*4/3/08*Last fall, you were one of more than 7,000 concerned mountain bikers who asked the Forest Service not to eliminate mountain biking along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Now, the agency is considering your comments and others as it develops its final directive for management of the epic 3,100-mile route. This document is expected mid-summer 2008. The CDT, which runs the spine of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, is the only trail of such distance largely open to bicycles. It contains many famous sections, including the Monarch Crest Trail, an IMBA Epic. As written, the Forest Service's draft directive would have put bicycle access at risk along the entire route. Many groups submitted comments in favor of continued bicycle access, including local governments, tourism officials, bicycle clubs and organizations, The Colorado Trail Foundation, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance and others. Mountain bikers' comments didn't ask for access to every mile of the CDT, but rather the continued use of non-Wilderness segments. Grassroots support for bicycle access was supplemented by an aggressive campaign by IMBA at the regional and national level. IMBA staff met with key Forest Service personnel to request equitable treatment of bicycling on the CDT and continued access to sections currently open to our use. Future updates will be posted on IMBA.com and in monthly eNewsletters. For additional information, including details on the proposed Forest Service directive, please visit IMBA's archived action alerts: Bike Access Under Fire on 3,100-Mile Continental Divide Trail Bike Ban Looms Over Iconic Continental Divide Trail Support the Continental Divide Trail The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be hosting a Trail School on the CDT near Helena, Montana, September 13 and 14. Information, including free online registration, will be posted online closer to the event date. The Colorado Trail Foundation hosts a series of trailwork events along The Colorado Trail, some of which are collocated with the CDT. The Continental Divide Trail Alliance also organizes many trail care events along the CDT. Check out their schedule. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMBA news 12/4/07 Kids Drop Video Players, Take to Trails Last month, IMBA clubs convinced scores of kids to put down their gaming devices and explore the outdoor world on their bikes. The fourth annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day celebration drew rave reviews from young riders around the world. Five clubs and five individual riders won bicycles courtesy of Schwinn and CLIF donated healthy kids' snacks for registered events. As usual, Trips for Kids helped lead rides and promote the event. You can help bring $100,000 to Trips for Kids by voting for their founder, Marilyn Price, in this online poll. Get Dirt Rag, Support IMBA Dirt Rag Magazine, a long-time IMBA supporter, is making their fine publication available for a great annual subscription rate. Better yet, you can enjoy excellent articles, tips, reviews and photography knowing that $5 of your subscription fee goes to IMBA. Extra, extra ... Check out the Dirt Rag story about IMBA Ride Centers from the most recent issue. Team IMBA Rolls at 24 Hours of Moab Rising to the challenge of the demanding 24 Hours of Moab racecourse, the intrepid riders of Team IMBA notched outstanding results -- including two podium appearances. The squads also raised serious money for trail advocacy, asked the BLM to consider creating new Moab singletrack, and generally had a fantastic time. Check out IMBA's post-race press release, including links to an online photo gallery. IMBA Legal Fund Hits Halfway Trail access decisions are influenced by politics as much as by sound science. That's why IMBA created the Legal Fund to help defend against lawsuits and policies that expell mountain bikers from coveted singletrack. As of this week we've raised half of our $50,000 goal. Help Revitalize Park Funding and Trail Opportunities Mountain bikers have an opportunity to support a much-needed increase in National Park Service (NPS) funding. A proposed bill would appropriate the largest-ever funding increase for the NPS--at least $100 million annually--and dramatically improve visitor experiences, including those on singletrack. This bill, H.R. 3094, will provide funding for a series of signature projects around the country, including those for new trails. A plan for new singletrack in Big Bend National Park (TX) is one of 200 proposed projects selected from more than 6,000 applications. IMBA Leads Sustainable Trailbuilding School in Israel Following previous visits by IMBA staff in 2005 and 2006, Trail Specialist Pete Webber journeyed to Israel in October. Webber conducted five days of trailbuilding seminars, focusing on club development and sustainable trailbuilding techniques. Find Mountain Bike News with the MTB News Wire Have you checked out IMBA's online MTB News Wire? We archive important