 |
|
The July We're Baaack Edition . . .
|
|
|
Ride Like a Girl Ride at Crockett Hills
Saturday July 17th, 2021 8:30AM to Noon
Crockett Hills Trailhead
38.047080, -122.221270
The next installment of BTCEB's women-only ride series will be hitting the best singletrack (probably) in the East Bay at Crockett Hills Regional Park on July 17th. This park has some steep sections, so be prepared for a workout, but the downhills are fun and forgiving for every skill level. Our route will cover about 14 miles with 1,800 feet of climbing, but there will be opportunities to go longer or shorter depending on how ambitious people are feeling.
Join ride leaders Ariana Milelli and Rebecca Lewington at 8:30am at the trailhead on Crockett Blvd. This will give us plenty of time to sign in, go over how the rides work and answer any questions you might have before hitting the trail at 9am.
Please bring your mountain bike (obviously) in good working condition. Whether you’re running tubeless tires or not, please make sure you have a spare inner tube to fit your wheels, plenty of water and some food for the trail.
We usually hang out for a while after the ride, so bring along after-ride beverages and snacks if you feel like it. If anyone needs a little help with their technique, we can do impromptu skills classes then.
And don't forget to join BTCEB! We are much more than a group that puts on group rides. BTCEB. tirelessly advocates for better bike access on trails in the East Bay and we need your support. Join today
at memberplanet.com/btceb.
Sign up for the ride or post ride specific questions on Meetup. Oakland Pump Track Maintenance Day
Saturday July 10, 2021 9am to Noon
Oakland Pump Track maintenance days are back by popular demand!
This Saturday 7/10 at 9am, come out to the pump track at Joaquin Miller Park to put in some work to help keep the rollers and berms rolling fast. Closed-toed shoes, gloves and water are a must. Email trails@btceb.org with any questions. See you there!
Submit a Public Comment on EBRPD Roddy Ranch Restoration and Public Access Plan
By Scott Bartlebaugh  East Bay Regional Park District held its second planning meeting regarding plans for Roddy Ranch located in East Contra Costa County on Thursday July 1st. We urge you to submit a written public comment and participate in the public meeting by July 12th if you haven't already. If you already have, thank you! It is important not only for the Roddy Ranch property but to continue to send the message to the park district leadership that the mountain bike community wants more access to narrow trails at a variety of parks across the district. Also, please reach out to your networks to get as much of the cycling community submitting public comment as possible.
Here's what you can do. You can submit public comment two different ways:
1) Directly email the planner Eddie Willis at ewillis@ebparks.org
2) Submit comment via the parks Roddy Ranch planning web page in the Comment Form by Monday, July 12, 2021.
Your written comment can be as short or as long as you like.
Three Alternatives have been drafted and the meeting was focused on feedback on those alternatives. Draft Alternative C (Focus on Flow) provides the most bike access of the three alternatives.
The simplest public comment could be 'I support Draft Alternative C (Focus on Flow). I would like to see additional narrow trail access for bicyclists.'
If you would like to see other things considered beyond the alternatives they have proposed please submit those comments.
Here are several links if you would like to get more information and learn about the details.
Roddy Ranch Access Plan web page
Direct link to comment form. June Gala Ride at Shell Ridge
By Jerott King
BTCEB hosted its first "post-pandemic" Gala Ride at Shell Ridge in Walnut Creek on Saturday June 19th. Twenty-eight riders as young as 10 and as old as 75 ventured out in the in the waning days of the June heatwave. It was a hot day with temperatures mid 80's to 90 degrees.
The ride featured four Club board members: Jerott (President), Mirek (VP), Alan (Treasurer), and Scott (Advocacy). Pre-ride each board member gave impromptu speeches to highlight what they do for BTCEB and ways for the public to engage with our advocacy efforts.
Starting at Mike Hess Brewery the intrepid Gala Ride crew rode into Shell Ridge. The ride stuck mostly to fire trails to avoid conflict with other user groups. Adam Hunt graciously stepped up into a ride leader role and led the group for the majority of the ride.
The ride ended back at Mike Hess Brewery where many pints of their featured Hard Charger Hazy IPA were enjoyed. Special thanks to Mike Loar, General Manager of the Walnut Creek tasting room, for the $800 donated to BTCEB from their Hard Charger sales promotion earlier this year. We definitely looking forward to hosting more events at the Mike Hess Brewery!
Special recognition to one of our most valued benefactors, Mike's Bikes. Mike's Bikes donated $400 worth of gear to help create a "sweep kit" for the Club. This included an Osprey backpack, an assortment of tubes, tools, chain links, air pump, and CO2. Plus an assortment of snacks, and water!
