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CORBA eNews for July 2, 2009

eNews Archive


CORBA member Loren White won the
Cross Country Women's Sport race in her age group
at Sea Otter Classic this year. Congratulations!

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In this issue...

 

Urgent News

Encountering vandals on the trail

Recently, a pair of mountain bikers were riding down the McGill Trail at Mt. Pinos when they encountered logs that had been pulled onto the trail at various locations. Even though they were avoidable, the mountain bikers stopped to pull them off as a courtesy to other trail users. As they rounded a bend, they spotted a man pulling a large log across the trail. The hiker explained that he was trying to slow people down, not hurt them. Our mountain biking friends reported this activity to the local ranger station and were told that this had happened before.


Photo by D. Kubler

Other mountain bikers have found rocks and logs pulled across trails as well (photo at right).

What should you do if you spot trail vandalism of any sort? As our mountain biking friends realized upon reflection, if you see the culprit in the act, do not confront them! You don't know anything about their state of mind or if they may be armed, carrying a camping knife or walking stick, etc. Instead, note their appearance (sex, height, build, hair color and length, clothing, etc), get a license plate number if possible, and report it to the nearest ranger station or park office. Leave the troublemakers to the professionals who are trained in law enforcement!

No State budget yet; State Parks still slated to close

As of July 1, the state government in Sacramento has not passed a new budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. A proposal to pay for the parks by adding a $15 fee to the vehicle registration fee, and providing free access to vehicles with California plates, seems to have been defeated. So for now, the state parks are still threatened with closure. The full list of parks to be closed includes

Everyone needs to help save our State Parks. Here's what you should do:

CORBA of course is strenuously opposed to closing parks or reducing funding from their already decimated level.

For more information on, background on and repercussions of closing State Parks, visit our Trail Issues page.


CORBA's 2009 Fat Tire Fest

117 days till CORBA’s Fat Tire Fest – the biggest MTB event in Southern California! Get ready for awesome advanced, intermediate, and beginner rides. New kids’ rides and events. Bring the whole family. Ride, Eat, Win!

The FTF Committee is looking for volunteers for this year’s event. Email us at ftf@corbamtb.com. Interested in Sponsoring or exhibiting? To secure your spot & maximize your FTF benefits, contact us at ftf@corbamtb.com.


Recent Trailwork

June 6 - National Trails Day at Mount Wilson. A number of CORBA members joined the Forest Service and other volunteer trail user groups to work on the trails around Mount Wilson in the Angeles National Forest. View the photo gallery.

Why do Trailwork? If you've ever wondered this, take a look at this article in the Summer 2008 issue of Terra Times to learn more about why it's important. Visit the CORBA Trail Crew page for more information and links to photos of past events.


Upcoming Recreational Rides

Check the CORBA Calendar for the ride description, details on difficulty level, directions to trailhead, changes, more rides, etc.

Wednesday, July 1

Thursday, July 2
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:00 pm -8:30 pm : Sullivan Canyon MTB ride

Sunday, July 5

Tuesday, July 7
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:45 pm -8:45 pm : Top of Reseda -intermediate MTB ride

Wednesday, July 8

Thursday, July 9
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:00 pm -8:30 pm : Sullivan Canyon MTB ride

Saturday, July 11
• 9:00 am -11:00 am : Beginner MTB ride- Sycamore Canyon

Tuesday, July 14
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:45 pm -8:45 pm : Top of Reseda -intermediate MTB ride

Wednesday, July 15

Thursday, July 16
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:00 pm -8:30 pm : Sullivan Canyon MTB ride

Tuesday, July 21
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:45 pm -8:45 pm : Top of Reseda -intermediate MTB ride

Wednesday, July 22

Thursday, July 23
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:00 pm -8:30 pm : Sullivan Canyon MTB ride

Tuesday, July 28
• 5:00 pm -8:00 pm : Valley MTB rides
• 6:45 pm -8:45 pm : Top of Reseda -intermediate MTB ride

Other News

New intermediate/advanced skills clinic

Mark Langton, organizer and instructor of CORBA's free basic mountain biking skills clinic and newest member of the Board of Directors, will be conducting intermediate/advanced clinics through BikeSkills. They take  place on the second Saturday of each month through the end of 2009 at Malibu Creek State Park from 9-1. Cost is $89. Contact Mark directly at markmtb@roadrunner.com or 805-558-1606 for further details.

Equestrian article on trail sharing is more balanced

An article in the June 15th issue of the Examiner by Marla White may be one of the most balanced articles on sharing the trail ever written by an equestrian. Although it is full of questionable statements about mountain bikers and our impact on trails and their use, it is much more reasonable than much of the testimony at a recent LA City hearing on mountain bike access to trails in city parks. You can read the article here.

New on the CORBA Website


Free Mountain Biking Skills Clinic

Saturday July 4 is the next skills clinic.

The CORBA free skills clinic is held on the first Saturday of every month at Malibu Creek State Park.

Mountain biking is a lot like tennis or skiing. Just a few minor adjustments in technique can make a huge difference in your control and proficiency. If you want to get better faster, you need to know the fundamentals of mountain biking technique. Whether you're just  getting into mountain biking or have been riding for years, you'll learn some valuable tips from our Introduction to Mountain Biking  skills class that is offered each month. Check out our Skills Clinic web page for all the information. After the clinic, see photos of your new skills on the CORBA web site that you can share with your family and friends!

Monthly Beginner Ride

CORBA holds a recreational bike ride for beginners the second Saturday of every month, a week after the Skills Clinic. This is the perfect opportunity for the clinic attendees to practice their new skills! But you don't need to attend the Skills Clinic before you come on this ride; everyone is welcome. This is a great ride for first-timers to the CORBA recreational rides. The ride leader will go over the basics of riding a mountain bike along the route. Check the Calendar for details.


Support CORBA

Join or Renew your membership today on our membership web page.

Join Our Team! Do you have any ideas about mountain biking recreation in the L.A. region? Would you like to apply your skills and manage projects that contribute to the sport and lifestyle that you love? Is there an advocate in you? We are recruiting motivated individuals who work well with others. Send an email to info@corbamtb.com or come to a monthly Members Meeting to find out more about what we do and how you can help. Check the calendar for the next meeting.

Other simple ways to support CORBA

(Click on the links above to get more details!)


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