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In this issue...
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 Pt
Mugu State Park is overflowing with wildflowers,
especially
California poppies like those along
Wood Canyon Vista
Trail, shown here.
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Proper Trail Etiquette
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News from the CORBA Website
Blog since the previous eTerraTimes
In this day and age the most effective way to achieve anything for the public good is to collaborate. Whether those collaborations are with land managers, other trail user groups, public-private partnerships, or other entities, they are necessary. Nothing gets accomplished in a vacuum. It was thr... Epic views of the Santa Rosa Mountains Palm Canyon Epic (PCE) is one of the iconic long-distance rides of Southern California. It’s a spectacular point-to-point route in the Santa Rosa Mountains, south of Palm Springs and Cathedral City. It’s a place that many dedicated mountain bikers make an an... The New Millennium Loop trail system in Calabasas is very popular among mountain bikers and others, but it has very little if any maintenance since the trails were built a number of years ago as part of The Oaks gated community. In general, they have held up pretty well, but nature is taking its ... You’re invited to a free presentation by one of CORBA’s and IMBA’s founders, Jim Hasenauer. The presentation is called "Mountain Biking in the Santa Monicas” and is a part of the MRCA Chautuaqua Talk Series. An appreciation of off-road bicycling in ... March 2015 Board Meeting at REI Santa Monica Did you know that CORBA’s monthly Board of Directors meeting is open to our members and supporters? We’d love to hear from you, and give you the opportunity to learn first-hand what’s going on at CORBA. This year we are doing things a little differentl... Spring Membership Drive for CORBA/IMBA Over the past year, CORBA leaders attended over 150 meetings and public hearings in support of trails and mountain biking in Southern California. We helped get Strawberry Peak and many other trails re-opened after the Station Fire in the Angeles National For... It’s been a VERY busy 1st quarter for GGR!! I am so very proud to introduce a new page on the GGR website to honor and acknowledge our amazing women athletes! http://www.girlzgoneriding.com/featured-women-athletes.html We are starting to solicit vendors for this years 2015 GGR Rocktober event! Si... Come out and join the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA), CORBA, the Santa Monica Trails Council and other volunteers for the Annual COSCA Spring Trailwork Day . We will be working to restore part of the Lizard Rock Trail , and other nearby trails that are accessible from Hill Canyon i... As part of the restoration process of the trails in Pt Mugu State Park after the heavy rains and mudslides in December 2014, twelve volunteers from CORBA, along with about two dozen hikers, trail runners and navy personnel, spent this past Saturday working on the Wood Canyon Vista Trail , a segme... As always, the free Basic Skills Clinic was conducted on the first Saturday of the month in Malibu Creek State Park . This month we had seventeen riders on a cool and cloudy but dry day. You can see the photos in our February photo gallery . Bookmark It Hide Sites Here is what I found when I rode all the multi-use trails a few days after Pt Mugu State Park re-opened on January 30th. The park had been closed since mid-December when heavy rains brought mudslides to the fire-denuded park. During the closure, heavy equipment was used to clear up the extensive ... Our neighbors to the east in Sedona, AZ have invited us to partake in the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival the weekend of March 6-8, 2015. There will be bike demo’s, a beer garden, rides, shuttles, camping, music, and more. If you’ve never ridden Sedona’s deep red trails and slickrock, you’re in f... Riders, coaches and parents from Calabasas HS, AE Wright Middle School, Royal HS and other schools in Simi Valley spent six hours this past Saturday to build 300 yards of a new trail. This was half the length of a trail that was roughed in last year to bypass the swamp along the Historic Trail, p... On Thursday January 22nd, we got an update of the status and future of Pt Mugu State Park by Dale Skinner. Dale manages trail maintenance for the State Parks for the SMMtns. By way of background… The Springs Fire of May 2013 burned all the chaparral and some of the large trees throughout the park... The staff of Giant Bicycles in Newbury Park volunteered for a session of trail maintenance for their hometown of Thousand Oaks. CORBA worked with the COSCA (Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency) rangers who oversee the open space in Thousand Oaks to organize a work project. Staff from Giant Bike... As reported earlier this month, Point Mugu State Park has been closed to the public while the damage to the trails is being assessed and repaired. Heavy equipment has been working to reestablish Sycamore Canyon and the public is still being asked to stay out of the park until such time as it is s... As always, the free Basic Skills Clinic was conducted on the first Saturday of the month in Malibu Creek State Park . This month we had nine riders on a beautiful sunny, but cool, day. You can see the photos in our January photo gallery , the first one for 2015! Bookmark It Hide Sites
 President's
Message by Steve Messer
In this day and age the most effective way to achieve anything for the public good is to collaborate. Whether those collaborations are with land managers, other trail user groups, public-private partnerships, or other entities, they are necessary. Nothing gets accomplished in a vacuum.
