I really like talking about new places to ride. Much more upbeat than talking about the still very real problem of mountain bikers losing land access.
The other week, one of my google searches came back with an article on canoe.ca about the Inverhuron Mountain Bike Park, just east of Inverhuron Provincial Park, near Kincardine, ON. The park cost $100k to design and build! For those who think trails are “just there” nope, not even close.
IMBA Canada’s very own Dan Scott paid them a visit before they opened to provide risk management guidance. Read about his visit on the IMBA Canada blog here.
As the flyer says: free ride trails, dirt jumps, and a skills area. Sounds like fun. I’ll have to make my way out there. With my protective equipment of course.
In just over a month it will be Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. This year is the 6th annual, and it falls on October 2nd. Right now I know of only three potential events. One at Kelso (Defiant MTB/GORBA/Halton CA), one at Durham Forest (DMBA), and one in Kingston (Nitro Injected Bikers).
If your club is going to be hosting a Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day be sure to register with IMBA so we know about all of the events going on in the province.
Looking for some old school root and rocks? Jeff promises me that this event is 99% single track to boot. Nice! I wish I was a) in shape, and b) able to participate. Maybe you are one or the other, or both.
Oops. Apparently I goofed and Lee didn’t win it, Mark Battiston did. Sorry for the confusion. Here area photo of the winner with his new frame.
And we have a winner! What do you know it’s Lee Allen. Way to go Lee! Enjoy.
If you think back to a previous eNews you may recall we announced Renegade Cycle Solutions as one of our newest corporate supporters. Well they’ve decided to up their game. I got this press release today:
Vancouver Island, BC - Renegade Cycle Solutions (RCS) is committed wholeheartedly to the philosophy that everybody who rides off-road should support IMBA, either by donation or trail maintenance or both.
We recently made the commitment to offer any IMBA Canada member 10% off any product we distribute. Now we are going one step further.
July 23-25 is the East Coast Open DH Race at Blue Mountain Resort (Ontario) promoted by Sirbikealot Racing. At this first-of-its-kind historic race we will raffle off a brand new Chumba Racing F5 frame outfitted with an X-Fusion Vector HLR shock, (MSRP $2600 CDN). Tickets are just $5 each or 3 for $10 with all proceeds going directly to IMBA Canada.
RCS and Chumba both support grassroots racing, so get off your couch and hit the slopes. While you are there, why not buy a few tickets, pickup a new ride and help a cause close to every rider’s heart.
So if you’re going to be at the East Coast Open DH Race, enter this raffle for your chance to win, and to show your support for IMBA Canada.
I got a note from Sacred Rides the other day asking if I could ask all of my many lady readers if the would be willing to participate in a survey they are conducting.
From Mike Brcic the head honcho:
Mike with Sacred Rides (one of North America’s leading mountain bike adventure companies) here, and I’d love your help on some research that the Sacred Rides team is currently undertaking.
In an effort to understand our female riders’ motivations, Sacred Rides is polling womenmountain bikers to get their insights into the sport. This is an exciting first for the industry – BUT – we need your help!
In order to have really meaningful data, we need lots of responses. Could you ask your female readers if they would complete the quick survey?
Once we have all the data, we will be sending out a press release to fill everybody in on the unique insights of female mountain bikers. We hope the results can be used to help guide the growth of mountainbiking among women.
So ladies help a guy, and your sport, out. Please take a few minutes the complete the survey.
Everyone remember this; the opinion piece I wrote about the recent Bruce Mountain Bike Adventure Park renovations? I was contacted by a writer at Mountain Life Magazine asking if they could reprint it. Well it’s now published. If you live up that way pick up a print copy, if you don’t you can see it here. I’m on page 30.
It’s been about a month since the OTC Trailhead Ontario conference, so I guess its about time I wrote down some of my thoughts on the conference. I came away with two main ideas. Only two!?! Yes only two. That’s not to say the conference didn’t have good sessions, because it did; or that it wasn’t well attended, because it was. It speaks more to the fact that I’ve been to more than a handful of trail conferences.
