Club Notes

IMBA Trail News
Volume 18, Number 3
Fall 2005

Northeast

NEMBA announces the formation of a new chapter, Central New Hampshire NEMBA, to cover Hillsborough and the Sunapee Lakes region. Central NH NEMBA has already teamed with the US Army Corps of Engineer's to build new singletrack at Elm Brook Park, in Hopkinton, and conducted an IMBA Trailbuilding School with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew.

The Kingdom Trails Association has completed a freeride trail descending Burke Mountain, and has secured permission to use the East Bowl Ski Trail as a downhill option. The association was awarded a RTP grant and Kona/IMBA Freeride grant to install signage and erosion control measures. They are also conducting a feasibility study to create a bike path between East Burke and Lyndonville, along the Passampsic River.

Vermont's Stowe Mountain Bike Club and the Mad River Riders, both chapters of the Vermont Mountain Bike Advocates, have worked out a management agreement with the state for Putnam State Forest and Camel's Hump State Forest, which should lead to new riding opportunities.

The Kiski Valley Fat Tire Fanatics, the Pittsburgh Offroad Cyclists and the Laurel Highlands Off and On Road Bicycle Association are helping the Roaring Run Watershed Association to rebuild singletrack trails that were devastated by logging operations in 2004. The groups have already built four miles of new singletrack in central Pennsylvania.

Southeast

On July 5, SORBA-CSRA and Long Cane Trails, (LCT) began construction of the Forks Area Trail System, in the South Piedmont region. A $100,000 Recreational Trail Program grant was awarded to LCT by the South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism office. The project is a partnership of the USFS, SORBACSRA, the South Carolina Parks Department, and LCT. The USFS will spend $15,000 on the project, and SORBA-CSRA have promised 1,500 volunteer hours. Seventeen miles of trail will be built in Phase 1, with another 15 miles to come in Phase 2.

Trails in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, are open again after the county imposed a closure due to environmental and crowding concerns. New trail signs are in place, and trailhead parking has been enlarged. Most of the trails have been reopened, and some have been rerouted to avoid erosion.

Two new bridges have been built at Little Big Econ Park, in East Orange County, Florida. Cyclists are reminded that the park's $2 day fee helps support the trail system. Highlands Trail Foundation, in Elkins, West Virginia, has released the Allegheny

Highlands Trail map, featuring singletrack in the Monongahela National Forest. Maps are available at Randolph and Tucker County Visitors Centers, local bike shops and trailheads. Visit highlandstrail.org for more information.

Midwest

The first-ever Minnesota Mountain Bike Summit was held September 9. Activities included riding the area's sweetest singletrack, homegrown entries in the MORC Film Festival and generally having the mother of all good times. Beyond the festivities, important talks concerning new trails and enhanced opportunities for challenging riding were on the docket.

In North Dakota, two new reps will join veteren trail advocate Ron Luethe: Tyler McKay ( ) and Mark Liebig ( ). Ron will focus on Bismarck, Mark will work in the western half of the state and Tyler will take the east.

Mark Liebig, Ron Luethe and local mountain bike racer Amy Shreve conducted a Mountain Bike Camp for Girl Scouts this summer. Shreve offered riding tips, employing cones, ropes, and boards to help develop the Scouts' skills. "It was awesome to see so many girls develop an interest in cycling," said Shreve.

In August, the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) conducted a succesful trailbuilding session at Brown County State Park. Sixteen volunteeers braved hot conditons and completed a new section of trail.

Stony Creek Metropark, located near Detroit, will soon feature a challenging new trail system and skills area, thanks to a recently awarded NORBA/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grant and the Michigan Mountain Biking Association.

Rockies

IMBA urges mountain bikers to submit comments on southwestern Montana's Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest draft management plan. The plan recommends Wilderness designations that would ban mountain bikes and block access to the Continental Divide Trail. Comments should be postmarked or received via e-mail by September 28. Visit imba.com (click on the Action Alerts cell) to learn more.

Thanks to a NORBA/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grant, Velo de Animas Bicycle Club (San Juan County, NM) will re-route a portion of the Road Apple Rally Trail from dirt road to singletrack. The race, scheduled for Oct. 1, is one of the longest ongoing mountain bike events in the country and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2005.

