Between now and July 1st save up to 50% on IMBA Canada Gear. It’s our Canada Day Sale! Check out all the great gear on our webstore and celebrate being a mountain biker in Canada. I like the new Custom IMBA Lizard Skins bolt on grips. What’s your fancy?

The trail builders in the province have been pretty busy of late. I have a number of updates that have been piling up in my inbox that I’ve been meaning to post about, so rather than several small posts you get one bigger one.

My very own club the Durham Mountain Biking Association (DMBA) finished our first trail build at Durham Forest, a very popular riding destination in the Greater Toronto Area. 42 volunteers put in 500m of new trail. Reviews so far are positive. Read all about it, including photos of the build, here.

You may recall that Chicopee Ski Hill, in Waterloo, build a bike park last year that included a flow track, jump lines and pump tracks. Well it was such a success that they decided to move the park to a different spot on their property so they wouldn’t have to tear it down and rebuild it each year. Early this Spring, Mark Schmidt was at Chicopee overseeing the construction of the newly expanded park. Check out PinkBike for photos and videos. It look sweet. I’m going to have to make it a point to get to it before the snow flies.

The Ottawa Valley Mountain Bike Association (OVMBA) has broken ground on a skills park. The 2 pump tracks were targetted to be done by June 14^th, technical features will be added over the summer in a beautiful dedicated area at the Civic Centre. Kids are already all over the berms. The town has also committed to building singletrack trail on their properties, still in the planning stage, but likely 5 km will be done by the end of summer, including  a short DH trail. The Dept. of National Defense is also on board, with trails on their bordering property along the Petawawa River. Sorry no pics for this one.

Moving down the Ottawa River towards Ottawa, IMBA Canada’s Mark Schmidt took the Tool Trailer to Camp Fortune to do some trail building and build a pump track. Read all about it here. And judging from the feedback the pump track is a welcome addition. But it wasn’t just a pump track that got built. A few wet spots got some improvements via rock armouring. Working with rock is heavy work, but when done properly the trail lasts a long, long, long time.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped with all of these builds. It is only with the hard work of our fellow mountain bikers that trails, and bike parks, and pump tracks actually get built. If your club is doing good work building and maintaining trails and you’d like to let the rest of the province know about it get in touch, I’ll be happy to let everyone know about it.

If you live in the Ottawa area then you’re in for a treat. The following is translated (from French) from a post on the ADSVM forums:

We are pleased to announce that Ottawa Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) is beginning to build a new trail for mountain bike XC has Gatineau,  Nakkertok Ski Centre. Our goal is to construct approximately 20-25km of singletrack this year and pave the trails in 2010.

Once built, it will be mandatory to become a member to gain access to trails. However, we expect that annual costs will be very reasonable.

We now need a helping hand to build the trails at Nakkertok. So if there are volunteers who can help us, please send an email to our trail head, Peter Verheyden. We also invite you to visit our website. The first day of work will be Sunday, April 26 at Nakkertok.

This is just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa! This is fantastic news. I hope that  OMBA  have some  provision for a “guest pass” because I’d love to ride this if I’m ever in the area.

Yes I was a bit slow on the uptake on this one as the build day has come and gone. But at least I get to make another post about a new riding location.

I’m glad to let everyone know that on June 25th between 2 - 4pm Kawartha Conservation will be holding the Grand Opening of Durham East Cross Forest. This property is kitty corner to Long Sault. You could potentially hook up a nice long ride between the two. When it opens there won’t be much in the way of single track, but mountain bikers are the stewardship committee so hopefully we’ll see some developed in due course.

From the Kawartha Conservation site:

Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area is Kawartha Conservation’s newest natural area, and the first to lie within the Township of Scugog.

The East Cross Forest project was initiated after many properties in the area were devastated by off-road vehicles and other illegal activities. Kawartha Conservation is rehabilitating and managing acquired lands to adequate supplies of clean water for surrounding residents and businesses, and to protect a variety of plant species and cold-water habitat.

Since taking ownership of the first 552 acres in October of 2006, Kawartha Conservation has received donations and purchased additional lands to expand the Durham East Cross Forest Conservation Area.

Our current land holdings are 1134 acres, encompassing the valley and test hill areas, the hydro corridor to the north of test hill, the former Emedi property and Mt. Baldy.

Our goal is to ensure sensitive ecological features are protected and to leave a natural area for generations of visitors to enjoy.

Where to find the DECF:

Durham East Cross Forest

I really wish I could make these kinds of announcements more often.

Join IMBA Canada as we bring the Tool Trail to Sir Sam’s Ski Resort.

