04/23/2026
It is with great sadness that I share the passing of Trail Rider Magazine founder Bob Hicks, at 96, surrounded by his family. The list of this great man's achievements is legendary, including co-founding the New England Sports Committee and the New England Trail Rider Association. His first publication was Cycle Sport Magazine, and then in April of 1970, he started New England Trail Rider Magazine. Motorcycling, bicycling, and small wooden boats were a huge part of Bob’s life, with his last publication, Messing About in Boats, spanning 40 years.
On a personal level, I’d known Bob for over 50 years. As a kid in my teens, he was a larger-than-life figure and someone to look up to. While riding NETRA events, whenever we’d see Bob in the woods with his camera, we’d pull some sort of stunt to try to get our picture in the magazine. I remember fondly following Bob on my Hodaka during Trail Rider test rides. He made us kids feel like men by including us in his outings. During that period of my life, I was a bit of a wild kid, and my mother had concerns about me. She’d get frustrated and ask me what I wanted to do with my life, and I’d tell her I wanted to work with Bob at Trail Rider. Although I never worked directly with Bob, he was a mentor to me and always willing to lend an ear or share advice when I finally purchased Trail Rider 10 years ago.
Over the years, Bob and I would catch up on the phone, and I’m so glad I was able to attend his 96th birthday celebration held at Cycles 128 in January. A clean-living man who lived life to the fullest, I was awestruck by his plans for the future, with bike projects and another book in the works. Unlike most men of his age, Bob still had a powerful zest for life.
Men like Bob Hicks are rare in today’s world. He was a man who lived life on his own terms and made an honest living from his passions. He set a wonderful example for that punk kid who he let tag along so many years ago.
Rest in Peace, Bob Hicks. I’m so glad to have met you, and your contributions to the sport of off-road motorcycling will be appreciated for years to come.
-Kurt
