News Shorts

IMBA Trail News
Volume 13, Number 3
Summer 2000

1. Cyclists Need to Write Senate

   Federal legislation that would allocate billions of dollars annually for public land acquisition and recreation facilities has reached a critical stage in Congress, and mountain bikers are being asked to help. The proposed Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) includes an allocation of $2.8 billion per year for land acquisition, wildlife protection, coastal impact assistance and urban recreation programs. If approved, the bill would create thousands of acres of new public land - much of which would include trails that would be open to mountain bikers. The bill was approved in May by the House of Representatives by a margin of three-to-one. It will be voted on by the U.S. Senate some time this summer. Mountain bikers are urged to show their support by writing both of their U.S. Senators as soon as possible. Address your notes to Senator _______, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510. Ask them to vote yes on CARA. More info: www.ahrinfo.org or www.imba.com

2. Good News in Boulder

   IMBA's hometown club, the Boulder Offroad Alliance, has found new success after hiring a part-time paid executive director. Dirk Vinlove joined the group in January to revamp operations and relieve over-worked volunteers. Since then, Vinlove has worked with BOA's board and membership to engineer at least three positive developments on the Boulder City and County access front. 1) Officials approved a new trail linking the Boulder Creek Path with popular Betasso Preserve. 2) The club received a grant from a local foundation to help fund the director's position. 3) The Forest Service's controversial plan to close miles of quality high-country singletrack was tabled. Info: www.boa-mtb.org

3. NMBP Clinic Meets Sea Otters

   The 2000 National Mountain Bike Patrol (NMBP) Instructor Training Conference will be held October 6-8 in Monterey, CA. Conference instructors will teach active patrollers and interested individuals how to organize and direct regional patroller training sessions. The course includes a mixture of presentations, panel discussions, Q & A sessions, scenarios and hands-on practice. In addition to the formal training, the conference is an excellent opportunity to meet fellow mountain bikers, discuss mountain bike and patrol issues and share solutions and stories. This is the fourth year IMBA has coordinated the event. Space is very limited this year: To guarantee your spot, please register by August 7, 2000. More info: www.imba.com/nmbp

4. Fire Burns Colorado Trails: Part II

   The recent Hi Meadow wildfire in Colorado charred some of the top mountain biking trails in the state. The fire burned 10,800 acres in Buffalo Creek, a popular destination for Front Range mountain bikers located 40 miles southwest of Denver in the Pike National Forest. The Hi Meadow wildfire follows a massive blaze in 1996 that destroyed about 15 miles of singletrack in the forest. Trail Conservation Services (TCS) has been working in Buffalo Creek for more than 10 years. Since 1996, they have planted more than 4,400 trees to help restore Buffalo Creek as one of the premier riding areas in Colorado. This year, TCS has joined with Wheat Ridge Cyclery to coordinate a series of 15 trail restoration projects - which, given the recent fires, will be much needed. More info: (303) 424-3221; http://home.netcom.com/~gonzales/tcs/

5. Race Canceled - Trail Access Solidified

   By canceling a race, a Wisconsin promoter may have solidified long term mountain biking trail access in the region. Promoter Marty Weigel canceled the popular Sprecher Metro Mountain Bike Race because of unprecedented wet weather conditions. With 800 mountain bikers ready to race and sections of trail still under a foot of water, Weigel concluded that for the long-term condition of the trail, it was best to bag the race. The race venue, Crystal Ridge Ski Hill, is part of Milwaukee County Parks and is open to off-road cycling only for special events.

6. Paydirt Time in Texas

   Paydirt programs, which reward racers who volunteer for trailwork, continue to thrive around the country. During the 2000 Ford Explorer Texas State Championship Series, 305 participants volunteered 3,783 hours at a total of 44 different private and public venues (mostly public). That's an increase of 48% in hours and 45% in participants from the 1999 series. The paydirt concept, originally developed in New Jersey, has been successfully adopted in many regions around the U.S. Paydirt programs are designed to encourage racers to get involved in trailwork and mountain bike advocacy. Racers earn competitive series points by working on trails. The Colorado Paydirt program has a useful website that illustrates the program well: www.boa-mtb.org/paydirt.

7. Trailbuilding School in New England

   Forty mountain bikers from all over New England gathered in Satan's Kingdom, Connecticut, May 20-21, for a weekend Trailbuilding School sponsored by the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) and IMBA. The course included clinics on designing and building new trails, constructing multi-use bridges and performing the tasks necessary to professionally maintain them. NEMBA, the Appalachian Mountain Club, IMBA (represented by Kurt Loheit), and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection provided instructors. More info: www.nemba.org

8. SORBA Builds Tool Arsenal

   SORBA, the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, received a $43,000 National Recreational Trails Program grant in May to buy and equip five trailwork equipment trailers. Each of the five 5'-by-8' trailers will carry tools and supplies to support 50 trailworkers. The list of equipment that will fill each trailer is impressive: 35 Pulaskis, 10 McLeods, 5 Motorola radios, 10 fire rakes, 10 lopping shears, 5 round-point shovels, 2 clinometers, 1 chainsaw (with safely chaps), 2 10-gallon water jugs, 1 professional first-aid kit, and 1 posthole digger. SORBA partnered with Georgia State Parks and several other agencies to secure this grant. More info: www.sorba.org

9. Do a Good Deed: Ride Marin

   Trips for Kids has put more than 4,700 underprivileged children on mountain bikes since the program began in 1986. The organization is in the midst of a nationwide expansion (see page 3). To raise funds to support this growth, Trips for Kids founder and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame member Marilyn Price will lead a 60-kilometer off-road charity ride to celebrate her 60th birthday on October 15, 2000. The ride will be held at the birthplace of mountain biking: Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County, California, north of San Francisco. If you are interested in riding some of the best trails in the world while helping inner city children, give Trips for Kids a call at (415) 458-2986 or e-mail .

10. Ride With Pezzo and Pros

    Join pro mountain bike racers, NORBA leaders and IMBA staffers for a fun ride at the NORBA National Championship Race Series this summer. All participants will receive a number plate, water bottle and the opportunity to pedal sweet singletrack with the likes of Paola Pezzo, Dave Cullinan and Andy Bishop. It costs $10 to participate and proceeds will aid local IMBA clubs. You will rub knobbies with some of the best racers in the world from Team Gary Fisher-Saab, Team Toyota-Schwinn, and Team Koolius Zaard. Many independent pros will also join the clan. Each ride includes a "women-only" group. To participate meet at the IMBA booth at 9:45 a.m. at the following NCS events: 7/30, Deer Valley, UT; 8/6, Crystal Mtn, WA; 9/10, Mammoth, CA.