Monday, January 31, 2011

BONC Clothing Order

BONC is taking orders for club cycling clothing! Members can order jerseys, jackets, shorts and bibs. More information here. Deadline is March 1st, 2011.

Not a member yet? Well, what are you waiting for? Help promote trail building and advocacy in Nevada County. Join today!

DA Flagging Continues

Big thanks to Dieter King and Jerry Henderson. Together, we flagged a full mile of the new Diamond Arrow Trail alignment on Saturday. This section turned out to be more complex than I thought. On paper, it seemed very straightforward, but conditions on the ground are always different than what your topo map or software will tell you.

Regardless, the route we picked for this section is great and conforms with BLM standards (the BLM will build the trail by machine with grant money acquired by BONC). It largely avoids switchbacks and incorporates wide-radius turns. One fine day, this trail will be a great resource for local trail users.

I plan to flag again on 2/12 and perhaps 2/26, Let me know if you want to help out, thanks.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

North Yuba Trail

Today, Jon Pritchett, Chris Rose, Rob Heller and I rode the North Yuba Trail out of Downieville. This was the first time we've ridden this section. Looking for something new, I selected it as our destination for my birthday ride.

I want to acknowledge all the people who put in the effort to extend this great riverside singletrack. This includes Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Joe Chavez, Bill Haire and others. It was a huge project that extended the better part of a decade. The result is a joy to ride.

Like a lot of new trails, the North Yuba Extension could use some tweaks here and there. The narrow benchcut + sloughing off of soil from the uphill side occasionally pushes users to the soft edge of the trail bed. But it is still a great local trail asset. Note that there are some trees down on the section we rode, one of which damaged the bridge just east of Goodyears Bar.

I suggest that local trail users support the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. Their paid staff and volunteers have done some great work in the Tahoe and Plumas National Forests.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Bullards Conditions - 1/15

Is there a better place to ride than Bullards on a beautiful winter's day?

Yesterday, I hooked up with Mark Demartini and Matt Provencal for a loop at the lake. Trail conditions are good, though I counted about 10 downed trees, mostly on Bullards Bar Trail. The good news is that none of the trees are large (about 12" in diameter). There were about 4 washouts (3 on BBT and one on 7 Ball). We can tackle these on our 3/6 volunteer day.

However, the big news at Bullards is the massive canyon of erosion just west of Dark Day. It is ~40' deep and hundreds of feet long. Mark (a civil engineer by trade) tells me that this was likely caused by the parking lot recently constructed above it. Talking to the USFS, it seems likely they will plan a trail re-route at this section. Not sure how that solves the erosion problem though.

Please be careful around the slide. It is unstable and a fall into it could ruin your whole day.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Bullards Bar Trailwork and Ride - 4/23

Note that this event has been rescheduled to 4/23.

Join us as we improve and ride this singlespeed-singletrack paradise. Under direction of the USFS, we will re-route blown out sections of the Bullards' Bar Trail.

Meet at 10AM on Saturday, 4/23 at the Rebel Ridge trailhead (see map). Please bring long sleeves, long pants, appropriate shoes, a snack and some water. BONC will provide New Belgium beer to participants. Ride will occur afterward, helmets required.

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LrLv

Round Mountain Trailwork and Ride - 4/9

Note that this event has been rescheduled to 4/9.

Once again, we will give this precious local trail system some attention. On Saturday, 4/9, meet at the corner of Rector and Lake Vera-Purdon Roads at 10AM.

We will volunteer on the Rock Creek Flume Trail, where we will improve drainage on sections that are perpetually wet in winter months. Please bring long sleeves, long pants, appropriate shoes, a snack and some water. BONC will provide New Belgium beer to participants. No doubt some of us will ride afterwards.

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Xeyk

BONC Gala Ride - 1/30

Join us for a BONC Gala ride on Sunday January 30 @ 10AM.

Meet at the northwest corner of the Twin Cities Church parking lot. We'll ride Kenney Ranch, Deadman's Flat and other lesser known local gems. Helmets required. Beer very possible. Map:

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Bullards Bar Conditions

Joe Chavez of the USFS sends us an update on the Bullards Bar trail system:

"Thanks to a little help from a moto volunteer (Dave Wood), we were able log out (minus a few very small logs) Rebel Ridge, 8-Ball, 7-Ball and Bullards is logged from Vista Point to Rebel Ridge. East of Rebel, Bullards trail has not yet been logged, but last time I mountain biked it in December there was not too much down.

Just west of Dark Day on the Bullards Trail, there is a deep landslide in a channel. Folks can cross at a point about 100 feet up hill."

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

BONC Meeting - Sunday 1/9

Like pizza and beer? Come participate in the planning of future mountain biking in Nevada County. On Sunday January 9 at 5:30PM, meet at 14204 Plover Way, Grass Valley. We'll discuss future trail projects, social events and rides.

And suck down pizza and beer. Agenda for the meeting:

  • Treasurers report
  • Next Round Mountain trailwork day
  • Round Mountain vandalism
  • Agenda and minutes posting
  • Trail signs and stickers
  • Jersey update
  • Volunteer awards
  • BONC online store
  • February Gala ride
  • Board nominations and resignation
  • Next meeting