December 16,17, 2006 - Work party to clear out the Time Killer Entrance following the blowdown of >>Many<< trees.
Meet at the lower gate at 10:00am each day. Bring Lunch, and a chainsaw if you've got it.
More pics of the damage can be seen here:
Greg will be redoing the cabin, lord knows he will have lots of material. Only good thing about the blowdown is all the materials.
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Abbotsford Agrifair Show Arena (32470 Haida Drive, Abbotsford, BC)
Sunday December 10, 2006
2:00pm
Our AGM is fast approaching. Please come and meet with us. We will discuss some of the highlights of the year’s activities and briefly discuss the upcoming year.
Election of officers.
Question & Answers
Signup for another year of membership.
It’s been an exciting year for FVMBA:
With your help, next year will be even better.
The above notice went out tonight to all FVMBA members (Those that I have email addresses for). If you’re a member and didn’t get it, let me know.
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One of the oldest trails around the Clayburn area is the Soft Taco.
Steep,windy and trailsy,with clay and peat all around. Woodpeckers enjoying the dead trees, a young eagle heard more than seen. Giant cedar stumps, moss hanging surreally birds everywhere, very pretty.
A new bridge is being made midpoint which will be much better. All cedar construction wide and soon to be meshed as well. Duck a very steep section will be getting a ladder fitted into the rut. This will really help with the traction. Lots of money is being spent on galvanized spiral spikes,mesh,tools on this bridge as other trails.
Like the Lost Oakley lots of upgrades and maintenance going on.
FVMBA is committed to the trails more and better, your membership dues at work for all of us.
NOV14th Sumas mtn GIS map work has started, (it should be done this week) as we work towards sanctioning our trails .
Here’s a link to pixs of the bridge:
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FVMBA is hosting a premier of the newest movie in the Kranked series.
Saturday, Oct 14
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Towne Cinema
1518 McCallum Road
Abbotsford, B.C.
Tickets are $7.50 and can be purchased in advance via the ATM, or at the door.
ALL AGES!!!!
From the teasers I’ve seen, this should be a smoking good movie.
Update:
Swag!! Thanks to DangerboyUSA / TSG Distributing
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Saturday, Sept 30th
-Open house @ Noon <---updated!!
-Dirt Jump Jam @ 2:00
Come on out to the official grand opening of the Chilliwack Dirt Jump park. We'll have BBQ hot dogs, give away Swag from local Bike shops, hopefully some celebrity riders, and most importantly dirt jumps to ride!!
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On Thursday we (the FVMBA) had another meeting with the City of Abbotsford re: Ledgeview and MTB. Present were Andrew gower, Gary Harder (FVMBA President), Michael McAllister (the City's Lawyer), Gary Guthrie (the City Manager), Don Luymes (Manager of Community Planning - also the guy who is doing ALL of the develpment planning for McKee Peak/Ledgeview), Ron Myers - Parks Planner/Manager and Lynne Harris - Councillor. The big topic of discussion was the risk supporting a MTB facility puts on the city and how it can be mitigated. Michael went through his points, and what the city will have to do to keep their insurers happy. Basically, the following:
We also discussed getting the City involved with helping us get a deal with the landowners on Ledgeview - no decision to intervene directly was made, but they are going to help us out a little. Unfortunately, given the delicate situation, there isn’t much they can do (and we aren’t in too big a position to ask as it is all private land).
Finally - given that some of the trails are already on City land - they are going to be “taken over”. What does that mean? Well, for one, hopefully some $$ for maintenance. Signs will appear on the lower sections of SOB and LeBiteme - and Lost Oakleys and Soft Taco will also be signed. These trails will also be inspected and “safetyed”. Don’t worry - they will still be challenging - the biggest thing we will have to provide is “go arounds” at all stunts - and any bridging that sucks will have to be replaced.
So - things are looking up for MTB in Abby - and the City is gonna help out!!! (we even talked about jump/skills parks - so keep your eyes open!)
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(Update at bottom)
If you’re familiar with Chilliwack dirt jumps, you’ll recall that they were flattened a few months ago, much to the disappointment of all local DJers.
