Trail Access News

IMBA Publishes Trail Building Book

  IMBA has published their new trail building book “Trail Solutions: IMBA’s Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack”. This is a 272-page full color book loaded with great instruction on how to build sustainable trails. The book is packed with more than 130 photos and 50 original illustrations. 

 This new book expands on the popular 72 page handbook “Building Better Trails” and provides new information on rock armoring, freeriding, banked turns, mechanized tools, and risk management. The book is divided into eight sections that follow every step of the trail building process. Trail planning, design, tool selection, construction and maintenance are thoroughly explained. There are even tips on recruiting volunteers and securing funding. The book writing process lasted 2 years as IMBA gathered information from 20 trail experts including IMBA staff, trail building professionals, and veteran land managers. The project was funded by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trail program. 

 Books are available from IMBA for $30. www.imba.com.

IMBA News   by Don West
     IMBA, an organization dedicated to preserving trail access for mountain bikers, has had to consider the ups and downs of freeriding since this brand of cycling took root late in the 1990s.  Several years and countless meetings later, we have some answers. IMBA has defined freeriding as “a style of mountain biking that celebrates the challenges and spirit of technical riding and downhilling.” We have committed staff time and resources to creating strategies that make it work: hence the new IMBA Freeriding Guide. As we proceed, we continue to weigh the pros and cons.
The Buzz
     There’s no denying that freeriding continues to create a positive buzz in the off-road riding world.  Freeriding is inspiring a new era of suspension technology and customer excitement.  Freeriding is pulling ski resorts back into the mountain bike tourism game, because suddenly, facilities that are underutilized in warm weather months are proving to be ideal settings for freeride parks, technical downhill trails, and dirt jumps that attract visitors and keep people employed. Freeriding resonates with a new generation of riders.  Whether soaring off jumps, teetering on high-rise stunts, or just balancing on log rides, they’re passionate about riding bikes.  They are - at least in part - the future of mountain biking.
The Busts
     The down sides of freeriding continue to threaten our sport.  Cross-country riding on singletrack trails on public land has already been hurt by unauthorized trail building fueled by freeriding. Land managers revile illegal trail construction and even more so when the clandestine work includes rickety, wooden structures.  In some locations, they’ve reacted by imposing a moratorium on new trails or even worse, banning bikes. We have no viable defense for off-trail riding that tramples plants or otherwise damages the environment. When this type of reckless behavior is linked with mountain biking, we can only lose. Coupled with the media explosion of X-games-style events, freeriding has caught the eye of the general public and advertising agencies. Ask a random passer on a sidewalk to describe mountain biking and there’s a good chance the image will include big-air crazy riding.  In a litigious society, this isn’t a positive picture, particularly as it bounces through the mind of a risk-averse trail manager. The speed and on-the-edge elements of freeriding don’t mix well with hiking, horse use or even cross-country mountain biking. Support for new, separate freeriding trails is hard to find. Still at the end of the day, freeriding is basically just advanced-level mountain biking. Viewed that way and managed appropriately, it’s unquestionably positive for our sport and it deserves to thrive.  That’s why IMBA is committed to making freeriding work.
     The OORC is also committed to the same goals and are willing to look at the new world of off road cycling with open arms and eyes.

Sylamo Trail Gets Approval for Phase III Development
The Sylamo trail near Mountain View is moving forward with more trail. Phase II development is underway and phase III has been approved. Phase II will connect Blanchard Springs Campground with the existing trail, completeing a much needed umbilicle cord to one of the states premier recreation areas. Blanchard Springs Campground is located near Blanchard Springs Cave, one of the most spectacular caves in the nation. It is host to miles of corridors and a room that is the size of three football fields.
More about the trail though. Full color maps are now available. Go online to www.fs.fed.us/oonf or call (479) 968-2354 to have one mailed to you. Many club members have made the trip to ride the existing 20 miles of trail and have come back with rave reviews; Lots of flowing bench cut, incredible scenery and gracious elevation change. The new phase II development will add another 10 miles to the system. When complete, more than 50 miles of sweet single track will allow riders access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.
This trail was initiated by joint advoacy efforts of several regional mountain bike clubs. The trail construction contract has even been let to local mountain biker Rick Zapalowski. Check out one of Arkansas’ premier trails!

Hobbs Trail Plan Looks Good
I could not be more pleased with the Hobbs master trail plan. It is going to offer some of the best destination riding in NWA, and will stand as an example of what organized advocacy efforts can bring us. 17 miles of multi-use trail is planned for the Hobbs, along with campgounds, a visitor center and cabins. If all goes well we will see trail construction start in January of next year.
Consideration of mountain bikers in the plan did not come over night. Our involvement began nearly two years ago with the IMBA trail crew at a meeting with park officials. After an additional day spent with the IMBA trail crew, we had our foot in the door. We provided the Hobbs with studies concerning trail impact and erosion and even showed up with a half dozen riders to help them conduct a primitive impact study. Despite some resistance on the state level, continued lobbying efforts swayed the Director of State Park to include mountain bikes as a consideration in the plan. Three OORC members have since then been included on an advisory panel and have attended two more meetings. We will be responsible for formulating a response to the trail proposal by the end of November. It goes to show that a little perseverance goes a long way. This may be one of our most complete accomplishments in the advocacy arena to date. Congratulations to us!

Ben Garen Has New Trail

Riders in Fort Smith have been hammering out trail in the new addition to Ben Garen City Park. The land had formerly been home to Fort Chaffee Military Base. (Elvis was inducted into the service there.)  The new trail, fondly named “Viva las Vegas” (JK), has reached the 5 mile mark; All single track! Many park roads, jeep roads and traces litter the property.  When the system is complete there will be more than 10 miles. Mark Palmer is leading up the trail work. Call (479) 806-2920 for volunteer information.

Miner’s Rock Threatened

Some may have noticed part of the Miner’s Rock Trail at Lake Leatherwood is posted with no trespassing signs. It is true.  Some of the trail passes on to private property. The Parks Commission is doing everything possible to secure future access to this part of the trail.  You may ride the trail for now. The future is uncertain.