It was through such a collaboration that the Strawberry Peak loop was restored and re-opened in the Angeles National Forest, which
has recently become the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. This was only possible with several groups pooling and sharing resources and coordinating efforts.
To help bolster support and improve community participation in and stewardship of the new San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, a Community Collaborative group has been formed. The first meeting of the full Collaborative group was on March 4th, 2015.
We had a broad range of interests in attendance. Several water district
representatives were there, as were those from Caltrans, Edison, two LA County districts
and Flood Control, San Bernardino County, other councils of governments
and chambers of commerce, Native Americans, several social and health justice organizations,
Mount Baldy Resort and the recreational organizations CORBA, California Off-Road Vehicle Association and the Community Hiking Club. The National Forest Foundation did an excellent job of winnowing down an extensive interest list to bring this group together.
One of my roles as a member of the Community Collaborative is to bring your concerns to the table going forward. Feel free to contact me with any concerns that you might find. In turn, I’ll be reporting back to you on the work and progress of the Collaborative, in addition to the Forest Service management plan development process.
To read the full discourse on the imporance of collaboration
and the development of plans for the San Gabriel Mountains National
Monument, view Steve's
article on CORBA's blog. Also, you can view a video
on the Strawberry Peak Trail restoration.
Attend our Board of Directors Meetings
Did you know that CORBA’s monthly Board of Directors meeting is open to our members and supporters? We’d love to hear from you, and give you the opportunity to learn first-hand what’s going on at CORBA.
This year we are doing things a little differently. Since our territory is so large, we have begun rotating locations to give more people an opportunity to join us. Meetings are posted at http://meetup.com/corbamtb, alongside our trailwork events, group rides, and other activities. You can RSVP there or by email to info@corbamtb.com. RSVP’s are recommended, as some of our meeting locations have limited seating. If you’re unable to attend, but would like to tell us something, you can always email us beforehand at info@corbamtb.com. Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. This month we’ll be meeting at REI in Santa Monica. We thank REI for their ongoing support of CORBA. See you there! What: CORBA Monthly Board of Directors Meeting When: Monday, March 23, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Where: REI Santa Monica, 402 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 RSVP: http://meetup.com/corbamtb
Join CORBA/IMBA and Win a Bike (if you’re lucky!)
Spring Membership Drive for CORBA/IMBA |
Over the past year, CORBA leaders attended over 150 meetings and public hearings in support of trails and mountain biking in Southern California. We helped get Strawberry Peak and many other trails re-opened after the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest. We maintained trails in the Santa Monica Mountains and Conejo Valley, and we’re working hard to bring urban Bike Parks to Southern California. But we need your support, your membership, to keep doing it. March is a great time to join CORBA! Everyone who joins or renews their membership to CORBA/IMBA during the month of March will be entered into a random drawing for either a Scott Genius 750, or a VIP trip for two to the Burning Can Beer Festival at the REEB ranch in North Carolina. If your membership doesn’t expire for a while, the renewal will add a year to your existing membership. There are additional incentives continuing into spring. Join CORBA, or renew your membership this month. Your membership supports our efforts at the local level in Los Angeles and eastern Ventura County, and IMBA’s efforts nationwide. Full details of the giveaway are available from IMBA, and official rules are available here.
Chautauqua Talks: Mountain Biking in the Santa Monica Mountains Jim Hasenauer, one of CORBA’s and IMBA’s founders, will
be giving a free presentation called "Mountain Biking in the Santa Monicas" and is a part of the MRCA Chautuaqua Talk Series. An appreciation of off-road bicycling in the Santa Monica Mountains with a focus on its history, its growth, bike advocacy, and relations with other trail users. Once called the "new kids on the block", mountain bicyclists have now been riding the trails and contributing to the trails community for more than thirty years. Come learn about the evolution of the sport, public policy, and sustainable trail design. Learn where to ride, what to ride and how to ride. What does the future hold for mountain bicyclists in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA? The talk will be held in Woodland Hall at the Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 W. Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades (Map).
Recreational
Rides
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A
recent
Beginners' Ride had 16 participants. Would you like to join us too?
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For a list of upcoming recreational rides, please visit the CORBA
Calendar.
