 |
|
Crockett Hills Trail Work Day
Hosted by Scott Bartlebaugh
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
401 Cummings Skyway
Martinez, CA 94553
38.022305,-122.197878
Meet at the Cummings Skyway gate at 8 am. THIS IS NOT THE USUAL STAGING AREA FOR OUR RIDES OFF OF CROCKETT BLVD.
Volunteer work continues on the Warep Hardening project. We've got a trail work day scheduled on Tuesday September 3rd, from 8 am to 1 pm. We'll have park district support out there to help move more diamond blocks and gravel.
If all goes well we should be able to finish up the bulk of the initial hardening scope. We'll have access via the Cummings Skyway gate so the ride in will be only about 2 miles.
See the meet up event for more details and directions. And if you can't make the entire time just come out and ride and pitch in as you can for just a while. It all helps. This project should make Warep much better to ride in the winter.
We'll be providing lunch so if you want a lunch make sure to respond via the Meet Up event.
Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and work gloves. Tools provided.
For more details and to RSVP, click here:
|
|
| Ride Like A Girl - Santa Cruz
Hosted by Alex Kay and Ellen WilsonSaturday, September 7, 2019
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Hi ladies. Let’s ride Santa Cruz! Lots of single track riding under the canopy of tall redwood trees in Santa Cruz! The plan is to explore some of the trails above UCSC. Think: Emma McCrary and U-Conn, play in the maze a bit . . . And for those who want more miles and climbing a group of us will head over to Wilder State Park.
For details and to RSVP go to the BTCEB Meetup page. Hope to see you there! Gala Ride at Anthony Chabot East Bay Regional ParkSaturday, August 10, 2019
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Anthony Chabot Marciel Staging Area
9999 Redwood Rd · Oakland, CA 94619
37.75935, -122.105055 A reminder that the next BTCEB monthly Gala Ride will be at Anthony Chabot East Bay Regional Park on Saturday September 14th. Arrive at 9:15am, roll at 9:45am.
The Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay (http://www.btceb.org) invites
you to our monthly Gala Ride. THIS MONTH WE WILL BE RIDING ON SATURDAY AT ANTHONY CHABOT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK. We will gather at the Marciel Staging Area parking lot.
We offer ride groups for ALL SKILL LEVELS, from novice to intermediate to advanced. All rides are ‘nodrop’ rides (we won’t leave you behind or let you get lost) and are fully supported. A novice rider should be able to ride 10-12 miles on hilly fire roads for 2.5 hrs.
Rides are free and open to the public and led by experienced local mountain bikers familiar with the trails. Medical coverage is provided to all paid BTCEB members, one more reason to join. So go to our web site, http://www.bicycletrailscouncil.org and hit the JOIN TODAY button. We take PayPal.
We start gathering at 9:30am and hit the trails promptly at 9:45am. Join us for refreshments and snacks after the ride. Safety glasses are suggested. A well-tuned mountain bike is a must!For more details and to RSVP, click here:Pleasant Hill Community Service Day Bike-Build-a-Thon
submitted by Dan Levy
Saturday, September 28
9am to Noon
Pleasant Hill Park
147 Gregory Lane
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Well, it's been a few years since I've asked for volunteers for a cause that is near and dear to me, the Pleasant Hill Community Service Day Bike-Build-a-Thon.
Contra Costa Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA is an organization that pairs up at-risk foster youth with volunteers who advocate for their best interest. One of their interests is to have a bike to own, for a chance at normalcy, freedom, mobility, and exercise. They have asked us to help repair neglected and donated bicycles for donation to these youth and other similar causes.
Although I was brought into this effort as a cycling enthusiast and amateur bike mechanic, a friend of mine made this effort personal when he told me the following:
I’d like to offer the following as a good explanation how donating bikes to foster kids helps.
I grew up a ward of the court – which means the state of California was technically my parent. And I grew up in foster homes and state institutions.
I could go on for hours how having my own bike was so beneficial – as I was the beneficiary of a similar program (if not the same program) back in 1988.
In a nutshell – foster kids are quite often treated as “second class citizens” by their foster parents. This isn’t a knock on foster parents – as foster parents open their homes and their lives to help children in need. This is simply a statement of fact.
Foster kids don’t have many possessions. What few possessions I thought I had were invariably taken from me, each time I was moved from one foster home to another. This meant that my clothes, skateboard, surfboard etc were taken away – because the former foster family felt I didn’t own them.
Child Protective Services, in its attempt to create some normalcy, tried to keep me in the same school, no matter where they had placed me. Which meant very long commutes to get to school. This meant I had to walk long distances, take the bus etc.
Going into high school, back in 1988 it was actually illegal for foster kids to get a drivers license - as the state did not want to take responsibility for the kids driving. So while all my friends were learning to drive – I was left to walk.
Even today, getting a drivers license and insurance is extremely difficult for foster kids – as the foster family doesn't want to, or isn’t able to provide the requisite clearances to DMV etc.
Right around this time I was donated a bike through a program. I can’t remember which program. It might have been CASA - if not something similar. This helped me with my 5 mile commute to school. But it also introduced me to cycling.