news items, including recent stories from Oregon, Ohio, California and dozens of other locations. Update: Land Protection Campaigns Across the Country California: IMBA California and local advocates are researching new Wilderness bills with hopes of supporting legislation that would preserve land and protect bicycle access. IMBA California is helping shape a bill that will designate areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks as Wilderness. Colorado: IMBA supports a bill for Rocky Mountain National Park that would preserve a scenic lakeside corridor for a shared-use trail to connect local communities. Local clubs are deeply involved in several other proposals in the state, working to reduce unnecessary compromises between land protection and bicycle access. Montana: Local IMBA affiliates in Helena and Butte joined forces with equestrian groups, Wilderness advocates and a local land trust to produce the collaborative High Divide Agreement. After 18 months of discussions, the final recommendation includes a series of backcountry areas that preserve important singletrack. Virginia: The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate, the final step before being signed into law by the President. This bill includes a 12,000-acre National Scenic Area where bicycling is permitted, and language stipulating the sustainable reroute of a trail popular with mountain bikers and equestrians. To stay up to date with these and other campaigns, visit IMBA's Land Protection web pages. **************************************************************************************** IMBA and Partners Announce 2008 World Summit in Park City For Immediate Release 08-30-07 Contact: Mark Eller IMBA Communications Director markeller@imba.com 303-545-9011 Mountain biking enthusiasts from around the globe will gather in Park City, Utah, June 18-21, for the 2008 IMBA World Summit. IMBA Summits bring mountain biking advocates, land managers, ski resort professionals, trailbuilders, tourism officials and the bike industry together for collaboration, planning and celebration. The 2008 IMBA Summit will be open to the public, and will feature advocacy seminars, trailbuilding workshops, networking, great food, parties, celebrity guest speakers and some big surprises. Topics will include the economic power of trails, sustainable trailbuilding, liability and risk management, urban trail networks, building club capacity and much more. IMBA's most recent Summit, held in Whistler, BC, attracted more than 400 delegates from 17 nations for three days of seminars and discussions. A compendium of online resources from that event can be found at IMBA's website. Park City Provides Great Trails Story "We could not be more excited about the location of our 2008 gathering," said IMBA executive director Mike Van Abel. "Park City is a model trails community and IMBA's host club, the Mountain Trails Foundation, is a model of shared-use leadership. Non-motorized groups have worked together in Park City to create amazing trails, and maybe more importantly, a tight-knit trails community." "Park City was losing its trails to rapid development. In the course of a couple of years, we went from trails being an afterthought in the planning process to where trails are given equal weight with streets and utilities in new development," said Mountain Trails Foundation founder and IMBA Board Member Tom Clyde. "Practically all of the trail system is on private land, and now there is almost a competition among the development community to see who can build the best trails. This is because an active trails community got behind the cause." Partners Shaping Summit Agenda Many national and international partners are coming together to shape the 2008 Summit. To name a few, Trips for Kids will convene their chapter meeting at the summit with the goal of inspiring more of IMBA's 750 worldwide clubs to create youth mountain bike programs. The Bureau of Land Management is bringing key planners, and the League of American Bicyclists will provide guidance on how mountain biking can be incorporated into their successful Bicycle Friendly Communities Program. Pre-conference trailbuilding workshops are also planned in conjunction with national and international trail partners. Join Agenda Advisory Committees Speakers, seminar topics and sponsorship opportunities for the 2008 IMBA Summit are in development. IMBA's partners are creating the agenda now through several steering committees to capture the most important issues and secure the best speakers on all things mountain biking. To make suggestions about about seminars and speakers, write Patti Bonnet patti@imba.com. Sponsorship inquires should be directed to Rich Cook rich.cook@imba.com. Or call IMBA's offices in Boulder, Colorado, at 303-545-9011. Watch for more exciting announcements to come on speakers, events and new partners. For now, save the date and plan to attend the largest international gathering in IMBA's history. ******************************************************************************** IMBA