IMBA Trail News

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U.S. EDITI O

Chapter and Regional Programs growing fast Plus: progressive land managers, National Bike Summit and more

Rudy Obrien explores Minnesota’s frozen terrain. Photo by Hansi Johnson

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Get With the Plan

n Jan. 26, the U.S. Forest Service released the final draft of its new planning rule. The agency’s newfound emphasis on recreation should be welcomed by anyone who participates in outdoor sports.

One of the few exceptions I can think of is that, for some dyed-in-the-dirt, committed counter-culture mountain bikers, the idea of government-paid foresters stepping up their management of trails may not seem too inspiring.

I get that — I understand the appeal of building trails without having to file paperwork or gain official permission. But, as everyone reading this probably realizes, that approach usually does not result in long-term gains for mountain bikers. Our community has emerged as an important group of forest caretakers and we have become quite skilled at working through the proper channels.

The new planning rule is an invitation for IMBA to step up its role in shaping how the Forest Service manages properties across the nation. We have already influenced the process: High-level Forest Service staff and Department of Interior officials engaged with us (and other recreation-oriented enthusiast groups in the Outdoor Alliance) to help foresters make this new planning rule.

Let’s seize the moment. Here are six important tips for getting the most out of the new procedure: 1) First, we need to encourage all riders to join IMBA and its local chapters/clubs. I know this sounds like self-serving advice, but your ability to influence a local forest’s recreation plans will depend on the size of the group with which you are associated. In places where IMBA’s local affiliates are strong and well organized, mountain bikers will play an important role in planning efforts.

2) It’s critical to have a working knowledge of the new rule and all the elements foresters are expected to consider. For example, the “role of science” has been elevated as a key consideration. IMBA’s long-standing efforts to disseminate science-based knowledge about trail impacts will be critical to mountain bikers’ success.

3) The new planning rule features a strong emphasis on sustainability. Although we all struggle at times to define this term precisely, I can say with confidence that foresters across the county recognize that IMBA offers important guidelines and resources in this area.

4) Know the players responsible for forest planning.

They include recreation planners on the agency What’s a Planning Rule?

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In 1976, the U.S. Congress enacted the National Forest Management Act. This law requires every national forest and grassland managed by the Forest Service to develop and maintain a Land Management Plan, also known as a “forest plan.” The “planning rule” guides the process. In other words, it’s the procedure that foresters must follow when they are determining how they oversee a USFS property.

side, but also the other stakeholders from across the recreation spectrum. Get to know all the influencers in your region and do everything you can to work with them collaboratively.

5) Don’t short-circuit the process. When riders throw tantrums during meetings, or even behind closed doors, it gives the broader mountain bike community a black eye. If you’re too frustrated or burned out on the process to make a positive contribution you should find someone else to represent our community.

6) Keep the big picture in mind. In the end, a forest plan must be about ecosystem health and integrity, which then affords opportunities for other benefits, including recreation. The new planning rule sets the stage for mountain bikers to demonstrate that recreation can enhance and support healthy forests.

Thanks for reading — I’ll look for you on the trails.

Mike Van Abel, IMBA Executive Director

Forests in Alaska, California, Idaho, New Mexico and Puerto Rico First to Implement Rule The U.S. Forest Service has announced eight national forests that will be the first to revise their land management plans using a new National Forest System Planning Rule: the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho; the Chugach National Forest in Alaska; the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico; El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico; and California’s Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. If you mountain bike in these states, it’s time to get to work with forest planning. IMBA offers substantial services, including an in-house attorney who’s well versed in regulatory procedures, to assist our affiliated chapters and clubs.

IMBA Trail News

Winter 2012, Volume 24, Number 4

IMBA creates, preserves and enhances great mountain biking experiences Board of Directors Elayna Caldwell, Santa Cruz, CA Chris Conroy, Golden, CO Howard Fischer, Westchester, NY James Grover, Matthews, NC Alden Philbrick, Alexandria, VA David Treinis, Alta, WY Robert Winston, Carlsbad, CA David Zimberoff, Chicago, IL STaff Tiffanie Beal, Membership Services Coordinator, tiffanie.beal@imba.com Jason Bertolacci, Marketing/Database Manager, jason.bertolacci@imba.com Chris Bernhardt, Director of Consulting Services, chris.bernhardt@imba.com Tony Boone, Trail Specialist, tony.boone@imba.com Terry Breheny, Events Manager, terry.breheny@imba.com Marty Caivano, TCC and NMBP Coordinator, marty.calvano@imba.com Richard Cook, Development Director, rich.cook@imba.com Jenn Dice, Government Affairs Director, jenn@imba.com Tammy Donahugh, Trail Specialist, tammy@imba.com Rich Edwards, Trail Solutions Manager, rich@imba.com Mark Eller, Communications Director, markeller@imba.com Jeremy Fancher, Attorney, jeremy.fancher@imba.com Katherine Fuller, Communications Specialist, katherine.fuller@imba.com Sallie Hoefer, Member and Constituent Rep, sallie.hoefer@imba.com Dan Hudson, Trail Specialist, dan.hudson@imba.com David Janowiec, Team IMBA Manager, david.janowiec@imba.com Hansi Johnson, Midwest Regional Director, hansi.johnson@imba.com Rod Judd, Membership Manager, rod.judd@imba.com Chris Kehmeier, Trail Specialist, chris.kehmeier@imba.com Leslie Kehmeier, Mapping Specialist, leslie.kehmeier@imba.com Patrick Kell, Southwest Regional Director, Patrick.kell@imba.com Wendy Kerr, Development Manager, wendy.kerr@imba.com Kristy Kibler, Government Affairs Coordinator, kristy@imba.com Joey Klein, Trail Specialist, joey@imba.com Ashley Korenblat, PLI Director, ashley.korenblat@imba.com Anna Laxague, Pacific Regional Director, anna.laxague@imba.com Chris Leman, Trail Specialist, chris.leman@imba.com Frank Maguire, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, frank.maguire@imba.com Stephen Mullins, Trail Specialist, stephen.mullins@imba.com Tim Peck, Finance Director, tim.peck@imba.com Rachael Raven, Canada Communications/Trail Care Crew, rachael.raven@imba.com Kerri Salazar, Operations Manager, kerri.salazar@imba.com Tom Sauret, Southeast/SORBARegional Director, tom.sauret@imba.com Ryan Schutz, Affiliate Programs/Rocky Mountain Region, ryan.schutz@imba.com Randy Spangler, Trail Specialist, randy.spangler@imba.com Mike Van Abel, Executive Director, mike@imba.com Tom Ward, IMBA CA Policy Advisor, tom@imba.com Jason Wells, Trail Specialist, jason.wells@imba.com Andy Williamson, Great Lakes Regional Director, andy.williamson@imba.com Shane Wilson, Trail Specialist, shane.wilson@imba.com Lora Woolner, Canada Director, lora@imba.com Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews Jake Carsten and Jenny Abraham, jakeandjenny@imba.com Morgan and Steve Lommele, steveandmorgan@imba.com Designed by Sugar Design, Inc. Images and stories available for re-use by permission only.

