Five States, 20 Trail Projects And A Month Full Of Memories

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Begins

April 1997

By Scott Gwozdz, TCC Coordinator

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew left IMBA headquarters in Boulder on March 14th and rolled smoothly across Colorado toward Arizona and their official kickoff at the Cactus Cup. Packed with trail tools, bikes, and a year's worth of clothing and supplies, the Crew's Subaru Outback aced its first test as it powered across I-70 through a Colorado blizzard. After a brief pit stop in Moab, the Crew continued south through Monument Valley to Scottsdale and Cactus Cup - season opener of the elite mountain bike racing calendar and the debut of the most ambitious project IMBA has attempted.

The Crew cast a strong image at the Cactus Cup with the shiny Outback parked alongside the IMBA booth and Trail Care Crew leaders Mike and Jan Riter wearing new field shirts emblazoned with IMBA's and Subaru's logos. Announcers Penny Davidson and Peter Graves introduced Mike and Jan to the crowd at the Cactus Cup pro awards ceremony and called them up to the stage. After spending considerable time and creative energy decorating a cake with a map of the USA, IMBA executive director Tim Blumenthal presented it to the Crew. Jan and Mike were showered with applause as many folks showed their support and also daydreamed about the chance to travel, ride and work on trails all across the USA. Champagne, cake and Hostess Ho Ho's (Jan and Mike's favorite training food) followed as the crew enjoyed their first moments of mountain bike celebrity.

Then the work began. On March 19th, the Trail Care Crew worked with a dozen volunteers from Mountain Bicycling Association of Arizona and U.S. Forest Service volunteer coordinator Terry Adams on the Jim Thompson Trail in Sedona, Arizona. That weekend, Jan and Mike helped restore a steep and eroded section of trail in Phoenix Mountain Parks just a few miles from downtown. Park ranger Paul Paonessa helped Jan and Mike and 25 volunteers install four grade dips, remove berms from the trail, and clear brush from the area. On Sunday, March 23, the Trail Care Crew joined members of MBAA for a ride on the Haas trail. Jan and Mike had a chance to speak about their mission: to inspire volunteerism, partner with land managers, educate riders, and foster a share-the-trail ethic among all recreationists.

On Monday, March 24th, the Crew headed for Northern California. During their first week on the coast, Mike and Jan were fortunate to ride the singletrack trails of Camp Tamarancho with the Forest Knolls Freewheelers and the rolling terrain of Annadel State Park with members of RETAG. On Saturday, March 29th, the Trail Care Crew worked in the Marin Municipal Water District pulling out french broom - a pesky non-native plant. This arduous labor was supervised by Ranger Mike Sweazy, and carried out by local volunteers and members of the Forest Knolls Freewheelers. On Sunday, the crew attended a regional race in Sonoma, California. On Monday, Jan and Mike worked with volunteers from the Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay in Joaquin Miller Park near Oakland on the Chapparal trail. They moved a lot of dirt that day and also had a chance to meet with several local land managers.

Jan and Mike rode with the Forest Knolls Free-wheelers on April Fool's Day and with members of ROMP in El Corte de Madera Preserve the day following. Most reports suggest they were in the lead pack throughout both rides.

The Crew spent the first weekend of April in Napa at the opening World Cup race of the season. Lots of folks noticed the Trail Care Crew Subaru and made a point to talk to Jan and Mike. Jan maintained her smile all weekend despite a progressing case of poison oak that was covering more than half her body.

After a great weekend at the race, the crew packed up and headed to Moab, Utah, to work on the re-paint of the Slickrock Trail. After completing the long haul to Moab, Jan and Mike were greeted by a fantastic meal courtesy of the Western Spirit Cycling crew and IMBA president Ashley Korenblat. Russ Van Koch from the BLM directed the project which included "line-painters" from the Moab Bike Patrol, the Moab Motor Sports Association, Scout Troop #1371, Rim Tours and Western Spirit Cycling. By the end of the weekend, the entire 15 miles of the Slickrock trail was clearly marked with fresh paint, and Jan and Mike were thumbing the phone book looking for local chiropractic care.

On Monday, April 14th, the crew visited Arches National Park and then pointed the Subaru back toward sunny California. After a day off in Humboldt Redwoods State Park near Eureka, they arrived at Yakima headquarters in Arcata. Robin Hashem and the folks at Yakima set them up with a Rocket Box and two steel head bike mounts which have been great. Thanks to everyone at Yakima and especially the tech crew that installed the rack system in the middle of a rainstorm.

On Saturday, April 19, the Crew worked at Wilder Ranch with the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. Along with 15 volunteers, Jan and Mike helped rebuild a section of the Wagon Wheel Trail, which included building a rock wall that was 20 feet wide and 15 feet tall. On April 20, Jan and Mike returned to Joaquin Miller Park and worked carefully around the poison oak to install 12 water bars. On Monday, the crew did an "after-work work party" with members of ROMP, a new land manager, and a city park ranger at Arastradero Preserve. The group installed a few grade dips to help prevent excessive erosion and discussed design alternatives to improve a few damaged sections of the trail. Before heading to Fort Ord near Monterey, Mike and Jan had a chance to speak to many students at Stanford University during the Student Environmental Awareness Expo.

On Wednesday April 20th, Steve Addington from the Bureau of Land Management welcomed the crew to Fort Ord and a busy schedule of meetings, demos and work days in the Monterey area. Jan and Mike met with BLM managers from around northern California, worked with Americorps volunteers and mountain bikers at Fort Ord and Garland Ranch State Park. On Saturday, California State Trails Day, the Crew teamed with dozens of volunteers to install two drainage pipes on a steep section of a shared-use trail. In the afternoon, work turned to play as Jan and Mike participated in a trails day festival with activities for all ages.

Jan and Mike departed California on Monday April 28th to head to Albuquerque for a meeting organized by the City Open Space Department. Hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists and sofa slugs were invited to this public forum on land management issues. From New Mexico, the Crew heads to Dallas, Austin, and Houston, Texas. They continue on to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and return home to Georgia for the Nimblewill Mountain Bike Festival on May 17-18. (See schedule for future dates.)

Thanks to IMBA clubs, dealers, industry members, and individuals who have helped make the Trail Care Crew project an immediate success. And a big thanks to Subaru for making this possible. Jan and Mike have been welcomed wholeheartedly everywhere they go. The Johnny Appleseeds of Mountain Biking are rolling forward.