IMBA’s April newsletter is chock-full of new trail news from across the country:

Oregon: An anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to help fund a “destination bike park” on a 35-acre plot in Portland between I-84 and I-205. The land is between two interstates and near a former jail (remember what we said about MTB trails being built on crappy land?). No matter, $1 million can go a looong way toward building sweet trails and the early plan is for free ride and skills stuff in addition to cross-country style trails. Apparently this is a large project because it is estimated to take 3-5 years to complete.

Photo from Raystown.org.

Pennsylvania: Raystown Lake just got 30 miles of brand new, purpose-built singletrack thanks to IMBA Trail Solutions and 6 other trail building firms. The grand opening for the Allegrippis Trails is set for May 9 with group rides, demo bikes, and food. Trails are rated from beginner to expert so it sounds like there’s something for everyone!

California: Paradise Royale just got a $600,000 grant to expand the mountain bike trails in the King Range National Conservation Area. Bike magazine claims that Paradise Royale “might be America’s best new trail.” With a name like Paradise Royale it better be - those are big shoes to fill

So many new trails, so little time. I gotta update my ride wishlist…

Muddy conditions on the forest roads outside Helen, GA this winter.

Spring can be a frustrating time of year for mountain bikers. The weather is finally warming up, the flowers are blooming, and the leaves are starting to come out on the trees – but in many places the trails are still wet. It’s true that April showers bring May flowers but it’s also true that wet riding in the spring can run trails for the entire summer. In Boise, for example, trail managers have decided to institute seasonal closures because of the actions of a few careless riders.

What to do? First, consider the weather when you make your weekend riding plans. In my area there isn’t any snow melt but in the spring a Wednesday rain shower can mean sloppy trails through Saturday and Sunday. Just because sunny skies are forecast on the day you plan to ride doesn’t mean the trails will be in good condition.

Even if you find your favorite trails are too wet to ride, that doesn’t mean you can’t get in the saddle. Consider alternate riding locations with better drainage or head onto forest roads or even paved routes. Training rides on the road will help you kick ass on the trail this summer plus it’s a great excuse to get out and enjoy the weather on your bike. This past weekend the trails near me were full of puddles so I rode 30 miles on forest roads instead and had a good time.

Wet trails are all the more tempting to ride when you’ve already invested time and energy getting to the trailhead. To avoid the temptation, try calling ahead to your local park management office or check singletracks to see if anyone has updated the trail status. This past Friday I was planning to ride and I loaded my bike and all my stuff into the car, ate a quick breakfast, and was almost out the door when I heard the forecast: severe thunderstorms. I opted to hang back but it was tough because I really wanted to ride that day. Wet trail riding is bad for your gear, bad for the trails, and riding in the rain is pretty miserable.

If your local trails are wet this time of year hold off on that trail ride and put in some training miles instead. Your body, your bike, and your trails will thank you this summer.

Photo courtesy Adirondack Bike Ranch

What do you do if there aren’t any good mountain bike trails in your area? You build your own of course - at least that’s what Paul Maggy decided to do. Maggy is set to open the Plattsburgh, NY Adirondack Bike Ranch to the public on April 18 with races, raffles, music and food.

The ranch is basically a mountain bike park with plans for miles of trails, multiple terrain parks, and even an indoor mountain bike track for those cold New York winter months. Adirondack Bike Ranch will also be a one stop shop for riders with on-site mountain bike rentals and a full service bike shop. Mountain bikers can purchase an annual pass for just $25 - a steal if you ask me given that most MTB parks out west charge more than that for a single day pass.

Maggy recently formed NAMBA, an IMBA affiliated bike club and is working with the local chamber of commerce and other businesses to develop the area as an outdoor recreation destination. We’re stoked to see how things go this summer - this might just be a new model for developing MTB trails…

Freeriding in BC? Nope - try central FL.

