: through collaboration, teamwork and a desire to repurpose an unused space to create a community.
For Nick, the longevity of the project stands out most. "It is hard to believe my daughter is 12 years old now, which means the trail network started more than 10 years ago," he said. "It makes me proud that it is still here and used by many team members."
Ian feels the same way. "I have ridden them over one hundred times, literally," he says. "But I do not take them for granted."
What began as a way for a group of new dads to stay connected to an activity they enjoyed has become something lasting: an outdoor space that helps team members be outdoors, reset in nature and find balance in the middle of busy workdays.
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