2002 IMBA Report Card - It's All Good, But....
IMBA Trail News
Volume 15, Number 5
Winter 2002
It's not easy rating the status of mountain biking in a state, province or country. There are so many factors, including the number/mileage/type of trails, amount of singletrack, ease of access, land manager attitudes, tone of press coverage, agency trends, development pressures, advocacy group organization and effectiveness, weather and on-the-trail attitudes.
But what it all boils down to is this: when you make a decision to go for a mountain bike ride, do you have lots of appealing options close to home? When you get home from your ride, are you happy?
The Champ: Colorado: A-
Unlimited Singletrack, Mountains, Maps
For Colorado, less news is better. The past year was quiet for mountain bikers in the central Rockies, as numerous issues connected to new U.S. Forest Plans and Wilderness proposals either dissolved or were addressed effectively. The U.S. economic downturn slowed the state's rampant growth, leveling pressure on trails. Meanwhile, Colorado advocacy groups continue to do great work in all corners of the state. Unlike some western states with abundant but hard-to-find riding, Colorado trails are very well mapped. Finally, destinations like Fruita, Crested Butte and Durango continue to attract cyclists worldwide.
Rising Star: Missouri: B+
Kansas City, St. Louis Trails Blossom
Missouri's come a long way from its tenuous C grade in the first Report Card in 2000. Advocates across the state have successfully managed to enhance trail opportunities. In Kansas City, the IMBA-affiliate Earth Riders have obtained permission to construct a trail network that will match that of any urban area in the world. Meanwhile, 250 miles east on I-70, the Gateway Off Road Cyclists have built seven miles of trail near St. Louis in the last three years. The rest of the state features outstanding singletrack, including the 24-mile IMBA Epic designated Berryman Trail.
Global Winner: Wales: A-
Top Notch Trailbuilding Creates Premier MB Destination
Wales has some of the best mountain biking in the world, thanks to the whole-hearted support of the U.K.'s largest land management organization, the Forestry Commission, and the efforts of one man, Dafydd Davis. Davis, an employee of Forest Enterprise, had a vision to create a mountain bike trail network unparalleled on the British Isles. Today, the product of that vision is a host of mountain biking centers featuring abundant trails that are very well built. Mountain biking in Wales is big business. Tourism related to Forest Enterprise centers accounts for approximately $3 billion annually - about seven percent of the country's G.D.P.
2003 Alert: California: C
Wilderness, Southern Cal & Oakland Tense
California has lots of outstanding riding, but 2002 has been a tough year for advocates in the state. In southern California, user conflict and unauthorized trails tested relationships with land managers. In the Bay Area, Oakland advocates worked hard to counter an effort to curtail bike access in Joaquin Miller Park. Meanwhile, mountain bikers find themselves in a tricky position regarding U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's new statewide Wilderness proposal: cyclists support environmental protection and new Wilderness, but this proposal - if adopted as is - would ban bike use on many popular trails.
2002 IMBA Mountain Bike Access Report Card
| State | Grade | Phat | Flat | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | A- | Unlimited singletrack, mountains, maps | Urban access requires steady vigilance |  |
| Idaho | A- | Smooth Sun Valley singletrack | Proposed Wilderness overlaps trails |  |
| South Dakota | A- | Black Hills riding world-class | Need to know locals to find best trails |  |
| Utah | A- | Improved access near Salt Lake City | Desert trails tough to manage | |
| Alaska | B+ | Anchorage trails, few access issues | Most areas terra incognita | |
| Arizona | B+ | Desert, mtns, urban: 'zona has it all | Southern AZ needs more singletrack | |
| Arkansas | B+ | Womble & Ouachita, solid advocates | Hotter than a Hot Spring in July | |
| Florida | B+ | Many strong clubs build trails | Too much sand in some areas | |
| Kentucky | B+ | New trail opportunities in Louisville | Horses and hoops rule | |
| Massachusetts | B+ | NEMBA top regional advocacy group | Freeride controversy near Boston | |
| Michigan | B+ | New trails in urban fringe | Limited access to federal lands | |
| Missouri | B+ | Kansas City, St. Louis trails blossom | Volunteers needed for trailwork | |
| Montana | B+ | Missoula, Whitefish, Bozeman are epic | Winter from October-May | |
| Nebraska | B+ | New trails near Omaha, Lincoln | Much of state is private farmland | |
| New Mexico | B+ | Urban access solid in Albuquerque | Forests ravaged by fire, minimal info | |
| North Dakota | B+ | Maah Daah Hey Trail primo | More singletrack needed in east | |
| West Virginia | B+ | Monongahela N.F. steep and deep | Hunting and motorized come first | |
| Delaware | B | Experienced core of trailbuilders | Limited public land | |
| Georgia | B | SORBA's trailbuilding arsenal | Limited availability in metro Atlanta | |
| Maine | B | Mountain bikers getting organized | Mish-mash trail system | |
| Maryland | B | Maryland club solves problems | Typical urban trail problems | |
| Nevada | B | Public land abundant | Little trails info: the Area 51 of MBing | |
| North Carolina | B | Trails in west are super | Lack of trails, advocacy in east | |
| Oklahoma | B | Great land manager relations | Most of state private land | |
