Eldora Mountain Resort is in the process of planning out their next decade and BMA is pushing to get some great summer use out of our favorite local winter ski resort!

Because of the ski area sits on USFS land, Eldora is required to have a master plan and periodically update it.

As part of Eldora's plan to make their resort a more desirable day use ski area, they are hoping to replace the two main front lifts with a high-speed sixpack that would get skiers up to the top faster and safer in high winds (or as they called it "breezes"). These high-speed lifts can be mounted with bike carriers in the summer, which is great news for us. Last Wednesday, several BMA members went to an open house at the Boulder Public library and lobbied for summer biking at the resort. It seems our Action Alert has already had an impact with a about 100 separate comments asking for summer programming. The officials we talked to said that they were going to take a look at the economics side of having a summer biking park there!

Although it will be several years before Eldora secures financing and implements the new lifts that make summer biking possible, one cannot discount how HUGE this is for mountain biking in BoulderCounty. If hopping on a lift and bombing some great trails sounds like a blast to you, please go to this link and fill out their survey! At the bottom of the page, in the "other comments" box, type in something about how you'd be willing to pay $$ to ride the lifts at Eldora and eat something at their cafeteria after some hard riding! Maybe, we'll all get our wish!

BMA Teams With Other Colorado MTB Clubs on Land Protection

Mountain bikers across the nation are scrambling to react to Wilderness proposals that threaten our historical access to the places we love. Most mountain bikers support strong protection for public lands -- we value the opportunity to ride in beautiful places and we want to see them preserved. We do not think, however, that public lands generally need to be protected from bicycling.

Not everyone agrees. Many proponents of Wilderness designations, including some of the backers of the Hidden Gems proposal in Colorado, argue that Wilderness is the best way to ensure adequate environmental protection and thus bicycling access must be sacrificed.

Here in Colorado, the Hidden Gems Wilderness campaign has ignited a coalition of bike clubs in Colorado to work toward a land protection bill that protects the land and still preserves important bicycling access.

Wilderness has been a primary tool to protect public lands, but it's hardly the only one. Rather than focusing exclusively on Wilderness, we can also employ several types of "companion designations," powerful tools that protect the land but do not require an end to bicycle access. The options include National Scenic Areas, National Recreation Areas, National Conservation Areas, National Protection Areas, and other bicycle-friendly designations.

We agree with Wilderness advocates that pristine lands need to be shielded from destructive activities, such as:

- mining
- water projects
- Commercial logging
- new roads

Wilderness is simply not the only means for stopping those activities. BMA recognizes the importance of the companion designations strategy. We have joined IMBA, Summit Fat Tire Society, Roaring Forks Mountain Bike Association, Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, EcoTrails for Eagle County, Trails 2000 and Gunnison Trails in a coordinated effort to create a land protection bill that uses companion designations, along with Wilderness designations, to protect the land and preserve recreation opportunities.

It's an exciting process. We believe we can protect more land than the current Hidden Gems proposal calls for, and create a broader base of support at the same time.
Why is BMA involved? Well, the bill needs to be introduced, or "carried", into Congress by a particular representative.

That person is likely to be the Honorable Jared Polis, Boulder resident and friend of BMA. IMBA and their CO clubs have been working closely with his staff in Colorado and DC as they genuinely try to learn about trails mountain bikers care about protecting. You will be hearing more about this land protection campaign as the year progresses; right now it has the working name of "Protect It All". If we are successful, it will be a watershed moment in land protection, and serve as the model of land protection in the 21st Century for "at risk" lands all over the U.S.

If you want to know more about this effort, contact Mike Barrow.

Where were you on February 5th?

Did you miss out on the biggest, most bombastic mountain biking party of the year?

Every year in the dark days of winter, BMA helps you look forward to the upcoming riding season with the annual BMA Banquet. This year, like the four before it, we sold out every seat in the house! It's grown steadily into a who's who of local politics, bikers and businesses.

Our special treat for the evening was having US Congressman Jared Polis in the hizzouse! Mr. Polis talked with several board members about how BMA has our stuff together, with a level-headed approach to making things happen in the County for bikers. He also gave a great speech to the crowd about his support for BMA, for mountain biking and for making the Hidden Gems Bill work for Colorado's cyclists.