Also a big thank you to Clif Bar who donated five boxes of snacks for the riders to enjoy. These were distributed to all Gala participants at the beginning of the ride.
Stay tuned to the club's Meetup page for future Gala Rides notices and invitations.
Boy Scouts Lookout for the Benches at JMP
by Mike Udkow Boy Scouts displaying their handy work at Lookout Point in JMP A group of Boy Scouts led by Puru Gajare built and installed these nice "love seats" at the Lookout Point in Joaquin Miller Park. The view is outstanding! The BTCEB helped to secure them from vandals. ENJOY! Maybe keeping a well stocked cooler of beer would be nice. Any volunteers?
Focused Trailwork Team
By John Roberts  
Riding trails is a joy. Seeing nature from a minimalist trail environment, is the a joy. Enjoying nature feels best from non-invasive singletrack: it is better than from your car or kitchen window. We get more when we get out there.
This is a call to do trailwork. Working outdoors to improve the explorational wonders of the outdoors is rewarding. To best enhance the outdoor experience, we need well-maintained trails. The more subtle the path, the more nature we can safely be surrounded by. The best way to accomplish this goal is through work that ensures the sustainability of our trails.
I am calling out for a select few that are willing to work with poison oak removal, or, can do other trail work on short notice:
1) Mountain bikers do a service to all trail users when we remove poison oak vines that are encroaching on the trail. For this, the qualifications require one of two things, be in the 15% of the population that does not get a poison oak rash, or be willing to follow protection protocols and then work on poison oak removal. Mountain bikers get exposure to poison oak while riding likely more than any other trail user group. More importantly, if poison oak is not trimmed back, then trails run the risk of potentially being either lost, or getting socially re-routed in a less sustainable fashion. The latter brings erosion and trail user risk, which brings me to the other topic.
2) The best time to do erosion control on our trails, is right after heavy rainfall. This is when you can see the puddles as well as rainwater flows which wash topsoil away. Some of the most effective erosion control is performed right after a rain. Accordingly, volunteers on short notice can be effective. This erosion control work involves handling shovel or hoe on an afternoon or weekend, for a couple of hours after rainstorms are forecast to end. Notices are expected to go out about 24 hours beforehand following weather forecast. Similarly, the best time for tree removal is right after a dead tree falls and starts blocking a trail.
If you are up for poison oak trimming, or, for quick turnaround post-rain-erosion control or deadfall tree removal, please email me your special interest and city where you live directly at: juanroberts@hotmail.com. I can then provide additional details. If instead you are interested in other types of trailwork, please stay tuned for future opportunities list here in the Buzz, or BTCEB's Facebook Discussion Group or Meetup page.
What Cinderella Head Hunter?
By Jamuel Starkey
On Tuesday June 29th BTCEB received a trails report from a Trail Forks rider explaining that he encountered a dead fallen tree across the upper portion of Cinderella Trail at Joaquin Miller blocking the entire trail. Presenting a significant impediment to safe riding I notified the club's Trails team of the potential for misadventure. Already acting upon it Morgan Fletcher and his riding buddy were able to remove the lower portion of the blocker with a pocket saw chain the same day! Although now passable the section might have still presented a head height obstruction for some taller or distracted riders.
But have no fear, three days later Henry Mitchell skillfully cleaned up the remainder of the deadfall to completely reopen the section.
Please join me in giving thanks to Morgan, Henry, and all of the other JMP volunteers for their ongoing care and attention to our beloved trails!
BTCEB Membership Drive by Mike Udkow While membership on our Meetup site continues to grow to over 4,100 followers, membership in the BTCEB, your mountain biking organization, has been lagging comparatively.
To grow, to survive, and to represent the mountain biking community, we need your support. Your membership dues support our Gala rides and our RLaG program, pays for our insurance, helps to support NorCal High School MTBing and supports trail work at China Camp, Rockville, Fernandez and Crockett. We are hard at work developing the JMP Pump Track. Our Board of Directors meets bi-monthly to discuss all topics relevant to local mountain biking.
Membership levels start at $30, with a $15 student/hardship level. Lifetime membership is $500.
Aside from the dues, we truly need and value your membership.
Please join or renew today at www.btceb.orgSee you on the trails!
BTCEB via on Social Media
**************************************************************************************************
From the Dusty Trail . . .
El Cerrito High Grad Rides in '21 Tour de FranceBy Michael Mejia, BTCEB President Emeritus
 Photo Courtesy Pam Bennett
Sean Bennett, a NorCal Champion mountain bike racer, rode from 2012-2014 with El Cerrito High, one of the oldest Teams in the League. He is the youngest of 3 Bennett brothers who were all NorCal Champions with El Cerrito Racing.
