Hines Park Sign Project
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 27 June 2015 10:42
- Written by Loren Konkus
For some months now we've been working with Wayne County Parks on a comprehensive trail marking system for the new Hines Park trails, including wayfinding signs installed on posts at intersections and decision points.
The decals arrived, and they look awesome. Our thanks to DL Graphics for design work, Michael Flack for working with WCP staff to drive the project, and to all you! Your membership dollars make projects like this possible, and we appreciate your support.
Next up - kiosks and maps!
Trail Trimming Season
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 14 June 2015 12:04
- Written by Administrator
It's a jungle out there!
Long days, warm temps, and days of rain create the perfect conditions for explosive plant growth, and our beloved singletrack is becoming overgrown.
We'll be scheduling trail work sessions in the coming days, but it's a busy time of year and organized work days don't always work with everyone's schedule. All of the land managers that we work with on our chapter trails allow (and encourage!) our members to trim back growth on our trails using loppers and hand trimmers. You don't need permission, and you can do it on your own time.
There's a guide to trail trimming available here that might help you get started.
Thanks!
Milford Trail Challenge, June 6th 2015
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 05 May 2015 21:55
- Written by Administrator
Join us at the 10th annual Milford Trail Challenge and Bike Fest, a family friendly celebration of the great singletrack trails surrounding scenic Milford. Bikers pick their own course: Highland, Milford, Island Lake, Kensington, Proud Lake, Hickory Glen – easily rideable from Milford with great paved bike paths and a minimum of road riding. You can tailor this anywhere from a fun trail ride with friends to an all-day 100 mile epic!
Participants will be treated to a live musical performance by the Orbitsuns, followed by The SpokeDrunkie Band, beginning at 1 pm. Please stop by, share your stories and adventures with other riders, and enjoy the food and vibes of downtown Milford!
Participation fee is $20 advanced, $25 day of, and all proceeds benefit the Motor City Mountain Biking Association and Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance - these are the people that build, maintain, and advocate for the local trails that you love.
Day-of registration runs from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm at Main Street Grill, 327 N Main Street. A detailed map and suggested routes will be provided at registration, along with a wrist band and tickets for two free beverages!
Membership Survey
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 05 April 2015 21:16
- Written by Loren Konkus
Can you believe that it's been two years since our last survey? Our world keeps changing, and we want to hear what you think. The Motor City Mountain Biking Association is sharing this survey to better understand your interests, needs, and perceptions of the chapter.
This survey includes sections on membership, chapter perception, trail days, and events.
This survey should take less than 10 minutes of your time. Feel free to skip questions or sections if you are not familiar with the area and focus on what is important to you.
Please click here to get started
Updates to our Volunteer Appreciation program
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 02 April 2015 10:03
- Written by Loren Konkus
For almost 20 years, the MMBA and our Chapter has recognized significant trail work volunteer efforts with the First Across the Finish Line (FAFL) awards. These awards began as a small token of appreciation made possible by an anonymous memorial to Ed Berta, a volunteer who lost his life in a traffic accident on a trail day. Last year, 35 members of the Motor City Mountain Biking Association contributed at least 10 hours of time trimming trails, clearing deadfall, armoring mud holes, or other boots-on-the-ground trail work. In appreciation, each volunteer is receiving a soft-sided beverage cooler emblazoned with both our chapter and the FAFL logos.
Times they are a changin. In recent years, the mission and role of the MCMBA has grown beyond our core trail work to include more advocacy and outreach activities. For example, we have a very active National Mountain Bike Patrol group in our chapter, members of which attend group rides, help with races, and act as ambassadors to the community. We organize several significant fund raising events and races in our chapter, organized and staffed by volunteers marking courses, handling registration, and all of the behind-the-scene work that make them seem fun and effortless. We have an IMBA Certified Instructor, and host riding clinics to grow the sport and introduce new riders to responsible mountain biking. We have volunteers who write grant proposals, keep websites up and running, and design great flyers and maps. All these volunteer efforts have value to our members, our community, and our land manager partners.
In recognition of this, we are pleased to announce the expansion of our MCMBA FAFL award program to include ALL volunteer contributions to the chapter in 2015!
Of course, not all volunteer time is equal. Dodging mosquitoes while trudging a wheelbarrow full of limestone down a mile of singletrack is just a little more taxing than working on a website, leading a group ride, or hiking a trail collecting GPS data for a map. To help level the playing field, we’re going to use a point system to determine FAFL eligibility. In 2015:
- 30 points wins a FAFL award
- A trail work hour counts as 3 points
- Each hour of non-trailwork volunteer time counts as 1 point
Recording your volunteer hours – all your efforts, not just trail work – is key to making this plan work. Click here to get started!