News

Mountain Biking in Western Colorado - Fragile Soil & Trail Ethics

We know you all are anxious to get back on trails after a cold snowy winter! Before you do hit the trails, please take the time to read this article and remind yourself of trail ethics and the importance of protecting our area's incredibly fragile soil. It only takes a moment of careless riding to wipe out a cryptobiotic garden that took 50 to 100 years to develop! And, remember to share the trails and respect other trail users; our modes of travel may differ, but we are all members of the trail family seeking quality experiences.
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COPMOBA 2007 Outlook

The COPMOBA Board of Directors held their annual planning retreat on January 20th to discuss the organization's goals and focus for the year ahead.
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Letter From the President - Chris Herrman

Happy New Year! Well it would be happier for me if it would warm up and the trails would dry off. As we are going to press with this annual report we have just completed our annual planning session where we laid out the year ahead, so look for details below. We are planning plenty of opportunities to have fun and volunteer and we are adding a couple of great new Board members too. I know that it will be another year of steady progress and maybe, just maybe, a new trail or two.
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2006 Accomplishments - A Year In Review

COPMOBA had a busy 2006 with many successes, all of which have been highlighted in our new monthly e-mail newsletter. One of the main goals of 2006 was to improve communication, and we are thrilled with the progress our Coordinator Noel Weddle has made in this arena. Cheers to Noel! For those of you who have not kept up with our newsletters, here are the highlights of the 2006 season...
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Report from McInnis Canyons Trail Work Day on Nov. 4th

On November 4th, thirty dedicated trail users volunteered to help maintain the Troy’s Loop trail in the McInnis Canyons Natural Conservation Area. Roughly 1,200-feet of trail was rerouted away from several deep erosional ruts that had cut into the former trail tread. The reroute completed by early afternoon, and was followed by a couple of hours of additional maintenance to adjacent sections of Troy’s Loop.
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Fun Had by All at the 2006 Dry Creek Canyon Challenge

A warm western Colorado day, moderated by high clouds, created the perfect backdrop for the Dry Creek Canyon Challenge on October 1st. Riders from as far away as California and the Eastern Slope joined a bunch of Western Slope regulars for a fun day of backcountry mountain biking.
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Zippity Do Da Trail Maintenance Reports & Photos

On September 16-17 a small but dedicated crew of trail enthusiasts met in the North Fruita Desert to get dirty with old friends and new.  Five volunteers on Saturday and nine on Sunday moved several tons of dirt, building approximately 300 feet of new tread, and a first of its kind elevated banked turn that will hopefully add some more zip to Zippity Do Da!  Together we got a great start on what eventually will be a 1300 foot reroute that should be a very fun piece of singletrack mountain bike trail that will be sustainable as well.
Read the complete reports with photos...  


Flowing Park Trail Development Report - Phase I

Thanks to Rapid Creek Sports and 20 volunteers, the Indian Point trail portion of the new Flowing Park trail is now finished and in excellent condition. On an absolutely perfect Colorado day at 10,000 feet, a 450 foot section of new trail was constructed by 2 crews while another crew rode 3 more miles and vastly improved the last section of trail on the route from Flowing Park reservoir to Indian Point. The spectacular views from the trail enticed some workers to mount their bikes (after working all day) and ride out to get a glimpse of what makes this trail special. After a short ride back to the vehicles, everyone met at a nearby campsite for a BBQ. Thanks to all the volunteers that gave their time and energy to this project!
Complete report with pictures...  


COPMOBA Receives Kona/IMBA Freeride Grant

Kona Bicycle Company is one of the bicycle industry's biggest supporters of freeriding, downhilling, and dirt jumping. Each year Kona generously gives numerous $1000.00 grants to IMBA clubs looking to create opportunities in these cycling disciplines. COPMOBA was selected as one of this year's ten grant recipients to continue work on the Grand Valley's first purpose-built downhill trail; the trail design provides for shuttle access and will include a number of freeride play areas.
Read more about the Kona/IMBA Freeride Grant...  


The Mountain Bike Trail Paradigm

How do our legal mountain bike trails get constructed for all to enjoy? Through a three-tiered relationship between the bike industry, trail advocates (COPMOBA members & volunteers), and land managers (the BLM and U.S. Forest Service). Each group possesses unique resources that the other groups don’t have. The resources of all three groups must be combined before the goal of more and better mountain bike trails can be achieved. In view of the ever-shrinking land agency trail budgets, mountain bikers must be willing to learn how to build trails and rally their ranks around construction and maintenance projects.
Read more about the paradigm's necessary collaboration ...  


Great Time Had By All at the 2006 Tour de Bloom

COPMOBA's biggest annual fund raiser and most popular event, the Tour de Bloom, took place May 18-21. The event sold out, as usual, and 35 lucky riders enjoyed a fully supported four day MTB tour on the Kokopelli Trail from Grand Junction, CO to Moab, UT. The riders took in spectacular views on their 152 mile journey and relaxed each night with great food and fun at the campsites.
Complete story with pictures...  