Corrections: Brown Country State Park is in Indiana. The West Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance has joined IMBA’s chapter program.

IMBA

Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Program Turns 15

n 1997, IMBA launched a daring and innovative program, designed to teach volunteers how to build sustainable trails and foster relationships among trail users, land managers and city officials.

The two crews crisscrossing the country today would hardly recognize the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program of 15 years ago, but the effects on communities remain the same. The “Johnny Appleseed” approach empowers volunteers with the knowledge and relationships they need to create great riding experiences where they live.

Trails we take for granted today, many years removed from their inceptions, were influenced heavily by crew visits. The famous Kokopelli trails in Fruita, CO, received a crew visit in 1999, which helped forge a working relationship between the Bureau of Land Management and the local mountain bike club.

That partnership flourished, ultimately providing for dozens of innovative new trails for mountain bikers in the region. The Fruita/ Grand Junction area, once struggling to get by economically on peach orchards, is now considered one of the best places to ride in the country. Fruita boasts a thriving tourism economy based on mountain biking, hiking and rafting.

The legacy continues in 2012, thanks largely to ongoing support from Subaru of America. Now with two crews in the United States (and one team in Canada) and full-suspension instead of hardtail bikes, the crews visit about 65 groups each year, planting seeds wherever they go. Check out the 2012 schedule at imba.com/tcc and plan on heading to a visit near you!

PO Box 711 Boulder, CO 80306 USA ph 303-545-9011 fax 303-545-9026 info@imba.com

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Chapter and Regional Programs See Strong Growth

Launched in 2010, the IMBA Chapter program is experiencing strong growth.

This spring, we will welcome the largest class of new chapter organizations into the fold, a whopping 15 new inductees. With locations ranging from New York to Idaho to Hawaii, the new class will bring the total number of chapters to 78.

With a close affiliation to IMBA’s national office, chapters have taken the next step in aligning with IMBA. The U.S.-based program features joint memberships, allowing individuals to join IMBA and their local mountain bike organization with a single membership.

Chapters used enhanced IMBA staff support to help notch impressive achievements across the nation in 2011: • In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists built 20 miles of trail, most of it professionally designed and installed quickly with mechanized equipment.

• The Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland built a top-notch pump track and 5 miles of new trail.

• In Colorado, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association built the Golden Bike Park, as well as 8 miles of new trail, including a black-diamond segment on U.S. Forest Service land.

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• The Greater Oakridge Area Trail Stewards, in Oakridge, OR, became a silver-level Ride Center.

• In Prescott, AZ, the Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance built 11 miles of trail and has only oneand-a-half miles to build to complete a 50-mile loop that circumnavigates the city.

• The Michigan Mountain Bike Alliance built 28 miles of trail and two bike parks. The chapter also has in place plans to raise $300K for trails in 2012 and will run a statewide series of races to act as fundraisers.

IMBA also hired two new region directors to support chapters and strengthen the program. Patrick Kell resigned his post as the executive director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association to serve as director of IMBA’s newly formed Southwest region.

Likewise, Andy Williamson transitioned from Ohio’s Five Rivers Metro Parks, where he served as the Outdoor Recreation Program Manager, to take on the role of IMBA Region Director for the new Great Lakes region.

Adding these new staff members and territories means that IMBA now has professional staff deployed in seven distinct U.S. territories. Kell and Williamson join peers in the Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Southeast and Upper

Midwest regions. The Southwest Region covers Arizona, Southern California and Southern Nevada. The Great Lakes Region covers Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, mainland Michigan, eastern Missouri and Ohio.

Trail Solutions Designs Unique Bike Skills Park In Richmond, VA

In Virginia, the Richmond chapter of the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE) won approval for a 2-acre bike skills area on Belle Island in James River Park.

The skills area, accessible by bike from all parts of the city, was designed by IMBA Trail Solutions and funded in part by a grant from the IMBA Trail Building Fund.

The skills area will be located under an overpass, near 18 miles of volunteerbuilt singletrack. Trail Solutions designed the park’s features to mimic the challenges of the existing trails, which will allow beginner and intermediate riders to practice new skills in a safe and controlled environment. The park’s skills areas will include sections where people can practice climbing over rock features and learn how to choose the right lines through technical, rocky sections of trail. The

park will also feature two pump tracks, log rides and additional singletrack.

“It’s an excellent use of marginal land and a great addition to a well-built urban singletrack system,” says Chris Bernhardt, Director of IMBA Trail Solutions.

The park will also feature a road skills area developed by the League of American Bicyclists, which can be used to teach kids how to ride bikes.

Construction will begin in April 2012 with the grand opening scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.

Chapter In Duluth Secures $250K To Start Expansive Singletrack Project

Consider these numbers: 250,000, 90,000, 11,000, 50 and 100. The first is the dollar amount of a grant recently landed by Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS), an IMBA Chapter, to build the Duluth Traverse.

The second is the population of Duluth, MN, home of COGGS. The third, 11,000, is the number of acres of city park that the Traverse will help preserve. Fifty is the number of miles of singletrack in the Duluth Traverse. The final number, 100, is the number of miles of sanctioned singletrack that will be linked together and available to Duluth residents once COGGS completes the project.

