News Shorts

IMBA Trail News
Volume 13, Number 1
Spring 2000

1. Philadelphia Riders Rally

   A new master trail plan being developed for Wissahickon Park in Philadelphia could threaten miles of prime riding in this downtown park. A few hundred mountain bicyclists rallied at a recent meeting held by the Fairmont Park Commission and voiced their opinions on the matter. The Park Commission responded by instituting a once-a-month trailwork day in the Wissahickon that is specifically geared to the interests of mountain bicyclists.

2. New Trails in Nevada

   Working with local land managers and agencies, skilled trailbuilder Brent Thompson is creating a masterpiece trail system in Boulder City, Nevada. The network currently stands at 26 miles, with 20 more miles in the works. Thompson has managed to build amazingly technical trails while still adhering to proper trailbuilding guidelines. Las Vegas riders pry themselves from the poker tables to experience a true gamble: cruising singletrack that runs along 65-foot cliffs. Brent uses the skills he acquired building trails in Big Bear, California, and Brianhead, Utah. The project has been supported by more than $250,000 in in-kind donations and grants, ensuring a bright future for southern Nevada mountain bikers. For trail info contact Brent Thompson at (702) 293-3472 or

3. Mountain Bike Mexico

   Last summer, as part of an international exchange, IMBA sent a representative to Mexico, and hosted four Mexican trailbuilders in Colorado. Building on the success of last year's visit, IMBA will be sending a Trail Care Crew to San Nicolás, Mexico, in March 2000 to instruct an extended, hands-on Trailbuilding School. Mountain biking is quickly gaining popularity in Latin America. Organized riding areas like the San Nicolás Ejido are a great opportunity for the development of the sport. The area has numerous trails for both hardcore and family cyclists. The goal of IMBA's involvement is to develop sustainable mountain biking opportunities in Mexico. In turn, our work will help reduce the area's dependence on natural resource extraction, slow urban sprawl and create sustainable income for the area's inhabitants. For more info contact IMBA at .

4. IMBA Board Member Moves On

   Heidi Davis of Medford, Massachusetts, an IMBA board member since 1996, has stepped down. Heidi, a pioneering Northeast mountain bike advocate and founder of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), provided a special contribution to IMBA's work on environmental standards for race promotions, and also to our efforts to further research on the impacts of mountain biking. Heidi continues in her professional role as a wetlands expert for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management.

5. Trail Symposium Announced

   The 15th annual National Trails Symposium will take place September 21-24 in Redding, California. The Symposium is an opportunity for trail advocates, managers, planners, and other users to come together. The Symposium will offer about 60 seminars on a variety of trail topics, and IMBA staff members will be in attendance. www.outdoorlink.com/amtrails

6. Deadly Ned Donates Bike

   World champion Ned Overend has donated his personal Specialized S-Works FSR XC bike for an IMBA-benefit auction, March 13-23. Ned's bike, which he rode to victory in the '99 XTerra Championship, will be given to the high bidder along with a full complement of "Specialstuff." Proceeds from this auction will be used to create the Ned Overend Endowment, a fund that will support IMBA clubs. For info go to: www.rvms.com/sbc/nedbike.htm.