CORBA’s Club
Rides calendar provides a full
monthly schedule of mountain bike rides for all skill levels. Mountain bike
rides are organized by CORBA member clubs and led by experienced and
knowledgeable guides. Recreational rides are a fun and social way to experience
a variety of trails in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and beyond.
Upcoming
Trailwork and Reports on Past Workdays
For many years, most trailwork has been done by volunteers because of budget
cutbacks at our parks systems. So come out and help CORBA and
other volunteers keep our trails in top riding shape! You can learn
more about what to expect and what you'll need to bring with you
on our Trailwork
web page.
 CORBA will provide lunch for participants after the workday is
finished. As a special thank-you, we will have a drawing
at the end of the year for prizes for those who have signed
up in advance with our Meetup
group. The grand prize is a Niner frame and there will
be other great give-aways, so make sure you register
in advance! By registering in advance, you'll help us prepare
by knowing how many volunteers to expect. And... If you come out to two
or more trailwork days in a year, we'll give you a cool long-sleeved
CORBA trail crew shirt - be sure to ask for yours!
Children
must be over 7-years old to attend, and children under 14 must be constantly
and directly supervised by their parent or guardian who brought them.
March 21, 2015: COSCA Spring Trailwork Day. For
Thousand Oaks' annual event, this year we'll be working to restore
a lower section of the Lizard Rock Trail, and also some other trails
accessible from Hill Canyon. For full details and to register, see
our Meetup
event and registration page.
Summary of the January 16 Giant Bikes Trailwork Day: The staff of Giant Bicycles in Newbury Park volunteered for a session of trail maintenance for their hometown of Thousand Oaks. CORBA worked with the COSCA
rangers who oversee the open space in Thousand Oaks to organize a work project.
The project was to build a new trail, about 150 yards long, to bypass a steep, loose and marbley fall-line segment on the Los Robles Trail West in Newbury Park, just above the Felton Street connector trail. That part of the trail has always been extremely challenging to climb for even expert riders, and no doubt many who tried the descent came away with a case of road rash.
To see the full report and photo gallery, visit our
blog report...
Summary of the January 31 High School Mtn Bikers trail building
in Calabasas: Riders, coaches and parents from Calabasas HS, AE Wright Middle School, Royal HS and other schools in Simi Valley spent six hours on Saturday to build 300 yards of a new trail. This was half the length of a trail that was roughed in last year to bypass the swamp along the Historic Trail, part of the New Millennium Loop trail system in Calabasas.
To see the full report and photo gallery, visit our
blog report... Our blog on this event was copied by Mountain
Bike Action!
Summary of the February 21 Wood Canyon Vista (Backbone)
Trail restoration in PMSP: As part of the restoration process of the trails in Pt Mugu State Park after the heavy rains and mudslides in December 2014, twelve volunteers from CORBA, along with about two dozen hikers, trail runners and navy personnel, spent Saturday working on the Wood Canyon Vista Trail, a segment of the Backbone Trail. We had three tasks: repairing the ruts caused by water flowing down the middle of the trail, creating and repairing drains to direct water off of it, and leveling the tread where mud had flowed across it, making it uneven.
To see the full report and photo gallery, visit our
blog report...
Summary of February 28 Bark Park Trail restoration in Calabasas:
The New Millennium Loop trail system in Calabasas is very popular, but it has very little if any maintenance since the trails were built a number of years ago as part of The Oaks gated community. In general, they have held up pretty well, but nature is taking its relentless toll.
On the last day of February, ten kids from Calabasas and Newbury Park mountain bike clubs and 5 young sailors from Naval Base Ventura County, with guidance from CORBA and Trails Council trail crew leaders, repaired about 0.8 miles of the Bark Park Trail.
With the heavy rains in December, ruts started to develop along the trail and a sinkhole about 6′ long and 3-4′ deep appeared.
To see the full report and photo gallery, visit our
blog report...
To see all trailwork dates, including those of other groups,
visit the CORBA
calendar.
Join our mailing list to get updates on trailwork
opportunities!