Two years ago, COGGS coordinated with IMBA Region Director Hansi Johnson to bring the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew to Duluth. They invited a long list of community leaders, including the mayor, for what turned out to be a highly successful meeting. The result was enhanced awareness, jumpstarted fundraising and city support for the trail proposal.

In 2011, the Duluth Parks and Rec. Dept. was gutted and was forced to turn to outside user groups to manage resources. The city held a referendum on a tax for open spaces. Thanks to improved relations, the mayor approached COGGS and asked them to fundraise and get out the vote in favor of the tax, which they did successfully.

The work helped COGGS land a $250,000 state grant,

plus a line item in the city’s budget dedicated to the future of the trail system.

The Duluth Traverse is now embedded in city master plans, has a flagged corridor and is shovel-ready. Work will begin this summer.

NMBP Members Can Win a Turner 5 SPOT

National Mountain Bike Patrol members who renew their support in 2012 will be entered to win a Turner Bicycles 5 SPOT frame in the size of their choice. New NMBP members are also eligible, so make sure all of the patrollers in your group, both newly trained and returning veterans, are signed up as NMBP supporters. The prize will be drawn at the end of the year. Remember, NMBP patroller membership is a two-for-one deal — it includes all standard IMBA membership benefits such as stickers, discounts from bike gear brands and the IMBA Dirty Movie mountain biking DVD. New for 2012, members receive a year-long subscription to either Bicycling magazine, Dirt Rag, Mountain Flyer or Switchback Digital Edition when they join or renew at imba.com/join.

Support the Annual Fund, Receive a Beautiful Calendar

Soften the blow of trail closures around the country by supporting IMBA. Soften the blow of endless meetings on your to-do list by penciling them in on a calendar of awe-inspiring mountain biking images. Do both at the same time when you donate to IMBA’s Annual Fund and receive the official 2012

IMBA calendar in return.

Hurry – the calendars won’t last long! Donate today at imba.com/af. Thank you for your support!

Team IMBA Records Successes in 2011, Looks to 2012

Last year, Team IMBA riders scored impressive victories, not only at the races, but by raising significant funds for trail projects. Jason Dubin of Boyds, MD, was the top individual fundraiser — he’ll get a $2,300 challenge grant (powered by SRAM) for his local club. Team IMBASORBA led the charge for teams. Their challenge grants will be used for a variety of projects, including efforts in Unicoi State Park (GA), Chattahoochee Bend (GA) and an MTB trails training for Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Team IMBA is now ramping up for 2012. Racers of any ability can participate and everyone gets a Team IMBA jersey. Plus, you will connect with other regional team riders at events and act as ambassadors for IMBA. Fundraising is not mandatory, but if you want to collect donations you get a personal campaign page and the chance to earn challenge grants. So far, Team IMBA efforts have raised over $108,000 for local trail projects. Learn more at imba. com/team-imba.

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Trail Heroes The power of progressive land managers

his winter, IMBA joined other members of the Outdoor Alliance at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, CO, for the first-ever Outdoor Alliance Partnership Summit.

The purpose of the gathering was to bring leaders from the human-powered recreation community together with federal land managers to share success stories.

IMBA is a founding member of the Outdoor Alliance.

Its six member organizations — the Access Fund, American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, American Whitewater, IMBA and the Winter Wildlands Alliance — work together to protect natural areas.

Here are accounts of three visionary land managers that attended the gathering.

Zach Jarrett Lead Outdoor Recreation Planner Salem District, BLM Sandy Ridge Trail System, Mount Hood, OR

If you have followed IMBA’s work in recent years, you may have heard about the Sandy Ridge Trail System, near Mount Hood. It’s an innovative and nationally recognized mountain bike trail network developed by the BLM, working in collaboration with IMBA Trail Solutions.

What you may not know is that it’s also an inspiring model of engaging young people through volunteer trail building. Young volunteers accounted for a stunning 25,000 hours of labor on the Sandy project. None of that could have happened without the help of Zach Jarrett, who has been working with IMBA for more than four years to address a lack of mountain bike riding opportunities in Western Oregon.

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Jarrett supported IMBA’s desire to design a standardsetting trail system. He made his case to BLM decision makers by emphasizing the availability of a costeffective way to build everything and a plan for managing that solution: youth corps crews.

The muscle power provided by the youth corps volunteers helped to minimize the BLM’s costs for completing the trail system. It wasn’t easy — working with students required coordination with social workers and regular supervision to keep the project moving in the right direction.

When it was all said and done, more than 60 youth from a half-dozen local and regional groups had gained job skills, exposure to the outdoors and were more integrated into their community. Better still, they were proud to help build 11 miles of beautiful singletrack that’s now waiting for your next ride.

Scott Dollus Recreation Planner

South Platter Ranger District, USFS Buffalo Creek Mountain Bike Trails, Denver, CO In the early 1990s, Scott Dollus was involved in a prescribed burn in the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, near Denver. He noticed that the rock formations and the line cut for the burn would make a cool place to ride a bike. The NEPA study had already been done, so there were relatively few hurdles to jump through. But in 1996, a series of devastating fires began, and most of the trails were closed, with no plans to be re-opened.

Enter Keith Clarke and the Front Range Mountain Bike Patrol (FRMBP). Sixty-strong, the group of mountain bikers had experienced great success volunteering for Jefferson County Parks and Open Space, helping to

significantly reduce user conflicts and prevent mountain bike trail closures. Clarke and the patrol forged a partnership with Dollus with the goal of helping Buffalo Creek realize its mountain bike potential.

After one year, Dollus was so impressed with having an extra 60 sets of eyes on his land that he started letting the bikers do trail maintenance projects. In 2006, the Forest Service allowed the bike patrol, in conjunction with IMBA and the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA), to draw up a master trail plan for the area.

Ultimately, 27 miles of new trail were approved, 12 of which are on the ground today. Of the 60 miles of trail in the Buffalo Creek area before this effort not a single trail was specifically built for mountain bikers, so COMBA was invited to create a new black-diamond trail. The effort brought out an entirely new crop of volunteers and resulted in positive media attention in both the local newspaper and major magazines.

