L to R, Martin, George, Blake, Matthew, Daniel, Chris, Jim, Philip and Christopher present the track design.

Ten volunteers from local MTB groups gathered in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to pitch in on the ground breaking effort for the borough’s first bike park. Led by course builder and designer Jim Dellavalle of Pennsylvania, group leaders met to develop an action plan to manage the construction of the park, which is slated to open on Memorial day weekend, May 27th. The park is one of a variety of interim community uses planned for Site E of the Domino Sugar Factory site, which has been made available by Two Trees Management for residents to enjoy before construction begins on the Domino redevelopment next year.

The bike park and adjacent community space will transform what was recently a vacant 55,000 square foot lot on Kent Avenue between South 3rd and South 4th Streets. The mixed-use space will include a reading room, community green space and local food vendors as part of Two Trees’ commitment to provide great neighborhood spaces.

While the the park will have limited hours, the operating schedule has yet to be determined. Once opened, Local shop Ride Brooklyn will assume operation of the park with an onsite Kiosk providing basic repairs, Information and free bike and helmet rentals to patrons looking to give dirt a try.

Ride Brooklyn is currently developing a website for the park.  The planned site will be easy to navigate and provide a simple concept of what the bike park offers. Pages are to include a downloadable waiver and trail map, mission statement, event page with calendar and most importantly, a place for volunteers to sign up for scheduled maintenance days.

Pete Kocher of Ride Brooklyn and George Zilahi prepare to install silt fence along Kent ave.

The yet-to be named bike park is a three component design, featuring two pump-tracks and a skills loop. The tracks are surrounded by an XC-style trail with several skills stations. These three unique elements allow riders with no introduction to the sport to learn basic skills and practice drills designed to mimic on-trail experiences.   Youth and adult programming at the Domino park will be a key part of it’s operation. To ensure that success, the New York City Mountain Bike Association (NYCMTB) and Brooklyn Mountain Bike (BKMTB) leaders will conduct free skills clinics and track maintenance seminars to teach riders about trails.    The concept is quite fascinating if you think about it……people of all ages and abilities. Learning and celebrating dirt culture, growing the sport. The enthusiasm reflected by the community around projects like these are the key to opening up legit MTB trails in urban environments.

NYCMTB is leading the efforts in NYC to establish bike parks in each borough as support vehicles to the larger trail networks that exist here. Tasked with the maintenance efforts for the park, NYCMTB will hold free maintenance seminars covering all aspects of trail maintenance at the site starting the weekend of May 17th. Stay tuned here for more details as the programming schedule develops.

Arguably one of the most dynamic track designers in the country, Jim Dellavalle’s bike park designs incorporate a schedule of plants, trees and shrubs native to their area which are sustained by a system of rain water recapture designed into the track. It becomes a hydrological study of sorts for park users during/after rain events, and is a great way to introduce new riders to the rich environment found just alongside their local trails.  The empty site is situated on a slope and as the park develops, it will incorporate a series of shallow ponds within the track to capture runoff from the upper community spaces of the park and the track itself. This collected water is then able to reabsorb into the ground and nurture the new plants and trees within and around the track.

Jim explains stormwater management concepts to participants at Saturday's event

Stormwater management is one of the most critical considerations in any development. Ensuring that the  total runoff from a 100+ year rain event will not exceed the capacity of the system and release into the street or sewers is paramount in securing approvals for parks like these. Well designed plans are the first step toward making a convincing case to your city council, and these principles were adhered to closely when developing the Domino site.

George Zilahi of BKMTB prepares a prototype culvert system.

BKMTB has stepped up to help manage volunteer coordination at the site. One of several MTB communities in NYC, BKMTB is leading the push towards growing volunteerism around local riding opportunities, and sustaining MTB culture in one of the most densely populated areas on the planet.

While volunteers are welcome, construction regulations prohibit access to the site outside of advertised volunteer events. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to check in with BKMTB.com or NYCMTB.com to keep up on upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.

Two Trees Management Announces Interim Community Uses for Domino Site-E

Empty lot will be transformed into exciting community space with an urban farm, reading room, bike course and more!

Two Trees Management Company has announced the creative community uses that will occupy Site E of the Domino Sugar property. What is currently a vacant 55,000-square-foot lot on Kent Avenue between South 3rd and South 4th Streets will be transformed by two independent operators into a neighborhood destination with a community farm, bilingual reading room, community green space, family-friendly bike courses, affordable food and goods from local vendors and a variety of seasonal programming, including kids days, yoga classes, and hands-on urban farming classes. Two Trees released a Request for Proposals in January seeking interim uses for the site that area residents could enjoy before construction starts on the Domino Sugar redevelopment plan next year.