Singletrack eNews, July, 2007 Do you know someone who might enjoy receiving these eNewsletters? Send your friends to IMBA.com, where they can view a current edition and register with a short, easy-to-use form. Help Save Access to the Continental Divide Trail Bike access to the country's longest shared-use trail is now in jeopardy. The Forest Service just released a draft rule that would encourage land managers to kick bikes off existing routes, and not include us on future segments. Your voice is needed to help preserve our access! Join Team IMBA - 24 Hours of Moab Team IMBA is IMBA's newest event-based initiative. We're searching for teams of riders that will represent IMBA at the world-famous 24 Hours of Moab event this fall (Oct. 13-14, 2007). The goal is to raise funds for healthy, sustainable trail-based recreation while simultaneously elevating your riding. Learn more about Team IMBA. Philadelphia Club Becomes Latest IMBA Chapter Last year, the Friends of Wissahickon Valley Park, a Philadelphia conservation/advocacy group, brought IMBA's Trail Solutions to town in an effort to build a demonstration, sustainable shared-use trail project in the park. The resulting trail network not only helped local riders establish a more solid rapport with other users; it spurred them to create the Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association (PMBA). As an IMBA Chapter, they've been able to get on their feet much more quickly, with fewer administrative and monetary demands. Ft. Collins Gets Groundbreaking Bike Park Lory State Park in Ft. Collins, CO welcomed more than 300 riders to the grand opening of the Corral Center Bike Park last month. Measuring in at 70,000 square feet, the Corral Center is a state-of-the-art facility, complete with dirt jumps, pump tracks and skills parks for riders of all ability levels. A Warm Welcome to IMBA Australia and the Netherlands IMBA's new international program welcomes the first of its new national affiliates, Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) and Nederlandse Toer Fiets Unie (the Netherlands Bicycle Touring Association). This past year IMBA's board approved a strategic goal to develop a sustainable international program that includes proper staffing via a new affiliation model. "Given the broad interest from many other countries that wish to affiliate with IMBA and license IMBA's name and programs, I believe the time is now to invest in the development of IMBA affiliates around the world," says Mike Van Abel, IMBA Executive Director. For more information on IMBA's new national affiliate charter and international program contact Mike@imba.com. Trailbuilding Fund Exceeds Goal Thanks to help from supporters like you, the IMBA Trailbuilding Fund has exceeded its goal of $30,000. There's still plenty of singletrack left to build, and your donation helps put trails on the ground. Singlespeed Stories Equal Free Clif Bars Clif Bar wants to hear your best singlespeed stories: "Here at Clif Bar we're simple folk. We provide organic energy. That's it. We strive to lead pure lives, on a light journey, down a white road. For most of us -minus our Luna Chix downhiller, Marla Streb- it's not about getting there fast, but it's about getting there smiling. For that, we'd like to pay homage to the singlespeed tribe. "Tell us your most memorable singlespeed tales on the trails and share photos of your one speed journey. The 20 most wacky tales will receive bars to get you ready for this fall's tacky trails." Please email your stories by August 15th, 2007...or the ol' fashion way: Clif Bar & Co. / Caron Obstfeld / 1610 Fifth Street / Berkeley, CA 94710 ************************************************************************************* February 2007 eNews Join IMBA at the National Bike Summit: March 13-16 IMBA is proud to be a leading sponsor of the 2007 League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. The Summit, held annually, is the premier bicycle advocacy event in our nation's capital and truly a highlight for advocates. You'll meet hundreds of passionate cyclists and walk the halls of Congress, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. Thanks to a generous grant from Bikes Belong, IMBA has scholarship money to help clubs or representatives with limited resources. Sea to Sky Study Reveals Economic Impact of Mountain Biking Mountain bike trails in the Sea to Sky region of British Columbia generated an impressive $10.3 million (CAD) in visitor spending last summer, according to a study conducted by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA). That figure jumps to $38 million (CAD) when the Whistler Bike Park and Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival are included in the analysis. The study also includes participation numbers and other statistics of use to mountain bike advocates on the lookout for economic success stories. A pdf of the study is available online. December Record Month for IMBA Thanks to more than 3,100 dedicated riders and