GR Bike Park Grand Opening

Join the Western Chapter in celebrating the Grand Opening of the Grand Rapids Bike Park, this Saturday, 5/15:
Directions to the park at http://www.grbikepark.com9am-11am -
Park Clean-up - Join the Pioneer Construction crew and become a volunteer in this clean-up event, part of the Friends of GR Parks' "I Heart GR Parks" volunteer workday. Many hands make light work and we need your help to continue clean-up efforts at the park.
Bring Gloves and appropriate work clothes. Water and cups will be provided, but to reduce trash, we would appreciate if you bring your own drinking container.
11am - Ribbon Cutting event with Mayor George Heartwell and other local officials.
11:05am - Mayor Heartwell takes the first "official" ride on the pump track.~
11:15am - Join Mayor Heartwell for the Mayor's Bike ride, a family friendly event heading up the Plaster Creek trail.
Or you can try out the pump track or test out the newly minted short singletrack loops. (Or do all three!!) Free cake will be served courtesy of the Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club and PedalGR while it lasts.
Come out and show your support for urban mountain bike access in Grand Rapids! The success of this trail and others yet to be developed relies upon the support of our local community.
Lastly, check out the awesome trailer for the documentary in the works on the making of the GR Bike Park. It really shows off what a fantastic pump track has been constructed at the site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d4sTkioKVs

Cannonsburg State Game Area Trailday 5-8-10

Spring 2010

Step 1 completed 4-30-10

Delivered and staged 2 TONS of Flag Stone at work area. A BIG THANKS to our new friends at the STONE ZONE for a generous deal. Check them out for your personal projects and let them know you heard it hear. Thanks to Mike F for helping.

Step 2
Spent Day 2 and 3 laying down armoring with Rick and Aaron. Thanks Guys!
Beware of soft sand on the down hill just after the Trail Work Ahead sign in section 3. (as we begin to back fill the old tread) Had a good day armoring with flag and field stone but not quite ready to open for riding. Sand will be going away soon.

Step 3
Brought in more field stone and created a XLG nick in front of the armored section with the Ditch Witch (I LOVE DITCH WITCHES!) to divert water down the hill vs down and under the armor.
Stay tuned for more updates and pics.

PS: Anyone interested in laying a final "Stone of your Own" (Your personal piece of History on your Heritage Trail) come out for the Trial Day this Saturday 5-8-10 at 9 AM. Bring work gloves/shoes etc, H2O and bug spray. FREE Lunch!

Chris Curtis

Luton Park Trail Day this Sunday April 25th, 9am

Join us for a trail day at Luton Park this coming Sunday April 25th at 9:00am. Meet at the Kies St parking lot. We will not have the MMBA trailer, so please bring branch trimmers, shovels, rakes, chainsaws, hammers, gloves and boots for working in mud. We plan to install some 18” wide boardwalks to circumvent the mud pits on the Blue Loop thanks to the generous donations of cash and lumber from Mike Napieralski, Dave George, Bob Baker and Matt Gossman! Without their support this project would not have gotten off the ground. Thanks guys! Other projects for the day include some general maintenance and cutting in a few option routes. We could also take advantage of someone with a 4x4 pick-up truck to drive the boardwalks down to the site. Email me if you can bring a truck. Lunch provided.
Rick

Misery Loves Company Bike Race

Hey friends, Did that subject line really say free racing? That's right, free and fun are two of my favorite words so I figured I should share them with you. So it's free as long as you are a member of MMBA and if your not a member, become a member and it's free! You can become a member at the race. Fun? Fun because you are on a bike, riding stuff you have never ridden before, competing with your local friends and best of all sharing stories, exaggerations and refreshments with friends after the race on the lawn of the Blarney Stone. Bring your partner, the kids, the neighbors, just don't forget your bike. The more the merrier!
Details? "We don't need no stinking details!' But if you insist the May race will be between 12 and 15 miles the August race will be longer. I'm not telling you the routes! Racing starts at 2:00 pm, don't be late or you just might miss it! See you all at "Misery Loves Company" now why do you think we named it that??? Martin

Western MMBA is pleased to announce the member’s
“Misery Loves Company”
Mountain Bike Time Trial Races.