It must be frustrating to be a Florida mountain biker. The weather in Florida is great for riding pretty much year round but most of the trails are nearly pancake flat and damage from a single storm can shut down a trail system for years. Now there’s another threat to one of Florida’s most important mountain bike trails: budget cuts.

The Florida Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) manages the land where Santos (an IMBA Epic) is located and is facing a potential 80% cut in funding. There is talk of rolling OGT into the state park system but this means the Santos freeride park and jump area may be nixed because “these types of uses are not compatible with the mission of the State Park system.” Yikes. The Ocala Mountain Bike Association has put together a sample letter Florida riders can send to their state representative and we’ve posted a copy on the forums for your convenience. Speak out and help save a FL MTB gem!

Speaking on Florida MTB trail challenges, the Blackwater State Forest MTB Trail Blog has some info on the latest storm damage and pics of a submerged road within the park. I’m not familiar with the Blackwater State Forest trails but from what I read on the blog this place has had some bad luck with forest fires and now flooding. Just goes to show you that mother nature can be a bitch sometimes - as a trailbuilder you just gotta get back in and rebuild.

Slickrock MTB trail photo posted by Dave&Patti

My brother passed this article to me and I was stoked to see what Forbes had to say about the best mountain bike trails in the US. You can imagine my disappointment when I realized that Forbes’ definition of a “bike trail” is pretty generous and includes the 6.1 mile paved Central Park Loop in NYC as one of the 10. Maybe Forbes should stick to finance and mayoring because clearly he doesn’t know jack about bike trails.

The Forbes list did manage to give props to the Great Divide trail which the article claims is the longest mountain bike route in the world (didn’t realize that). The article also mentions Slickrock in Moab but it seems an odd choice since many of the other “American Bike Trails” are multi-day touring routes. The Deschutes River trail in Oregon is probably the shortest trail on the list (after the Central Park Loop of course) at just over 10 miles long, but at least it’s singletrack. The C&O canal trail is included on the list as well and although it is long and it is listed here on singletracks, it barely qualfies as a trail in my mind - more like a dirt road.

I was also disappointed that the Forbes list left off the Kokopelli trail that stretches between Fruita and Moab - an epic MTB route connecting two important mountain biking destinations. I’d be interested to hear what other epic US MTB routes real mountain bikers would recommend - what else belongs on this list?

One of the reasons I love to ride new trails is that I never know what to expect. I’ve been mountain biking for about 15 years now and every now and then I ride a trail and think, “why haven’t I seen this before?”. Two weekends ago I had one of these moments at Raccoon Mountain near Chattanooga, TN.

I’m sure there’s an official trailbuilding term for what I’m about to describe and demonstrate but for now I’m calling it the “toilet bowl.” This is basically a section of trail that loops quickly and doubles back on itself. There were two “toilet bowls” on the Small Intestines trail (fitting, eh?) at Raccoon Mountain and the video below shows the best one.

I bet this section is really fun with a group of 4-5 riders following closely - someone will end up getting cut off at the intersection

These days trail builders are really getting creative and they seem to be drawing on freeriding as an inspiration. I can’t wait to see what else the trail artists come up with!

Photo by John Ussenko

Anyone else out there ready for winter to be over?  I’m looking outside this morning at the five inches of snow we got yesterday and can’t help but think I’d rather be somewhere warm and tropical.  Then out of nowhere, I receive an email from Marla Streb who is in Costa Rica getting ready to put on her mountain bike skills camps there this summer.

The camps sound like much more than just practicing drills and getting a guided tour.  Here’s what Marla herself has to say about it:

The 3 day, 4 night camp is all-inclusive, so you get personalized skills clinics, lodging, meals, zip-lines, surfing, yoga, wild animal parks, jungle epics to waterfalls… and you’ll be riding a sweet Orbea Occam freeride rig. There are women’s only camps on the schedule as well.  Just bring your helmet, sunblock, and sense of adventure!

