What Do You Think?

Traditionally, trail building and improvement projects have been based on ideas from land management agencies and club leaders. But what trail projects do you think need our attention?

Use the comment feature of this blog to speak out about deserving trail work projects in and near Nevada County. Maybe we can address them in an upcoming trail work day or two.

Big Bullard's Day

If you were to ride Bullard's Bar sometime just after the next rainfall, you would probably experience the best trail conditions that system has ever seen.

Why? Because on Sunday, some 40+ BONC and SBTS volunteers joined forces to put in a complete set of trail enhancements. Check out some photos (and let me know if you have any others). The trailwork included:

• Lopping and trimming overgrowth on the whole trail system
• Improving drainage features on a number of trails, including backsloping
• Cutting a new short connector trail between 7-Ball and 8-Ball Trails and sign installation
• Removing tree stumps in various locations
• Installation of culverts on Bullard's Bar Trail

Thank you to everyone who participated, including the Tahoe National Forest staff.

Miners Earn an IMBA Grant

Today's Union has an article about the successful IMBA grant application put in by the Nevada Miners Indie high school mountain bike team. Way to go!

According to team coach Debra Little, the club hopes to use the money to buy some trail work tools and to improve the trail around the old Nevada City airport. Best of of all, it gives an incentive to these members of the next generation of cyclists to become involved in trailwork and mountain bike advocacy.

Of course the high school team already did a great job of trailwork last fall on the Scott's Flat Trail.

Tread Lightly

According to The Union, Nevada County received some five (count 'em) inches of rain over the weekend. So this means that our beloved trails are saturated, mucky and very vulnerable to damage.

Please consider avoiding the trails until things dry out a bit in a day or two. Personally, I plan on riding the road until Friday. I just hate to think that I am creating on trails ruts that will stick around for months or beyond.

Trail Daze @ Bullard's

As mentioned in a previous post, BONC will join forces with SBTS for a big weekend of riding, camping, more riding and quality trailwork on the Bullard's Bar trail system on 2/16-2/18. Here is a schedule of events:

Camping
Free camping will be provided Fri/Sat/Sun night at the Dark Day Campground at Bullards Bar by RSVP ONLY. You must let us know if you want a site.

Sunday
SBTS crew to meet at the Dark Day Campground at 9AM.
BONC crew meets at the Camptonville Ranger Station at 10AM.
SBTS to provide lunch fixins for Sunday work day
SBTS Sponsors to provide swag and beer

*Bring your own water for the entire event - water is turned off at the campground for the winter *

Rides
Saturday ride groups meet at 12 Noon at Dark Day Boat Ramp. There will be rides for varying skill and fitness levels. Sunday after-work ride planned for 2:30 or 3:00.

Horse Post

Get it (the bad pun above)? This blog is more bicycle-centric than I would like, so here goes my first in a series of equestrian rides listings. From the GCTC:

"Gold Country Trails Council's 1st Ride of the New Year!

Trail Boss Mark Hicks invites you to attend the upcoming Spenceville Ride!

Date: Saturday, February 10, 2007
Time: Ride out at 10 a.m.
Directions: Take Highway 20 west out of Grass Valley; turn left on Smartsville Road heading towards Beale AFB; take left fork; turn left on Waldo Road; pass shooting range; cross Waldo Bridge; bear left 4 miles to staging area on left.

Questions or planning on attending the ride?
Please RSVP/contact Mark Hicks at 530-268-0799 or e-mail lislhix at jps dot net."

Winter Returns

Of course, it had to end. The ridiculous streak of sunny, dry days wraps up this week with lots and lots of rain predicted. I will miss the endless opportunities to ride the last month brought, but I know the trails very much need the moisture. Some of the conditions out there have started to resemble those of early summer, as I've seen plenty of dust and even some duff in places.

My partner recently got me a pair of Lake winter mountain bike shoes. I will probably fit my road bike with compatible cleats and see how these work on both bikes. I've worked really hard to improve my fitness this winter and would hate to start missing too many rides due to weather.