Sir Sam’s is the latest lift accessible mountain biking facility in Ontario. There are mountain bike trails and rentals, scenic chairlift rides, food service, arts and crafts gallery and pony rides. There will also be a Tuesday night race series starting on June 30th, 6PM start time. And an Ontario Cup Downhill Mountain Bike Race is scheduled for the August 15 & 16th. And that’s just at Sir Sam’s, there are other things to do near the resort so you can get your ride in and have something for the family to do. Check out their new Summer Fun site for rates and hours of operation.

The Grand Opening weekend is June 27 & 28th.

In May the Durham Mountain Biking Association participated in a successful trail build weekend. The folks at Sir Sam’s were impressed with what they were shown so they’ve asked not only for the DMBA crew to come back, but they’ve also asked that IMBA Canada lead a trail workshop to get ready for the Grand Opening.

The workshop will be on June 13th from 9 AM to 5 PM. Here are the pertinent details:

• There will be a 2 hour presentation were you’ll learn the basics of trail building.
• The rest of the day will be spend outside on the hill building trail.
• Tools will be provided.
• Dress in layers for the weather.  Wear good footwear & work gloves.
• High school students earn your volunteer hours. Bring form to sign.
• Here is a map to Sir Sam’s.

RSVP with Dave Webb at Sir Sam’s and let them know to expect you. This is your chance to have a hand in the building of Ontario’s newest mountain biking destination.

As part of the economic stimulus package the Federal Government allocated $25 million in funds to go towards trails. The call for applications happened on May 26th. The full details of the program are finally available. We’ll go over the program in brief, providing enough information so you can determine if your project and group is eligible.

For full and complete details I suggest you read the source material at the National Trails Coalition (NTC) site.

The total amount of funding is $25 million. This must be matched so that it is at most 50% of the total cost of the project. In-kind contributions, while contributing to the value of the project, do not count as matching funds.

The total available funds will be divided (roughly equally) among three categories of projects:

1. Snowmobile
2. ATV/ORM
3. Non-motorized

Your project must start after June 26, 2009 (the application deadline) and be completed by March 31, 2010. Larger projects may be partially eligible if there is a clear phase of the project that falls between these dates.

Your organization will need to be a member in good standing of at least one of the three partners in the NTC. The full list is here. In Ontario this is:

• Ontario Trails Council
• Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs
• Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs
• Ontario Federation of Trail Riders

Your ogranization will also need to meet the following minimum requirements:

• Evidence that project proponent’s incorporation status is in good standing;
• Proof of Directors & Officers insurance;
• Proof of Comprehensive General Liability insurance;
• Evidence that all legislated environmental assessment and protection requirements have been satisfied;
• Letter of support from the provincial trail organization related to the trail project category selected (The Ontario Trails Coalition in our case).

Each province will have a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) that will determine which projects are recommended for funding and which not. The Regional Trail Coordinators (which for non-motorized use in Ontario is the  Ontario Trails Council) will assist the RACs to compare projects within each category. Each submission will be ranked and strong proposals will be submitted to the NTC for national approval.

The grading of submissions is fully outlined in the “NTC Grant Application Guidelines” document available at the NTC website. In brief the ranking criteria is:

1. Trail management expertise: 20 maximum points
2. Emphasis on employment: 15 maximum points
3. Other funds raised as a percentage of total project costs: 5 maximum points
4. Demonstration of economic benefits:10 maximum points
5. Respect for the environment and sustainable trail development: 10 maximum points
6. Preference for shared and mixed use trail projects: 10 maximum points
7. Significance of trail system: 10 maximum points
8. Overall assessment of the project: 10 maximum points

For a total maximum score of 90.

There are a lot things that are eligible for funding. These include:

• the capital costs of constructing, rehabilitating, upgrading or renovating trails;
• the costs of joint communication activities (press releases, press conferences, translation, etc.) and signage recognition;
• the costs of surveying, engineering, architectural supervision, testing and management consulting services, including but not limited to fees paid to professionals, technical personnel, consultants and contractors;
• the costs of labour, materials, licenses or permits and equipment rental, for the refurbishment and construction of trails;
• the costs of labour, materials, licenses or permits and equipment rental, for the refurbishment and construction of water crossings, including but not limited to bridges;
• the costs of environmental assessments, monitoring, and follow-up programs as required by federal or provincial legislation;
• the costs of engineering reports and/or economic impact studies; and
• costs of purchasing and installing signage for trails, including regulatory, safety, directional, interpretive, and trailhead signage.

What’s not covered:

• costs incurred prior to June 26, 2009 (the application deadline);
• costs incurred after the project completion date;
• the cost of developing a business case or proposal for funding;
• the cost of purchasing land and associated real estate and other fees;
• financing charges and interest payments on loans;
• leasing land, buildings and other facilities;
• the purchase or long-term lease of snowmobiles, ATVs, or other recreational vehicles;
• the cost of any goods and services which are received through donations or in kind;
• costs relating to services delivered directly by permanent employees of the applicant, except in cases where the applicant can demonstrate value for money and that the costs are incremental;
• provincial sales tax and GST/HST, for which the applicant is eligible for a rebate, and any other costs eligible for rebates; and
• legal fees except for those associated with the planning and feasibility of  Public-Private Partnerships in Quebec.

