GHORBA on IMBA.com

[jburatti]

http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/01_03/01_07_houston.html
IMBA Hot Spots Program Focuses on Houston
Interview with Houston advocacy guru Christina Case.

james

[Schroeder]

That's our girl. I'm looking forward to the trail building education.

[Groovy Girl]

I'm ready for the Fat Tire Festival....beer! Much-needed after having to get up and speak in front of the Who-who's of Houston. Think we're up to 60+ coming to the HGAC meeting on Friday, including city council members, 3 county commissioners, National Park Service officials, Houston Parks Board, etc. etc. etc. AUGH!!!!!!! I hate public speaking!!!!!!

[Schroeder]

But you are soo darn good at it.

I won't make the Sat/Sun seminar. We are having to deal with some issues with the marathon course this weekend and George R Brown Access. I will be there Monday morning though at 08:00. Richard and I are hoping to get our education with the pair one on one at Huntsville. We have questions ready to go.

[txmtnbiker74]

I'll be moving this weekend so I'll miss all the good stuff going on. So please when someone gets a chance let me know what all went on and if there are anything we as riders can do to keep the trails in top shape.


B.

[Schroeder]

Originally posted by txmtnbiker74
I'll be moving this weekend so I'll miss all the good stuff going on. So please when someone gets a chance let me know what all went on and if there are anything we as riders can do to keep the trails in top shape.


B.

Come up to Huntsville one day to ride with Richard and I and we can learn ya!!!!

[mel]

Let us know how it goes with IMBA today, I'm ready to do some trail work and get Huntsville rideable again.
Mel

[Schroeder]

IMBA just left to attend their Monday afternoon meeting in Houston.

All went pretty well. We will definetly be re-routing the step in from the Interprepetive Center to the first bridge. It is too trashed to be salvagable. The area has grown to nearly 20 feet wide in two places from people skirting the mud and the areas where they didn't, it is cross rutted and holding water like no ones business. The 1.5" of rain between Saturday and Sunday put it back wet again where it was usable the day before.

IMBA likes the way we have been laying out trails. They critiqued Richard and I on our latest planned re-route at the trail exit and gave us some good pointers to go on for the step in survey and any subsequent surveys.

There is work to do and we will be mapping out the plan. I expect that we will resume the work in early February once most of the cold and rain has moved on and more importantly, when hunting seasons end.

Thanks to everyone that has helped and will be helping in the future. Big things in store.

[Tex Mex]

I am wondering how the "Trail Day" at Memorial went on Sat? I planned to go but rain and 40 degrees is not my idea of a trail day. Especially with broken bones.

[crashagain]

Saturday was fine...it was Sunday when the rain was a real factor, combined with the cold temps. Saturday, following the morning classroom session with the IMBA Trail Care Crew, Scott and Aaron, and their coordinator Avery, we went to the park and did some repairs and flagged several potential reroutes for the "garbage dump" section of Cambodia (or the PC name, "the bowl" ...never heard that one til Saturday...). The plan was to implement one of those reroutes on Sunday. For two reasons that wasn't done. First, some kind soul removed all of our flags shortly after the group left - around 5pm. Second, the rain overnight left the area in a condition that cutting new trail would've been more difficult than necessary.

Instead, we took the opportunity to observe the problem areas of the trail where water collects, and implemented solutions - installing several knicks and a rolling grade dip, and some deberming.

The it was cold and wet, but as long as we were working it wasn't bad at all.

Keith Porter took lots of pics and documented the weekend really well at his website (http://www.mtnbikerider.com). Check it out! Also, there's lots of info on the Fat Tire Festival, which Keith has put lots of time and effort into planning. There's lots of fun events planned - 1.5 mile time trial, poker run, schwagg, band, food, beer, and a silent auction featuring some really cool stuff donated by local bike shops and individuals.

Should be a great time! :D :D

[Mr. Guinness]

Originally posted by Groovy Girl
I'm ready for the Fat Tire Festival....beer! Much-needed after having to get up and speak in front of the Who-who's of Houston. Think we're up to 60+ coming to the HGAC meeting on Friday, including city council members, 3 county commissioners, National Park Service officials, Houston Parks Board, etc. etc. etc. AUGH!!!!!!! I hate public speaking!!!!!!

Christina and the IMBA folks did great within a series of presentations focusing on the need for natural surface, off-road trails. Lots of land managers looking for help with their trails, got lots of contacts to meet (and assess their trails) for the next few months! :D

People want a regional trails system, I'm participating in a regional movement and been given the technical lead for trails development and street crossings :eek: Needless to say I'll continue to promote single track to add to the natural experience. Next conference may occur in May.

However, we need more help from y'all to make management deals with parks - we can get more places to ride!

[crashagain]

Originally posted by Mr. Guinness
However, we need more help from y'all to make management deals with parks - we can get more places to ride!

Can you expand on that comment, Mr. G?

[Mr. Guinness]

Originally posted by crashagain
Can you expand on that comment, Mr. G?

