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December Gala Ride at Deer Park in Marin
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Meet at Deer Park School 199 Porteous Ave · Fairfax, CA
37.973905, -122.588245 The Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay (http://www.btceb.org) invites you to our monthly Gala Ride. This month we'll ride Deer Park in Marin.
In the past this has been a very popular rainy season ride. We'll ride thru the Marin Water District property around Bon Tempe Lake, Lake Lagunitas and Phoenix Lake. The trails are mostly gravely fire roads that drain well in the rain. BUT RAIN 24 HRS BEFORE THE RIDE WILL CANCEL IT. RSVP ON MEET-UP so that you will be notified of any last minute changes.
Parking is very tight, so try to carpool. And be ready to park in residential neighborhood spaces near the park entrance.
If you are familiar with the trails, please help as a ride leader.
As always we offer ride groups for ALL SKILL LEVELS, from novice to intermediate to advanced. All rides are ‘no-drop’ rides (we won’t leave you behind or let you get lost) and are fully supported. A novice rider should be able to ride 8-10 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 so please bring your friends!
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!
Ride Like A Girl - China Camp
Sunday December 7, 2019
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
799 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA
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The Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay hosts a MTB ride for women only on (usually) the first Saturday of the month. The intent of the ride is to have fun! and to meet other women who love to MTB.
This month let's ride CHINA CAMP.
(There's a $3 trail pass fee at China Camp. Cash or credit card. We will stop by the trail pass kiosk to buy the passes on our way biking before we hit the uphill.)
It is almost all single-track - yay! And there are switchbacks to keep us on our toes! We'll begin with about 2 miles of uphill where there are a few rocks and an area or two where the trail is pretty narrow. For the basic route, the rest of the ride is mostly downhill and flowy with pretty much no technical features. For those who want a little more challenge, a group of us can climb up to the "Nike site" (a nice challenging climb up a semi-paved fire road), then descend down a fun rocky trail to hook up with the trail which the rest of the group will also ride.
 For both routes, it will be helpful to be in relatively good aerobic condition and familiar with riding on narrow single track. The routes should be great for advanced beginners and above. The ride should take about 2.5 hours, be about 10 miles and 1200' of climbing. If you have any questions about whether the ride would be suitable for you, please comment on the Meetup.
Also be sure to RSVP so that you can be notified of any ride changes especially now that the rainy season has begun.
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.
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REPORTS BTCEB Sequoia Bayview Trail Rescue at JMP
by Jamuel Starkey
If you've ridden JMP in the past week or two then you must have noticed the monster tree sprawled dangerously across Sequoia Bayview trail about 3/4 of a mile from the Skyline trailhead. It looks to have come crashing down as a result of a recent windstorm.
The situation looked incredibly treacherous for all trail users as we were all forced to duck under to continue down the trail. With the tree appearing to have been precariously holding on by only a few strands of splintered trunk it was only a matter of time before it came completely down.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to our intrepid BTCEB trail stewards: Mike, Henry, Dan, and Jefferson as the tree was successfully removed from the trail without incident. Pieces of the tree now safely adorn the lower-side of the trail. Thanks again to the BTCEB trail team for your quick response! And thanks to Dan for the wonderful photos of the operation.
BTCEB Donates Bike to Oakland Safety Patrol
by Dave Wolden
BTCEB has donated a bike to the Oakland Safety Patrol (crossing guards) . The crossing guards have a yearly movie/party/raffle and the the bike is the grand prize.The crossing guards were a long time participants of the BTCEB Youth Mountain Bike Adventures (YBMA) program. BTCEB has donated bikes to the crossing guards for the last several years.This year the bike was purchased from The Pedaler bike shop in El Sobrante. Thanks to Jeff, Ron, Calvin and rest of the shop crew.
EBRPD Ward 1 Director Vacancy
Let's Get Involved in this public process
by Scott Bartlebaugh
As you may know the EBRPD Ward 1 Director position has become vacant as director Whitney Dotson has retired. The park district is in the process of filling the vacancy. Applications were accepted until November 8th with 12 people having applied. A selection committee narrowed the applicants down to a group of 7 and they will be conducting preliminary interviews with those applicants and narrowing the list to a final group of applicants to be interviewed by the full board at the January 7th EBRPD Board of Directors meeting. The Board will then appoint an applicant to fill the vacancy until Director Dotson's regular term expires (end of 2020).
The first pass has narrowed the list to:
As a 501(c)(3) organization the BTCEB can not endorse election candidates. You can talk to members to get their opinions. We encourage you to participate in the process by learning about the candidates, contacting the selection committee regarding your preferred applicants, or attending the January 7th board meeting and making a public comment regarding the appointment. Please read each of the candidate applications for the appointment.
The Ward 1 director will have influence over decisions that effect all of the wards so this is an issue even if you don't reside or vote in Ward 1. While this is not an election the person appointed will likely have an advantage going into the 2020 election for this seat. Obviously this is a chance for the biking community to help influence the composition of the board of directors thereby improving mountain biking recreation opportunities throughout the EBRPD.
I urge you to contact the board of directors to voice your support for one or more of the candidate appointees. The selection committee members along with the remaining members of the full board are as follows:
Selection committee:
Ayn Wieskamp, Ward 5, Livermore, awieskamp@ebparks.org
Beverly Lane, Ward 6, Danville, blane@ebparks.org
Dennis Waespi, Ward 3 Castro Valley, dwaespi@ebparks.org
Other directors:
Dee Rosario, Ward 2, Oakland, drosario@ebparks.org
Ellen Corbett, Ward 4, San Leandro, ecorbett@ebparks.org
Colin Coffey, Ward 7, Hercules, ccoffey@ebparks.org
BTCEB Membership Drive
by Mike Udkow While membership on our Meetup site continues to grow to over 3,800 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.