generous donors, December raised more money than any month on record. It also commemorates surpassing our goal of $50,000 contributions to IMBA’s Annual Fund (and riders are still donating). With this momentum, IMBA will be tackling our simple, yet ambitious, goals for 2007: Unite the mountain bike movement and strengthen our collective voice Provide truly world-class riding experiences and model trail systems Protect natural lands while allowing mountain biking Subaru Extends Support for Trail Care Crew Program Subaru of America, Inc. recently announced that it has extended its support of the acclaimed Trail Care Crew through 2009. Launched in 1997, the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program has led more than 1,000 trail projects, trained more than 50,000 people in sustainable trailbuilding techniques and logged nearly one million miles of coast-to-coast travel in Subaru vehicles. Western Spirit to Boost IMBA Membership Ranks Former IMBA president, Ashley Korenblat, has extended a generous offer to help bolster IMBA’s membership.Sign up for a Western Spirit cycling trip by March 31st, and they will upgrade your IMBA membership to the Fat Tire Friend level, and outfit you with an IMBA jersey (a $155 value). Western Spirit runs trips throughout the US from March to October. If you’d like to unwind on a mellow cruise, check out the Grand Staircase in central Utah. Or if you’re hankering for a major challenge, test your mettle on 5 days of singletrack above 10,000 feet on the Colorado Trail. Either way, the truck carries the gear, the guides do the cooking, and the beer will be cold. Contact Western Spirit at 800-845-2453. IMBA Seeks Development Director IMBA seeks a personable, entrepreneurial and skilled professional with proven success designing and executing a full range of philanthropic fundraising strategies to lead our development efforts. The Development Director is based at IMBA's national office in Boulder, Colorado, and is responsible for executing fundraising plans and leading the development team to secure contributed income from individuals, foundations and corporations. More information available online. ********************************************************************************************* IMBA Singletrack News: October 2006 Vote in the 2006 IMBA Board Elections Find Events Near You for Take a Kid MTB-ing Day (Oct. 7) Fourth-Annual Freeride Guide Available Online Trail Solutions Team Creating Sustainable Downhilling in Idaho Video Bonanza at IMBA's Website Two Grant Programs Now Accepting Applications IMBA Trail Specialist Gives Congressional Testimony Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Visit Applications Due Nov. 1 IMBA UK Hosts Successful Summit IMBA Spain Experiencing Rapid Growth Photos Needed for Mountain Bike Management Book Whistler Team Sets Standard for Downhill Bike Patrols IMBA Store Offers New Mountain Bike Skills Book Vote in the 2006 IMBA Board Elections IMBA is pleased to present three new nominees, and three candidates for renewed terms, for election to our Board of Directors. The Board is elected by IMBA’s membership. Although this is an uncontested election, your vote is important to affirm our status as a membership-based nonprofit. Only members current with their annual dues are eligible to vote. Please visit our online voting site today. Find Events Near You for Take a Kid MTB-ing Day (Oct. 7) Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is almost upon us ... don't miss out on the fun this weekend. You can find an event near you online. Unfortuately, a glitch in our registration system has caused a few registered events to be left off the list, so keep and eye out for notices from your local club as well. Fourth-Annual Freeride Guide Available Online IMBA and Kona Bicycles are proud to present this year's edition of the Freeride Guide. Members will recieve the 16-page, full-color publication in their mailboxes shortly. Packed with great articles like "The Emergence of Bike Parks," and "Overcoming Objections to Freeriding," the Guide (downloadable as a pdf) is great resource for riders looking to develop freeriding opportunities in their communities. Trail Solutions Team Creating Sustainable Downhilling in Idaho With 12 miles of expertly constructed downhill mountain bike trails already on the ground, Idaho's Tamarack Resort has emerged as a destination mountain bike location, and a model center for fast, fun and sustainable downhilling. Video Bonanza at IMBA's Website Psst ... anyone looking over your shoulder? If not, ditch work a few minutes longer and visit our new online video repository. With great riding footage wedded to informative stories, you'll hardly miss your spreadsheets and memo writing chores. Two Grant Programs Now Accepting Applications Get your applications ready for the 10 $500 USA Cycling/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grants and the 10 $500 CLIF Bar/IMBA Grants that are available this fall. IMBA Trail Specialist Gives Congressional Testimony Our very own Jill Van Winkle recently addressed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, providing testimony on pending legislation that will affect mountain bike access around Oregon's Mount Hood. Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Visit Applications Due Nov. 1 Do your trails need help? Does your club need a shot in the arm? The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program can help. Now's the time to apply for Crew visit in 2007. Check out the new issue of Bike magazine for a feature story penned by current TCC-ers Ryan Schutz and Kristin Butcher, or see the show in person. IMBA UK Hosts Successful Summit Ninety delegates, including UK land management agencies and IMBA-UK members, attended a three-day conference held last weekend on the English side of the Scottish Borders. The program included sessions for land managers on Managing Trails for Mountainbikers which included field level demonstrations. IMBA Spain Experiencing Rapid Growth Recent reports from IMBA Spain tell us that they're growing fast, with more than 500 members and an expanding club scene. Photos Needed for Mountain Bike Management Book IMBA seeks photos for our upcoming book focused on strategies and techniques for managing mountain biking. Here's your chance to share photos of trailwork, trail restoration, trail structures, before-and- after photos, photo-based success stories, trail signage, kiosks, club events, and more. Contact project director Pete Webber: pete@imba.com. Whistler Team Sets Standard for Downhill Bike Patrols Read about the 11 full-time bike patrollers who work the bustling Whistler Bike Park. Plus, five tips for patrolling downhill areas. IMBA Store Offers New Mountain Bike Skills Book By Brian Lopes and Lee McCormack The newest addition to the IMBA resource library, and already a staff favorite. What makes Mastering Mountain Bike Skills better than most mountain bike skills guides is that it provides detailed technical instruction on the full spectrum of disciplines that make up the sport of mountain biking : cross-country, downhill, mountain cross, freeride, dirt jump and urban. Member Price: $18 Non-members: $20 Your Membership Status, Stan Thanks for Supporting IMBA, your membership is valid through Apr 1, 2007. Be sure to take advantage of your Exclusive Membership Benefits. ******************************************************************************* IMBA Singletrack News August 2006 IMBA and REI Offer "10,000 in 2010" Online Resources for Volunteers Bike-Friendly Wilderness Bill Succeeds in Oregon 400 Miles of Montana Singletrack May Close to Bicycles £9m Grant Awarded for Trails in Scotland Singletrack in National Park Unit Opens to Bikes Urban Innovation at Colonnade Bike Park (Video) Subaru VIP Deal Gets Even Sweeter Register Your "Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" Event Legal Fund Heats Up Examples of Effective Trail Signs Needed IMBA and REI Offer "10,000 in 2010" Online Resources for Volunteers IMBA and REI have targeted "10,000 Volunteer Days Annually in 2010" as the goal for a powerful new initiative, the REI/IMBA Volunteer Stewardship Challenge. The objective: boost volunteerism in the mountain biking community -- which is already highly commendable -- and do a better job recording and sharing those achievements with others. Bike-Friendly Wilderness Bill Moves Forward in Oregon On July 19, the Mount Hood Stewardship and Legacy Act (H.R. 5025), sponsored by Congressmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), passed unanimously through the House Resources Committee, a significant step toward congressional approval. For the past three years, Congressmen Walden and Blumenauer have collaborated with mountain bikers and numerous other stakeholders on this innovative bill. 400 Miles of Montana Singletrack May Close to Bicycles A proposed Montana forest plan revision could set a dangerous national precedent by closing hundreds of miles of singletrack to bicycles. More than 400 miles of trail in seven roadless areas near Missoula are at risk, including many epic routes cherished by local cyclists. Unless mountain bikers take action, the Forest Service will zone these lands as "Recommended Wilderness," and will ban bicycles. £9m Grant Awarded for Trails in Scotland Earlier this summer, Scottish Transport Minister Tavish Scott MSP announced a £9m ($17 million USD) grant to create 500 miles of new cycle routes in Scotland -- the largest ever cash injection ever provided for cycling in Scotland. There will be routes in every local authority area, ranging from scenic tourist routes to urban links. Visit the IMBA UK website for updates. Singletrack in National Park Unit Opens to Bikes Read the Knoxville News Sentinel report on 19 miles of singletrack that opened to mountain bikers in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area last month. Urban Innovation at Colonnade Bike Park (Video) Check out a video (10 mgs, wmv format) of the innovative Colonnade bike park project. The park is being