Thought 1: In the International Plenary we heard from a number of people involved in trail work around world. One thought in particular has stuck with me. I wish I could remember who said this, but I didn’t take note of it. The idea as that as a land owner, land manager or trail operator your primary task is to provide the experience of freedom and adventure, without taking away the ability to engage in risky behaviour. I couldn’t agree more, and this attitude seems to be sadly lacking in Ontario. There are some land owners who get this, but there are more who don’t, and still other who don’t take this thinking far enough.
Thought 2: There was a discussion in the afternoon of day 1 on a Trail Trades Program. Basically the establishment of a certification program for people who design and build trail. A great idea, but I must admit I’m a bit surprised that no one involved has bothered to ask the opinion of IMBA. After all teach people to build trails is one of the things that we do. But that isn’t my point. Those behind this effort have taken some surveys and have collected some data. What jumped out at me is:
by far volunteers and those involved with user groups want this type of training, more so than municipal employees, and much more so than land owner/managers;
volunteers are already building, but land owners not so much;
how trails interact with watershed management was of a very low concern (watershed management is the reason CAs exist).
So there is a big interest in this training from the people who are building, and want to build, but no interest from the land owners and managers who’s land trails would be built on. If those land owners aren’t interested in this program and don’t care about the certifications that are received, then where is the compelling case for your time and cash strapped volunteer to pursue such a certification?
I hold a few certifications in my day job. I went to the trouble to get them because they either got me a raise, or got me a job. I’m making a parallel point here. Until the land owner/managers are on board I don’t see a compelling reason to become certified. I think the idea is off to a good start, but a major land owner (like say Ontario Parks, or Conservation Ontario) needs to get behind this and say they will only work with those who hold these certifications if they really want to get some traction (pardon the pun).
Some times I get taken by surprise. This is one of those times, and what a pleasant surprise it is. A new place to ride.
I stumbled (virtually) across Hanover Bike park when one of my Google Alerts listed this Pinkbike.com article. Interesting. For those who don’t know where Hanover is (I didn’t), it is right between Bruce and Grey County. Interesting, considering Bruce County just revamped it’s Adventure Park due to insurance/liability concerns. I had to know more, so I got on the horn with Chris Sanderson to find out how it all came to be.
Chris had been building on a number of properties and decided to approach the Town of Hanover about a permanent, legit site. After a year of effort, a number of videos, presentations and reports it was approved. The Hanover Freeride Mountain Bike Association had some land on which to build, 5 acres of waterfront property!
They started with a beginner/intermediate trail called “The Guineapig” since renamed to just “The Pig.” Everyone involved like what they saw so they went to get some money. Ontario Power Generation kicked in some cash, and the club filed a Trillium Grant. With this they’ve expanded beyond just The Pig to include some more single track, technical trail features (TTFs), a DJ section, and “Gores Gap” and A-Line like trail. All hand built. On top of that they’ve done quite a bit of signage so you know what to expect, and how to get around the park.
All told Chris estimates 6km of trail is ready to go for their grand opening on July 24th. That’s not to say that the park is closed right now, just not quite ready for prime time.
If you’re in the area you should check it out, and if you’re not in the area, you should plan a road trip. You can combine a ride at Hanover with some other excellent local riding spots in Bruce County. While you’re up that way be sure to stop at some of the local ‘za joints. I hear Frankies and Tommy D’s are good too.
A big show of respect for the commitment and effort of Chris, Dan Mathers, and Kyle Zippel. It’s because of folks like this that we have great places to ride.
They are always looking for volunteers to help out with the park. So drop them a line if you think you could lend a hand in some way.
PS a couple of riders went to the park and shot this short video. Looks like fun.
This just in: one of the Trail Crew members at Conservation Halton has tendered their resignation, so there is now an opening. But you’ll have to act fast they want to start interviewing next week.
The job description is after the jump. But please don’t send me your resume, I’m not involved in the hiring process. Send it to jobs@hrca.on.ca.
