IMBA and Specialized Boost Advocacy in California

For Immediate Release
01-30-06
Contact: Mark Eller, IMBA Communications Manager

303-545-9011

California Campaign will leverage a historical partnership to enhance mountain bicycle advocacy efforts

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and Specialized, close partners since IMBA's founding in 1988, are pleased to announce a new "California Campaign" initiative, and the opening of a California IMBA office underwritten by Specialized. Staffing the office will be Tom Ward, formerly the California State Parks Recreation Manager. Ward worked in the California State Parks system for 16 years, experience that will help him identify opportunities for new shared-use trails throughout the state.

Specialized and IMBA believe the time is right to reverse the anti-bike sentiment that has plagued California for too long. With more mountain bikers than any other state in the nation, 60 IMBA-affiliated bike clubs, and increasing numbers of bicycling industry leaders stepping up their advocacy programs, we believe mountain biking opportunities in California will see significant growth in 2006.

The objectives for IMBA's 2006 California Campaign include:

• Open trails by working with IMBA clubs; local, state and federal agencies and the state assembly
• Promote a statewide approach to advocacy issues
• Improve relationships with other trail user groups and form alliances (i.e. hikers and equestrians)
• Spearhead advocacy events around the state to get more riders involved in the IMBA California Campaign
• Work on contentious Wilderness legislation that threatens to close trails

Interested in adding your voice (or your club's/company's voice) to the California Campaign? Contact Tom Ward and express your support: or 916-441-6035.

More on the Specialized/IMBA Partnership

IMBA first partnered with Specialized at an industry-wide breakfast meeting held by the company at the 1988 Interbike tradeshow in Anaheim, California. Many credit that breakfast with raising the industry's early awareness of the urgent need for trail advocacy. "Specialized's early financial and operational support jumpstarted our efforts and inspired the entire industry to help us in the battle for trail advocacy," says IMBA's Executive Director Mike Van Abel. "By partnering on the new IMBA California office, we're building on that 30-year legacy and creating a model that we're hoping other companies will continue to support in the future."

"Ensuring that everyone has great trails to ride is an essential part of our vision to be the best cycling brand in the world," says Specialized President and Founder Mike Sinyard. "By opening the IMBA California office, we're focusing our efforts in the state that has the greatest number of riders, IMBA members and endangered trails."

Specialized was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. The company is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Stumpjumper, the first widely available mountain bike, with a 128-page, full-color book.