The western portion of the site, bordering Kent Ave, will include a 22,000 sq ft. free, family-‐ oriented bike park with a basic skills training area for children, novices, and intermediate riders, as well as an advanced pump track for more skilled riders. The cycling area will be run by local bike shop Ride Brooklyn (www.ridebrooklynny.com/), in partnership with the New York City Mountain Bike Association (www.nycmtb.com/) , and BKMTB (www.bkmtb.com)

Free bike and helmet rentals will be available to park users. Bike skills and trail maintenance seminars will also be provided free of charge throughout the summer. Stay tuned for more details.

The eastern portion of the site will include a variety of different open spaces, including a tranquil reading room, a community farm operated by North Brooklyn Farms, and a community green space which will be used for programming such as yoga, speakers, and aerobics. A group led by Williamsburg resident Bobby Redd will design, build, and operate this portion of Site E. In late 2011 Bobby Redd’s group took temporary residence at 626 Bushwick Ave. and transformed a 19th century vacant church into the vibrant community space it is today.

“We thank Two Trees for the opportunity to take part in beautifying this vacant lot, and we plan to establish a community green space where all are welcome,” says Bobby Redd.“

We have had immense success working with the Bushwick Community over the past 14 months and we look forward to working together with our new neighbors in South Williamsburg.”

“Ride Brooklyn is excited to have this opportunity to continue our tradition of bicycle advocacy and community involvement,” said Jessica Kocher, co-owner of Ride Brooklyn.

“We want to give something back to the people who give us so much by making the activities we love free, and accessible, to everyone in our community!”

These interim uses are just a taste of the variety of active and passive uses that will be part of the Domino Sugar redevelopment plan’s waterfront esplanade and acres of parkland. Designed by landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, the esplanade will include kayak launches, a floating pool, sports fields, lawns and gardens with varied seating options. The Two Trees plan for the Domino Sugar site, released earlier this month and based on extensive community input, will reconnect South Williamsburg to its waterfront; reactivate the historic Domino Sugar factory to house between 3,000

and 4,000 permanent jobs, tripling existing Williamsburg commercial space and supporting the growth of the neighborhood’s tech and creative industries; bring world class design to the creative neighborhood; and deliver hundreds of units of affordable housing, a public school and a recreational facility. Two Trees plans to begin the City’s public review process this spring.

]]> http://www.nycmtb.com/?feed=rss2&p=1676 http://www.nycmtb.com/?p=1669 http://www.nycmtb.com/?p=1669#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 06:13:11 +0000 Trombley http://www.nycmtb.com/?p=1669

NYCMTB, in collaboration with Lifetime Fitness will be on hand at the NYC Bike Expo this Friday (10a-8p) and Saturday (9a-7p). Stop by our booth to learn more about our upcoming projects and initiatives, and the widely anticipated Brooklyn Bike Park. Keep it locked here for more photos and updates as the weekend unfolds!

Bike Expo New York (BE NY) hosts more than 90 exhibitors representing the best brands and organizations in biking, including Raleigh, Specialized, Fuji, Cannondale, Shimano, and People for Bikes.  Local brands and shops are also represented with companies such as EMS, Sids Bikes, Rolling Orange, Montecci and many more.

Multiple clinics and seminars will be held throughout both days. From street safety seminars to flat-fix clinics there is something for every rider here at the expo.

Check here for full schedule; http://www.bikenewyork.org/bike-expo-new-york/

Bike New York is also pleased to announce the inclusion of the Red Bull Ayr Bag in this years’ event!!

Professional mountain bikers Aaron Chase Dave Smutok and Local pro’s Adam Hauck & Dave Holzer will attempt heights and practice tricks they would never dream of doing on a concrete or a hard packed dirt landing! The Ayr Bag absorbs the athletes impact, which allows them to train confidently and accelerates their progression.
Two 20 Minute Demos will be conducted on both Friday & Saturday.

See you at the Expo!!

Get out and celebrate dirt culture with your kids, or introduce mountain biking to a friend! There will be demo bikes on hand, ride clinics and scheduled tours of the park beginning at 10:00am.

Please RSVP your demo slot, with bike size and time to; info@tfkmetrony.org

Volunteers are needed! See below.

]]> http://www.nycmtb.com/?feed=rss2&p=1614 http://www.nycmtb.com/?p=1604 http://www.nycmtb.com/?p=1604#comments Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:24:38 +0000 Trombley http://www.nycmtb.com/?p=1604

Wolfe’s Pond Park in Staten Island has been selected as a finalist for a $100,000 grant from Bell Helmets!  This money will be used to build a top-of-the-line pump track suitable for riders of all ages and abilities!

For decades, generations of riders have been building and riding the jumps in Wolfe’s Pond. For the first time in recent history, a funding opportunity exists to expand the riding options at the park, while addressing existing drainage and erosion issues. We need your help to make this project a reality!