In Jackson, WY, the Jackson Hole Community Pathways and Friends of Pathways announced the results of the Community Pathways User Survey. Visit grandtetonpathways.org to learn about developments in the upcoming Grand Teton National Park Draft Transportation Plan, which could enhance bicycling opportunities in the community and the park.

Volunteers in the Tuscon area are joining forces to build a 25-mile section of the nearlycomplete Arizona Trail. Visit aztrail-build.org for information, or to attend one of more than a dozen trailwork days scheduled this fall and winter.

Pacific

In July, IMBA's Jim Hasenauer testified in front a congressional committee on the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act, a bill that threatens to ban mountain biking from 170 miles of singletrack trails. The former IMBA president said that IMBA remains dedicated to land conservation and believes that the Wilderness designation is just one of many tools that should be employed to protect wild places. When proposed Wilderness areas include significant mountain biking opportunities, IMBA suggests diverse land designations that protect natural areas while preserving access for bicycles.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced that 20 miles of trail will open to bikes on the Warm Springs arm of Lake Sonoma, a reservoir tucked away in the hills West of Healdsburg, California. BTC Marin and Sonoma County Trails Council installed signs to designated the multi-use trail, at the request of the Corps. A trailwork day has been scheduled for Sept. 25. Check btcmarin.org for updates.

SoCal riders are encouraged to attend CORBA's Fat Tire Festival on October 16 in Malibu Creek State Park. Just $20 buys a poker ride, opportunities to demo bikes, a huge raffle, and Carmen's Tacos for lunch.

Hook up with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew on Nov. 10-13 in Big Bear, and Nov. 17-20 in San Diego.

The World

Mountain bike tourism in Scotland is on the rise, according to the Sunday Times. The Scottish Tourism Department estimates that the number of mountain biking trips exceeded 1 million in 2004. The Scottish Forestry Commission has established a 7 Stanes (7 Stones) circuit of mountain biking trails, an innovative and successful program to promote bike tourism. Visit 7stanes.gov.uk for details.

IMBA Trail Specialist Joey Klein will spend a month working in Australia this fall. Klein will attend the Australian Bike Show, then travel the continent to meet with clubs, bike advocates and trailbuilders. Klein is working with Mountain Bike Australia to promote the tour: mtba.asn.au

