Turkey Burner Ride

Once again this ride will be held on the Friday following Thanksgiving (November 27th, 2009) at the Deep Lake trailhead, Yankee Springs Recreation Area. Arrive in time to depart the parking lot at 10:00am+/- plan on riding for a of couple hours, then up to Middleville's "Champs Bar" for a bite to eat and a cold beer. Enjoy the holiday and the last organized WMMBA Ride of 2009. All levels are invited, as we will break into 2 or 3 groups depending on the speed and experience of those in attendance.
Please pass this along to your friends and we'll see you for the Turkey Burner. RSVP not required, just show up and feel that turkey burn!

Link to voting site

Voting is now open for the 2010 Board positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President!

Please go to the voting site on SurveyMonkey.com (Click Here to take survey) before midnight on November 15^th to select your new board members. Winners will be announced at the December 7^th meeting, which is on the 2^nd floor of Mangiamos Restaurant, at 7 p.m.

Looking for Nominees to fill open positions

It is that time of year! We are looking for nominees to fill the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. Please send your nominations to: ricejennbud at yahoo dot see oh emm.
I will need to be able to contact the nominee to let them confirm their interest so please include an email or phone number for them.
Thank You,
Jennifer Bechtel
Secretary, Western MMBA

Brown Co Trip canceled

The trip for this weekend (10-23, 24, 25) has been canceled. Brown Co is expecting over and inch of rain tonight and another inch tomorrow with additional rain on Saturday. Highs in the forties.
Maybe next year.

Western trip to Brown Co..possibly canceled?

The weather looks wet and cold for the chapter trip to Brown Co Indiana this weekend (Oct 23rd-25th). I will make the call Thursday afternoon and post on this site if it is a go or canceled. :( Brown Co soil has a high clay content and it would not be cool to ride in wet weather.

Race Across the Sky movie night

Join some Western Chapter friends for a one night showing of Race Across the Sky this Thursday at Rivertown Crossing. This is a full feature film about the Leadville 100 mile mountain biking race held this past summer where Lance Armstrong upset previous champion Dave Wiens. Buy tickets in advance or at the door.

Approval! Stanaback Park-Kentwood

Kentwood ready to create its first mountain bike trail, in Stanaback Park
By Julie Makarewicz | The Grand Rapids Press... October 15, 2009, 7:32AM

KENTWOOD — Stanaback Park’s deep ravines, rough terrain and wooded areas could become home to the city’s first mountain bike trails.

Members of the Michigan Mountain Bike Association recently toured the park, north of 44th Street SE and east of Breton Avenue, and met with parks and recreation officials to discuss trail plans.

Director Charlie Ziesemer said the Parks and Recreation Commission gave its early blessing to the proposal, dependent on final contract agreements and liabilities. Harriet Stanaback, who donated the original 33 acres for the park, also agreed to a first phase of the project.

When Stanaback donated the land in 1998, she stipulated it be kept mostly in its natural state and used for passive recreation.

“I think it’s going to be a very good use for the property,” Ziesemer said of the trails. “They’re (MMBA volunteers) going to come in and do all the work and maintain the trail. It’s really a win-win for the city.”

Details still need to be settled, but MMBA volunteers seem eager to get started yet this year, if possible, Ziesemer said.

The park — the 33 acres donated by Stanaback plus 17 adjacent acres bought by the city this fall with state grants — includes some paved walking trails, a basketball court, restrooms, a picnic shelter and playground.

“It’s a beautiful park, and there are some very interesting natural features there,” said Martin Hall, a member of the Western Chapter of the association. “The ravines are tremendous, and it’s just a beautiful property where people can get close to nature.”

Hall said the park got high ratings from the MMBA because of its natural features, its proximity to other bike trails, and the large number of volunteers in the area to help with construction and maintenance.

If approved by the city, the trails will be built in phases. The first phase could have about four miles of mountain biking trails north of the paved trail, Hall said. If that goes well, a second phase might add another mile or two to the south side.

MMBA is a nonprofit organization with more than 2,500 members in nine chapters. Volunteers design, develop and maintain trails.

Other mountain bike trails in the area are in the Allegan State Game Area, Cannonsburg State Game Area and Cannonsburg ski area, Edward Creek and Greenville Shearer Road in Greenville, Grand River in Jenison, Luton Park Trail in Rockford, Riley Trails in Holland, Robinette’s in Grand Rapids, and Yankees Springs in Middleville.

NCT Epic pictures are posted!

29 people made the trip down the NCT from Mesick to Freesoil Road(42 miles) or the full on version from Mesick to Baldwin(77 miles). The Pere Marquette Lodge once again served as great hosts for our epic jorney. The weather served up the most diverse conditons only Michigan can produce; from frozen fog to sunny 50's and then some sleet, rain and snow to cap off the ride. The warm lodge, roaring fire, friends, food and Founders beer hit the spot. Check out the trip photos.