Please take 15 seconds and vote for this project. Voting is EASY!

All voting takes place on Facebook. The grant will be awarded to the organization with the most votes in their respective category. Just follow these simple steps:

1) Go to http://www.facebook.com/BellBikeHelmets/app_469747409753569 and log in. (Please note that this app is not supported for mobile, you’ll have to use a desktop!)

2) Once you’re there, click the red “Bell Built” button at the top of their page.  This will take you to the voting page!

3) Click on “Pump Track Projects” and vote for Wolfe’s Pond!

Please share this information with as many people as you can, as we are up against some strong competition and REALLY need your support to pedal into first place.  We also ask that you consider voting for our friends in Vermont and Pennsylvania in the other categories after you vote for Wolfe’s Pond.

Your votes are truly appreciated. See you at the trails!

Reveal The Path will premiere in a double feature with Ride The Divide in New York City at the Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway on the Upper West Side on Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m. Ride The Divide will play at 7 p.m. followed by Reveal The Path at 8:45. The event will feature a guest appearance by Reuben Kline, one of the riders profiled in Ride The Divide. Tickets are $20 in advance at http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/7889-ride-the-divide-reveal-the-path (plus service charge). Tickets the day of the event will be $25 at the door.

“Ride The Divide,” the award-winning mountain bike classic about Tour Divide, and its followup film, “Reveal The Path,” will be coming to New York City for the first time ever as part of a night of cycling celebration. The mountain bike double feature will be sponsored by the Century Road Club Association and the I Will Foundation.

This will mark the first time that both these films will be shown together and will include a large raffle which should include the giveaway of a new mountain bike.

Among the guest speakers at the event will be former professional mountain biker Reuben Kline, one of the featured riders in “Ride The Divide,” and current founder and president of the newly created Gran Fondo National Championship Series.

“Ride The Divide”, winners of many film festival awards, is about the world’s toughest mountain bike race, Tour Divide, which runs along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The film chronicles the story of several mountain bikers who attempt the 2,711-mile race from Canada to the Mexican border. The movie was named the best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival.

This film has become an instant cycling classic, and made its television premiere in September on the Documentary Channel. But the Adventure Cycling Association said the film should be seen on the big screen: “The cinematography is stunning!” Added UpaDowna, “Ride The Divide is one of the most inspiring real cycling movies … in a long time.” Epic Riding summed the movie up as follows: “In a word? Fantastic. In more words? Moving, funny, inspiring.”

“Reveal The Path,” the followup film, a visually stunning adventure documentary that will ignite the dreamer in everyone. The film is an inspirational story of adventure, taking viewers on a 36-day vagabond bike trip to some of the world’s most visually stunning destinations.

Filmed on four continents, “Reveal The Path” features world-class mountain bikers, including Tour Divide founder Matthew Lee, star of “Ride The Divide,” and Kurt Refsnider, 2011 Tour Divide winner.

Sponsored by Salsa Cycles, the full-length feature film explores Europe’s snow-capped mountains, Scotland’s lush valleys, Alaska’s rugged coastal beaches, Nepal’s elevated wonders and Morocco’s high desert landscapes.

Along the way the riders connect with locals who are living modest yet seemingly fulfilling lives, leading the filmmakers to question what it means to live an inspired life - however humble or extravagant.

“This adventure will leave you with an eager desire to chart your own course to faraway lands,” said director Mike Dion, who also co-stars in “Reveal The Path,” as he did in “Ride The Divide.” “Or, simply, you may just want to discover with eyes wide open what is around the next bend.”

The Century Road Cycling Association is the largest cycling racing club in United States, and was founded in 1898. The CRCA’s mission is to provide bicycle racing and activities for the enjoyment of its members, to promote bicycling as a sport and to generally advance the interests of cycling through organized races, coaching and training events. For more information go to www.crca.net.

The I Will Foundation was created by former NYC 9/11 firefighter Matt Long after he was struck by a bus and critically injured on the streets of Manhattan in 2005. He received 68 units of blood in the first 40 hours after the accident and spent five months in the hospital. He had 40 surgeries in less than two years and has been in physical therapy ever since. Long survived this accident due to his high level of fitness and determination as an active runner and Ironman triathlete. It is this perseverance that he wishes to share with others through the creation of his I Will Foundation, a non-profit organization established to help people, with the will to work hard, overcome adversity and challenges caused by lift-altering illness or traumatic injury.

Long is also the author of “The Long Run,” a New York City firefighter’s triumphant comeback from crash victim to elite athlete. For more information, go to www.iwillfoundation.com.