The trails have also provided an economic driver for the nearby town of Bailey. A public-private partnership formed the Bailey Hundo 100-mile mountain bike race, with support of former Colorado State Senator Chris Romer. The charity race raises funds for youth cycling programs, raises funds for the trails in the Buffalo Creek system and helps fuel the recreation-based economy of Bailey.

The 15-year-old partnership sustains today and has resulted in 6,900 hours of volunteer labor contributed by the FRMBP alone. Buffalo Creek now has the potential to become a world-class destination for human-powered recreation.

them in, you have to let them do things and build trust.

If you get past your own turf, you will all be successful.

Also, baked goods help.”

The BLM office in Redding is known for a culture of co-operation, thanks largely to the steady presence of Francis Berg. By working closely with user groups across the recreation spectrum the office has helped develop more than 125 miles of non-motorized trail.

In 1993, the Redding Resource Management Plan, led by Berg, took into account what various community leaders and user groups were asking for and included a plan for developing a greenway trail system. It seemed daunting in that it passes through lands owned by the BLM, Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, the city of Redding, Shasta County and even some private parcels. Creating successful partnerships by keeping everyone on the same page and dividing up tasks among the public and private sectors were the only ways to make the project happen.

Berg also thought about how to market the trail, not just get it built. The BLM chose two significant cultural landmarks as the trail’s endpoints: the Shasta Dam and the Sundial Bridge. Considering mountain bikers, they made sure that a dirt path accompanied each section of paved trail. The BLM also hosted a grand opening in partnership with several local groups, including IMBA, to help spread the word. People were bussed in with their bikes to ride the new system, which immediately created massive public awareness.

When completed, that greenway — the Sacramento River Rail Trail system — will include more than 26 miles of non-motorized trail, ranging from flat paved portions to steep, rocky singletrack. The number of miles, the sponsored events and the number of partners involved means the trails are always busy, the bike shops are hiring extra mechanics and Redding as a whole is experiencing related economic benefits.

Francis Berg Assistant Field Manager Redding Field Office, BLM Sacramento River Trail System, Redding, CA “Process is sometimes important, but people are always important,” says Francis Berg. “You have to let 7

n March 22, more than 1,000 bicyclists will don neon bicycle lapel pins and storm the halls of Congress. Just days later, vital funding for bicycling and walking programs across America could get the axe — or a reprieve — from lawmakers.

IMBA is proud to once again help sponsor the League of American Bicyclists’ premier lobbying event. At the 2012 National Bike Summit we will join cycling advocates from all 50 states as we try to protect federal dollars for proven programs like Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).

For mountain bikers, protecting RTP is paramount. It’s the only federal avenue to put taxpayer dollars into dirt trails. At $85 million annually, RTP has already put 15,000 singletrack trail projects on the ground.

IMBA Chapters and clubs are becoming experts in securing this funding and wielding it to benefit mountain bikers. Late last year, IMBA put out the call for RTP success stories — these are a few of the highlights.

RTP at Work in Indiana A 2005 RTP grant allowed the Hoosier Mountain Bike Association to bring professional trail contractors to Brown County State Park. The pros partnered with volunteers to take the park from a great local trail system to a national

destination — in 2011 the trails earned IMBA Epic status. The RTP grant funded the construction of two beginner trails and two advanced trails, providing a complete trail inventory suitable for all mountain bikers. The trails continue to inspired trail builders and park units across Indiana.

RTP at Work in Montana The mountain town of Whitefish is nestled amid the chiseled peaks and sweeping valleys that border majestic Glacier National Park. Whitefish Legacy Partners (WLP) was created in 2004 to permanently protect vital public lands surrounding Whitefish and to provide recreational opportunities on these

“The Recreational Trails Program has been the single most effective tool for encouraging trails for the whole spectrum of outdoor interests. Many states have had no other source of funds for trails.”

Stuart MacDonald, editor of American Trails magazine

lands. In 2010, WLP and the city of Whitefish received a matching RTP grant to help build the Whitefish Trail, a 55-mile loop that will circumnavigate Whitefish Lake and tie into the trails at Whitefish Mountain Resort. They have completed 19 miles of trail, whisking residents and visitors into the backcountry via foot, pedal or hoof. The public/private partnership could generate upwards of $750,000, greatly enhancing the tourism industry that Whitefish depends on to keep its economy growing.

Register for NBS 2012 and Win a Trip to the Oakridge Ride Center! Don’t let Congress turn back the clock on decades of hardfought progress toward creating a more bicycle-friendly America. Join us at the 2012 National Bike Summit (March 20-22 in Washington, D.C.) to help defend critical funding programs just when America needs them the most.

Why should you attend NBS: REGISTER for nbs

• • • • •

Harness the power of D.C. advocacy to benefit your local trails Learn from respected speakers, panelists and hundreds of other cycling advocates Make sure elected officials know what mountain bikers want Join IMBA staff for our “family-only” meetings and annual NBS dinner on Wednesday Stay for the weekend and tour the nation’s capital

Better yet, IMBA Destinations partner, Oregon Adventures will award a 3-day trip to IMBA’s silver-level Ride Center in Oakridge, OR, to one lucky NBS registrant on the IMBA track! Visit imba.com/national-bike-summit

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Can’t Make it to D.C.?

Don’t despair if you’re unable to attend the 2012 National Bike Summit — you can still support bike advocacy in the weeks, days and hours leading up to the event. Take these three easy steps:

RTP at Work in Alabama Coldwater Mountain is a 4,000-acre tract of undeveloped land adjacent to downtown Anniston, AL. The mountainous tract is protected from development and set aside for recreation by Alabama’s Forever Wild organization. With the coordinated efforts of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the Northeast Alabama Bicycle Association and SORBA, $600,000 (including the required match) in RTP funding has been secured to begin construction on 60 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails. The facility will offer two gravity areas, a skills park, pump tracks, rest rooms, bike washing stations and more. IMBA’s Trail Solutions designed the system and will oversee the construction of the entire project, beginning in March. A formal economic impact study is currently underway, but preliminary estimates project millions of tourism dollars will be pumped into the local economy annually by mountain bikers who will enjoy easy access and year-round use of a trail system located just over an hour west of Atlanta, and an hour east of Birmingham.