built underneath a Seattle freeway by the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club. Subaru VIP Deal Gets Even Sweeter IMBA members can now save an additional two percent below dealer invoice cost on the purchase or lease of a new Subaru. Total savings range from $1,300-$3,300 off the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, depending on the model and accessories. Better yet, with each purchase Subaru will donate $100 to IMBA. Register Your "Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" Event IMBA will celebrate the third annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. This is a great opportunity to pass your passion for pedaling on to kids. Legal Fund Heats Up The IMBA legal fund has already generated more than $25,000 in online giving, a great start for our year-long drive to protect trails and provide risk-management tools to clubs and land managers. Examples of Effective Trail Signs Needed What does an ideal trail sign look like? What are the key elements of a trailhead kiosk? IMBA seeks photos and examples of trail signage for our forthcoming book focused on managing mountain biking. Here's your chance to share signage designs, plans, photos and success stories with mountain bikers around the world. Contact project director Pete Webber by sending a message to pete@imba.com. ****************************************************************************************** Imba News July '06 * Georgia Mountain Bikers Get Politically Active to Save Trails * Start Planning for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day - Oct. 7 * Make the Grade in Your 2006 IMBA State Report Card * RTCA Benefits from Your Efforts * Mountain Bikers Should Apply to Serve on Forest Service Committees * Keep Your Rep and Club Information on IMBA.com Fresh * Share this eNewsletter with Your Members Georgia Mountain Bikers Get Politically Active to Save Trails Savvy advocacy solved yet another trail issue and made the front page of Georgia's Gwinnett Daily Post to boot. After years of easy access in Yellow River Park, riders were caught by surprise when a county parks plan recommended eliminating several great singletrack routes. In response, local riders formed the Gwinnett Area Trail Riders (GATR), a chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycling Association, and their political advocacy paid off. Trail restoration will now be performed to maintain the narrow width and flow of Yellow River Park singletrack. As an additional bonus, GATR has established relationships with land managers and elected officials that will aid them in future access issues. Start Planning for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day - Oct. 7 Now is the time to start planning your club's event for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day (TKMBD). Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7, the third annual TKMBD is an excellent way to cultivate the next generation of mountain bikers. Last year, more than 100 events attracted thousands of kids nationwide. Perhaps 2006 is the year to take your event to the next level and join the IMBA clubs who are members of Trips For Kids, a non-profit dedicated to teaching mountain biking to kids who otherwise wouldn't be exposed to the activity. Visit IMBA's 10 Tips for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day to plan your event. Make the Grade in Your 2006 IMBA State Report Card Knee-high by the Fourth of July, as the old agricultural adage goes. Farmers know that a good early season is key to the harvest. Why not treat your IMBA state report card the same way? Start designing a strategy to assimilate information and prepare your case for a good letter grade or lobby for a bad one that will bolster your advocacy efforts. Take a page from the Michigan Mountain Biking Association by giving grades to different regions in your state and asking state tourism officials to issue press releases that challenge your riders to up the ante. IMBA has also compiled five easy strategies for leveraging your state's grade for better access. RTCA Benefits from Your Efforts A big thank you goes out to the IMBA Reps and club leaders who took time to call and meet with their members of Congress in the campaign to save the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA), part of the National Park Service. As a result, the Senate voted to maintain funding and rejected the $500,000 cut proposed by the president and approved by the House of Representatives. Final negotiations with the House are scheduled for later this summer. The outlook for RTCA is much brighter and IMBA will let you know how things turn out.Visit IMBA's RTCA website to learn more about our partnership. Mountain Bikers Should Apply to Serve on Forest Service Committees Want to take a role in deciding how recreation fees are used in your neck of the Forest Service woods? The process of soliciting nominations for members to serve on Recreation Resource Advisory Committees (Recreation RACs) will begin soon and