About IMBA-UK >> Updates >> Update 66 (Oct 2009)
Forestry Commission Scotland's Ae Line Trail at 7Stanes
If you have information, news or events for the next email update, please by Friday 27 November. I look forward to hearing from you.
We were delighted to have successfully held our 2009 AGM & Seminar in the fantastic and sunny setting of the Lake District. Basing ourselves in Keswick YHA, we had a multi-centered approach to the AGM and members seminar, with the AGM and seminar taking place in Braithwaite and a great afternoon and ride following on at Whinlatter.
The AGM was attended by nearly 20 members, thank you to all those who attended, and a report of the proceedings and chairman's report will be published on the website in due course.
The changes to the executive committee are below:
Standing down were committee members Alan Leather and Karl Bartlett, co-optee Andrew Griffin. Karl Bartlett, and co-optee Paul Hawkins were elected on to the committee.
The AGM discussed and voted in favour of the motion that the chairman of IMBA UK be contracted as a part-time development consultant for IMBA UK, for a period of two years. It is expected that the new arrangement will come into being from the end of November 2009. Karl Bartlett was appointed as chairman by the executive committee.
The winner of the competition to win a weekend break at Waterside Lodges was Rob Lamb. Many congratulations to Rob, and we look forward to hearing about his experiences. And many thanks to Tas Gibson, who donated the prize to IMBA UK.
Following on from the AGM was the members seminar. The focus was on how mountain bikers could be more active at a local level, from building trails to advocacy on local access forums.
Getting us going in a lively fashion was Ian Warby of IMBA's Executive committee and CTC, who required us to bodily move around the room - straw polling on the present position of mountain biking in the UK. Not surprisingly members believed that more investment was needed in mountain biking but that our preferred riding was often enjoyed on existing rights of way rather than purpose built MTB centres.
Following on from Ian was Paul Hawkins Project manager of 1SW, the initiative aiming to put the SW of England definitely on the MTB map, Paul outlined the proposals and the ways that IMBA has supported the development of the Project. It was interesting to note that the Project will be looking at both centres and rights of way as part of the product mix, perhaps this is the opportunity IMBA has been looking for to develop sustainable solutions on the public rights of way network?
Tony Williams of IMBA's Executive committee then talked us through the inception and development of the A2 project in Kent. It was clear from Tony's remarks that the role of IMBA in flagging up mountain biking as a potential for the site was eventually crucial in this project going ahead, a key message from Tony was about the importance of regional activists being in place to make things happen locally for national benefit.
The following feedback sessions briefly came up with the following notes and calls to action:-
1) What inspired people to get 'involved'?
Passion, Love, Good for the Soul, Put Something Back, FUN!
There are huge amounts of benefits from building trails and getting involved in decision making, and these need to be 'sold' better. The converted love it, but we need to convert more people.
2) What has stopped people from getting involved?
Growing bureaucracy i) CDM regulations; ii) FC and similar 'agreements' with groups using very legal wording; iii) Time & other pressures; iv) passion is no good without a voice, and often feel in the minority.
3) We are in a quickly changing environment and need to move with it. Terminology 'Mountain Biking' can put some potential new recruits off. Should we look more at getting women involved, more beginners etc?
4) IMBA needs to:
We were then given a presentation by Tim Sellors of SingletrAction. Tim really presented the importance of volunteering in the establishment and development of trail centres in Yorkshire.
SingletrAction are a Yorkshire based volunteer MTB group who have undertaken trail design, construction and advocacy work for over 8 years. SingletrAction help local riders engage with landowners and mangers to either permit new development, protect existing or represent MTB interests in the local environment.
With a growing membership base SingletrAction showed us how to run efficiently a genuine force for volunteer led MTBing development in the region.
Paul Brown from the Forestry Commission then gave us a presentation about Whinlatter, and his role as trail designer in the new Quercus trail. He also hosted us over a very good lunch and on the trail for the afternoon.
After lunch IMBA was pleased to support the official opening of Cyclewise's coaching trail. We were joined by Rich of Cyclewise for the afternoon tour which stopped at key locations to discuss the trail's design, build and management. It was clear that members enjoyed the chance to ride, talk, learn and network with each other and the general feedback on the day has been very positive.
Sunday's ride saw those who were able to enjoy a tour of the classic Back o' Skiddaw route. Despite the overcast weather great views of the central fells were enjoyed and the pure enjoyment of riding on naturally challenging trails was savoured.
