President's Message:
CCCMB celebrates success, works for the future
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2016 has come and gone and we're into a new year of trail building, trail maintenance, and of course, riding! The 2015-16 trail work season was one for the record books. CCCMB volunteers logged over 9,000 hours of labor building and maintaining Central Coast trails! A new trail network was designed and constructed from scratch at Pismo Preserve, while progress was made towards completing the M Trail on San Luis Mountain and the Sapwi Trail at Santa Margarita Lake. Additionally, volunteers maintained trails throughout the Central Coast in our state parks, Los Padres National Forest, city open spaces, and county parks. None of this would have been possible without the dedicated support of all of you, our members and volunteers, and I'd like to extend a big "Thank You!" on behalf of the CCCMB Board of Directors.
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CCCMB Volunteer Hours:
August 2016-January 2017
567
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However, despite our long list of accomplishments in recent years, including Pismo Preserve, the new Oats Peak trail, miles of new trails in the Irish Hills, the Stenner Flow Trail, and construction of Morro Bay Bike Park, the Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers needs your support now. With more miles of trail than ever before to maintain and more ambitious projects in the pipeline, CCCMB needs your support, both financially and physically, to keep our existing trails open and rideable and also build new ones. If you're not already, please consider becoming a CCCMB member, or donating directly to CCCMB. Additionally, remember that trails don't maintain themselves, and put some of our trail maintenance workdays on your schedule for Spring. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of new trails and new trail systems, but iconic Central Coast riding locations like Montana de Oro and West Cuesta Ridge still have drains to be cleared, water bars to be rebuilt, and brush and poison oak to cut back. We hope to see you all in 2017!
Happy Riding,
Connor Culhane
President, Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers
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Note: 2016 donation and expense cash flow pie charts represent the huge trail construction project at Pismo Preserve. Typical annual totals are about half of the 2016 figures. |
Scott Scudmore National Volunteer Leadership Award:
CCCMB co-founder Greg Bettencourt honored
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Greg flagging locations for trails at Pismo Preserve |
Congratulations goes out to our own Greg B
ettencourt for receiving the "Trail Advocacy" leadership award. This IMBA award is given each year to honor outstanding volunteers who are making a significant contribution to the mountain bicycling community nationwide. Greg has received it for the Hawaii / California region, one of nine
throughout the country. He will receive $1,000 for the CCCMB Chapter.
Scott "Superman Scud" Scudamore was a retired Air Force Captain who exemplified mountain bike volunteerism through his work with MORE. Scud's specialty was introducing new riders to mountain biking advocacy and the efforts needed from local voices to ensure the sustainability of off-road trail networks to the growing population of outdoor enthusiasts.
More can be read about this award at the IMBA LINK HERE.
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The next big trail work day:
Super Bowl Sunday at Montana de Oro
Montaña de Oro State Park, the gem of the Central Coast! If you like hiking, biking, running or riding the trails of this park, then be sure to join your fellow enthusiasts and CCCMB members to put in a few hours of trail work to help repair and maintain them. This public event is open to anyone and everyone, members and nonmembers, men, women and children, clubs and individuals, newcomers and old-timers.
When
: Sunday, February 5th (Super Bowl Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(Done before game time!)
Where
: Meet at the ranger headquarters above Spooner's Cove
What to Bring
: Hat, gloves, long sleeve shirt, and water and snacks.
Breakfast snacks, coffee, tools, crew leaders and instruction will be
provided by CCCMB
We will divide into work crews of your choice (6-12 people) and head out to 14 worksites to do brushing, drain repairs, trail repairs, etc. Work will be wrapped up by 1 p.m. so you can be back on the road to make the pre-game party!
For the first time in many years we have serious rain damage to repair.
Word is out about several locations at Montana de Oro which are in serious need of attention; e.g., the new, big slide on the north of Hazard Peak Trail, East Boundary south and north ends, top of Barranca both sides, Reservoir Flats Trail, and at the top of the list is Manzanita where five of those big waterbars in a row were overwhelmed and blew out.