If you're not doing this stuff already, consider these ideas:
- Be active with GHORBA, organization is KEY!
- learn IMBA trail maintenance techniques
- volunteer to do trail maintenance at your favorite venues
- Get to know the other trail users at your favorite parks
- get to know/be friendly with the land managers
- formalize trail maintenance with land managers
- participate in public meetings concerning parks and recreation in your district
- VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
- KEEP IT FUN! Don't this 24/7, you'll burn out...

I'm just no learning about paydirt points, what a cool idea! I've only been living in TX four months, heading to Flat Rock next weekend to do trail work (took IMBA class) and ride trails. Any 'not to miss' suggestions?

Dan

[Schroeder]

Originally posted by Mr. Guinness
If you're not doing this stuff already, consider these ideas:
- Be active with GHORBA, organization is KEY!
- learn IMBA trail maintenance techniques
- volunteer to do trail maintenance at your favorite venues
- Get to know the other trail users at your favorite parks
- get to know/be friendly with the land managers
- formalize trail maintenance with land managers
- participate in public meetings concerning parks and recreation in your district
- VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
- KEEP IT FUN! Don't this 24/7, you'll burn out...

I'm just no learning about paydirt points, what a cool idea! I've only been living in TX four months, heading to Flat Rock next weekend to do trail work (took IMBA class) and ride trails. Any 'not to miss' suggestions?

Dan

Huntsville meets all of this. Richard (the other trail steward) is now on the "Friends of the park board" too and I would venture to guess I will be appointed there too pretty quickly.

[Mr. Guinness]

That's the way to do it - actually, lots of folks can learn by your and Richards example. The Huntsville park folks were at the land managers meeting too, providing their support for natural trail development.

What are the current trail conditions at Huntsville?
Are they still severely damaged from the rain?
When is the next scheduled trail work party?

[Schroeder]

Originally posted by Mr. Guinness
That's the way to do it - actually, lots of folks can learn by your and Richards example. The Huntsville park folks were at the land managers meeting too, providing their support for natural trail development.

What are the current trail conditions at Huntsville?
Are they still severely damaged from the rain?
When is the next scheduled trail work party?
I may go up there Monday and give you a trail report or just call Richard tonight. (I have to be at the hospital from 0200 to 0500 Monday morning. catcha few ZZZs and then go ride while the wife is at work) I will begin to take photos and post to a web page as time permits. I really need to start that more regular. It is most likely dry enough to only have to walk a few places.

WE have many widened areas and the need to survey one more re-route. One other re-route is already marked. Mid February will be the next work party. Stay tuned. It will mostly be dirt moving to correct existing damage until approvals can be secured for new trails. We are going to overhaul the outer loop for use during rainy times in the fall to protect the summer/race loop. We plan to implement some armouring in areas prone to rutting from inconsiderate hikers and bikers and review two trouble spots where the water table shifts in the winter.

Have fun!! Ride hard...

[Mr. Guinness]

A trail report and photos would be a great idea. I'm just getting the lay of the land, specifically, what sites to watch for riding opportunities and trail maintenance. One really powerful thing about posting these conditions is that folks, like me, can then tell others what's happening, to either get more people out to help with maintenance or keep them outta there until repairs can be made. I hear that some new bridges may be in order?

Thanks for the updates, your efforts are very well rec'd by all.
Scheduling a work party may be rough. I know February is tough with the GHORBA has a skills clinic on 2/8, Rocky Hill 2/15-16 and 'Fahitas' 2/22, do you think the maintenance would occur 3/1? I'd like to be available to help!

[igotabike]

i have to congratulate all you people that are going down with the ship. i gave up and moved out of town to a place that actually allows you to ride a bike. does anybody really wonder why houston is the fattest city in america?

[Mr. Guinness]

Would you believe I moved here to help with new and improved trails access, and improve pedestrian and bike conditions. And yes, I knew what I was getting into, I'm just crazy - ask Gail!

[igotabike]

Originally posted by igotabike
i have to congratulate all you people that are going down with the ship. i gave up and moved out of town to a place that actually allows you to ride a bike. does anybody really wonder why houston is the fattest city in america?


By the way, i've lost 30 pounds since i left in september

[Mr. Guinness]

Funny, I lost 20+ plus since I moved to Houston on 9/13/02.

[crashagain]

Originally posted by igotabike
i have to congratulate all you people that are going down with the ship. i gave up and moved out of town to a place that actually allows you to ride a bike. does anybody really wonder why houston is the fattest city in america?

So proud of where you've moved to that you don't even devulge it in your profile?

Hey, if I could choose where to live, of any place in the world, it might not be Houston. But I'm here, like thousands of other cycling enthusiasts who choose to make the best of what we've got. It won't get any better without pacesetters like Mr. Guiness, Groovy Girl, Snoopy, and the many members of the organizations they represent. Houston actually has some pretty good places to ride and, thanks to the efforts of many people who make a difference, there will be many more in the years to come.