WORBA

The Bike Fed has formed a unique partnership with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), designed to significantly enhance mountain bike opportunities across Wisconsin. Beginning March 1st, 2012, all IMBA members in Wisconsin will share a joint membership in the Bike Fed.

The Bike Fed will expand its statewide advocacy efforts by taking a more active role on mountain bike issues, including closer work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies. IMBA will support the Bike Fed’s work, and will help mountain bike organizations in Wisconsin expand their memberships and effectiveness.
“IMBA’s knowledge of sustainable trails and best practices for mountain bike management — combined with the Bike Fed’s influence in the state capitol and respected leadership across the state — has the potential to accelerate the changes that Wisconsin mountain bikers have hoped to see,” said Mike Van Abel, IMBA’s executive director.
The Bike Fed/IMBA partnership is being further enhanced by the recent alignment between the Bike Fed and the Wisconsin Off-Road Bicycling Association (WORBA). Beginning March 1st, 2012, WORBA will become an organized campaign of the Bike Fed. We will work to better organize state mountain biking interests and provide better technical support of local initiatives. For many years WORBA has been the statewide leader in mountain biking. The Bike Fed and the Wisconsin off-road community owe a huge debt of gratitude to WORBA, in particular the leadership of John Siegert, Harold Schmidt, Marty Weigel and all of those people who have been actively involved through the years.

The Bike Fed and state mountain biking leaders will help promote IMBA’s thriving Chapter Program to local mountain bike clubs. IMBA’s Chapter Program lends administrative support; help with maintaining or achieving tax-exempt 501(c) (3) status and assistance from professional IMBA staff. Several Wisconsin clubs have already engaged with IMBA’s Chapter Program, including Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA), Capital Off-Road Pathfinders (CORP), Kinnickinnic Off-Road Cyclists (KORC) and Metro Mountain Bikers.
I have no doubt that Wisconsin mountain bikers will benefit from this partnership. IMBA and the Bike Fed are committed to working together to bring improved resources and strong leadership that will advance mountain bike access and opportunities — the goal is to bring world-class trails to riders across the Wisconsin.

Help shape the vision for Wisconsin Mountain Biking at the 2012 Wisconsin Bike Summit! This year’s Summit is offering you two important opportunities to help move mountain biking forward. If you care about mountain biking in Wisconsin, you don’t want to miss the 2012 Wisconsin Bike Summit!

• Visioning the Future of Mountain Biking in Wisconsin Breakfast – What’s  your vision for the future of mountain biking in Wisconsin? Where should future mountain bike trail development happen? This is a chance to craft a vision for the future of mountain biking in Wisconsin. Join the Wisconsin DNR, IMBA, and WORBA for this important breakfast.

• Educational Session: Resources, funding, and programs to support mountain biking in local communities – Local mountain biking enthusiasts will hear from Brigit Brown, DNR’s state trails coordinator, regarding the resources available through the DNR and the process by which these resources are allocated. Hansi Johnson, will talk about IMBA’s programs and how they can benefit local communities. Dave Schlabowske of the Bike Fed will discuss new opportunities to unite the Wisconsin mountain biking community in order to expand the sport across the state.

REGISTER NOW for the 2012 Wisconsin Bike Summit! Attending the Summit is not only inspiring, educational, and fun, but you’ll gain valuable information you can use to promote and grow mountain bicycling in your community!

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) constitutes a tiny part of the massive federal Transportation Bill, but it’s vitally important to mountain bikers across the United States. It’s a program worth fighting for, which is why IMBA is calling on all of its chapters, clubs and individual members to take action and urge Congress to protect RTP and other Transportation Enhancements.

http://www.imba.com/blog/advocacy/fight-for-rtp

From the League of American Bicyclists:

We are fighting now against a mandatory sidepath provision in the latest version of the Transportation Bill. We are gathering signatures on a petition, which we will soon present to key Senators. We would greatly appreciate you forwarding the link to your members. Here it is, with a little explanatory blurb:

The draft of the Senate’s transportation authorization bill, S. 1813 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, includes language that would introduce a mandatory sidepath law on roads in our National Parks and other Federal lands. It requires cyclists on Federal lands to use a path or trail, instead of roads, if the speed limit is over 30 MPH and a trail exists within 100 yards, regardless of the condition or utility of the path. The provision sets a terrible precedent. Passing it would send the wrong message to transportation agencies that these policies are acceptable. Laws like this have been taken off the books in states over the past 30 years. This takes us in the wrong direction.

