Club Notes

IMBA Trail News
Volume 19, Number 1
Spring 2006

Southeast

The Southern Virginia Mountain Bike Association (SVMBA) used a CLIF Bar grant to implement a new signage program at Angler's Ridge.

The signs were manufactured by Carsonite International. Recognizing that SVMBA was using club dues and a grant to cover the costs of the signs, Carsonite offered special pricing to SVMBA, a gesture that was deeply appreciated by the club.

SVMBA partnered with the city of Danville for the project, receiving additional funding to complete the work. "These signs have been in development and planning for over a year and a half, and we're very happy with the result," says SVMBA's Chris Tompkins.

Northeast

This winter, 11 members from the Lower Connecticut River Valley Horseman's Club joined four adults and nine children from Sprockids, a mountain biking group from Deep River, CT, to complete a shared-use trail project organized by the Bridal Path Conservency (BPC). Stone steps were added to pedestrian bridges and a water crossing was repaired.

"It's not only members of the BPC that are using these trails," says Pati Martin. "We're seeing increased use by horsemen and the mountain bikers who have really been working their butts off and helping us throughout the year."

Midwest

In March, hardworking IMBA Rep Edward Bartunek received an award from Chicago's Friends of the Parks for his longstanding stewardship of Palos/Mount Forest Island.

Barb and George Birmingham, dedicated volunteers and longtime Chicago Area Mountain Biker (CAMBR) club supporters, also received an award for their work at Ted Stone Forest.

In Chicagoland, the Palos trail system continues to expand and improve, with workdays, including a bridge installation, planned throught the spring. Visit the CAMBR website for a complete schedule of events.

Rockies

The Black Hills Cycling Association (BHCA) is working with Rapid City, South Dakota, to clean up a city land parcel, with the goal of creating a sustainbly designed dirt jump park. Club members have removed debris, brush and deadfall from the lot, and are improving and redesigning unauthorized trails and jumps that currently exist on the property.

State IMBA Rep Dirk Gustin has spearheaded the effort, bringing in a professional design firm to assist with the trail layout and securing enough volunteer labor and landscaping equipment to ensure the project's success.

The Pacific

Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett got a firsthand look at mountain bike issues when she visited the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area over the New Year's weekend.

Scarlett was hosted by NPS Superintendent Woody Smeck, IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel, Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) President Jeff Klinger, and Chris Orr, president of the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMBTV). The group discussed access issues and wrapped up with a tour of Giant Bicycles. Take Pride in America and Giant Bicycles helped support Scarlett's visit.

The World

In March, IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel crossed the pond to visit several nations in northern Europe.

In Holland, Van Abel spoke at a conference organized by Nederlandse Toer Fiets Unie (NTFU). "NTFU is celebrating its 50th year as the umbrella organization for recreational bicycle riding in the Netherlands," notes Van Abel. "The organizational similarities to IMBA are noteworthy. There's a lot that we could learn from the Dutch - for example, they do an excellent job organizing club rides."

Van Abel also visited England, Scotland and Ireland, further strengthening IMBA's international network.

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	Club Notes IMBA Trail News Volume 19, Number 1 Spring 2006 Southeast The Southern Virginia Mountain Bike Association (SVMBA) used a CLIF Bar grant to implement a new signage program at Angler's Ridge. The signs were manufactured by Carsonite International. Recognizing that SVMBA was using club dues and a grant to cover the costs of the signs, Carsonite offered special pricing to SVMBA, a gesture that was deeply appreciated by the club. SVMBA partnered with the city of Danville for the project, receiving additional funding to complete the work. "These signs have been in development and planning for over a year and a half, and we're very happy with the result," says SVMBA's Chris Tompkins. Northeast This winter, 11 members from the Lower Connecticut River Valley Horseman's Club joined four adults and nine children from Sprockids, a mountain biking group from Deep River, CT, to complete a shared-use trail project organized by the Bridal Path Conservency (BPC). Stone steps were added to pedestrian bridges and a water crossing was repaired. "It's not only members of the BPC that are using these trails," says Pati Martin. "We're seeing increased use by horsemen and the mountain bikers who have really been working their butts off and helping us throughout the year." Midwest In March, hardworking IMBA Rep Edward Bartunek received an award from Chicago's Friends of the Parks for his longstanding stewardship of Palos/Mount Forest Island. Barb and George Birmingham, dedicated volunteers and longtime Chicago Area Mountain Biker (CAMBR) club supporters, also received an award for their work at Ted Stone Forest. In Chicagoland, the Palos trail system continues to expand and improve, with workdays, including a bridge installation, planned throught the spring. Visit the CAMBR website for a complete schedule of events. Rockies The Black Hills Cycling Association (BHCA) is working with Rapid City, South Dakota, to clean up a city land parcel, with the goal of creating a sustainbly designed dirt jump park. Club members have removed debris, brush and deadfall from the lot, and are improving and redesigning unauthorized trails and jumps that currently exist on the property. State IMBA Rep Dirk Gustin has spearheaded the effort, bringing in a professional design firm to assist with the trail layout and securing enough volunteer labor and landscaping equipment to ensure the project's success. The Pacific Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett got a firsthand look at mountain bike issues when she visited the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area over the New Year's weekend. Scarlett was hosted by NPS Superintendent Woody Smeck, IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel, Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) President Jeff Klinger, and Chris Orr, president of the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMBTV). The group discussed access issues and wrapped up with a tour of Giant Bicycles. Take Pride in America and Giant Bicycles helped support Scarlett's visit. The World In March, IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel crossed the pond to visit several nations in northern Europe. In Holland, Van Abel spoke at a conference organized by Nederlandse Toer Fiets Unie (NTFU). "NTFU is celebrating its 50th year as the umbrella organization for recreational bicycle riding in the Netherlands," notes Van Abel. "The organizational similarities to IMBA are noteworthy. There's a lot that we could learn from the Dutch - for example, they do an excellent job organizing club rides." Van Abel also visited England, Scotland and Ireland, further strengthening IMBA's international network.


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