Since then, FVMBA has been working with the city of Chilliwack with the goal of creating a sanctioned set of new DJs. Result: The city has provided machinery, dirt, labour and land for a NEW set of jumps.
Construction started this weekend; more finishing is needed, and more jumps will be built - but it’s a start!
We plan on having a formal opening in a couple weeks, but in the mean time….
Have fun!!
Pictures and discussion here. And here.
Update:
The dj park is done!! Featuring a new pump track and a Small BMX track for the little kids, it even has two tabled little djs for the little guys. There is also a rhythm section taking riders back to the starting area.
Already the kids are coming in droves, and most are local; this speaks volumes for the local scene, you just know these guys are gonna rip it up. We are going to decide which weekend for a opening day celebration jam, but probably 2-3 weeks from now.
City will be bringing more garbage cans, a water stand pipe is coming; hopefully with a shed for the tools.
City parks manager was smiling this week as were all the kids and parents.
Come spring we will be bringing a machine to rework it again.
The only set giving up problems is the big set, we may have to put a dropin or pave a runway. But with the water I am sure one weekend the guys will have at her and figure it out.
Already the area has had a couple of really fun things added, like a quarter pipe out of dirt and a couple of sweet transfer lines between the jumps. More communities need to look at the ease it took to make something which has had such a great buyin by the locals, and is becoming a destination to the kids to go and rip it up.
We’ll try to get more pics up soon.
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Of all the bike trails on Sumas Mountain, the only one with that is significantly within the park boundaries is KnobGobber. This past Friday, Sept 1st, representatives from FVMBA and FVRD Parks dept. hiked KnobGobbler together. During the hike, the trail was examined with a view toward addressing any environmental or liability issues. As it turns out, there is very little on the trail that requires any modification. FVRD Parks is committed to developing a working relationship with FVMBA and KnobGobbler looks like it may become the first legitimate, sanctioned MTB trail in the central Fraser Valley.
It won’t happen overnight, but significant steps are being taken.
Discussions are also underway with MoTSA regarding the other trails on Sumas. Things look positive there as well
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The Bear Mountain Challenge is gearing up again for another banner year. Visit their web site for details.
Volunteers are desperately needed. You can contact us at ride@FVMBA.com, but better is to visit the Bear Mountain website and register as a volunteer there. It’s easy, painless and quick - and adds huge Karma points. If you plan on racing, bring a buddy (or spousal unit, or personal companion) and have them volunteer.
I rode the course on July 19th. Sweet! The berms have been polished and are in primo condition and some new gaps have been built. I was there to witness some test runs as the builders were just finishing their day. Smoooooth.
It’s gonna be a fast, fun race.
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This past week, FVMBA and bikers in the Fraser Valley were represented in a meeting with FVRD Parks Dept and MoTSA (BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport, and the Arts). The primary focus of the meeting was attempting to develop a working relationship between all parties present, and to identify other interested parties that should be involved in reference to Sumas mountain trails.
Put simply: The meeting was very productive. There is a willingness by both Parks and MTSA to recognize the existing trails and to potentially share resources in the effort to maintain the trails and erect signs. In the near future, Parks staff will be guided down some of the trails as a first step toward this final goal. FVMBA is going to arrange loaner bikes for this purpose.
Several points were discussed, but are too involved to mention here, but suffice it to say that the future looks promising.
There is talk of the lower gate being open in the very near future, with the new, upper gate remaining closed. Passage past the upper gate for trail maintenance efforts was discussed and not discounted.
To all members: Thanks! We appreciate you being a member and adding strength to our efforts. With even higher numbers, we can accomplish more.
To FVRD Parks and MTSA: Thank you for spending a good chunk of your morning meeting with us and discussing matters in such an open, positive forum.
In attendance were:
Gary Harder,
Steve Rosset,
Andrew Gower,
3 FVRD Parks Dept. staff,
1 representative from MTSA.
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Bike Brewery
Cranky's bike Shop
Jack's Cycle