spots are reserved for non-motorized representation. Recreation RACs will provide recommendations on certain kinds of recreation fees for both the Forest Service and, as appropriate, the Bureau of Land Management. The agency is currently looking for members to fill committees in California, Oregon, Washington and the Southern and Eastern regions. You can visit the Recreation RAC website for more information. Keep Your Rep and Club Information on IMBA.com Fresh Help potential members find you by keeping your information up to date. Take a minute to check the accuracy of your rep and club contact information on imba.com. Email Scott Linnenberger, IMBA's Field Operations Manager if you need to make an update. Share this eNewsletter with Your Members Help spread the word about good things going on around the country. Many clubs post IMBA eNewsletters on their websites or send them to their memberships and we encourage you to do the same. Feel free to copy and paste text and graphics, expand on the details and make our information your information. ***************************************************************************************** IMBA Club and Rep eNews: June 2006 * Do You Ride in Forest Service Recommended Wilderness? * Bikes Belong Funds Mountain Biking Projects * New Trails Coming to Houston Area * Mountain Bike Trails Make Front Page News in Sawyer County, Wisconsin * Help Expand Mountain Biking at the New River Gorge National River * NPS Rivers and Trails Update * National Park Service Study Examines Trail Impacts and Solutions Do You Ride in Forest Service Recommended Wilderness? IMBA needs your help to identify "Recommended Wilderness" areas where riding currently occurs. Recommended Wilderness is a zone of Forest Service land that has the potential to become congressionally designated Wilderness. In many cases, the Forest Service allows existing uses to continue and mountain bikers have been riding trails in many of these areas for years. Several national forests, though, are now considering banning bikes in Recommended Wilderness. If this becomes a national policy, we could lose access to hundreds of thousands of acres. Contact Drew Vankat if your national forest allows or prohibits riding in Forest Service Recommended Wilderness zones. Bikes Belong Funds Mountain Biking Projects Bikes Belong, the national coalition of retailers and suppliers, handed out $42,000 in grants in May, including $17,000 to three mountain bike-related projects. Mountain bikers in New York, Utah and Vermont are looking forward to better trails and facilities thanks to these generous grants. Visit the Bikes Belong website if your club is interested in applying for a quarterly grant. New Trails Coming to Houston Area Two hundred acres of pine forest in Carl Barton Jr. Park outside of Conroe, Texas, will soon be home to three miles of shared-use singletrack, with the possibility for seven more. The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA) and Texas Trail Doctors will celebrate the groundbreaking with a volunteer workday later this summer. Approval for the project took only six months, thanks to dedicated local advocates and an enthusiastic parks department and city council. Mountain Bike Trails Make Front Page News in Sawyer County, Wisconsin The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) knocked Brett Favre off the front page with its latest trail project. This accomplished club has built and opened miles of trails throughout its northern Wisconsin stomping grounds in the last seven years, but had yet to reach Sawyer County. On May 3, the County Forestry Commission approved a new eight-mile shared-use trail through the forests of Hatchery Creek Park. A true four-season community resource, CAMBA also expects the trail to be a popular snowshoe route. Help Expand Mountain Biking at the New River Gorge National River Known primarily as a world-class climbing and paddling area, West Virginia's New River Gorge National River also permits some mountain biking. As this National Park Service unit revises its General Management Plan, local cyclists are asking for nationwide support in their quest for greater trail access. Park management has recognized the lack of adequate shared-use trails as a major issue and your comments could open the door for terrific new mountain biking opportunities in the Mountain State. NPS Rivers and Trails Update IMBA received a tremendous amount of help from reps, clubs and riders last month in the campaign to protect the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. We sincerely thank everyone who called their senators! It is great to know our network mobilizes quickly and we appreciate the willingness of so many riders who stepped up and got involved. In all, 20 senators signed a "Dear Colleague" petition to show support for RTCA. We'll keep you posted as the Senate subcommittee reviews next year's budget. Senators who signed the Dear Colleague letter include: Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), James Jeffords (I-VT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Carl Levin (D-MI), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR). National Park Service Study Examines Trail Impacts and Solutions All mountain bikers should be familiar with a newly completed study, "Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation: Results from Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area," by Dr. Jeffrey L. Marion of Virginia Tech University. The research was conducted on 78 miles of shared-use and single-use trails at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, located in Kentucky and Tennessee, to assist the park with their Road Trails Management Plan. Dr. Marion's research quantifies the trail impacts of different user groups and offers objective guidance on sustainable trail design, construction, maintenance and management. The study also provides state-of-the-art trail assessment and monitoring procedures. *************************************************************************** IMBA Signs Breakthrough Agreement with National Park Service 05.04.05 Boulder, Colorado If you've ever tried to enjoy a National Park by mountain bike, chances are you've been disappointed. With some notable exceptions, America's premier park system is closed to off-road riding. That's going to change with a new five-year agreement just signed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the National Park Service. For the first time, National Park Service leaders in Washington, D.C., have formally recognized mountain biking as a positive activity, compatible with the values of our National Park system. A benefit to millions of bicyclists is the potential opportunity for new access to hundreds of dirt roads in National Park units that have been closed to bicycling. While National Park Service rules require a lengthy process to open singletrack to bicycle use, appropriate dirt roads may be opened with a more straightforward administrative process. "This agreement represents a true breakthrough for mountain biking," said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. "It opens the door for individual park units to partner with mountain bikers and investigate new riding opportunities on a case-by-case basis." "The National Park Service is committed to increasing public awareness of outdoor recreational opportunities in the national park system that promote health and fitness," said Karen Taylor-Goodrich, the Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection."And mountain bicycling in authorized areas can be an excellent way to enjoy America's outdoor heritage in a manner that is compatible with resource protection." As part of the agreement, IMBA and the Park Service will initially partner on two pilot projects to be selected later this year. The projects will bring mountain bikers and park officials together for on-the-ground teamwork and serve as models for future collaboration. Additionally, IMBA will provide technical and volunteer assistance to National Park units that are interested in improving their off-road cycling opportunities. IMBA programs such as the National Mountain Bike Patrol, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew and the IMBA club network can now apply their stewardship skills to our National Parks. Mountain biking can be a solution to many challenges facing National Parks today. Bicycling gets people out of their cars; away from congested roads, parking lots and trailheads; and out into the fresh air. Mountain biking can also encourage more active exploration of parks and counter the societal trend toward obesity. So what does the future hold? While mountain bikers shouldn't expect a revolution of new singletrack in National Parks, the partnership signals an encouraging direction for the future. With enhanced communication and cooperation between IMBA and the National Park Service, mountain bikers can anticipate that cycling opportunities in National Park units will continue to improve. The National Park Service manages 384 parks, monuments, battlefields, buildings and recreation areas and more than 80 million acres of U.S. public land. In 2004, National Parks hosted more than 276 million visitors. In 2002, IMBA formed a partnership with the Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program of the National Park Service. Rivers & Trails helps communities build trail and greenway systems, restore rivers and wildlife habitat, and preserve open space. Their work largely focuses on urban and suburban locations, where demand for trail networks is the greatest. About IMBA: Founded in 1988, the International Mountain Bicycling Association is a nonprofit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve trail opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork, cooperation among different trail user groups and innovative trail management solutions. IMBA's worldwide network is comprised of individual members, bicycle clubs, corporate partners and bicycle retailers. For more details: http://www.imba.com. |