“Terrible 12” Sunday May 23, 2010 2:00 pm
“Terrific 25” Saturday August 28, 2010 2:00 pm

Both races start at the Blarney Stone Bar & Grill (606 South Whitmore Rd. Hastings, MI) Jct. of Whitmore Rd and M-179, west of Hastings. Food and drinks available from the Blarney Stone. Bring a lawn chair, and enjoy an afternoon of old school racing, good bar food and beer!

Course is comprised of gravel, sand, dirt roads and hills, did I mention hills! If you like Barry-Roubaix riding then you’ll flip over this as it covers some of the best & worst that Barry County has to offer. Route to be announced the day of the race, don’t worry, you’ll love it!
Awards = Bragging rights, your name in lights on the website and ???
Classes= Men <35,>35, SS

Registration: Day of registration only. Fee to race is membership in the MMBA, if you are currently a member there is no fee, if you are not we will sell you a membership so you can race. It’s an insurance thing & we’ll have a list!
Volunteers & Donations to the chapter will be accepted.

For additional information contact: mehall@landolakes.com

Bass River Trail Day

Our spring trail day at Bass River is going to be next Saturday, April 17th. Plan on meeting in the parking area at 1:00 pm. I should have the Western Chapter tool trailer, but feel free to bring a favorite wheelbarrow and shovel. Plan is to do general spring cleanup, topcoat the elevated sections, perhaps make a short new elevated section on the north loop, and check the rideovers and perhaps make a new one or two. Once the hard work is done, we’ll scout the area for new trail. The DNRE is quite eager to work with us on addition trail, but we have to make the first step and submit a written proposal.

Please pass this along to anyone you know that enjoys our trail.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Tom Landry

Yankee Springs Time Trial

The 21st annual Yankee Springs Time Trial is upon us! Sunday April 18th. Volunteers always needed and welcome to make this chapter benefit event the success it has been for years.

Upcoming preparations include:

Trail maintenance day Sunday April 11 to get the course ready for the race the next week. April 11- Yankee Springs 1pm-3pm Race prep for the Yankee TT Tools provided, no experience required, kids welcome Meet at Deep Lake Trailhead

Saturday April 17 Set up activities for the event the next day 10am Meet at Deep Lake Trailhead

Cannonsburg Ski Area opening info

April 16th 2010 is a friday and on that day Cannonsburg will open the hills for everyone... bikers and hikers alike
2010 Rules for the Ski Area
-They can't have any bikers riding towards the triple (west). There are a few old trails going that way, it is not acceptable for anyone to use them. This is very important.
-No one should ever come on to Cannonsburgs' property from Egypt Valley or 5 mile (new trail on 5 mile)... again those trails are closed.
-The only bridge used by bikers and hikers should be the middle bridge.
-They are experiencing the beginning of costly and time consuming erosion on the "double" and the "face" ski hill. No bikers on the ski hills ever... this includes traversing across them. (approved course layouts may be acceptable for events).
-There is a change in the car parking this season. Bikers and hikers are allowed to park anywhere east of the middle bridge on the pavement. There is no need to park off to the side anymore since no bikers or hikers are allowed to cross the maintenance bridge.
-Opening day will always be subject to the weather but closing day will always be the first Sunday in November-(Nov. 7th 2010). This closing day is for all people except for Cannonsburg employees.
-Even though it may sound like they don't want bikers here, that is not the case. They think that it is important to have the community out here enjoying Cannonsburg in the winter and in the summer. It is the success of the western chapter of the MMBA that brings the large number of bikers here. With bigger numbers comes bigger problems... we just have to stay on top of those problems so Cannonsburg can continue to offer top notch biking.

