USA Cycling and IMBA Award $5,000 To Clubs For Trail Improvements
For Immediate Release
12-13-06
Contact: Mark Eller, IMBA Communications Manager
markeller@imba.com
303-545-9011
The recipients of the 2006 USA Cycling/International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) Trail Tune-Up Grants have been released.
Two $1,000 grants and six $500 grants were awarded to groups seeking to jump-start trail improvement projects, with an emphasis placed on trails used for competitive racing. In order to be eligible for the funding, clubs had to be members of both USA Cycling and IMBA.
The Shenandoah Mountain Bike Club in Harrisonburg, VA, and the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association in Cable, WI, were each awarded $1,000.
The Shenandoah Mountain Bike Club, in partnership with the Massanutten Four Seasons Resort, is in the process of completely rebuilding a 2.5-mile section of trail featured prominently in the Massanutten Hoo-Ha mountain bike race. The funds awarded will be allocated to help road-to-trail conversions of old logging routes, leaving behind environmentally sustainable trails full of table-tops, berms and hand-constructed rock gardens.
The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association is home to the nationally recognized Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, a 40-mile race that caters to 1,800 riders annually. The funds will be used for a trail construction initiative proposed by the club in order to take better advantage of the active Midwestern racing scene. The construction efforts will be centered around the community of Hayward, where a 29-mile cluster of trails will be groomed to increase racing opportunities.
The six $500 grants were awarded to the Platte Canyon High School Mountain Bike Team (CO), the Bicyclists of Nevada County/Nevada Union Independent Mountain Bike Team (CA), the Miami of Ohio University Cycling Team (OH), the Trail of Legends Association (AK), the Elkhorn Valley Cycling Club/Andrew Bicycle and Fitness (VA), and the Westchester Mountain Bike Association (NY).
The Platte Canyon High School Mountain Bike Team will use the funds to purchase trail construction tools that will assist in the construction of a competition-oriented course for the team.
Bicyclists of Nevada County/Nevada Union Independent Mountain Bike Team will use the money to improve existing racecourses at the Old Nevada City Airport, by installing permanent trail signage and undertaking additional maintenance activities.
The Miami of Ohio University Cycling Team, in conjunction with school's the engineering department, will construct two trailhead kiosks, an additional 2.5 miles of trail and five small bridges in Hueston Woods State Park, its primary training ground.
The Trail of Legends Association plans to re-route and lengthen sections of the course used in the Attack on Swayback race.
The Elkhorn Valley Cycling Club and Andrew Bicycle and Fitness are teaming up to support trail improvements of the Maskenthine Lake trail. The improvement will feature an extension of the trail system used for a race in the Nebraska Psycowpath Mountain Bike Race Series.
The Westchester Mountain Biking Association plans on using the funds to permanently mark the course used in the Chainstretcher Mountain Bike Race and to assist in the promotion of the riding and racing opportunities provided by the club.
The USA Cycling/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grants are completely funded by USA Cycling members through an optional land-access checkbox in USA Cycling membership applications and renewal forms. The program is administered through a partnership between USA Cycling and IMBA.
About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 60,000 members and 2,000 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men's road).