Not only do you get to ride in a tropical paradise, you’ll be mastering mountain bike skills like doing manuals over obstacles, braking techniques, and climbing effectively all while being led by a world cup champion!  I think meeting and riding with Marla in a more personal setting would be a real treat, I have always been inspired by her passion for mountain biking after reading her biography.  I am sure that passion will be evident in how she runs the skills camp.

I can’t think of a better way to spend my summer vacation.  Check out Marla Streb’s website for camp dates and reserve your spot soon!  Until then, keep thinking warm and tropical thoughts.

IMBA recently posted the 2009 Trail Care Crew schedule and chances are there’s a planned stop at a trail near you. The winter/early spring stops seem to be clustered in the west with 5 events in California planned and even 3 stops in Alaska! Trail Care Crew visits typically last 4 days and include a 2-day Trailbuilding School session, meetings with local land managers, group rides, and social events. Check out the schedule below or go to IMBA.com for more info!

Feb 19 - 22        Carlsbad, NM
Feb 26 - Mar 1   El Paso, TX
March 12 - 15    Hurricane, UT
March 15 - 20    Asheville, NC     Professional Trail Builders Association Conference
March 19 - 22    San Diego, CA
March 20 - 22    Ocala, FL     Santos Fat Tire Festival
March 26- 29     Santa Barbara, CA
April 2 - 5          San Francisco, CA
April 9 - 12        Salinas, CA
April 16 - 19      Monterey, CA     Sea Otter Classic
Apr 30 - May 3   Juneau, AK
Apr 30 - May 3   Logan, WV
May 7 - 10         Palmer, AK
May 7 - 10         Raystown Lake, PA     Grand Opening
May 14 - 17       Fairbanks, AK
May 21 - 31       Oakridge, OR
May 28 - 31       Grand Rapids, MI     Midwest Mountain Bike Festival
June 4 - 7          Chicago, IL     National Trails Day
June 4 - 7          Seattle, WA     National Trails Day
June 18-21        Des Moines, IA

Photos by Reserverockhopper

We drove up to North Carolina this weekend for a wedding on Valentine’s Day (romantic, huh?) but luckily the weather was great and mudhunny and I were able to get a ride in yesterday (more on that later). Some of you may have had to skip your regular trail ride on February 14 but the guys who organize the Racers and Chasers MTB series in California thought ahead and offered a red rose to all race class winners - isn’t that sweet? Sure beats trying to win your sweetheart a stuffed bear at the county fair

Anyway, on the way back home we stopped off in Greensboro for a ride with some friends at the new Wild Turkey MTB trail on Lake Brandt. Wild Turkey is the newest mountain bike trail in the area and has been open for about a year and a half or so. It’s a 4.5 mile out and back trail which is a shame because the lake is looped by singletrack trails, some of which are closed to mountain bikers. The new trails are fast and smooth - swoopy with great flow. The banked turns on the descents are some of the best I’ve ridden - kudos to the Greensboro Fat Tire Society for the trail work! Riders of all ages seemed to be enjoying the trails including at least two riders on Surly Pugsleys - I didn’t know it snowed that much in Greensboro

After Wild Turkey, Jim, Gary and I decided to throw in a loop around Owl’s Roost just for old time’s sake and it was great. Owl’s Roost is much rootier than Wild Turkey and has some pretty gnarly short climbs in spots but my new 29er seemed to just glide over the bumps and leapt up the short steeps. By the time we got back to the house we had clocked over 20 miles in just over 2 hours or so, 70% of it on singletrack - incredible for a February ride!

I’m hoping the nice weather we’re seeing here in the southeast is here to stay - maybe Punxy Phil was wrong after all…

Mountain biking the Arizona Trail. Photo by Scott Morris.