Luton Park Update...Spring 2010

Many of you may not know but a parking lot was created in late December on Keis St. just west of the Luton Barn. The barn has been fenced off and parking for all user groups can take place at this new lot. It is a temporary lot in agreement with the Kent Co Road Commission. A larger and permanent lot will still be built at the Ten Mile entrance when funding becomes available. On some summer evenings the lot may not prove to be large enough for all the cyclists. Please don't park on the shoulder of the roadway, the sheriff can ticket you for this. Simply revert to old habits and park at the D&W Plaza instead.
When the soil conditions dry out a bit more and riding starts taking place out there please ride east from the parking lot toward the barn and join the trail at this point. This will be signed and potentially mowed in and visible soon but I am sure riders will beat the county to the punch on this one. Help "ride in" the connector by using the same path/course each time.
The county is going to add a causeway or raised tread in the two wetland areas of the Blue Loop. They had hoped to complete it this winter if we had little to no snow for a period. That never happened and if they drive back in there now we will really have a mess. They are considering waiting til August so please be patient. We will be involved in top dressing it, shaping and compacting it when the dirt is in place. There is about 500 feet on the east end and 500 feet on the west end that need this work. The wooden board walk ideas have fizzled due to the amount of hiking traffic the Blue Loop gets.
They also were approached by the scouts again. The scouts would like to do some volunteer construction out there and have agreed to place some post markers like the ones used at Siedman and Pickerel. 8x8's with arrows and loop colors on the top of the post. Our plastic arrows on trees would be removed. Not sure when this will take place.Thats it for now. Please resist the temptation to ride for a few more weeks. Go to Yankee or Fort Custer, I hear they are ready to go!
ThanksRick

Please avoid trails during the thaw

Grand Rapids Bicycle Film Festival

THE 3RD ANNUAL GRAND RAPIDS BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL
(On Facebook too. http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=272973362592&ref=mf or just search Grand Rapids Bicycle Film Festival)
February 13, 2010
Wealthy Theatre
1130 Wealthy Street, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
We're at it again. This time with the support of: The Western Chapter of the Michigan Mountain Bike Association, The Rapid Wheelmen, Grand Rapids BMX. We are running both a matinee and an evening show this year. Feel free to attend one or both shows. Rumor is the Snowcross is happening that day too. Come on over to the West Side for the snow cross, then stay for the Bicycle Film Fest!
MATINEE SHOW: Doors open at 2:30. Movies from 3-5pm. Pre-sale tickets are $5. Day of tickets are $7. The matinee is a BMX themed event in the Koning Micro Theatre.
EVENING SHOW: Doors open at 6:30. Movies from 7-10pm. Pre-sale tickets are $13. Day of tickets are $15. The evening show has movies running in both the main theater (Wege Auditorium) and the Koning Micro Theatre. We have a collection of cycling shorts, documentaries, great cinematography, and a couple local production efforts included.

PRE-SALE TICKETS: Pre-sale tickets can be purchased in person at Wealthy Theatre or on line at: http://www.grcmc.org/index.php?page=events&event_id=2137
DAY OF TICKETS: Day of tickets are available on site before the show.

MOVIE LINE UP: Cycling shorts from around the world.
FatBike (Cycling in Anchorage Alaska - http://alaskabikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/fat-bike.html)
Into the Thunder Dragon (Mountain Unicycling in the Himalayas - http://www.krisholm.com/khu/about/films)
Stompin’ Stu (The Story of Legendary BMX racer Stu Thomsen - http://www.stompinstu.com/)
Joe Kid on a Sting Ray (The History of BMX - http://www.joekidonastingray.com/)
Plus we have two local submissions. We're giving a nod to the local efforts on this one.

OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:CASH BAR!!!! Founders IPA on tap.Pizza by the slice from Brickroad Pizza
200 - 300 of your cycling friends.
Profits go to the benefit of Grand Rapids BMX, Michigan Youth Cycling, The Midwest Mountain Bike Summit, and future GR Bicycle Film Festivals.