2006 Wild West End Tour - Exploring the Paradox Trail

Another COPMOBA fund raiser, the Wild West End Tour, treated riders to three days of guided MTB rides along the Paradox Trail June 9-11. The riding started near Nucla, CO and consisted of two 30+ mile rides and a shorter 15 mile loop ride on the final day. Riders enjoyed great trails, cooling off at swimming holes along the way, and relaxing with friends at camp each night.
Complete story with pictures...  


COPMOBA Board Requests Withdraw to Protect Fruita & Grand Jct. MTB Trails

The Board filed a request with the BLM to withdraw key parcels in the Grand Valley North Desert from a scheduled May 6th lease auction. The letter, sent to Catherine Robertson, manager of the BLM Grand Junction field office and Sally Lively, state BLM director, requested the withdraw of parcels in the 18 Road area and the 27 ¼ Road area that contain mountain bike trails. COPMOBA sent an e-alert to our list and was assisted in the effort by IMBA, which sent out an international alert, and many other mountain bike organizations across the country who forwarded the alerts to their lists. We know that BLM received hundreds if not thousands of e-mails supporting COPMOBA’s withdraw request. Many thanks to everyone that took action to protect our trails! Stay tuned for updates on the ultimate outcome.  
Read more about the lease auction...


Black Diamond Trail Planning Begins

COPMOBA is partnering with the BLM, IMBA and local riders to design new double black diamond trails and terrain at Grand Junction’s Lunch Loop area. A planning session with BLM and IMBA was held on April 26th and was attended by representatives from local bike shops and local riders. An initial site visit took place the following morning to scout possible routes and terrain. The advanced technical riding opportunities were included in BLM’s recent Bangs Canyon plan and include steep drops and rock moves along with areas designed to develop the skills necessary to negotiate the most difficult features.  
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Uncompahgre Chapter Update: New Singletrack, Peach Valley Dedication, and Mission To Ride

COPMOBA's Uncompahgre Chapter has been extremely busy with a Springtime flurry of mountain bike activity! New singletrack in Baldridge Park was recently constructed, the new Peach Valley Recreation Area was dedicated by the BLM, and group road and mountain bike rides are being planned for the annual Mission To Ride bicycling classic in Montrose on May 21, 2006.  
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Help Protect Fruita & Grand Junction MTB Trails from Oil & Gas Development!

Mountain bike trails at 18 Road in Fruita and 27 1/4 Road in Grand Junction are in jeopardy from oil and gas development. Key parcels containing mountain bike trails are up for lease auction on May 6th; development of the lease parcels could have a severe negative impact on the trails. The COPMOBA Board of Directors has requested that the BLM withdraw these Grand Valley North Desert parcels from the upcoming auction and we need your support!
Support deadline is Wednesday, April 26, 2006.  
Read the article and learn how you can help...


Oil and Gas Leases May Impact Trails

The mountain bike trails at 18 Road and 27 ¼ Road could see impacts from oil and gas leasing and development after a new auction announced by the BLM. The nominated parcels could be leased and developed following the May auction.

The COPMOBA Board is working to insure the best possible outcome for our trails. We are in contact with BLM staff and will make sure that the stipulations and conditions of the NFDMP are met and that the impacts to the 18 Road trails are as minimal as possible. The first step at 27 ¼ Road is to share the mountain bike trail locations with BLM so that they can factor their location into any stipulations and conditions they place on those parcels.

Stay tuned as we follow this process and look for updates in future newsletters and e-mail alerts.  
Read the article and learn how you can help...


REI Awards COPMOBA $10,000 Grant for Lunch Loop Projects

The funds are part of a $1 Million National Community Parks Grant awarded to 100 communities around the country. Local REI store manager Joan Chapman and her team nominated the Tabaguache/Lunch Loop area because of its recreational importance to their customers and the close proximity to the local store.  
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The Trail Development Process & Creating A Trail Development Schedule

Have you ever wondered how COPMOBA determines each annual trail development schedule, where we plan to work, and why we are not developing trails at a more aggressive pace? Read this great article for a complete explanation of the trail development and maintenance process from concept to completion.  
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COPMOBA President's Message for 2006

I am excited to be able to share with you, the mountain biking community, all the great things we are working on for this year...  
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Ridgway Trails Project Update

Project update on possible new mountain bike trail development on Ridgway State Park land and BLM land east of the park. 
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Trail Work Report: Pet-e-Kes Nov. 12 - 13

Local trail builders spent their weekend adding more singletrack to the new Pet-e-Kes trail in Grand Junction, CO.  
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New Fall Event A Huge Hit

Dry Creek Canyon Challenge gives riders plenty of challenge!  
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Flowing Park bike trail an easy, family friendly ride

Eighty-seven Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado spent the weekend of Aug. 6-7 extending a great mountain bike trail on Grand Mesa near Indian Point, south of Lands End. For all their sweat and hard work, the least I could do was go on a bike ride and enjoy it.....  
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Paradox Trail News Release

The 103 mile long Paradox Trail just got two miles longer recently as trail crew members completed marking a major 32 mile re-route......  
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