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	Club Notes IMBA Trail News Volume 18, Number 3 Fall 2005 Northeast NEMBA announces the formation of a new chapter, Central New Hampshire NEMBA, to cover Hillsborough and the Sunapee Lakes region. Central NH NEMBA has already teamed with the US Army Corps of Engineer's to build new singletrack at Elm Brook Park, in Hopkinton, and conducted an IMBA Trailbuilding School with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew. The Kingdom Trails Association has completed a freeride trail descending Burke Mountain, and has secured permission to use the East Bowl Ski Trail as a downhill option. The association was awarded a RTP grant and Kona/IMBA Freeride grant to install signage and erosion control measures. They are also conducting a feasibility study to create a bike path between East Burke and Lyndonville, along the Passampsic River. Vermont's Stowe Mountain Bike Club and the Mad River Riders, both chapters of the Vermont Mountain Bike Advocates, have worked out a management agreement with the state for Putnam State Forest and Camel's Hump State Forest, which should lead to new riding opportunities. The Kiski Valley Fat Tire Fanatics, the Pittsburgh Offroad Cyclists and the Laurel Highlands Off and On Road Bicycle Association are helping the Roaring Run Watershed Association to rebuild singletrack trails that were devastated by logging operations in 2004. The groups have already built four miles of new singletrack in central Pennsylvania. Southeast On July 5, SORBA-CSRA and Long Cane Trails, (LCT) began construction of the Forks Area Trail System, in the South Piedmont region. A $100,000 Recreational Trail Program grant was awarded to LCT by the South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism office. The project is a partnership of the USFS, SORBACSRA, the South Carolina Parks Department, and LCT. The USFS will spend $15,000 on the project, and SORBA-CSRA have promised 1,500 volunteer hours. Seventeen miles of trail will be built in Phase 1, with another 15 miles to come in Phase 2. Trails in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, are open again after the county imposed a closure due to environmental and crowding concerns. New trail signs are in place, and trailhead parking has been enlarged. Most of the trails have been reopened, and some have been rerouted to avoid erosion. Two new bridges have been built at Little Big Econ Park, in East Orange County, Florida. Cyclists are reminded that the park's $2 day fee helps support the trail system. Highlands Trail Foundation, in Elkins, West Virginia, has released the Allegheny Highlands Trail map, featuring singletrack in the Monongahela National Forest. Maps are available at Randolph and Tucker County Visitors Centers, local bike shops and trailheads. Visit highlandstrail.org for more information. Midwest The first-ever Minnesota Mountain Bike Summit was held September 9. Activities included riding the area's sweetest singletrack, homegrown entries in the MORC Film Festival and generally having the mother of all good times. Beyond the festivities, important talks concerning new trails and enhanced opportunities for challenging riding were on the docket. In North Dakota, two new reps will join veteren trail advocate Ron Luethe: Tyler McKay ( ) and Mark Liebig ( ). Ron will focus on Bismarck, Mark will work in the western half of the state and Tyler will take the east. Mark Liebig, Ron Luethe and local mountain bike racer Amy Shreve conducted a Mountain Bike Camp for Girl Scouts this summer. Shreve offered riding tips, employing cones, ropes, and boards to help develop the Scouts' skills. "It was awesome to see so many girls develop an interest in cycling," said Shreve. In August, the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) conducted a succesful trailbuilding session at Brown County State Park. Sixteen volunteeers braved hot conditons and completed a new section of trail. Stony Creek Metropark, located near Detroit, will soon feature a challenging new trail system and skills area, thanks to a recently awarded NORBA/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grant and the Michigan Mountain Biking Association. Rockies IMBA urges mountain bikers to submit comments on southwestern Montana's Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest draft management plan. The plan recommends Wilderness designations that would ban mountain bikes and block access to the Continental Divide Trail. Comments should be postmarked or received via e-mail by September 28. Visit imba.com (click on the Action Alerts cell) to learn more. Thanks to a NORBA/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grant, Velo de Animas Bicycle Club (San Juan County, NM) will re-route a portion of the Road Apple Rally Trail from dirt road to singletrack. The race, scheduled for Oct. 1, is one of the longest ongoing mountain bike events in the country and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2005. In Jackson, WY, the Jackson Hole Community Pathways and Friends of Pathways announced the results of the Community Pathways User Survey. Visit grandtetonpathways.org to learn about developments in the upcoming Grand Teton National Park Draft Transportation Plan, which could enhance bicycling opportunities in the community and the park. Volunteers in the Tuscon area are joining forces to build a 25-mile section of the nearlycomplete Arizona Trail. Visit aztrail-build.org for information, or to attend one of more than a dozen trailwork days scheduled this fall and winter. Pacific In July, IMBA's Jim Hasenauer testified in front a congressional committee on the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act, a bill that threatens to ban mountain biking from 170 miles of singletrack trails. The former IMBA president said that IMBA remains dedicated to land conservation and believes that the Wilderness designation is just one of many tools that should be employed to protect wild places. When proposed Wilderness areas include significant mountain biking opportunities, IMBA suggests diverse land designations that protect natural areas while preserving access for bicycles. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced that 20 miles of trail will open to bikes on the Warm Springs arm of Lake Sonoma, a reservoir tucked away in the hills West of Healdsburg, California. BTC Marin and Sonoma County Trails Council installed signs to designated the multi-use trail, at the request of the Corps. A trailwork day has been scheduled for Sept. 25. Check btcmarin.org for updates. SoCal riders are encouraged to attend CORBA's Fat Tire Festival on October 16 in Malibu Creek State Park. Just $20 buys a poker ride, opportunities to demo bikes, a huge raffle, and Carmen's Tacos for lunch. Hook up with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew on Nov. 10-13 in Big Bear, and Nov. 17-20 in San Diego. The World Mountain bike tourism in Scotland is on the rise, according to the Sunday Times. The Scottish Tourism Department estimates that the number of mountain biking trips exceeded 1 million in 2004. The Scottish Forestry Commission has established a 7 Stanes (7 Stones) circuit of mountain biking trails, an innovative and successful program to promote bike tourism. Visit 7stanes.gov.uk for details. IMBA Trail Specialist Joey Klein will spend a month working in Australia this fall. Klein will attend the Australian Bike Show, then travel the continent to meet with clubs, bike advocates and trailbuilders. Klein is working with Mountain Bike Australia to promote the tour: mtba.asn.au


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