Meeting Minutes - October 2009

Western Michigan Mountain Biking Association - Meeting Minutes

Location: Mangiamo Restaurant - 2nd Floor, Lake St. Grand Rapids, MI

Board Members Present: Rick Plite - President, Jason Dew-Vice President, Martin Hall - Treasurer, Jennifer Bechtel-Secretary, Nate Phelps-State Representative, Dennis Murphy-State CPS coordinator.

Members Present: Jason Bechtel

Start Time: 6:30 p.m.
0.0 Meeting called to order at 6:40 p.m. - Rick Plite

1.0 Minutes review w/updates - Rick Plite
1.1. Brown County Indiana camping trip October 23 - 25th.
1.1.1. We have a large Group Camping Spot so anyone who wants to attend can show up and pitch a tent with the group. If you would like to carpool, please contact Rick at: amtnbiker@chartermi.net
1.2. NCT Ride is this coming weekend (October 9th,10th,11th). There are two double-rooms available. Contact Martin Hall at:
1.3. Halloween Party - no party this year
1.4. Meetings - still seeing low attendance. Discussed sending email reminders and reminding Jason S. to update Twitter/Facebook links
1.5. Motion to approve the minutes by Nate Phelps. Motion seconded by Martin Hall. Motion carried.

2.0 Film Festival Update - Nate Phelps
2.1 Planning this for mid-February at Wealthy Theatre.
2.2 Side note: the movie "Race Across the Sky" will play one night only (10/22) at Celebrations theatre in Grandville (Rivertown Crossings)

3.0 State Games Committee Members - Rick Plite
3.1 Scott Chambers, Wade Bagnell, Reid Arnot, Christian Glupker, and Dave Staublin
3.2 State Games scheduled to happen June 25th - 27th, 2010 with an opening ceremony Friday night in downtown Grand Rapids.

4.0 Trail Coordinators/Updates - Rick Plite
4.1 Game Area closed
4.2 Ski area closes November 7th
4.3 Luton Park - it has been noticed cars are parking on Kies street instead of in the parking area and that people are drinking at their cars even though it is posted No Alcohol. We do not know if these are MMBA members, but everyone please remember to keep this trail a safe and family-friendly environment.
4.4 Bass Trailhead - Tom Landry and crew had a trail day this fall and worked on filling low areas.
4.5 Allegan - had a good turnout for the Trail day this past weekend. Still needs some work but thank you to those who helped.
4.6 Ionia - the Trail Coordinator has been sidelined with various events/issues this summer.

5.0 Treasury Report - Martin Hall

6.0 State Rep Update - Nate Phelps
6.1 Pleased to announce that WMMBA member Dennis Murphy is the new CPS Coordinator and Heather Kubiak is also a member of the CPS Committee (also a MMBA board member).
6.2 Annual Meeting
6.2.1 Looking at MSU Pavilian for the last weekend in January
6.2.2 Possible two day event with the first day (30th) being for classes, retailer presentations, trail schools, etc
6.2.3 Separate speaking rooms for presenters
6.3 Insurance review occurring
6.3.1 May cause Trail Day moratorium until insurance is secured. Please check with Nate before scheduling a trail day.
6.4 Strategic Planning Session will be occurring at the State level, led by WMMBA member and board member Martin Hall (note that the WMMBA will resume its Strategic Planning meetings with the winter season).

7.0 CHAPTER ELECTIONS
7.1 We are looking for a Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President for the 2010 year.
7.2 Nomination period will be October 19th - 26th and voting will be via SurveyMonkey from November 1st to the 15th. Winners will be announced at the December 7th meeting.

8.0 Local Government Updates
8.1 Aaron Smith and Nate Phelps will go to the October 6th City Commission meeting for final approval of the bike park. Looks hopeful. If yes, we can schedule the first two weeks in November for Jason Wells to be building trails.
8.2 The Bike Friendly Community (BFC) results are due soon. The Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition (GGRBC) were hoping for a bronze level for Grand Rapids.
8.3 On a related note to the BFC, Nate Phelps would like Aaron Smith to be the WMMBA Chapter Representative to the GGRBC. Motion made by Martin Hall, Rick Plite seconded. Motion carried.

Meeting ended: 7:45 p.m.

NEXT MEETING IS: DECEMBER 7th at Mangiamos (upstairs) at 6:30 p.m.

These minutes to be posted at: Western Mmba on Facebook and western@mmba.org (blogger.com).

Previous months' minutes can be requested from: ricejennbud@yahoo.com

If you received these minutes via email, it is because you signed in at a previous general or committee meeting and gave us this information. If you wish to be removed from the list, please reply to this email with the message "Remove me from WMMBA Minutes notification."

Side note: Something not mentioned at the meeting but should have been:
The 2010 Yankee Springs Time Trial Committee is forming now! The first meeting is on October 21st at the Uccellos in Caledonia (8526 Broadmoor Ave SE) at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested please notify Dennis Murphy at 616-394-2218 or email him at dennis.murphy@gmail.com.

Grand Rapids Bike Park

GRAND RAPIDS BIKE PARK



This past Tuesday night the city of Grand Rapids Commission unanimously approved our project.
We have a bike park.

A work schedule is being developed as we hope to finish phase 1 in November.