| Oregon | B | MacKenzie River Trail five stars | Wilderness needs addressing | |
| Texas | B | Solid statewide org, MB parks, racing | Houston heats up...again | |
| Virginia | B | All good 'cept suburban DC and... | Not much riding in Richmond | |
| Washington | B | Statewide access varied, outstanding | Seattle improving, but still limited | |
| Wyoming | B | Riding matches skiing in Jackson | More maps, guidebooks needed | |
| Connecticut | B- | Solid advocates, improving access | Lots of people in a small space | |
| Hawaii | B- | Surfing + riding = paradise? | Lack of well built trails | |
| Indiana | B- | Solid bicycling coalition | Bird didn't bike. So why should you? | |
| New Hampshire | B- | White Mountain NF trails | Unauthorized trails near Manchester | |
| Ohio | B- | More trails, energetic clubs | No access near Cleveland | |
| Tennessee | B- | Solid advocacy groups abound | More volunteers needed | |
| Wisconsin | B- | WORBA, Trek lead cycling community | Southern Wisconsin access cheesy | |
| Minnesota | C+ | Improved leadership, industry support | Minneapolis is a constant battle | |
| New York | C+ | Trails in Westchester, L.I., 'dacks | Borough riding still banned | |
| Pennsylvania | C+ | Strong relations with DCNR | State Game Land trails curtailed | |
| South Carolina | C+ | SORBA's presence = USFS partnership | Old school park management | |
| Vermont | C+ | Ski areas, private MB resorts | Red light on Green Mountain access | |
| Alabama | C | BUMP continues to do great work | Sport barely on public radar screen | |
| California | C | Bay Area advocates step up | Wilderness, SoCal & Oakland tense | |
| Iowa | C | Topography + solid club = solid future | Progress taking time | |
| New Jersey | C | Top notch patrol, club in south | JORBA needs you | |
| Rhode Island | C | Arcadia forest trails solid | Small state, not much vertical | |
| Illinois | C- | Improving organization statewide | More trails needed near Chicago | |
| Kansas | C- | Lawrence trails outstanding | Farming rules, riding suffers | |
| Louisiana | C- | New advocates at work | New trails limited...so far | |
| Mississippi | D+ | Abundant forests provide access | Biking organizations absent in '02 | |
Grading Beyond Our Borders
Mindful of our growing work outside the U.S., IMBA expanded the global mountain bike report card in '02 to include a number of countries worldwide where IMBA is active. For more information on IMBA's international network visit www.imba.com/international.
2002 IMBA Global Report CardCanada
- British Columbia: A-
Phat: Outstanding clubs, youth program, trails; Freeride focus
Flat: More sustainable trails needed near Vancouver
- Yukon: A-
Phat: Whitehorse, Dawson are emerging mountain bike meccas
Flat: Rest of province is vast unknown, grizzly bears, winter
- Ontario: B+
Phat: Improved advocacy organization, new trails
Flat: Unauthorized trails near Toronto
- Quebec: B
Phat: Ski areas offer outstanding trails
Flat: Trail tensions near Montreal
- Alberta: B-
Phat: Riding Rocks in Canadian Rockies
Flat: Calgary trail closures
United Kingdom
- Wales: A-
Phat: Top-notch trailbuilding creates premier MB destination
Flat: Few knew how good it was...until now
- Scotland: B+
Phat: Awesome technical trails, trailbuilders, geography
Flat: Advocacy organization needs improvement
- England: C+
Phat: Solid leadership, passionate freeriding movement
Flat: Lack of singletrack, needs advocacy muscle
- Northern Ireland: C-
Phat: Vast potential, energetic advocates
Flat: Not much singletrack yet
Italy: A-
Phat: 2,000 year old trails, few trail conflicts, never flat, culture
Flat: Need better maps, broad based advocacy group needed
Australia: B
Phat: Pockets of great singletrack, emerging advocacy structure
Flat: Trail user conflict, trailbuilding skills need work
Where Is Your Favorite Place to Ride?
Shonny Vanlandingham, professional racer, SoBe Cannondale
At Poli Poli State Park in Maui, Hawaii, you ride in magical rain forest fog. It feels like a fairy tale. The trails are at 7,000 feet elevation and you can see all the way to the ocean.
Dean Gore, brand manager, Gary Fisher Bicycles
The trail network in Canmore, Alberta, is just incredible. The technical aspects of the trails require a lot of body english to clean, yet don't threaten severe injury if I screw up, because I will. Add to that the fantastic views, threat of bears, Canadian currency exchange and a welcome atmosphere for mountain bikers...Canmore has it all.
Philip Keyes, executive director, NEMBA
Out my door I can ride to Concord, past the mill where the modern pencil was developed and through the woods where Thoreau walked and pondered. I'm sure if Thoreau were alive today, he'd pedal a bike and ponder on the same trails.
Chris DiStefano, Shimano, IMBA Board Member
You cannot ride Fantasy Island's super fast and fun singletrack and not smile the whole time. It's an awesome trail system outside Tucson, Arizona.
Zac Daab, Seven Cycles
Without hesitation, my favorite ride is Ranger Creek, near Greenwater, Washington. The ride starts outside of Mount Rainier National Park with amazing terrain: tight trees, steep climbs and steeper descents. The view of Rainier on a sunny day is out-of-hand. I love this ride because you really feel out there.
Hill Abell, IMBA Board Member
I love riding in Crested Butte, Colorado in July or August - endless miles of singletrack and away from the Texas summer heat.
Matt Pacocha, IMBA membership services
Growing up, I could ride to the Salmon River State Forest in Colchester, Connecticut, from my house. It has some of the best east coast singletrack around. Very tight and super technical.