1) Stay informed by visiting imba.com, and by reading our eNews, Action Alerts and other communications.

2) Contact your elected officials and speak up for bicycling. Be sure to mention your support for the Recreational Trails Program, Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements.

3) Encourage your local chapter or club to send at least one officer to Washington next year.

3 Questions for Andy Clarke Andy Clark is the executive director of the group that organizes and oversees the National Bike Summit, the League of American Bicyclists.

IMBA Trail News asked him three questions before the 2012 summit got underway.

ITN: What’s the best thing to say to someone who thinks federal spending on bicycling and walking is frivolous?

AC: First, you fight back the urge to say, “Wake up and smell the coffee!” Second, I think you say there is a national interest in having a transportation system that works and you can’t separate the different parts and users of the system. For trucks to move freely and commuters to get to work efficiently you need things like transit and bicycling and walking to be part of a complete, integrated system. If that doesn’t work, I think you point out that there is a significant national interest in reducing the death toll on our roads — about 4,500 pedestrians die on federally funded roads every year. We ought to be able to cross the road safely.

ITN: How can transportation-oriented bicyclists and recreationminded mountain bikers strengthen each other’s messages?

AC: To me, this is a false distinction. We don’t have different transportation policies for people in cars or RVs that are having fun rather than getting to work. And the reality is that only 15 percent of all trips are journeys to and from work. Most car trips are social or recreational. We are all people that ride bikes.

We support each other; we celebrate the diversity of cycling; we avoid labels.

ITN: If you could go for a spin anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

AC: France. I might wait for slightly warmer weather, but the French just seem to know how to treat cyclists right. The food and wine is hard to beat, and every corner of the country has a distinct appeal. The challenge for me would be where to choose in France.

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Mark McKinnon to Keynote for IMBA IMBA is excited to announce that Mark McKinnon will give a keynote address at the National Bike Summit, speaking with mountain bikers in mind. For 30 years, McKinnon has helped solve complex strategic challenges for causes, companies and candidates, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong and Bono.

He’s an award-winning media producer and communications strategist who has served as principal advisor for hundreds of corporate and political campaigns around the world. He helped engineer five winning presidential primary and general elections.

“McKinnon is evidence that principled centrism is not an oxymoron,” wrote John Avalon in a Daily Beast column about the 25 Best Centrist Pundits. “McKinnon piloted John McCain’s 2008 primary campaign to victory. But he announced in advance that if Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination, he would ride off into the sunset rather than participate in the negative attacks he knew would be required. This is unheard of in the world of modern politics, where partisanship trumps principle as a matter of course.”

McKinnon is a two-time Ironman finisher, but he’d rather be mountain biking the trails of Summit County, Colorado.

Attending NBS 2011 on an IMBA Scholarship

By Kyle Lawrence In 2011, IMBA awarded Kyle Lawrence a scholarship to attend the 2011 National Bike Summit.

Lawrence is based in Harrisonburg, VA, where he volunteers with the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition. Here’s what he had to say about the experience.

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Mountain bike trails in our National Parks, bike-specific trails on federal land and pending wilderness legislation were among the hot topics I checked out at the National Bike Summit. Of course, you don’t need to attend NBS to learn about these subjects, but reading online resources can’t match the energy of the summit, where you get to spend time with the movers and shakers in the trails community. The presentation material at NBS is useful, but it definitely takes a backseat to valuable personal connections you make.

Thanks to the generosity of IMBA I found plenty of time to network at last year’s summit. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is easy — many of us do it every weekend on group rides. But hearing success stories from around the nation lights a fire inside that burns even hotter once you arrive back home. So much excitement buzzes amongst the summit attendees, fostering a unique atmosphere not unlike the Saturday morning trailhead banter, but with a greater diversity of experiences.

Meeting many of the people who have helped to design trail systems, foster big trail plan ideas and engage in the heavy lifting to win over decision makers was an incredible opportunity.

Hearing the stories of other IMBA delegates while at the summit sparked me into action, helped me redouble my efforts to work for new trail builds in our National Forest and enhanced my involvement with my local bike club.

A word to the wise — don’t expect to ride your bike on trails. Washington, D.C., is lacking legal trail riding options. Maybe our nation’s capital will have a pump track along the river by next year’s event!

2012 IMBA SESSIONS AT THE NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT Tuesday, March 20 2-5 PM: IMBA Pre-Summit Workshop 5-6 PM: First Timer’s Advocacy Training and Orientation

6-8:30 PM: Opening Banquet and Keynote Speaker Mark McKinnon

Wednesday, March 21 7 AM: Registration and Continental Breakfast 8 AM: Opening Plenary Session 9:30 AM-12:30 PM: IMBA Breakout Sessions 12:45 -2 PM: Keynote Luncheon 2:30-3:45 PM: Final Breakout Sessions 5 PM: State Delegation Meetings 7 PM: IMBA Delegate Dinner

Thursday, March 22 8 AM: Breakfast and Rally on Capitol Hill All Day: Meetings with House and Senate Offices

5-7 PM: Congressional Reception and Summit Wrap-up

Subaru/IMBA TCC 10 tips for strutting your singletrack swagger

et’s throw modesty to the curb for a tick: In 2011 alone, IMBA’s network of chapters and clubs built roughly 1,320,000 feet of trail. That’s 250 miles of sweet, new singletrack.

Unfortunately, not enough people know about it. Heck, even an IMBA member like you didn’t even know until about 10 seconds ago. As a community we don’t brag enough. This modesty isn’t doing our movement any favors, because bragging about successes is the best way to make the public aware of our value, demonstrate our commitment and effectiveness to land managers and political decision makers, and recruit new members who want to be part of something rad.

The bottom line is that mountain bikers build oodles of safe, free and fun trails. We enhance public health and tie people to the land in ways few other organizations can. We also offer inexpensive, low-maintenance and long-term recreation facilities for entire communities to enjoy.

