Sorry readers, it has been a busy October. My MMBA NE Chapter postings have really petered out. That’s not to say that there is nothing going on. Everyone (but me) is still hitting the trails hard before the snow starts flying. Last minute preparations and training sessions for Iceman are happening all around us. Get on Steve Hoffman’s email distribution for regular group ride notices <stevehoffman813@gmail.com>. Yes, I am registered for Iceman and yes, it is going to kick my a- -!
Safety concerns: We were notified recently by IMBA/MMBA to dismantle any teeter-totters on MMBA sanctioned trails. This is due to some discrepancies in their insurance coverage. We believe that the teeter-totters will be re-installed as soon as the issues are resolved. Please do not try to “fix” them, just ignore them for now and forge ahead. Thanks. Also, be careful riding during the Fall season. The combination of slippery wet leaves and hidden tree roots can really kill your buzz quickly.
Several have been asking about the trailhead location at Mid Michigan Community College (MMCC). As you enter the main parking lot at MMCC from S Clare Ave (old 27), you will find the trailhead about 100 ft (across the lawn) from the NW corner of the lot. You will enter into a wooded area between the school and the road. The 10.1 mile loop will conclude on the South side of the same lot. We hope to work with MMCC to develop some trail signage in the near future. This is a wise ride destination during the rainy season, as it is on high ground and sheds water quickly.
Thanks to those who participated in the Pain Haven race and our 1st annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. Both were successful events and we look forward to growing them in 2010. Thanks to the City and County of Midland for their help with both events.
Glad to see so many familiar faces at “Race Across the Sky” the other night in Saginaw. This inspiring documentary movie is about the Leadville 100, a now legendary mountain bike race in the sleepy mining town of Leadville, CO. The Leadville 100 is an out and back race that begins at an altitude of 10,200 ft and climbs to 12,500 ft. It challenges all riders from the elite level like Lance Armstrong, to those only competing against themselves for a chance to say that they completed the “Leadville”. It was cool to see mountain biking on the big screen and learn of the riders who had to overcome many challenges to finish this race, not to mention seeing Lance’s feeble attempt to fix a flat tire. Maybe we could consider creating our own “movie night” and show some mountain bike flicks at a venue of choice?
As we get into the hunting seasons, keep in mind that you may be sharing the woods with others, less visible. I know that Midland City Forest and MMCC are posted “No Hunting”…probably others too. I will try to get clarification on this and post an update. May as well remove the whitetail from your riding tights until next year, just to be safe.
As mentioned before, I would welcome others to contribute to this site. It is easy to get you authorized to become an author. Or submit a story to me and I will take care of getting it posted. Or if you can capture any ride imagery or a post-ride video of Steve H singing karaoke at Ruckles, I would gladly post that too. Send to: <thadhallberg@gmail.com>
Until next time, keep the rubber side down and your extremities warm!
Mountain Bike Skills Park (Teaser)
28 05 2009Mountain Bike Skills Park Concept
We are very close to kicking off the latest addition to the Northeast Chapter mountain bike offerings, a Skills Park at Midland City Forest. The park will include beginner and intermediate level mountain bike features designed to improve your balance and bike handling skills. It will be located behind the rear toboggan tower, in an unused, rectangular shaped, grassy clearing. Features will include: dirt jumps, drops, skinnies, log rides/piles, teeter-totters, rocks and a Lee McCormack designed pump track. This will be the only publicly accessible mountain bike skills park in the Northeast Chapter region (that I know of). Volunteers will be needed to efficiently build this park, so that we can start riding it as soon as possible. A portion of this project will be completed thanks to the leadership of area Boy Scout, Matthew Zawisza, earning him an Eagle merit.
Materials for this project will mostly consist of recycled lumber, re-ground concrete, donated scrap rough sawn cedar and other donated items. If you have or know of other (free) materials that could be used in the build, please contact thadhallberg[at]gmail[dot]com. Galvanized fasteners and bagged concrete will be needed, as well.
The skills park design has gone through a few rounds of revisions. Ideas for the current design are based on features seen while researching similar parks. Some details could change slightly during the construction phase. If you have some expertise in designing or constructing bike skills features, please volunteer some time, to help us get this right! Work days will be announced soon.
IMBA calls Skills Parks the “gateway” feature at mountain bike areas. It helps to introduce younger riders to the sport. They hone their skills on the jumps and skinnies, then venture out into the nearby trail systems. I think that the Skills Park will be a great addition to our mountain biking lineup (for all ages). MMBA Northeast Chapter will be responsible for its maintenance and upkeep. Please help us in this effort! Pick up your trash, report damaged features, report or thwart any malicious destruction, ride smart, wear a helmet and other necessary gear, be aware of other riders, etc. We are fortunate to have the City of Midland’s approval for this project. Let’s keep the door open for future opportunities. Thanks!
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Tags: City Forest, comment, dirt jumps, IMBA, Midland City Forest, MMBA, MMBA Northeast Chapter, mountain bike skills, mtb, pump track, Skills, skills course, Skills Park, skinnies, work party
Categories : Announcement, Special Projects