Another highlight was awarding the 2010 BMA Hero Award to County Commissoner Will Toor. This award recognizes a community leader who works tirelessly on behalf of responsible recreational access to our public lands. A Hero furthers that which binds all BMA members together - the desire to ride sweet singletrack, to push our physical and technical limits, and to enjoy the outdoors. Commissoner Toor joins the BMA Hero ranks alongside City of Boulder Open Space Director Mike Patton (2008) and USFS Boulder Ranger District Recreation Supervisor Ed Perault (2009).

Besides all that, we had representatives from almost every bike shop in the area, several local outdoor companies and, of course whole mess of BMA members showing their support! In the totally bitchin' live auction we sold off some great international trips to Costa Rica and Canada, a 29er fork that yours truly is still a bit sore about not winning, and some Deuter backpacks (isn't it fun to say "Deuter") filled with swag. Around the outside of the hall, we had some great silent auction stuff from bike clinics to massages to first rate gear! All-in-all, we were able to raise more than $10,000 to get us sustainable trails in the area!

If you couldn't make it this year, pencil into your plans next year's Banquet! It should be the first Friday of February in 2011 if everything goes according to plan!

Vision Quest!

Beyond monthly meetings in smoke filled rooms, BMA's board of directors occasionally gets together to figure out the direction that BMA should take to increase the amount of high quality mountain biking riding we have here in Boulder County. If you have ever seen "the Office" or have lived through working for a company, you probably know that every once in a while the people running the show need to get together and really think "Big Picture" and probably a bit "Out of the Box".

BMA has grown into a powerful local organization that has accomplished many great feats of advocacy and trail building. To keep us on the path of success, we held a "Vision Quest" (no peyote involved), laid our organization out on the table, and looked under the hood to make sure that the motor is still purring!

You know you want to read more!

Calling All Mountain Biking Ladies!

Bike season is around the corner! Come on out to Outdoor Divas on Boulder on March 24th at 7:00 for a FREE bike tech talk by women for women. The gals from Sports Garage will go over basic bike mechanics, changing a tire, gear to have on hand and how to use it in a fun, Girls Night Out format. You will also learn about woman-only riding opportunities (like our BMA-sponsored Thursday Night Gurlz Ridez) while you sip on local brews. Please RSVP to events@outdoorDIVAS.com or 303.449.3482.

Boulder Bike Patrol needs your help!

We are now taking names of interest for new patrollers this 2010 year!

Boulder Mountain Bike Patrol (BMBP) is a volunteer mountain bike organization dedicated to promoting responsible riding and trail use on our public lands, providing a service to all trail users, and participating in this mission by riding our bikes. Our patrollers ride select trails and provide simple, helpful services (give directions to trail users, help with minor mountain bike repairs), then report patrol activity via an easy web form after their rides.

BMBP provides service to three different land management agencies by riding trails throughout Boulder County, including: West Magnolia; Marshall Mesa/Dowdy; Hall, Heil Valley, and Walker Ranches; Betasso Preserve; Rabbit Mountain. If you already ride these areas regularly, consider joining BMBP - you can chalk up your rides as "volunteer time". If you want to ride more, BMBP provides a great way to branch out! All speeds and skill levels are welcome.

The mission of the Boulder Mountain Bike Patrol (BMBP) boils down to the 3 P's:

promoting responsible riding and trail use on our public lands
providing a service to all trail users
participating in this mission by riding our bikes

Training Details for 2010:

Saturday April 10th from 9am to 3:30pm. The full day of training is required for all new candidates to be part of the Boulder Mountain Bike Patrol for 2010. Lunch will be provided and bring your bike because we will be riding for part of the training!

Please stay tuned for details on how/where to sign up or send an email to mountainbikepatrol@gmail.com to be put on the info list.

You can also visit out website at http://www.bma-mtb.org/patrol where a link will be posted soon for online signup.

Thanks and look forward to meeting you!

John Perry, Patrol Director 2010

Thank You!

New & Continuing Members

Jennifer Simpson (Big Wheel!)

Josh Whitney

Brandon Newcomer

Timothy Abrams

Doug Mers (Big Wheel!)

Charles Wanek (Big Wheel!)

Paul Kammermeier

Catherine Schweiger

Are you interested in Better Trails for Boulder County? Then consider joining the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and be part of the solution! We have memberships starting for as little as $25. Please click here to be taken to our web site membership section to learn how you can join.