But how the heck are we going to advance as a movement if no one knows about it? So, dust off that bullhorn and use it!

First off, always record your successes. Keep a log of volunteer hours contributed by your organization, take lots of pictures and keep a written record of everything your club does.

Second, seek out marketing and public relations professionals who are passionate about mountain biking and ask them to help get the word out about your organization’s successes.

Third, commit to doing at least one new thing from this list in the next month: 1. Educate your members first so they can help spread the word. Send out a monthly email newsletter and be sure to call out your recent trail stats and top accomplishments.

2. Use social media — after every event, let your constituency know the results via Facebook, Twitter and photos on your website.

3. Trailheads aren’t just for maps — the best place to reach trail users is through the filter they all pass through, so put up a flyer explaining you organization’s contributions.

4. Seek out opportunities to pen an op-ed or recreation column in your local paper — especially in smaller towns they are likely to be looking for content.

5. Schedule a quarterly local radio interview — they, too, comb for local news.

6. Contact other trail-user groups (like hikers, trail runners, equestrians, bird watchers, cat walkers and motorized users) and offer to write a few sentences for their email or print newsletters. Try including an open invitation to collaborate on trail work, or simply socialize.

7. Communicate with non-traditional partner organizations like conservation corps, environmental organizations, health and wellness clubs, church groups and knitting clubs — you’re making a difference in the community and they should know about it.

8. Present annually to your local chamber of commerce, tourism bureau, city council or parks staff on recent accomplishments. Include next year’s plans; these folks like to be part of visible successes in the community so make it easy for them to join the cause.

9. Write thank-you emails to land managers, and offer to write a blurb for their agency newsletters.

10. Do the same with your local bike shops — a thankyou message is a great way to simultaneously brag and acknowledge.

Finally, don’t forget to send your accomplishments to IMBA so we can help you spread the word. From print articles to online videos, we have a variety of avenues to showcase your good work. Contact us through your region director, or by sending a message to info@imba.com.

SUBARU REWARDS IMBA MEMBERS WITH HASSLE-FREE VIP PURCHASES Subaru’s VIP Program allows IMBA individual/family members and IMBA member clubs to purchase or lease any new Subaru saving $1,300$3,000 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, without haggling. Visit imba. com/tcc for details.

SUBARU/IMBA TRAIL CARE CREW SPONSORS

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World Leader Trail Solutions covers the globe with great trails

rail Solutions ranks among IMBA’s largest and most successful programs, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. “Nearly all of the work that Trail Solutions takes on comes in the form of fee-based contracts,” says Chris Bernhardt, who directs the 14-member staff of professional trail planners and builders. “Sometimes our model confuses people. Our teams are professionally contracted, with projects ranging between a few thousand dollars to jobs that are well into six-figure territory, but Trail Solutions still operates within IMBA’s non-profit tax status. Some jobs make money, others don’t. Any money we make ultimately fuels IMBA’s mission to create, enhance and preserve great trails.”

The contract-based approach makes Trail Solutions a great fit for introducing IMBA around the globe. “Most of our membership is in North America, so we’ve long focused on developing trails and services for the core constituents that sustain our organization,” says IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. “But paid Trail Solutions contracts allow us to visit a wide range of countries without diminishing our domestic efforts. IMBA is committed to advancing sustainable mountain biking practices on an international scale.”

WHAT’S A FLOW TRAIL? As the sport of mountain bicycling has evolved over the past decades it has driven the development of a new style of trail, with new features and concepts being built as riders push the limits on traditional singletrack. The growth of the sport has reached a point where public land agencies, ski areas, and communities worldwide are recognizing the importance of mountain bicycling and are looking to provide trails built specifically for mountain bikes.

Based on the idea that exciting trails will encourage more people to ride more often, world-class rider Hans Rey (GT), trail designer Diddie Schneider (Schneider Sportevent & Design), and IMBA’s Trail Solutions have partnered to present Flow Country trails. This new concept is designed to take people of any fitness, equipment or skill-level on a singletrack joyride.

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Early Visits to Israel, Oz and the United Kingdom Back in 2002 (and again in 2003), IMBA Trail Specialist Joey Klein visited Australia under the Trail Solutions banner to share knowledge on mountain bike management, trail building, conflict resolution and volunteer group mobilization. Working in partnership with the newly formed Mountain Bike Australia, Klein met with local mountain bikers, connected with area land managers and led discussions on trail access issues.

Klein and Trail Specialist Pete Webber later spent 10 days in Israel, visiting in early 2005. Hosted by IMBA-affiliated Samson Riders Bicycle Club, the trip was supported by the Jewish National Fund land management agency Keren Kayemet Le Israel.

Perhaps the most important international Trail Solutions visit in that era came in 2002, when Trail Solutions Manager Rich Edwards joined Klein in the United Kingdom. They assessed dozens of sites in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

“The trail centers in Britain are above and beyond anything we have ever seen in North America. This is some of best new trail in the world, with something for every rider,” wrote Klein. His experience helped shape the vision for Ride Centers, some of the most exciting projects that Trail Solutions pursues today.

Recent Work in Europe and Asia In recent years, Trail Solutions has also done important work in Europe and Asia. Last year, Trail Specialist Tony Boone joined Singapore-based trail partner HM Lim from Dirtraction in Hong Kong to present a comprehensive trail building workshop, including two full days of classroom lecture. In attendance were almost 70 staff leaders from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong and 60 other attendees, including riders from the IMBA-affiliated Hong Kong Mountain Biking Association (HKMBA).

Armed with the knowledge of sustainable trail building techniques, the staff and riders combined

IMBA TRAIL SOLUTIONS’ CORE SERVICES forces in the field for a week, building a section of beginner trail at the popular Twisk trailhead, within Tai Lam Country Park. The short beginner loop allowed trail building techniques to be perfected by the various staff members and created new trail opportunities for riders to hone their skills in a safe environment. The 2011 visit was complimented by another Trail Solutions visit in 2012 to continue the trailbuilding effort.

