Phoenix, AZ: Coming Together for Great Mountain Biking

A discussion of the principals of sustainable cycling clubs drew a healthy turnout.
South Mountain's fast, flowing and rocky trails provided the perfect end to the day.
We felled this 800-foot cactus and created a skinny ride on which you simply can't lose traction. Okay, not really.

South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, provided the venue for Arizona mountain bikers to meet and talk about the great things that are happening out on the Arizona singletrack. Mountain bike clubs from across the entire state met to discuss the mountain biking opportunities in their hometowns, talk about upcoming projects and pick each others brains about how to enhance the already thriving trail community.

Subaru-IMBA Trail Care Crew members Anna Laxague, Jason Wells, and Collins and Kelly Bishop were invited by the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona (MBAA) to give an IMBA Club Care presentation and to discuss some of the principals of sustainable cycling clubs. Topics included organization, leadership, membership and events. Using some of the subjects from the Club Care presentation, representatives from various Arizona clubs brainstormed about how these principals could be applied to upcoming opportunities.

After lunch and with heads full of ideas, everyone changed into riding gear and hit the trails at South Mountain for a group ride. The area's fast, flowing and rocky trails offered a combination of tough climbs, fun descents and challenging obstacles for everyone -- the perfect end to the day.