Please sign the League of American Bicyclists’ petition here: http://www.bikeleague.org/petition/

The deadline for bike clubs, local trail groups and land management agencies to apply for a 2012 Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visit is Friday, Nov. 4. Active organizations should not miss this opportunity to learn about sustainable trail building, club growth and community trails development.

Contact Katherine Fuller, IMBA Field Programs Coordinator
katherine.fuller@imba.com
303-545-9011 x101
http://www.imba.com/news/apply-2012-subaruimba-trail-care-crew-visit

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has announced that Santa Fe, New Mexico will host the 2012 IMBA World Summit.  The gathering will be held Oct. 10-13, with pre-conference activities on 10-8 and 10-9. Excitement is already high, as reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican last week.

Contact Mark Eller
IMBA Communications Director
markeller@imba.com
303-545-9011 ext. 115

The NEW OM club has recently gained permission to build trails at the Cherney Maribel Caves County Park. This is the 1st trail in Manitowoc Co. that will be designed and built for mountain biking-specific use. We’re asking for volunteers who can work on S Sept. 24 and Su Sept. 25, anytime from 9am-6pm, and the 1st weekend in Oct., too (bring any tools that you can). Please visit our website when you get the chance. www.thenewom.com

Directions/location of the trail: http://www.maribelcaves.com/Location.html

Please let me know if you are able to help out.

Questions or concerns? Contact Wade at wade@ceaserobot.com or 920.905.2809

The next meeting of the Governor’s State Trails Council is Friday, July 8th, at the George Mead State Wildlife Area near Milladore.  Meeting will be held from 10am-3pm.  Please RSVP to the DNR’s Joe Warren by F 7-1, if you’d like to attend.

josephc.warren@wisconsin.gov

608-267-7487

I believe there is an event August 26th that may benefit the local WORBA trail builders. The Langlade Area Mountain Bike Association is hosting the IMBA Trail Care Crew trail building school. Read about the TCC school here: http://www.imba.com/tcc

Langlade, WI is the home of the Bear Paw WORS track and Nicolet Roche mountain bike trails. (I live in Waukesha and it is a short 3 hour drive). The August 26th weekend is going to be a great learning and social event. A full weekend of night rides, videos, photos, learning and socializing. Camping and lodging on-site.

The advantage to the WORBA trail builders will be education. There are always new people showing up for trail days. Having core people, and new people building trails, educated on sustainable trail design has great value. With many people modeling proper building techniques trail will be built faster and more efficiently; which will generate enthusiasm.

To register and to obtain more information, click the link, scroll to the bottom:

https://www.imba.com/civicrm/event/info?id=135&reset=1

Early registration is appreciated.

Participate in all three days or just one. There is not a cost. Friday and Saturday will be the most meaningful participation days.

Friday will have a great IMBA presentation at 1:00 PM. ” Better Living through trails”. Is the goal to build a trail near your location, expand an existing trail or reinforce the positive aspects of your current trail? This presentation provides you with the tools and information to present the benefits of trail systems that make sense to land managers, local town boards, trail users.. etc.

Friday night will be a bikeumentory provided by the IMBA TCC crew followed by a night ride.

Saturday is the trail school. One reason the Roche approval process went so quickly was that we could represent that many of us had been to the IMBA trail building school. Practical, hands-on experience in building sustainable trails. I believe every well-rounded mountain biker, (and trail enthusiast) can benefit from knowing and recognizing what constitutes well built and sustainable trails.

Saturday night LAMBA will also present the entries (so far) for our photo and video contest. (Submit links to your videos, and submit the actual photo to contest@adventuregroove.com). Hint. Take photos/video while your are there, you just may win a Go Pro HD camera, a Shiner Bock bike or Smith sunglasses.

Please spread the word to attend. This event will have value to WORBA and I promise you will love the single-track.

Charlie Johnson
LAMBA President