Also in 2011, IMBA expanded its work in Europe by teaming with world-class rider Hans Rey and trail designer Diddie Schneider to introduce Flow Country Trails. The goal is to introduce a new template for building the trails that mountain bikers love, with trail development terms and guidelines that provide a common phrasebook for communication.

Working with partner Allegra Tourismus, Trail Solutions designed a three-mile flow trail at Wildhaus, a village in Northeastern Switzerland. Appealingly located within a two-hour drive of over six million people, this area is slated to become a dream destination for Central European mountain bikers. A portion of the funding for this work was provided by SRAM, who supports IMBA’s efforts to improve the riding experience for European mountain bicyclists.

A wide range of projects have already been planned for 2012, from municipal parks to alpine resorts. To achieve these, Trail Solutions will partner with land managers, trailbuilders and IMBA’s extensive network of passionate advocates.

“The trails that Trail Solutions puts on the ground are durable expressions of IMBA’s value,” says Bernhardt. “They showcase our knowledge of what riders want, our collaborative approach and our ability to partner with land managers from around the planet.”

Trail Solutions offers trail design, construction, assessment and education. Here’s a closer look at Trail Solutions core services and the ideas behind them.

Learn more by visiting imba.com/trail-solutions Trail Design The success of a trail is highly dependent on both environmental and social sustainability. A well-designed trail should cause minimal damage to the surrounding landscape and require minimal maintenance over time. That same trail should also provide trail users with the experience they seek.

From shared-use trails that minimize Sa potential ndy Ridgeuser conflicts to low-impact downhill trails that test expert riders, Trail Solutions is up to the design challenge.

Trail Construction The Trail Solutions staff takes great pride in staying on the cutting edge of innovative trail construction strategies. From turnkey construction achieved with mechanized techniques to training volunteer crews, we offer a range of building styles.

Our Trail Specialists work cooperatively with other professional trail builders — our teams are flexible and team oriented.

Trail Assessment Most trails and trail systems have developed socially, without adequate attention to the potential environmental impacts or user experiences.

Trail Solutions provides guidance on retrofitting haphazardly developed trail systems into networks that efficiently disperse trail users, provide the experiences they are seeking, and do so with minimal long-term impact to the natural world.

Trail Education The foundation of a successful trail or system of trails is a high level of knowledge regarding sustainable trail design, construction and maintenance. Trail Solutions provides customdesigned trail training seminars covering topics ranging from economic/social development through trails, design and construction of advanced-level mountain biking trails, trail system design, volunteer management, crew leader training and mechanized trail building techniques.

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Corporate and Foundation Members These organizations provide essential funding to fuel IMBA’s work. Please help us say thanks!

A special thanks to our Above and Beyond Supporters, listed in bold type, who contribute a significant amount in addition to their annual dues.

For information about how you or your organization can support IMBA, please contact Rich Cook, IMBA Development Director, by calling 303.545.9011 x104, or by sending a message to rich.cook@ imba.com.

IMBA U.S. Corporate Members A-Z

3Point5 - Promotive A’me Grips Adventure Advocates Adventure Travel Trade Association Adventuremaps, Inc. Airborne Bicycles Alchemist Threadworks Alchemy Goods Alpine Indoor, LLC Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Anasazi Trails, Inc. Anthem Branding Arbutus Images Arrowhead Trails Avid4 Adventure, Inc. B.O.B. Trailers, Inc. Backcountry.com Bellfree Contractors Inc. Bent Creek Lodge Bentonville Convention & Visitors Bureau Bicycle Colorado Bicycle Sport Shop Bicycle Technologies International - BTI Bicycling / Mountain Bike Magazine Big Agnes Big Bear Cabins for Rent Big Bear Lake Camplands Bike Magazine Bikeflights.com Bikes Belong Coalition Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. Boulder Bike Tours Boulder Business Products - BBP Camelbak Cane Creek Cycling Components Cascade Huts Catalyst Communication, Inc. Cateye Center For Outdoor Experience Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival Clif Bar Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours Colorado Backcountry Biker Competitive Cyclist Country Inn Deerwood Crank Brothers CST CycleTherapy Cycling Camp San Diego Cycling Sports Group Cygolite DeFeet International Desert Sports Deuter USA Diamondback Bicycles/Raleigh USA

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Dirt Rag Magazine Diversion en Montaña Downeast Bicycle Specialists DT Swiss, Inc Eastern Mountain Sports Easton Bell Sports, Inc. (Easton, Bell, Giro, Blackburn) Epic Rides, Inc. Ergon USA Excel Sports Boulder Fat Tire Guides, LLC Finish Line Technologies Focus Bicycles USA FOX Racing Shox Fuji America - Advanced Sports International Gates Carbon Drive Giant Bicycles Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce Green Guru Gear GU Energy Labs Hans Johnsen Company Hawley Company Hayes Bicycle Group Hidden Hollow Cabins Highlands & Islands Adventures Hilride Honey Stinger Howell At The Moon Productions Hydrapak, LLC iBert, Inc. Idaho Resort Rentals LLC Innovations in Cycling, Inc. Interbike HucknRoll.com Hutchinson Industries J&B Importers Jamis Bicycles / G. Joannou Cycle Jarvso Bergscykel Park - Sweden Jenson USA Kenda USA Keystone Resort Kinetic Koffee Company Kirkwood Mountain Resort Kona Mountain Bikes Life Time Fitness Lifeboat Solutions Long Cane Trails, LLC MapMyFitness Marin Mountain Bikes, Inc. Maxxis International MechaWear.com Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop Michelin North America Midwest Cycling Moots Cycles Mountain Flyer Mountain Khakis MountainBikeSkills.com Mt. Borah Designs Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-A-Way National Bicycle Dealers Assn National Parks Service RTCA National Ski Areas Association Native Eyewear Nema International New Belgium Brewery Niner Bikes Nuun and Company Oregon Adventures Osprey Packs, Inc

