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.

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.

Some more information on TAKMB Day:
IMBA Canada page: http://www.imba.com/canada/programs/tkmbd
IMBA Canada blog: http://imbacanada.imbatools.com/?p=1101
IMBA US page: http://www.imba.com/tkmbd
Register your event here: http://www.imba.com/node/add/tkmbd-event

Here are the deets:

• When: Sept 19th, 10am
• Where: Forest Lea
• Distance: 10km (intro) , 20km (1 lap) , and 40km (2 laps)
• Cost: $30 pre-reg, $40 day of
• Contact: Gearheads, (613) 687-4624
• Fun ride and race to gather and support local trail development!
• BBQ lunch included; tailgate party to follow…BYO
• Rain or shine (or snow)—it is mountain biking after all!
• Hosted by and proceeds to the Ottawa Valley Mtn Bike Association (OVMBA)

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.

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?

http://sacredrides.com/womenmtb

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 mountain biking among women.

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).

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.

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.

Mountain Bike Trail Crew

Kelso Conservation Area

Summer Seasonal Contract

The Mountain Bike Trail Crew members are passionate about mountain biking and conservation. They will assist the coordinator implement the Mountain Bike Program. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Assisting in the implementation of the Mountain Bike Program at Kelso Conservation Area
• Performing general maintenance of the Mountain Bike trail system and establish trail redesigns as directed
• Performing and documenting regular inspections of Technical Trail Features
• Caring for and maintaining the trail maintenance tools.
• Documenting incident reports and providing first aid coverage on trail system.
• Enforcing area regulations as required
• Assisting with events and promoting the Mountain Bike Program as required

Qualifications

• Minimum Grade 10 or equivalent
• Preference will be given to high school graduates and/or those enrolled in a post-secondary sports/recreation management program
• Instruction and Guiding Experience an asset
• Chainsaw certification an asset
• One year experience in bicycle repair and maintenance an asset
• Knowledge of trail building and maintenance techniques and practices is preferred
• Knowledge of Conservation Halton’s trails and other areas helpful
• Familiar with outdoor programs and rental shops an asset
• Must be physically capable of riding all trails within the Park.
• Able to travel to a site not serviced by public transportation

Salary: $10.75 per hour

Hours: 37 per week This position involves working scheduled hours that include evenings, weekends, and holidays (including Long Weekends)

Benefits: One of the many great benefits of working with Conservation Halton is the staff identification pass which entitles our employees to free entry to all of our conservation areas and discounts on goods, services, cafeteria food and events with a participation fee!

Start Date: June 2010

To be considered for these positions, candidates should submit their application, stating position title, to:

Mountain Bike Coordinator

Kelso Conservation Area/Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre

5234 Kelso Road

Milton, ON L9T 2X7

Fax: (905) 878-1619

E-Mail: jobs@hrca.on.ca (include job title in subject line)

Please note: Funding for this position has been applied for through the Summer Job Connect program. The program is designed to help students get good summer jobs and supply community business with access to students.

Preference will be given to those who meet the following eligibility requirements:

• 15-24 years of age (up to 29 for people with disabilities)
• Planning to return to school in September
• Local residents and eligible to work in Canada

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.