When I coached the team, Sean was the little bro’ who would rather be on his skateboard. He told me he wasn’t sure he wanted to be a mountain bike racer. I told him that I would support any decision he would make. At our last Wildcat Roll in June 2013, he rode with his mom.
 And here we are, 8 years later, Sean will be riding in the Tour de France this July for Team Qhubeka Nexthash. He is 1 of only 5 Americans to compete amidst 21 teams with over 200 of the world’s best racers. It’s hard to know what to even say other than wow, awesome, good luck, laugh, cry, revel.
It will be so cool to look for him in the peloton, working for his team, bringing his very best and maybe even allowing ourselves to feel a bit proud. Why should I, or we, feel any pride? After all I did not coach him nor did anyone here. Yet we, the BTCEB, have done something very important.
In the first 2 decades of the new millennium, the BTCEB evolved into the major dynamic and influential cycling community leader. We developed our programs, increased our access to funding, and spread these factors outward to influence our sport. Through our Gala Rides and other community events, amidst all the politics, we became a major focus for riding.
A large part of that was expressed in sponsorships to NorCal Teams, first to Berkeley High in 2002, then El Cerrito High in 2003. By 2014 we were sponsoring 10 NorCal Teams with cash, and gear handouts at the EBRPD Emerald City. High School racers were leading our rides or would show up en masse at Chabot and kick our behinds. So, what we did was to create and support opportunities for young riders to do something we love.
I think it fair to be with Sean in spirit, to feel that we played a part in his success. We’re all in this together. Good luck, Sean.EDITOR'S NOTE: A little more than halfway through stage racing at Le Tour Sean continues to impress the worldwide cycling community. Caltrans Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Survey By Marin County Bike Coalition (MCBC)
 Have you ridden or walked over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge pathway? Caltrans wants your feedback.
The pathway on the bridge represents a key link across the Bay. While some great steps have been taken to improve the connections between the bridge and central Marin, they have a long way to go. There is currently no all-ages-and-abilities bike route to either Downtown San Rafael or Larkspur, without which few people will feel safe using the bridge for transportation. Additionally, the signage does not clearly lead people to their destinations in Marin.
Tell Caltrans what you value about the RSR bridge path and emphasize that the connections to Marin must be made to work for all users. While the East Bay Says NIMBY, Arkansas Says YIMBY to Mountain Bikes
by Yvette Skinner
 In November 2018 an enthusiastic group of mountain bikers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts gathered at Cedar Glades Park north of Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the grand opening of Phase 1 of the Northwoods Trail System. While mountain bikers in the East Bay remain relegated to steep and eroded fire roads, other states are embracing the explosive growth in mountain biking and welcoming riders with open arms. One such visionary state that is building singletrack mile after mile is Arkansas which seeks to become a world class mountain biking destination.
In the green hills north of Hot Springs, Arkansas, sits the forlorn Garland County Landfill. Yup, a dump. What to do with the land surrounding such a woe begotten place? Build trails, of course! Cedar Glades Park came first, with hiking and biking trails that encircled the landfill, a modest trail system but well loved by the locals. This was just the beginning. Big plans were underway to create a destination-quality trail system that would attract riders from across the country. As the saying goes . . . if you build it, they will come.
The Northwoods Trail System now offers 26 miles of professionally designed and built trails. IMBA provided the trail design work and crafted a trail system that has something for every rider: mellow green trails, flowy blue trails, and even expert level black diamond trails complete with gap jumps and opportunities for big air.
The trail system is open to mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners but make no mistake – this trail system was built BY mountain bikers FOR mountain bikers. Trail building professionals relocated to the Hot Springs area in the year before the grand opening. They walked the ravines and hillsides and planned the lines they knew would give the best flow. It’s hard to believe that a world-class trail system can be designed and built within a year while open spaces in the East Bay sit vacant for decades, tied up in permits, over-regulation, and lawsuits.
Executive director of IMBA, David Wiens, said, “Arkansas is leading in a lot of categories of mountain biking trail development in the country. They've done a very good job of spreading the word so Arkansas is on the lips of mountain bikers all around the country that are talking about it as a place to go." He said that riders are coming to Arkansas from as far away as Minnesota and Wisconsin. “They're coming down here where they know not only are the trails phenomenal, but in the communities around the trails the hospitality is great and they're welcome," reported Wiens.
Gary Spann, Arkansas State Parks director, added that the Northwoods Trail System will encourage people to "break out that bike they haven't ridden in years." He continued, “These are phenomenal trails. They are definitely an addition to why people should visit Arkansas," he said. "What we've discovered is the new way to build sustainable trails is to take the ability to build trails that will last a long, long time, that are environmentally aware...”