The Denver Post published a good article about mountain biking in the area around El Paso, TX that got me thinking: desert mountain biking could definitely be fun this time of year. While riders in the northeast and midwest are stuck inside, trails covered in snow, riders in places like southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are enjoying some of the best riding weather of the year. Just thinking about it makes me fell all warm inside…

Desert mountain biking isn’t all grins and giggles though, even if the weather is perfect - thorns and cacti generally dot the desert landscape leading to flat tires and potentially nasty falls. The author of the El Paso mountain biking article says “Any deviation from the trail, and spiny clusters of ocotillo, prickly pear and agave plants threatened to skewer me like a voodoo doll.” Those same plants also threaten to skewer tires as well making it all the more important to say on the trail and to seal tires with Stans before heading out.

This article also got me thinking that mountain bikers who start out riding desert terrain probably develop above-average bike handling and falling skills. If you know that even drifting off the side of the trail by an inch could lead to a nasty flat you’ll probably be more precise in your cornering. Learning to fall “safely” is an important part of mountain biking and desert riders are some of the best at controlled falls to avoid prickly and sharp landing spots. Sometimes a handfull of thorns is unavoidable though and after a few falls most riders work hard to stop falling

Desert riding can be surprisingly accessible from western cities with trails like Bootleg Canyon outside Las Vegas and dozens of trails in the Phoenix metro area. Give desert mountain biking a try next time you’re out west - just watch out for those cacti!

Comment period is open for mountain bike route planning on the Colorado Grand Mesa. The end of the article has contact info for submitting comments to the Forest Service…

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest announced that it is beginning planning for mountain bike (and other mechanized travel) on the Grand Mesa. These efforts will encompass the entire Grand Mesa National Forest and is a continuation of identifying a system of routes that bikers can use, that are environmentally friendly as well as, pleasurable for riders.  The Grand Valley Ranger District wants your ideas and comments.

“For the past 15 years the Grand Mesa National Forest has been involved in travel management planning, mostly involving motorized travel,” stated Connie Clementson, Grand Valley District Ranger.  “Now is the time to look at a planned, sustainable system of recreation trails and routes for mountain bikes that provide a quality recreation opportunity and protects sensitive areas and resources.”
Clementson went on to explain that the general focus of the effort is focusing on those existing routes that are open.

Information regarding the proposal and how to provide your comments can be found on the Forest’s website at www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/policy/#travel under “Grand Mesa Mechanized Travel” or contact Niccole Mortenson at 874-6616.

via the Delta County Independent

This week I read a couple articles about how mountain bikers are finally starting to turn the tide on trail closures and trail use conflicts through leadership and hard work. We’ve seen the impact hard working mountain bikers can have right here in our own backyard and apparently it’s happening all over the country.

In Pennsylvania’s Wissahickon Valley recent studies have shown that degraded and eroded park trails were definitely NOT caused by mountain biking but rather by poor water drainage (good study to pass on to your local land managers). In fact mountain bikers have partnered with a local non-profit to improve the trails and the two groups worked more than 3,700 volunteer hours in 2008 alone! The Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association (PMBA) has about 250 volunteers who have worked on trails in the Wissahickon Valley and they even managed to get a $10,000 grant from REI for their work. The great thing is that everyone, including hikers and equestrians, will benefit from the work being done by the PMBA.

In Asheville, NC mountain bikers are heading up an effort to rehab and create new trails on city land known as Richmond Hill. The trails at Richmond Hill have been neglected for some time and residents seemed at a loss for what to do - that is, until the mountain bikers showed up. Now SORBA Pisgah is leading trail work days every other Saturday starting this weekend to build trails for beginning to advanced riders right near the heart of downtown Asheville. Oh, and the hikers will get to enjoy the new and improved trails as well.

Yep, on the east coast and in the midwest it’s rare to have mountain bike trails handed to us and if we want more bike trails we’re gonna have to take the lead ourselves. Find (or create) a local group and get connected on a trail project this year - let’s all be leaders in 2009!

Check out our list of local mountain bike clubs to find a group in your area!