Kline, based in New York City, created the Gran Fondo National Championship Series, which will consist of six events this year, to bring to American road cycling enthusiasts a series of races evoking the European tradition of scenic riding competitions. “I see gran fondo bicycle racing becoming the next endurance sports discipline,” said Kline, whose first two events were held in Florida in March and Georgia just last week. Other events include New Jersey Highlands on June 9, and events in Colorado, North Carolina and Maryland. For information about the Gran Fondo National Championship Series, go to www.gfncs.com.

Kline, who led Tour Divide for more than 1700 miles in 2008 when “Ride The Divide” was filmed before having to drop out due to an injury, also runs Bici Fitness, a bicycling touring and training company with tours all over the world, and offering comprehensive one-on-one training programs. For more information about Kline and Bici Fitness go to www.bicifitness.com.

To view the trailers for these films or for more information, go towww.ridethedividemovie.com and www.revealthepath.com.

For additional information, contact Garry Harrington at 603-209-5010 or gharrington3165@hotmail.com

NYCMTB/IMBA partners with Sid’s Bikes NYC to kick off the 2013 riding season right, with a whole month of great deals and service!

Thursday February 7th 6:00pm-9:00pm

Meet the NYCMTB crew and save at Sid’s 34th Street!

The NYCMTB-IMBA board will be on hand to discuss our plans for 2013 and beyond, and give you a first hand look into the benefits of an NYCMTB-IMBA membership. All MTB related merchandise will be on sale, including select mountain bikes the night of the event! We will also be announcing our race team roster for 2013!

SPECIAL MTB EVENT SAVINGS - THROUGH FEBRUARY

25% off MTB specific service

Rear shock overhaul, $50

Suspension fork overhaul $80

Hydraulic brake bleeds-normal $25

Rear suspension replacement-normal $85

10% of all MTB merchandise, parts and accessories all month!

NYCMTB-IMBA members will receive a very special 10% discount for the 2013 season.

Sign up at http://www.imba.com/join, or see a sales representative in-store.

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February Last Saturday Trailwork day 2/23/13 @ Wolfe’s Pond Park, Staten Island

Sid’s Bikes will also be sponsoring a day of trail service at Wolfe’s Pond Park in Staten Island to begin repairing the significant damages that have befallen this coastal park. Trail work will begin at 11:00am until 3:00pm on Saturday, February 23rd. NYCMTB members, local advocacy groups, and Sid’s staff will fire up the the beach-side barbecues, serve up some hot apple cider and get dirty cleaning up the only legal MTB trail system in Staten Island.

Please check in at www.nycmtb.com for updates and further details as the date draws near.

“Hurricane Sandy has made a lasting impact on all of the trails in our area. Repairing the

damage will continue to take a significant toll on every trail advocacy organization’s resources

through 2013 and beyond. Please do your part to give back!”

-Christopher Trombley, NYCMTB President

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NYCMTB WANTS YOU!!!

Are you passionate about the sport of Mountain Biking? Do you recognize the potential in the future of our sport? If you have ever taken time out of your life to get someone else into cycling, we need to hear from you! NYCMTB-IMBA is looking for highly motivated self starters to help us build the scene for Mountain Biking right here in NYC! We are a growing organization seeking to expand our network of leaders to help us represent MTB in the crossroads of the world. There are a number of positions available, from weekend casual, to part time professional. Please have a look at our ambitions below, and consider how you might be able take part!

Fill out the Team Member Application

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NYCMTB-IMBA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Please join or renew your NYCMTB-IMBA membership and help build our programs, races and trails! www.imba.com/join

Aside from the great deals offered to our members by your local shops, IMBA also extends these great offers to our members. Think its just for Subarus’ and Insurance??? Think Again! View the IMBA Deals page.

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DO YOU OR YOUR SHOP HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN NYCMTB/IMBA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING OR EVENT?

WANT TO ATTEND THE NEXT NYCMTB-IMBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING?

SEND A MESSAGE  TO info@nycmtb.com

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HIGHBRIDGE TRAILS CLOSED UNTIL PARK EMPLOYEES REMOVE DANGEROUS TREES AND BRANCHES.

HIGHBRIDGE PUMP TRACK IS OPEN.

CUNNINGHAM, AND WOLFE’S POND PARK ARE OPEN. THANKS VOLUNTEERS!!!

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MOUNTAIN BIKING IS AN INHERENTLY RISKY ACTIVITY.

USE THE TRAILS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

RIDE IN CONTROL AND WITHIN YOUR ABILITY AT ALL TIMES.

BE COURTEOUS AND FRIENDLY TO PEOPLE YOU MEET ON THE TRAIL.

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Sincerely,

Your NYCMTB-IMBA board of directors

www.nycmtb.com

Wolfe’s Pond Park Woodland Storm Clean-up

Help Icon

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.