How did I happen to discover this gem of singletrack goodness? By pure coincidence I happened to be visiting Hot Springs with my husband on vacation the same weekend that my friends from BRAMBA, Baton Rouge Area Mountain Biking Association, my former MTB club, happened to be visiting Hot Springs for a riding vacation. When I found out they would be in town on the same days as I would, I asked them to bring a spare bike and helmet. For two days we enjoyed miles of sweet singletrack with smiles a mile wide despite the withering heat and humidity. After each exhausting day we rode our bikes to the creek and all jumped in to wash off the sweat and dirt.
This amazing experience reminded me that communities across America are recognizing the value of building trails specifically for mountain bikers and small towns like Hot Springs are getting a much needed infusion of cash by attracting mountain bikers to stay and play. While in town we patronized local restaurants and lifted a pint at each of Hot Springs’ breweries. We strolled the streets at night and shopped in local stores.
While the East Bay continues to stubbornly say NIMBY to mountain bikes, fortunately across the country there are people shouting YES IN MY BACKYARD to new mountain bike trails.
East Bay Dirt Classic Returns in October
By C510
 The last few months have offered promise and hope with California re-opening and opportunities to recreate with friends increasing. We hope you all have weathered the last 18 months and you and your friends and family are healthy and well.
We are excited to announce the East Bay Dirt Classic is back for 2021! This year we will return to some of the original elements while retaining some of the changes from last year. To that end, we will host this year’s edition of the East Bay Dirt Classic on Saturday October 16th, 2021 with a BBQ, pool party and presentation of awards to follow for all participants. We will also offer an open 2-week window for those who want to compete but are unable to participate on the day of the event. This open window will start on October 2nd and close at the end of the event mid-day on October 16th. We have also decided to retain the “enduro” format from last year’s event, with 4-5 timed segments throughout the course. A participant’s composite time from all segments will determine their overall ranking. Participants must ride the entire course, but will only be timed on these segments.
We are currently designing the course for this year’s edition, but expect it to be between 25-30 miles of non-technical dirt with some road intermixed with roughly 4-5,000 feet of climbing. The course will be revealed at least one month prior to the start of the event, with GPX, TCX and Strava files available for review and download prior to the event.
Finally, as in prior years, all proceeds and associated fundraising from this event will go to our friends at the Alameda County Community Food Bank, who need our support this year more than ever, with nearly 1 in 4 Alameda County residents facing food insecurity. To participate in the 2021 edition of the EBDC we ask that you donate $75 to our fundraising efforts. More information on this to follow as we get closer to the date.
We hope to see all of you on October 16th, and for those who cannot make it on the day, we look forward to watching the competition unfold in the 2 weeks leading up to the event!
– Your friends at C510 ------
Reminder: As a BTCEB member, you can receive a 10 percent or higher discount for parts at many of the bike shops in the East Bay. You just have to ask. Thank you to the many bike shop sponsors for your support!
****************************************************************************************** |
|
|
|
|
|
ABOUT BTCEB
BTCEB is a one-stop shop. We defend access rights. We lead volunteers to build sustainable trails and repair historic trails. We host social rides. We teach underprivileged kids to ride. We fund youth mountain bike race teams. The list goes on because as riders we can do more together than individually. If you have not already, please consider joining us as a member. Many bike shops in the East Bay grant a 10% discount on bike parts to BTCEB Membership Card holders. It is just another benefit of joining BTCEB. Thank you to all the East Bay bike shops that support our efforts both on and off the trails!
CONTACT US
Do you have a good ride story, trailwork report, or other bike trail news? Tell us about it. Please send a paragraph with 150 words or less with a pic (under 10MB please) and/or link telling us about trailwork, rides, events, or any good mountain bike effort to bring our community together, etc. Please send via email to our editor Jamuel Starkey (with pictures if possible) at: buzz@btceb.org
To reach the entire board, email: board@btceb.org
BTCEB BOARD MEMBERS Jerott King, Presidentinfo@btceb.orgYvette Skinner, Membership and Promotions Directormembership@btceb.orgMirek Boruta, Vice President
Tom Holub, Secretary
Alan Enrici, Treasurertreasurer@btceb.orgScott Bartlebaugh, Advocacy Directoradvocacy@btceb.orgChris Wikler, Trails Directortrails@btceb.orgBen Brunetti, Community Outreach Director
Jamuel Starkey, Communications Director
Tom Gandesbery, Director-at-Large
Josh Church, Director-at-Large
Mattie Terzolo, Director-at-Large
John Roberts, Director-at-Large |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