The application can be found on the NTC site. Application deadline is June 26, 2009. Happy bidding.

IMBA Canada just added a new person to the payroll. Please welcome Daniel Scott to the IMBA Canada team. Daniel has just joined IMBA Canada in the role of full-time Trail Specialist, filling a need to expand our trail consulting services. This will free up some of Mark’s time so he can focus on bigger projects like the Ontario Mountain Bike Summit this fall.

Dan is a graduate of the University of Guelph School of Landscape Architecture, and holds a certificate in Mountain Bike Management from Capilano University. His passion for trails and adventure, along with his strong work ethic, solid design background, and dedication to sustainable recreation practices make him an asset to IMBA Canada’s expanding team.

I haven’t met Dan yet, but look forward to seeing him out in the field adding to and improving the trails across the county.

By now you all should have received your latest copy of IMBA Trail News. What you didn’t get yours? Perhaps you’re not an IMBA Canada member. Sign up today.

At any rate, I was reading through and the breakdown of support for IMBA’s special fund raising campaigns caught my eye. I see the Annual fund pulled in $54,000, that’s pretty good. The Trail Building Fund raised $273,000. Wow! It’s pretty clear that we mountain bikers want more trails and are putting our money where our mouths are. Thanks to all the supporters of these two funds.

But there is a sad part to this tale. The Legal Fund only raised a paltry (by comparison) $22,000. Ouch, boo, hiss. I know the Legal Fund sounds all stuffy and corporate, but it’s an important fund to support. A large portion of what IMBA does, and I do as your Ontario IMBA Rep is advocacy work. Yes I do lead more than a few trail construction projects each season. But just as much if not more of my time is spent advocating for mountain biking with land owners, conservation authorities, government officials, and government staff.

I’m not going to be able to say it better than the IMBA site.

Opposition to mountain biking remains fierce in certain communities across the nation. In Ontario, upcoming management plan reviews threaten to ban bikes from well-established riding areas. In other places, anti-bike groups are imploring land managers to lump bicycles with off-road vehicles in their management strategies.

Help define mountain biking as a low-impact activity by making your Legal Fund donation today. Your gift will provide IMBA Canada with the resources we need to educate trail users about the impact of bikes and argue against false claims used to exclude us from appropriate riding opportunities.

There is still a tremendous amount of misinformation about our sport out there. This is not simply a misunderstanding that can to be cleared up. Some groups are adamant that mountain biking be disallowed as a permitted activity. If these types of policies get written into management plans, not only do we lose a place to ride, but we don’t get a chance to make a change for 10, 15, possibly 20 years. When we do get a chance to influence change it will be very hard to do so since a multi-year precedent of “no mountain biking allowed” has been set. Plus if there has been no riding it is hard to muster grass roots support to get things changed. Much better to head these types of issues off at the pass, but we can’t do that without your support.

In order for IMBA to fulfill it’s mission of creating, enhancing and preserving mountain bike opportunities we spend a lot of time advocating for mountain biking. Often this advocacy turns out to be attending public meetings for management plans, or at the very minimum providing commentary on drafts of such plans.

Canada is a very big place and there are a lot of management plans being drafted at any given time. So IMBA relies on its network of regional and local affiliate clubs and reps. I’ve communicated with a number of the local reps in Ontario and they’ve all spent their fair share of time attending stakeholder meetings, public open houses, reviewing draft plans and providing feedback. It’s a necessary part of keeping mountain biking available on public lands.

I’ve come across more than a few “public consultations” that were not very well run and could be considered “public” only in the roughest sense. (In fact it was one like that, that got me involved in advocacy, but that is a story for another time.) The process of involving the public in something as complicated as a management plan for a property is a tricky proposition. How many stakeholders should you include, when should you go to the public, how many times should you go to the public, etc? If only there was some research out there that provided some guidance. Well it turns out there is (but you probably figured that out by now ). Continue reading this post…

In the past I’ve mentioned the Ontario Trail Network Initiative. This is intended to be a comprehensive geographic database of all trail data in Ontario. Not just the trail heads, but also the trails themselves. I’m not going to go into more detail here, if you want to learn more visit my previous post on the topic.

There is a somewhat related effort that has been underway now for some time. It is the “Find a Trail” database on The Ontario Trails Council’s (OTC) website. The OTC redesigned their website last year and added this functionality as part of that design. You can search for trails by a number of criteria from anywhere on the OTC site. You can search for a trail by Region, City, activity, trail name. While “mountain biking” is not a legitimate activity, “cycling - off-road” is. Continue reading this post…