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From the Dusty Trail . . .
Pacific Union College Trails Officially Opened
by Yvette Skinner
Sweet bike-legal singletrack near Angwin, CA have officially opened to the public. While the opponents of mountain biking on public lands in the East Bay continue to shout, “Not In My Back Yard,” in the North Bay land managers say, “Yes, come ride here.” Earlier this year the Pacific Union College in Napa County signed an agreement with the Napa County Regional Parks and Open Spaces District to officially open their 35 miles of trails to the public for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and public recreation. 
Their network of trails meander through forested hillsides covered in Coastal redwoods, Douglas fir, Madrones, Bay Laurel and oak trees. The trails include both singletrack, doubletrack, and fire roads in a highly inter-connected trail system of nested loops. Horses are not allowed on the singletrack trails and equestrians are required to dismount and kick their animals’ “waste” off the trails per the trail system rules. Dogs are permitted on leash or under strict voice control and dog owners are expected to bag and pack our their animals’ “waste.” What you won’t find on theses trails: COWS. Unlike the cattle-damaged trails of the East Bay cattle ranches, these trails meander through an experimental forest with no grazing on its steep and thickly forested hillsides.
 The trails are accessed through three trailheads on the north and west sides of the property. The trailhead I chose is the southernmost near the Los Posadas State Forest. The trailhead has no bathroom or drinking water, no kiosk or trail maps. This is the tradeoff for enjoying trails in an undeveloped area – it has none of the conveniences and amenities of developed parks. A small price to pay for enjoying well built, bike legal singletrack in the Bay area! I had already downloaded a trail map from their web site and also loaded the map system into my GPS navigation app on my smartphone, called Avenza, so I hit the trails with confidence.
The trails I chose to ride that day were a joy to ride, winding sinuously among firs and manzanita. The trails had good flow. They dipped and curved around large trees and rock outcroppings. Intersections are frequent and poorly marked, if at all. Using my Avenza app I was able to keep track of my position and stay oriented. Although the trail head had a few other vehicles I only saw one other trail user on my ride. Tucked high in the hills above Napa Valley this trail system does not appear to be heavily used. 
Bottom line: well worth the drive! These trails offer a welcome respite from the overused and cattle-trodden trail systems in the East Bay. I strongly advise bringing a trail map with you on your ride as the convoluted trail system is a maze of mostly unmarked intersections. Bring adequate drinking water for not only your ride but also for the drive home. Relax and enjoy the drive home along the Silverado Trail or Hwy 29 which pass through the picturesque vineyards of the Napa Valley.
The Bike of the Decade
by John Roberts
As 2020 rolls around, think about the bike of the past decade. Now think about the next decade. A person conceived today, could be riding Joaquin Miller Park (JMP) 10 years from now. Now look back again. Children 10 years ago did not really have wide access to pedaless “balance bikes”.
My son is 14 and loves to ride. He learned to ride a bike with the pedals removed so he could paddle it to the library a couple of times. That was how he was able to ride a bike without training wheels before he turned two.
I saw a young child riding a balance bike through a busy crowd at National Airport in DC. I had to ask the mom how she got it through TSA security. She confidently explained its made of the same components as a stroller, and it is easier for her young child to move along.
Kids are the future of mountain biking. In many ways. They are expanding our minds in terms of what is possible, and they are expanding riders’ demographic. It’s a wave. I foresee someone will be born after you read this; ok, I am not a genius, that is a given. More importantly, that same person in less than 10 years’ time will be riding in the East Bay in more parks than just JMP or Crockett. In the meantime, attend public meetings, be a great trailside ambassador for our sport, and help open up our trail access for future generations. Let us make the next 10 years great ones.
Tamarancho Trail Work Starts December 7th!
Tamarancho has been loved to death. Join us for some much needed trail work.
Want to get dirty? Our trails could use some of your sweet loving. Join us on December 7 for a major trail work day at Tamarancho. Hand tools, lunch, and instruction will be provided. Bring sturdy shoes, gloves, water and appropriate attire. No experience needed!
Where: Ranger Station, center of camp (end of Iron Springs road)
When: December 7th, 2019, 9:00 am. Ride or drive in.
Can’t make it? No worries! More trail work days are planned for January, and be sure to check in at MCBC for additional opportunities. Sports Basement BTCEB Holiday Offer
Sports Basement is offering BTCEB members up to 20% off for all purchases December 13th thru the 19th. Show them this flier at checkout good at all 10 Bay Area locations or use it online.
Tamarancho No Dab Challenge Final Days!
Ends December 15th
Can you ride a complete loop of Camp Tamarancho without a dab? A dab is when your foot (or hand) touches the ground. The trails at the Camp have gotten more difficult over the past 20 years, and it takes a skilled rider to clear all the roots, drop offs, ruts, and tight switchbacks in the 8 miles of trails.
So folks over at Camp Tamarancho decided to put on a fun competition to acknowledge those riders with that "no dab" skill. This will be a self-judged competition for 3 months, from Sept 15 to Dec 15, 2019. All riders who complete the loop without a dab, can enter to win a 2020 Camp Tamarancho Annual Pass, and in addition, they will publish a list of those riders who have accomplished this task.
Visit the Tamarancho website for a complete list of rules.
------ 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!
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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
BTCEB BOARD MEMBERS
Mike Udkow, President
information@btceb.org
(Vacant), 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 |
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