State representatives profiles
IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 3
August 1999
Gary Kessler - Vermont
Hometown: Fayston
Date of birth: 5/17/60
Years mountain biking: 15
How did you get involved in mountain biking? I was living in Los Angeles and wanted to ride but not on the road. I had been doing some trail running in the nearby mountains and decided that mountain biking would be fun. I rented a bike and enjoyed the riding so much I went out and bought a Diamondback Apex.
What has been the greatest success so far in your state? The greatest impact has been via sending the Trail Care Crew here last year. During the TCC visit the Vermont Mountain Bike Advocates (VMBA) put on a workshop for land managers. In attendance were managers of state, federal, local and private land. After a two-hour questions and answer session indoors all the participants mounted a fleet of bikes to ride on experimental trails on Forest Service land. The 20 land managers got to see first hand what mountain biking is all about, as well as the impacts and strategies to minimize those impacts that were being employed. Ric and Holly did a great job, and all the land managers commented on what a worthwhile experience the workshop had been.
What is the most pressing advocacy issue in Vermont? The most important issue is getting public land managers to modify the present general policy that mountain biking is allowed only on gravel roads and specifically approved (i.e. very limited) trails.
How can IMBA help? This year IMBA is helping by once again sending the TCC to Vermont. This will allow us to educate additional land managers about the benefits and impacts of mountain biking. In conjunction with the TCC visit VMBA is putting on a mini-festival and trail workshop for our members.
What is the best part of mountain biking in Vermont? The very challenging and beautiful terrain and the great people that you meet as a result of riding.
Michael Cleveland - Missouri
Hometown: Kansas City
Date of birth: 5/13/62
Years mountain biking: 6 years
How did you get involved in the sport? A friend dragged me into it. My first ride was at Clinton Lake in Lawrence, Kansas. It was about 20 miles in length and I truly thought I was going to die. Eventually, I went out and bought myself a mountain bike
What has been the greatest success so far in your state? The monthly maintenance we have been doing here in the Kansas City area is very gratifying. We went from having no regular trail maintenance program to having a consistent turn out of five to ten people. We have had as many as 30 people show up, especially when the IMBA Trail Care Crew visits. The workdays have been built into the ride schedule. We have been asked to do maintenance around the state, but as of right now we do not have the resources.
What is the most pressing advocacy issue in Missouri? I'd like to be able to spread out my efforts around the state. Thus far it's been pretty localized in the Kansas City area. I've been involved quite a bit in the central part of Missouri, but I really don't know the situation in the eastern part of the state yet. I've got to improve my contact with clubs in eastern Missouri, especially the St. Louis area.
How can IMBA help? It would be great if IMBA can provide new and improved resources for clubs and people in general trying to get trail activities going. Legal information would be very valuable. Also, trail resources are always good to have. The new website is a big improvement in this department. I often send people who are seeking information to the library on the IMBA website.
What is the best part of mountain biking in Missouri? Missouri has a wide variety of riding opportunities. We have extremely technical, rooty trails mixed with fast, smooth singletrack. We do have hills in Missouri but they are short, quick climbs. The downside to riding here is chiggers and very high humidity.