We will in due course be looking to decide on a topic for our seminar / conference and location for our AGM 2010. Suggestions are welcomed! With a rider that it will involve work! But please get your thinking caps on.
Thanks to all those who attended, contributed and organised, without your input it wouldn't have been half the day it was.
During the seminar weekend we were joined by Kofi Ohene-Djan, and Sarah Fussey of the YHA. We met with them to discuss how better the YHA might meet the needs of mountain bikers, and what IMBA could do to improve that experience, through advice on facilities, resources and routes. As a result of these discussions we will be trialling various projects with the YHA and we look forward to developing a working relationship that will benefit mountain bikers and visitors to the YHA.
The new trail building is coming along fast with the first of the new sections of Black due to open in Nov. The new 'Skills Area' is fully open for public use and the Pump Track, the first one at UK Trail Centre is opening on the 30th October! On the courses front the next REC MTB First aid Course is on Thu / Fri 19th 20th Nov. For more details on this and all the trail updates see: www.oneplanetadventure.com or email .
Barry Knows Best, or BKB, as the Hurtwood trail is known to the mountain bikers who love its steep cliff face and knotted roots, is about to be made a lot safer for everyone. Now Barry Knows Better.
Thanks to a grant from the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's Sustainable Development Fund, a major realignment of the trail as it joins Ewhurst Road in Peaslake is now possible. The trail will still be a challenge for riders, but it will no longer be dangerous for bikes meeting the road, cars and other road users and people living in nearby houses.
The project will also prevent damage to the woods caused by bikes trying to find a safer alternative to the old route and reduces conflict with other users by avoiding a key bridleway.
The BKB project is another example of the Hurtwood Control Trust and the mountain bikers working in partnership to manage the increasingly popular sport in this much- loved piece of stunningly beautiful countryside. The success of this cooperative approach can already be seen on Holmbury Hill Fort, where trails have been redesigned and rerouted to protect sensitive archaeology and ensure the bikers can have fun without causing damage.
The mountain bikers have investigated possible solutions for BKB. The exit can only be along a short stretch of road because of houses, and needs to be technically challenging to engage experienced riders and dissuade them from going off-piste. The answer is to make the trail longer by creating switchbacks that will provide interest and challenges, while ensuring the trail is sustainable, and will also mean that bikes join the road in a far more controlled manner.
Such major trail construction is beyond the scope of the Hurtwood Control Trust, but with the expert help of former Aston Hill trail builder Ian Warby of the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC), a bid for Sustainable Development Fund money was successful and an experienced digger team from Wales should be on site soon to sculpt the new section of the trail. The volunteers should finish surfacing the trail by the end of the year.
This initiative is being monitored closely by the Surrey Hills AONB as a possible prototype for a wider initiative right across the Surrey Hills. It is recognised that mountain biking is growing in popularity, and management in partnership with volunteer mountain bikers is necessary both to protect the environment and prevent conflict between bikers and other users of the countryside.
For more information on the progress of the BKB project, visit the Hurtwood website www.hurtwoodcontrol.co.uk
Forestry Commission Scotland is applying for Dark Sky Park status for Galloway Forest Park which incorporates 7stanes Kirroughtree and Glentrool.
This would likely be the first such park in Europe and the 7stanes team are keen to celebrate with a suitable night riding event linked to the launch of the new status for the Park. To keep up to date, visit www.7stanes.gov.uk.
Working with the community, we have now:
Early days, but things are improving at Newcastleton all the time.
The Peak District National Park Authority has been awarded £1.25m to develop new cycling trails and improve existing ones.
Cycling England has agreed to provide the cash as it looks to trial extending its innovative Cycling Towns and Cities idea into a rural location. The project will aim to turn the Peak District National Park into a haven for leisure and commuting cyclists.
It will also encourage families to go cycling regularly as a leisure activity, and educate the public about the health benefits of cycling.
The Peak District National Park was chosen because 32 per cent of the UK population live within 60 miles of the national park. The area already has 58 miles of dedicated off-road cycle trails and more than 30,000 people use the national park's cycle hire centres.
The project will be managed by the Peak District National Park Authority. The £1.25m grant has to be spent by 2011. A detailed business case will be written and considered by members of the authority's services committee. It will outline to Cycling England planned improvements to cycling routes and the proposed promotional work to encourage more people to take up cycling in the national park
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