Trail Access

IMBA is coming to Ashland, OR, Sept. 19-20, and you’re invited to join in the special events. Chris and Leslie Kehmeier of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew are teaming up with the Southern Oregon Freeride Association for a weekend dedicated to improving local trails and having fun.

The visit features a Trailbuilding School, social and a group ride. This is your opportunity to rub shoulders with the IMBA Crew while learning all about trailbuilding. Check out the details below and come join in the fun.
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A friend of mine posted up a our local MTB listserve about a new site he stumbled upon over the weekend, where you can download a compiled an exhaustive map containing every known trail in the states of WA, ID, OR, MT, WY, and even AK for your Garmin Edge 605/705.

Switchback.com

Here’s what Roland had to say about it after downloading and trying it out…

If you use Garmin’s MapSource software along with U.S. Topo to upload maps into your GPS for rides, you have probably noticed that the Topo maps (compiled from old USGS 1:100K scale maps I believe) are notoriously poor when it comes to showing individual trails. But if you add this 3rd party map, suddenly every single trail is right there on your screen. I used it on a ride in Bend yesterday, and just for example, it showed every trail in the Phil’s trail network, as well as everything else in the surrounding area.

If you interested in buying Garmin.. check’em out at REI..

Garmin Edge 605 GPS Bike Computer Garmin Edge 605 brings your cycling to a new level of precision with expanded navigation options. Highly sensitive GPS receiver tracks your position where less sophisticated units will not, providing continuous reliable navigation. Expand unit’s memory and mapping software options with microSD cards (sold separately); unit comes loaded with a basic basemap. Customizable cycle computer shows six different cycling data fields, including speed, distance, time functions, calories burned and altitude gained. Virtual Partner™ brings fun to training by letting you ”race” a virtual competitor. You can also race against a recorded course to match or beat previously set speeds at every point along the way. Auto Pause™ pauses the training timer when you decelerate below a specified speed and resumes once you’ve regained targeted speed. Auto Lap™ triggers a lap every time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance. Compatible with Garmin Connect™: an online community for workout data sharing and analysis (available January, 2008). The unit measures 4.3 x 2 x 1 in.; display area is 1.37 x 1.71 in., and 176 x 220 pixels; screen is readable in daylight. Waterproof design; unit is submersible to 1m for 30 minutes (do not operate submerged). Rechargeable internal lithium polymer battery lasts 15 hrs. with typical use.

Mountain biking in Iowa? I was born and raised in the midwest.. Chicago area to be more precise and when someone says Iowa the first thing that comes to mind is corn and what never comes to mind is mountain biking.  Much to my surprise Iowa has a plethora of mountain biking trails.

Heres a short list of some of the better know areas.

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Trail building and trail maintenance is a lot of fun and very rewarding but all trail work needs to be sanctioned.   Meaning you have to go through the proper channels and do things the right way.  I bring this up because I came across an article via the Associated Press about illegal trail building in Lake Tahoe. The article has since popped up with weak attempts of  casting a local spin on it.  I found the original article via Las Vegas Review Journal.

The illegal trails are laced with stunts and jumps which points the finger at free riders. But casts a very negative shadow on the entire mountain biking community.

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Just got a newsletter for IMBA. If you’re not familiar with IMBA, they are the International Mountain Biking Association. They advocate for the building and maintaining of trails around the world.

IMBA is raising funds to build more trails. They have 50 major projects slated. There were 90 projects up for recommendation but not enough money to do all 90. In partner ship with major mountain bike brands like Trek, SRAM & otheres they’ll double whatever you donate. Donate $100 and $200 will go to building new trails.

Give what you can… even if its only $10. Think of this way, with $10 you can buy a shovel for use on IMBA trail work projects.

Here’s the full newsletter I received..

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The spring melt is just about done which means it’s time for Mountain Bike Parks to open. Looking at resortsacross the country, most mountain bike parks are opening within the next 2 weeks.. conditions permitting.

This fathers day weekend is  opening weekend for Mammoth, North Star at Tahoe, Steamboat Springs and Crested Butte… just name a few.

The following weekend of June 27th marks the opening of other great mountain bike park desitnations like Killington and Keystone.

The world class mountain bike parks of Whistler BC and Snowshoe Moutain WV are already open.

Just last night I was out on a ride on some single track in town. There are several trails there but some are designated to foot traffic only. What I though was cool and haven’t ever seen before was and IMBA sign with the basic rules and ettiquette for mountain bikers.  Made me think about how lucky I am to have a sweet trail right in town.

A few weeks I had the opportunity to ride with a couple of folks from IMBA who were in town visiting and doing trail work in Oakridge. Unfortunately there were so many riders that night that and we all split off into several groups I never did get a chance to thank Chris and Inga for their hard work.

We’re all pretty damn lucky to have such a cool organization working to keep trails open and safe. With that in mind… if you want to learn more about IMBA and what they do, visit their site and sign up for their monthly newsletter to stay informed.

And all I have to say is.. it’s easier to obey the rules and stay off the trails we’re not supposed to be on. It makes things easier for groups like IMBA to negotiate access rights if everyone just simply obeys the rules.