In addition to the urgent repair work we will also be taking advantage of the wet soil to fix some design/construction problems which have developed over the years; e.g., fixing a couple of off-camber sweepers on Hazard Peak Trail and rebuilding a switchback on Beebe.
Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants, gloves and a hat. Bring plenty of water.
Hope to see you there.
Thanks,
Greg Bettencourt
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West Cuesta Ridge Trails:
Hearty handful maintains Eucs
Thirteen volunteers attended the West Cuesta workday January 14th despite the muddy ascent on foot. Work was completed on Morning Glory, Shooters, and in the Eucs.
Those working on Morning Glory filled in some wheel-size sink holes and ruts. After all the rain we have received much of the drainage is flowing down the trail rather than its original course. The drains were restored and hopefully will keep the new rain from creating ruts. In the Eucs the table top was repaired and drains cleaned. The rhythm section was corrected and the following berm before the trails merge.
Raffle winners:
Bob Nanninga - Foothill Cyclery gift card
Greig Cummings - Trinity Cyclery gift card
Allison Swain - The Galley gift card
13 total attending x 4hrs = 52 work hours
Thanks to all the volunteers who came out and thanks to Greig Cummings and Kenny for the photos!
- Christie O'Hara, CCCMB Vice President
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FASTA Plans Phase 3:
Rider input and support needed for The Eucs
The FASTA Board would like to reach out to local gravity riders and regular 3CMB members for input on which improvements should next be made and who, when, and how to get them installed. Since the initial build out of the Eucs, the build momentum has slowed. Babies have been born, marriages are happening and some of our regular builders have moved away. This was expected but also we need to get the message out that there is still much more that could be done.
We would like any interested riders and regular members who are interested to come to the next regularly scheduled 3CMB meeting in February.
- Jim Aaron for FASTA/IMBA/3CMB
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Morro Bay Bike Park Ladies Day succeeds
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CCCMB Bell Program:
NICE MATTERS
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The CCCMB Bell Program has been a feature of the local trails since 2010. Through generous donations, the bells are made available free to trail users at Montana de Oro State Park and San Luis Obispo Open Spaces to help cyclists better alert other trail users of their approach. The bells attach easily and quickly to the bikes, and may be kept or returned to the bell boxes for others to use. CCCMB has filled the bell boxes with about 2,000 bells each year.
Thank you to our Bell Program sponsors: Art's Cyclery, Baywood Cyclery, Cambria Bicycle Outfitters, Foothill Cyclery, Pedal Power, Quality Suites, Riding Warehouse, Running Warehouse, Trinity Cyclery, Race SLO, Wally's Bicycle Works, and (new this year) Voler. Voler is a long-time CCCMB supporter that has donated countless jerseys, shorts, gift certificates and a one-of-a-kind, pop-up-tent banner. This year, they added the bell program to their generous participation.
NOW would be a good time to check your back pack, work bench and trunk to see if you have more bells than you have bikes. Please return extra bells to any bell box.
For more information about the CCCMB Bell Program or to donate, go to bells4bikes.org.
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Trail Spotlight:
James Way Wilderness Preserve offers opportunity
James Way Wilderness Preserve is a 75-acre oak woodland located off James Way in the middle of Arroyo Grande. It hosts approximately 1.5 miles of trail including old ranch roads, wide decomposed-granite trails, and multi-use trails. The preserve, primarily used for hiking, includes a year-round pond, seasonal creek, and working windmill. Mountain bikes are allowed on the trails and riding the park trails is enjoyable albeit limited in distance.
We are working with the City of Arroyo Grande to add another multi-use trail loop 1/2 mile in length, and designing a viable bike park. Care and development of the park will be dependent on volunteer labor.
- Eric Nelson
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VOLUNTEER NEEDED: Insurance Advisor
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*Willing to investigate insurance options for CCCMB. then explain to directors
*Familiarity with insurance language and practices
*CCCMB can provide contacts for insurance information and policies
*No need to attend more than one meeting a year
Position requires only periodic time commitments that can be coordinated around volunteer's schedule. If you'd like to help, please email [email protected].
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