I soon started riding the bike up Mount Diablo in my free time.
I quickly wore this bike out. But this had lit a spark and I wanted another bike. I soon saved up money working in a part time job to buy a nice mountain bike. I rode the bike to school – but I rode it all over Mount Diablo, too.
I soon got a job in a bike shop. Then another bike shop. I eventually got a job for a prominent bike manufacturer. And then another manufacturer.
Literally, every job I’ve gotten since has been due to cycling. Either through a professional connection – or the many friends I’ve made along the way.
Providing a bike to a foster kids serves a very basic need: transportation. Foster kids are put into such poor circumstances that most people can’t even imagine.
But introducing a kid to cycling, exercise, being outdoors, mechanics, etc can open so many doors. It’s obviously very healthy physically – but it provides benefits beyond that.
Giving a foster kid something that can’t be taken away by vindictive foster parents is important, too.
There are so many ways these kids need help – but providing them a good bike to ride is a great start.
I hope this helps you explain to others what this means to foster kids.
I spoke with the director of CASA and he affirmed that what I experienced is still happening today.
BTCEB volunteers have worked alongside Pleasant Hill Mountain, Road and BMX enthusiasts to repair used bicycles of all sorts so that they can be provided to kids and young adults who otherwise might never have one to ride. Sometimes, these are simple tasks such as washing and tune-ups. Other times complete overhauls need to be performed. Parts are often-times taken from donor bicycles that can’t otherwise be repaired.
So, please, take a minute to click on the link and register as a volunteer. I've been told that the last couple of years we've not had a sufficient number of mechanics on hand to fix the bikes.
--Dan
Editor's note: For those looking for a "West of the Tunnel" volunteer option, the Waterside Workshops in Berkeley provide job-training, classes, and recreation opportunities for local youth while offering services to the community including a bicycle shop and repair facility, a full service wooden boat building shop, and Berkeley's only waterfront coffee shopAlameda Bike for the Parks Fun Ride
submitted by Jamuel Starkey
Saturday, September 28, 2019
8:00am to 2:00pm
This is a quite popular family friendly event featuring two ride options that both begin and end at the baseball field at upper Washington Park. Last year my twin 5-yr old boys *loved* this ride and the party afterward.
There are two ride options that both literally hug the shoreline, with breathtaking views of the Island and Bay:
• 25-mile bike ride along the perimeter of Alameda
• 8-mile kids bike ride to and from Osborne Model Airfield Park in Bayfarm Island
The 25-mile bike route goes around Alameda, Bay Farm Island, and the former Naval Air Base. Most of the ride showcases shoreline views of the San Francisco bay area. The pace is leisurely, and designed to appeal to riders of all ages and fitness levels.
The 8-mile kids bike route uses Shoreline Drive protected bike lanes, Bay Farm Bike Bridge, and a bike and pedestrian path to the Osborne Model Airfield Park. This is the first designated rest-stop, where snacks and beverages are provided. Riders will ride back from where they began to join the after-party.
The ride will have multiple rest-stops, each fully-stocked with fruit, snacks, and beverages. Bathrooms are also provided throughout the route.
Again, both rides end at Washington Park for the after-party – please feel free to join the party whether you ride or not.
More details and to register at the Bike4Parks website. China Camp Wed. Evening Rides
by Kevin Kelly
Wednesdays at 5:30pm
Pop Up rides at China Camp continue every Wednesday night. Meet at 5:30, roll at 5:45. I will be driving a dark grey Toyota 4Runner and typically park on the east side of the road close to the Back Ranch Entrance (WHERE THE ENTRY KIOSK IS). The ride is a mellow pace counter clockwise. I will typically sweep so if someone wants to lead please feel free. The loop should take roughly 1:30 given the pace . . . lights not needed. Please ensure your bike is in good condition.
Should you have any questions and/or concerns about the ride please call or text me at (707) 333 5601. Kevin Kelley.
BTCEB SUPPORTS CHINA CAMP SO PLEASE PURCHASE A TRAIL PASS AT THE KIOSK.
PLEASE RSVP ON MEETUP.
Thank you Kevin for doing this. We need more people offering POP-Up Rides!
Popup Rides
by Mike Udkow, BTCEB President
BTCEB has many other smaller, less formal last-minute rides, known as "popups".
Want more organized rides?? Who doesn't. Sign up to organize a POP-UP ride. If you are uncomfortable as a ride leader, no problem. Ask someone from the group to lead (that's what I do!). The "organizer' isn't necessarily the "ride leader". Send me the ride info and your cell number to mikeudkow@gmail.com and I will cut and paste your description into MeetUp. And thank you to the small group of pop-up ride organizer volunteers. Keep up the good work.
Look for them at anytime on the Meetup page:
Or join and subscribe for automatic email notifications here:
BTCEB via Facebook
 Finally, if you want to hear about other last-minute news, such as demo rides, and volunteering opportunities, "like" and follow BTCEB's Facebook Notification Page, and also request to join BTCEB's Facebook Discussion Group.
|
|
|
|
|
| **************************************************************************************************
REPORTS August Gala Ride at Joaquin Miller Park
by Mike Udkow With perfect weather (the fog lifted as we began to ride) 45 riders came to ride and to change partners at our annual SWINGERS EVENT! Riders often made a wrong turn, loosing their group, but quickly “hooking up” with another group. No group looked the same as they rode into the staging area happy to unite with their original partners. NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY LOST! And we had more than enough beer.
