Dispatches from the Staff
5:53 pm | Sunday, Apr 10th 2005
Midwest Singletrack Summit
It ever continues to amaze me what a group of people can accomplish when there is shared interest and ideas involved. Proof of this is the amazing work that the Gateway Off Road Cyclists of the St. Louis area are doing. These guys have it together and are working together so well and so hard that it nearly brings a tear to IMBA representitive's eyes.
Keven and I recently got the opportunity to attend the Singletrack Summit and witness these guys in action. Pictured is a section of new trail that they just completed with 120 hours of hard, rock-breaking, boulder-tumbling labor with which they have created a smooth transition from a technically challenging section to a smooth and fast dirt ribbon that succeeded in bringing my waning interest in Mountain Bikes back into full bloom.
It's easy to be jealous of the enthusiastic camaradarie shared among the industrious crew, but I couldn't help but leave the summit energized with new hope for our ripped and torn dirt children like Pine Ridge and Cedar Creek.
During the Summit, we shared time with representitives from the Ozark Trail Committee, Missouri Department of Covservation, and IMBA and talking to some of the people from MDC, I came to understand growing appreciation of recreation users outside of hunting and fishing within the oraganization along with experimental trail openings of a few conservation areas to bicycle use. Non-consumptive recreation is gaining a foothold.
The second day of the festival was filled with fun, offering demonstration crews from several different brands including Trek and Gary Fisher. This was a great chance to try out some of those bikes that I have only been able to admire from our store's rack. The new Fuel EX90 was my choice bike and I have to say, it worked perfectly on the technical trails roaming through the hills of this east-Missouri wine country. Afterwards, the festive atmosphere and beautiful day was almost too much for our adventure-addled (not to mention partially dehydrated from the previous night's perilous festivities) mind, so we made the short trek back to good ole Columbia.
I am hoping that we redevelop such a great community here in Central Missouri. Maybe getting together with area bike clubs as a shop can make a huge difference. I think we are ready for that.