IMBA Club and Rep eNews: August 2006

IMBA/REI Volunteer Stewardship Challenge Survey Now Online
National Park Service Unit Opens 19 Miles of New Singletrack
Wilderness Bills Moving Through Congress
Innovative Indiana RTP Strategy Creating New Trails
Advocacy Tip: Partner with Non-Traditional Allies
Take Advantage of the Subaru VIP Program
700 Miles of Singletrack Threatened in Montana
Send Us Your Action Alerts and We'll Distribute
Forest Service Updating Trail Classification System
Take a Kid Mountain Biking on Oct. 7!
Mmm, Mmm--Free CLIF Bars

National Park Service Unit Opens 19 Miles of New Singletrack
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, located in Kentucky and Tennessee, recently opened 19 miles of existing singletrack to mountain bikes. The Big South Fork Bicycle Club worked with NPS management and others to identify the best routes for mountain bike use and have opened up two trails that take riders along cliffs lining a beautiful river gorge.

Wilderness Bills Moving Through Congress
A busy July saw three Wilderness bills passed by the House of Representatives.
Oregon: The Mount Hood Stewardship and Legacy Act is a big win for mountain bikers, saving many important trail systems and providing annual funding for trails and recreation.
California: Several important riding areas have been preserved and a non-Wilderness corridor will let mountain bikers ride one old dirt road surrounded by Wilderness.
Idaho: Unfortunately, 85 miles of epic backcountry singletrack will be lost in central Idaho. IMBA and local cyclists are working with senate staff to protect the most important trail loops.

Check out IMBA's Wilderness Resources page to see how we advocate for land protection and continued bicycle access.

Innovative Indiana RTP Strategy Creating New Trails
Not only has the Hoosier Mountain Bicycle Association (HMBA) gained the nation's largest club-based RTP grant, but they are also on the cutting edge of funding their work. RTP projects in Indiana and many other states require large out-of-pocket expenses before clubs can be reimbursed, making it difficult to start new trailwork. To get around this stumbling block, HMBA secured a $10,000 interest-free loan from Bicycle Garage Indy, a large, local bike shop. The club also led tours of their new trail, soliciting donors for support and raising nearly $8,500 to date. Thanks to these great ideas, HMBA expects to break ground on 10 new miles of singletrack in a matter of weeks.

Advocacy Tip: Partner With Non-Traditional Allies
Timber groups cooperating with wilderness groups? The "hook and bullet" crowd protecting lands alongside environmentalists? Believe it or not, these sorts of coalitions are forming all over the country -- and mountain bikers are often nowhere to be seen. Joining forces with these groups can help resolve impasses and show land managers that a diverse constituency is at work. Next time there is an access issue in your neck of the woods, add some exciting ingredients to your advocacy recipe. Trail runners, hunters, fishermen, bird watchers and others share your love for narrow trails and quiet outdoor experiences.

Take Advantage of the Subaru VIP Program
Looking for a new ride, or know someone who is? The sweet deals available through IMBA's Subaru VIP Program just got sweeter. IMBA members are now eligible to purchase a new Subaru for two percent below the dealer invoice cost, a savings of $1,300 to $3,300 off the suggested retail price. As an added bonus, this program dishes out loads of good karma: Subaru donates $100 to IMBA for each car sold through this program. Please register today!

700 Miles of Singletrack Threatened in Montana
Forest plan revisions could set troubling precedents in Montana's Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Bitterroot, Flathead and Lolo National Forests by banning bikes from many backcountry roadless areas. IMBA and local riders are working to preserve existing riding in these "Recommended Wilderness" areas while protecting the land. Local cyclists have written letters to the editor and met with the Forest Service, Montana Wilderness Association and local shops and retailers to raise awareness of the issue and preserve access to their most important riding areas. You can help Montanans by visiting IMBA's action alert and submitting comments to save this epic singletrack.

Send Us Your Action Alerts and We'll Distribute
Is there a trail closure, park management revision or other advocacy issue you want your fellow mountain bikers to know about? Send an action alert to Drew Vankat, IMBA's Policy Analyst, and he can help you get the word out on imba.com, or as an email to state or regional mountain bikers. If you need help crafting your message, be sure to check out IMBA's primer on How to Write an Action Alert.

Forest Service Updating Trail Classification System
The U.S. Forest Service is currently soliciting public comments as it revises its National Trail Classification System (TCS). This process will result in new guidelines for trail classification, design and implementation on all 133,000 miles of National Forest System trails. IMBA is currently evaluating the 75-page document and will send official comments to the Forest Service in the near future. By mid-August, 2006, IMBA's comments and assistance for preparing individual comments will be posted on imba.com. The official deadline for public comments is Sept. 1.

Take a Kid Mountain Biking on Oct. 7!
IMBA will celebrate the third annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. This is a great opportunity for you to pass your passion for pedaling on to kids. All clubs and individual members who register for the event are eligible to win prizes -- last year IMBA awarded three youth-sized mountain bikes to one club. For more information and easy ways to participate, visit the Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day webpage.

Mmm, Mmm--Free CLIF Bars
Want those volunteers to go that extra mile on trailwork days? IMBA clubs can receive free CLIF Bars for their largest events. These tasty energy treats should be ordered on imba.com at least three weeks prior to the work day. Just be sure to mention CLIF in your flyers, newsletter or website.

Spread the Love!
Be sure to pass along this eNewsetter to your club members. The more club listservs, newsletters and homepages it ends up on, the better!