Once again, thank you to our overburdened ride leaders Adam, Jamuel, Baird, Brandon and Bob. Without riders volunteering to lead or sweep there would be no Gala rides. We are an all-volunteer organization. Do your part and help lead or sweep a ride.
Our next Gala is on Saturday September 14th at Anthony Chabot.
Warep Trail Hardening at Crockett Hills
Diamonds in the Dirt!
by Yvette Skinner
 No, not the gemstone kind but rather cement blocks shaped in diamond patterns. Some sections of Warep trail at Crockett Hills seem to stay soggy and soft for most of the year. These soft spots become badly rutted and eroded. This year, in a collaborative effort with EBRPD trail staff and BTCEB volunteers we are installing diamond block cement pavers to “harden” or “armor” the trail to protect the surface from erosion and tread wear.
EBPRD staff have staged pavers and gravel along Warep trail and small work crews are working to install them as volunteer time and materials come available. It is a multi-step process. After soft sections of trail are identified we start by digging a shallow, wide trench slightly wider and deeper than the pavers. The bottom is filled with gravel to form a durable base and then the pavers are added to fit snugly one after another. More gravel is added on top to fill the gaps.
Finally, drains are cut in the trail itself either above or below on the trail to direct water flow away from the trail and down the hillside.
Most of this work has been done by a handful of dedicated volunteers and we would love to see some new faces on the trail work days. If you are interested and available to help, please contact Henry Mitchell, BTCEB Trail Maintenance Coordinator. BTCEB Membership Drive
by Mike Udkow
While membership on our Meetup site continues to grow to over 3700 followers, membership in the BTCEB, your mountain biking organization, has been lagging.
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.
**************************************************************************************************
From the Dusty Trail . . .
Slow and Say Hello, and Appreciate the Wonders of Nature While on a Bike
by Yvette Skinner
In June I had the privilege to represent mountain biking at a promotional photo shoot for the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Crockett Hills Regional Park offered a stunning backdrop for the professional photographer to capture images of people hiking, biking, running, and enjoying active outdoor recreation along one section of the Ridge Trail.
I came up with the idea of staging a "slow and say hello" scene for the photos and everyone loved the idea. It was an opportunity to portray a cooperative spirit between trail user groups. We could use more of those moments for real!
While riding slowly on Two Peaks Trail I noticed a rock on the side of the trail that had fossils. Bivalve clams were clearly visible in the rock. I showed this to the children who were part of the shoot and their fascination and awe was not staged!
As I rode back and forth for more photo ops I kept my eyes peeled for more fossils. Score! I found a large rock that was literally covered with bivalve clam fossils. I hopped off my bike and brought it to the girls and they were amazed to see so many fossils altogether.
I explained to them that the land we were standing on was once part of the sea floor. Millions of years ago this land was uplifted by the movement of tectonic plates and that is how it came to be that we were finding fossil clams on a hillside hundreds of feet above the current level of the ocean.
I told everyone how mountain bikers ride trails not only to "shred" but also to appreciate the beauty of Nature and all its wonders. Although I was sorely tempted to take that fossil-covered rock home I left it by the trailside for others to discover and enjoy.
CA Office of Outdoor Recreation Needs Support!
by Austin McInerny, outgoing NICA President
.jpg) Representatives from the newly established California Mountain Biking Coalition participated with over 120 other outdoor recreation leaders in the state on August 19 in Sacramento to voice support for Assembly Bill 1111 which would establish the California Office of Outdoor Recreation.
The establishment of this office is good for the state and for mountain bikers. It would improve access to outdoor activities while ensuring land conservation. It’s also good news for local businesses, as a dedicated government office would help drive revenues from tourism. While thirteen other states across America have already created similar offices, California is falling behind and it is time to show your support for this initiative: please click HERE to send a message to your California Senators. The more you can personalize it, the better.
More info on the bill is available on the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership website.
Together we can make bike riding better in California! *********************************************************************************************** From the Mail Bag . . .
 Who are these guys? Where are they riding? If you know or have a guess submit your responses by clicking: buzz@btceb.org
------
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! ************************************************************************************************ &... WITHOUT FURTHER ADO:
Here's a recap of some of the events and items that may be of interest from this issue or in general:
****************************************************************************************** |
|
|
|
|
|
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 the editor, Jamuel Starkey, with pictures if possible, at: buzz@btceb.org BTCEB BOARD MEMBERS
Mike Udkow, President
information@btceb.org
Jim Arth, Membership Coordinator
membership@btceb.org
Yvette Skinner, Vice President
Dan McAvoy, Secretary
Lauren Haughey, Treasurer
Henry Mitchell, Trails Coordinator
Dave Wolden, Director of Youth Programs (YMBA)Amy Arcus, Director of Women's Programs
Tom Gandesbery, Member-at-Large
Tom Holub, IT Chair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.png)