Outdoor Industry Association Paceline Products Inc. Park Tool Pearl Izumi Pedal America Pedal Nation Events Performance, Inc. Planet Bike Primal Wear Professional Trailbuilders Association Proforma Bishop Graphics ProGold Lubricants Pura Vida Ride Quality Bicycle Products Recreational Equipment Inc. Red Agave Resort RedHouseMedia Reineke Construction RentCycle Resource Revival Ritchey Design Inc. S&S Trails Services San Juan Hut System Santa Cruz Bicycles SBS - Seattle Bike Supply Sea Otter Classic Seaside Naturally Scott USA Second Ascent Shenandoah Mountain Touring Shimano American Corporation SIDI America Single Track LLC Singletracks.com Smith Optics Sock Guy Spectrum Trail Design Specialized Bicycles SRAM Corporation Strider Sports International, Inc. Subaru of America Sustainable Travel International - STI Sutter Equipment Company Teton Mountain Bike Tours Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association The Canyons Resort The Clymb The North Face Thudbuster Seatposts Thule Timberland, Inc. Trail Dynamics TrailArts Travel Oregon Trek Bicycle Corporation Trek Dirt Series Trek Travel Triumph Books Two Knobby Tires USA Cycling, Inc. Velonews Voler Team Apparel Western Spirit Cycling Wheel & Sprocket Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) Winter Park Resort World Bicycle Relief Yakima Yeti Cycles Zoic Clothing

IMBA Canada Corporate Members A-Z

24 Hours of Adrenalin / Twenty4 Sports Inc. Alpine Bike Parks Axis Gear Company Ltd. Boreale Mountain Biking Bruce County Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park Capilano University: Mountain Bike Operations Program Chico Racing Chromag Bikes Cobequid Trail Consultants Community Futures Crowsnest Pass Conservation Halton: Kelso/Hilton Falls/ Mountsberg Creative Wheel/La Rocca XC MTB School Cycle Ontario Dirt Series Mountain Bike Camps Ltd. Geomatics Data Management Inc Hardwood Ski And Bike Hoots Inc. Inter-Mtn Enterprises Inc Joyride150 Mont-Sainte-Anne Mountain Equipment Co-op Norco Ontario Trails Council Origin Design + Communications Ltd Outdoor Gear Canada Renegade Cycle Solutions Rocky Mountain Bicycles Ryders Eyewear Ryeka Sport Sentiers Boréals Inc. Sir Sam’s Ski and Bike Specialized Canada Subaru Canada Sustainable Trails Ltd. Thule Canada Township of Georgian Bay Township Of King TransRockies Inc. Trek Bicycle Corporation Canada The North Face Canada Valhalla Trails Ltd. Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association Whistler Mountain Bike Park Zeptechniques Mountain Bike Camps and Instructor Training

Foundation Supporters

Ruth H. Brown Foundation Clif Bar Family Foundation Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund (Oreg Fund, OMW Memorial Fund, Patrick McMullan, Jim Butterworth, Nick Wheeler) Hellman Family Foundation Ron and Stacey Gutfleish Foundation Mark Reynolds Memorial Bike Fund Michael And Eleanor Pinkert Foundation Richard E. And Nancy P. Marriott Foundation Cynthia and George P. Mitchell Foundation Betsy Mitchell Family Foundation Walton Family Foundation

IMBA Store and Member Benefits

COMING SOON automatic membership renewal option Tired of receiving membership renewal notices and emails? IMBA members will soon be able to choose automatic renewal for their membership. Once the program is live, you will be able to opt in at imba.com/join. By choosing automatic renewal, you guarantee that your membership and benefits — including discounts on new Subarus for standing members — will not lapse. Your credit card will be charged for your membership dues once each year, and you will receive your new membership card by the time your old card expires. Automatic renewals also assist IMBA’s sustainability practices by saving paper and channelling more funds into great trail experiences.

Magazine Subscriptions Included With IMBA Membership

Thanks to our media partners at Bicycling Magazine, Dirt Rag, Mountain Flyer (Rocky Mountain region) and Switchback Digital Magazine, new and renewing IMBA members receive a one-year subscription to his or her magazine of choice. Simply select the subscription you prefer when you join or renew at www.imba.com/join.

IMBA Launches its Premier Riding Kit

Get your pre-order in now and make sure you are ready to roll come spring. Choose from a short-sleeve jersey, downhill jersey, shorts and windvest, all featuring the black and orange “Dirt Tracks” design. All pre-orders will be shipped late March.

Mountain Bikes + Dogs + Beer = Good Times

The IMBA dog collar is made from recycled bike tubes and features a bottle opener for a leash ring. Purchase one of these and you will support IMBA’s mission, save some rubber from a landfill and make it that much easier to enjoy a cold one after a ride with your trail pup.

PROPS FOR LIFE TIME FITNESS AND LEADVILLE 100 RACE

ONLINE MEETING FOR IMBA MEMBERS ON MAY 18

Big thanks go to Life Time Fitness and the Leadville 100 for donating $5 from every lottery entry for the 2011 Leadville Trail 100 race to IMBA’s Trail Building Fund. If you are looking for new races or would like to volunteer at an event, we encourage you to support Life Time Fitness and the 2012 Leadville Race Series: June 17: Wilmington Whiteface 100 (NY) April 21: Austin Rattler 100 (TX) July 22: Tahoe Trail (CA) June 2: Barn Burner 104 (AZ) September 15: Alpine Odyssey (CO) July 14: Silver Rush 50 (CO)

IMBA will hold a special meeting for members on May 18 at 5:00 PM MST. The meeting will be held online and will include a web-based vote. Attendees will discuss plans to restructure IMBA as a legal entity under Colorado law. The current bylaws and corporate structure were intended for a much smaller organization in a less dynamic business environment and need to be updated. The meeting will provide members an opportunity to hear the details of this proposed action and have their questions answered prior to voting. Visit imba.com/special-members-meeting to register.

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NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 631

PO Box 711 Boulder, Colorado 80306 USA

JOIN US IN SANTA FE, NM, OCT. 10-13 • Unparalleled networking opportunities • Dynamic speakers and sessions • Fantastic southwestern riding • Pre-conference field trips and training For early-bird registration, sponsorship opportunities and proposals for speakers/content, visit imba.com/world-summit