About IMBA-UK >> Updates >> Update 68 (Dec 2009)
Forestry Commission Scotland's Ae Line Trail at 7Stanes
Welcome to the IMBA UK Members update for December.
Season's Greetings from IMBA UK and a very Happy New Year.
If you have information, news or events for the next email update, please by Thursday 28 January 2010. I look forward to hearing from you.
IMBA UK is currently looking at the membership structure, membership categories and member benefits. We will be sending out a brief questionnaire to all members for your thoughts, experiences and ideas. This will be sent in a separate email, so look out for it, fill it in, and send it back. Thanks.
Over the past decade IMBA volunteers and clubs have significantly helped develop trails across the UK. This has mostly been in an open spirit of partnership with land-managers, but increasingly many of our affiliated clubs are finding that the level of expectations land-managers have of them is growing and growing. Clubs are being requested to consider leasing areas for trails, have extensive insurance cover, health and safety policies etc.
This is a significant development and IMBA UK is aware of the difficulties this is causing some clubs, and the potential of this to impact on all volunteer activity related to mountain biking, from trail building to maintenance to patrolling.
We need your help to assess how best to respond to this challenge. Do you have direct experience of dealing with these requests? What solutions - if any - have you found? Do you have a management agreement or similar in place? Would you be willing to share it with IMBA UK? Do you feel comfortable with the levels of responsibility and potentially liability you are being asked to bear? What would you like to see in place to help you?
If we are to continue to have volunteer trail building it is clear that we have to understand what is being expected of us and what our best way of managing that expectation is.
Please .
The Ballater Mountain Bike Club holds its annual "Whisky Ride" at 10am on New Years day from Cyclehighlands in Ballater. Whisky will be provided by Royal Lochnagar Distillery and as usual all competent and self sufficient riders are welcome.
Weather permitting a challenging route is planned with a climb to around 2000 feet!! For further info refer to the club site above or contact Richard at CycleHighlands.com.
Well that's one way to blow away the cobwebs!
The South West is set to become a world class destination for adventurous off-road cycling. A total of £7.5m is being invested in developing the activity across the region including funding of £4.6m from the Rural Development Programme for England.
The Forestry Commission led 1SW initiative will be developing trails, sites and information across the whole region which will enhance the quality of experience for anyone who wants to enjoy off-road cycling. Developments will include purpose-built adventurous cycling trails, bike hire facilities, cafes, areas to develop bike handling skills and information on how and where to ride across the region.
Funding comes from the Rural Development Programme for England, which is partly funded by DEFRA and the EU. The funding is provided as part of a wider project under the Sustainable Rural Tourism Theme, managed by the South West RDA (regional development agency).
The National Trust, South West Lakes Trust, the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and Bristol City Council are all key delivery partners in this project and are excited about broadening their visitor base. The project presents a significant opportunity as off-road cycling appeals to many 'non-traditional' visitors to the region's countryside.
More information about the project can be found by visiting the project's website www.1sw.org.uk.
We are currently revising the rules of the trail, and we will be putting the IMBA UK Trail Essentials on the website in the New Year. For anyone who cannot wait, and especially for those of you who may be missing the Rupert Bear Annuals of your childhood - fresh from Nutwood, we have Rupert Bear's Trail Essentials. I wonder what Algy Pug and Podgy Pig think of them?
When out on your mountain bike You can't just ride where you like. Follow cycle signs and tracks, On your way out and your way back. On the trails where you ride Go carefully, don't slip and slide. Learn to moderate your pace, And drop no litter, leave no trace. Pride often comes before a fall And leaves you feeling hurt and sore. Be honest about how good you are, Enjoy the rides and you'll go far. When meeting others, say 'Hello', And make sure you pass wide and slow. Animals too, can be disturbed - 'Pass Quietly', are your watchwords. Plan ahead, and be prepared, For weather changes and repairs. And when all is said and done - Enjoy your ride, have lots of fun.
Love Rupert & Chums
|
|
|
|
|