Have heard of the Bike Train? It’s started as a way for people to take the train (with their bike of course) to get down to the Niagara Region to do some road touring. It’s expanded beyond that in the last couple of years. Last year they expanded to the North, North Bay in particular. You can take the Bike Train up to North Bay to do some fantastic road or mountain biking. They now go to Eastern Ontario and Montreal and further West to Windsor/Essex.
This year they are partnering with the promoters of Lost in the Rocks and Trees, “Ontario’s Toughest Mountain Bike Race.” Here are the details from Peter Lipscombe of the Bike Train:
Take the Bike Train to a Mattawa Mountain Biking Weekend
$10 off for IMBA Members!
The Bike Train Initiative introduces bike racks onboard select passenger rail trains to destinations across Ontario. This year the Bike Train has teamed up with Lost in the Rocks and Trees Mountain Bike Race in Mattawa to offer an exciting weekend of mountain biking in Ontario’s Near North. Ride on the Ontario Northland’s passenger rail service with your bike safely stowed in a baggage car with bike racks. Lost in the Rocks and Trees is Ontario’s toughest mountain bike race, and festivities are planned for the whole weekend.
Train departs Toronto for North Bay on Friday July 16 from Toronto’s Union Station, and shuttles are available from North Bay to the race location. Race day is Saturday July 17, and passengers return on the train on Sunday July 18th. Accommodations options include camping, motels and hotels. Please book over the phone with the Bike Train office to obtain the IMBA discount: 1-866-333-4491.
ADSVMQ - Basically IMBA Quebec. The site is in French.
Drop Machine Don Valley Forum - Discussion specific to the Don Valley trail system. There is a bit heavier focus on the free ride and dirt jump scene on this site.
Durham Mountain Bicycling Association - The Association for people who ride in Durham Region. Full disclosure: I’m a founder and currently the President.
Guelph Off Road Bicycling Association - GORBA is the largest group in Guelph devoted to the needs of the off-road cyclist since 1992. By providing a group voice, we can preserve, maintain, and even increase the trail network in the Guelph area.
James Brown - BC IMBA Rep - Covering the happenings and going’s on in BC and what James has been up to on behalf of mountain bikers.
Jerome Pelland - Quebec IMBA Rep - Covering the happenings and going’s on in Quebec and what Jerome and the ADSVMQ have been up to on behalf of mountain bikers. In French.
London MBC - One of the purposes of this site was to bring together a group of interested individuals to start a club who’s interests will be racing, recreation, group events and trail advocacy. A core group of seven members has been created.
Mountain Bike Kids Camp in Ottawa - 2 camps the 2 best locations in the Ottawa/Gatineau Region, the best trained staff! What else can you ask for?
MTBR Eastern Canada Forum - Mountain Bike Review Eastern Canada Forum. Good general discussion about mostly XC mountain biking in mostly the GTA and Southern Ontario.
Ottawa MBA - OMBA’s purpose is to maintainexisiting mountain bike trail accessand to gain access to more trails. Tothis end OMBA is building workingrelationships with IMBA Canada andland managers in the Ottawa area. Ifyou love mountain biking, then trailaccess is impo
Ottawa Valley Cycling - Ottawa Valley Mountain Bikers supporting the trails they ride. The Ottawa Valley Mountain Bike Association (OVMBA) is a not-for-profit trail riding, development, and advocacy group comprised of enthusiastic Valley mountain bikers. Membership dues support
I really like talking about new places to ride. Much more upbeat than talking about the still very real problem of mountain bikers losing land access.
IMBA Canada’s very own Dan Scott paid them a visit before they opened to provide risk management guidance. Read about his visit on the IMBA Canada blog here.
In just over a month it will be Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. This year is the 6th annual, and it falls on October 2nd. Right now I know of only three potential events. One at Kelso (Defiant MTB/GORBA/Halton CA), one at Durham Forest (DMBA), and one in Kingston (Nitro Injected Bikers).