Send an email to Trailwork-Volunteers+subscribe@corbamtb.com
General
News
 Action Alert: Save the Palm Canyon Epic
Palm Canyon Epic (PCE) is one of the iconic long-distance rides of Southern California. It’s a spectacular route in the Santa Rosa Mountains, south of Palm Springs,
where many dedicated mountain bikers make an annual winter pilgrimage to ride. The BLM has completed an environmental document for a land swap with the Agua Caliente band of Cahuila Indians. While the tribe’s stewardship of their lands has been positive, the tribe doesn’t allow bicycles on trails
and charge a fee for hikers and equestrians. In the land swap, portions of the Palm Canyon trail, and many other trails important to the local communities, would become tribal land. They’ve posted “no bikes” signs on the Indian Potrero trail, which crosses tribal land for a short distance, and is a part of the classic PCE. Now is the time to make your voice heard and write to the BLM. Comments must be received by March 29th, 2015!
View our
blog for further details and a sample letter. Watch some
videos
of mountain biking in Palm Canyon.
Girlz Gone Riding news for March by Wendy
Engelberg
It’s been a VERY busy 1st quarter for GGR!! I am so very proud to introduce a new page on the GGR website to honor and acknowledge our amazing women athletes! http://www.girlzgoneriding.com/featured-women-athletes.html We are starting to solicit vendors for this years 2015 GGR Rocktober event! Signed on so far
are Clif, Liv, Trek, Specialized, Petal Power, ZOIC, Kali Protectives,
Dirty Jane, G2 Bikes, Michael’s Bicycles, Apothecary Muse, Ultimate Health. Look for a new GGR chapter coming soon in San Diego! Talks to start in April!
We have had some super educational and fun clinics so far this year! Thank you to Ninja Mountain bike skills who put on private skills clinics just for GGR! http://sandiegomountainbikeskills.com/ Thank you to Michael’s Bicyles in Newbury Park for hosting a Wenches with Wrenches clinic! http://www.michaelsbicycles.com/
Thank you to Cycle World Chatsworth and Brian Peterson for hosting a hands on weekly bike trail repair class! http://cycleworldbikes.com/ And finally, GGR is all about learning to be a better skilled, safer and confident rider so that all have a great mountain biking experience, we have a weekend skills clinic coming up with Kat Sweet and http://sweetlines.com/ co hosted by G2 bikes and GGR! http://www.g2bike.com/
Free Mountain Biking
Skills Clinic
 Saturday March
7th is the next skills clinic.
The CORBA free skills clinic is held on the first Saturday of
every month at Malibu Creek State Park.
Mountain biking is a lot like tennis or skiing. Just a few minor
adjustments in technique can make a huge difference in your
control and proficiency. If you want to get better faster,
you need to know the fundamentals of mountain biking technique.
Whether you're just getting into mountain biking or have been
riding for years, you'll learn some valuable tips from our Introduction
to Mountain Biking skills class that is offered each month.
Check out our Skills Clinic
web page for all the information. After the clinic, see photos
of your new skills on the CORBA web site that you can share
with your family and friends!
Follow
CORBA on Meetup, Twitter and Facebook
 We have set up accounts with Twitter and Facebook to help keep people informed
of the latest developments in our trail advocacy, recreational rides and trailwork days. Join
our events on Meetup meetup.com/CORBAmtb
and follow
us on Twitter at twitter.com/CORBAmtb
and Facebook at facebook.com/CORBAMTB.
Get Our Blog Articles Delivered to Your
Desktop
Have you ever wished you could get our blog articles without having
to check
the CORBA website every day to see if there’s anything new? Well, you
can! Even though our blog software won’t send articles by email, you can
still get them delivered to the inbox of most email readers like
Microsoft
Outlook. You use the “RSS feed” functionality for this. In fact, you can
read
our articles in any software that receives RSS feeds, such as Internet
Explorer
and other web browsers. This
blog
article on RSS feeds shows you how.
Support
CORBA
Join or Renew your membership today on our membership
web page. Join Our Team! Do you have any ideas about mountain biking recreation in the
L.A. region? Would you like to apply your skills and manage projects
that contribute to the sport and lifestyle that you love? Is there
an advocate in you? We are recruiting motivated individuals who
work well with others. Send an email to info@corbamtb.com
or come
to a monthly Members Meeting to find out more about what we do and how you
can help. Check the calendar
for the next meeting.
Other simple ways to
support CORBA
- REI:
Use the link at left and REI will donate 5%
of the purchase price to CORBA
- Amazon.com:
Buy online and Amazon will donate to CORBA through their Smile
program
- Holmes Body Shop: Get that dent fixed and help CORBA
(Click on the links above to get more details!)
CORBA
News eMail List
Please do not reply to this email as the corbanews mailbox is
not monitored by people. To contact CORBA, email to info@corbamtb.com
or visit our 'Contact Us' page
for other addresses.
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