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I’m riding one of the best trails in the Southeast, if not the best. Of course, I’m

sure you’ve heard that before: “So and so trail is considered the best single track east of the Mississippi.’ “Four out of five mountain bik-ers voted name of trail their favor-ite in the lower 48.” There’s so much buzz around some of these trail sys-tems, it’s hard to figure out what’s reality and what’s hype. Sometimes, you have to weed through a bar-rage of superla-tives like “best” and “sweetest” and “gnarliest” to get to the heart of a trail.

But the trail that I’m riding really is one of the best trail systems in the Southeast. Hon-estly. Because the International Mountain Bike Association says so. This is Tanasi, in eastern Tennessee, and it’s one of the IMBA

“Epic Rides,” a distinction given to a select few trail systems across the globe. The “Epic Ride” is the golden seal of approval from the unof-

ficial ruling body of all things fat tire. It is the Oscar for Best Picture. It is the Grammy for Best Album. A few new Epics are designated each year, but so far there are only 32 in the United States, and only six in the Southeast.

While you may hear hyperbole about other trails around the country, the Epic designation gives Tanasi a certain level of cache . But that doesn’t mean I’m having a good time. At least not at first. There’s just so much climbing involved.

The elevation gain doesn’t seem to bother Doug Coulter or his other riding buddies

—a couple of firemen named Jerry and Dave, and Mike Alcorn, a forest service trail engi-neer. Tanasi is their home track. This is their backyard. They’re used to paying these sort of dues. And they know what’s on the other end of this climb: some of the sweetest singletrack in the country. If Tanasi is famous for one

S i m p l y t h e B e S t

Six of IMBA’s Epic Rides are in the Southeast. Get the skinny on these fat tire favorites. by Graham Averill

N ot e – The article below originally appeared in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and is reprinted with permission of the publisher. The article has inspired TORC’s Epic Challenge.The Challenge will bring TORC riders to each of the six Epic Rides described below. Look for the Summer of Fun II page elsewhere in this newsletter for more information on TORC’s summer ride program. You can learn more and RSVP on the TORC website, www.torc-nc.org.

President’s Letterby Paul Elliot

In the past three months TORC has enjoyed some success on the advocacy front. We are making progress with the City of Durham and other land managers on Gateway Trails. These trails will provide awesome riding opportuni-ties. While they’re not destination trails, they bring the mountain bike experience to local neighborhoods and provide a diversified rid-ing opportunity throughout the Triangle. That’s important part of the TORC mission and we’re rightfully proud of our success.

On other fronts progress has been frustratingly slow. The potential for extensive trail systems is in the hands of those who manage large tracts of public lands. Let’s be honest here, if we’re going to add any significant trail systems in the Triangle we need to build them on State of North Carolina land. We’ve been met with roadblocks on the state level. To be successful we have to be better organized, carry a unified voice and sharpen our elbows so that we can move beyond the crowd that’s keeping citizens from getting trails they want.

Now is the time to work together and break through the out-dated thinking of some land managers. TORC is currently working with Tom Sauret of SORBA to organize a statewide alli-ance of mountain bike clubs. The purpose of the alliance is to approach North Carolina state land managers as a unified community. With this new alliance TORC will continue to work at the agency level but we need to amplify our message through the political process. Here’s how we’re going to do this:

First, each of us needs to write to our elected officials (House, Senate, Governor) and ask them why state trails aren’t open to mountain bikes. After you’ve sent the let-ter, wait a week and then call to make sure it was received and what they are doing to act

detail of Henry timberlake’s 1765 “draught of the cherokee country,” showing the location and layout of the cherokee town of chota. the chota site is now submerged under tellico Lake in Monroe county, tennessee, in the southeastern united States. the “Virginia Fort,” built in 1756 but never garrisoned, is at the lower left. tanasi (“tennessee”) is at the lower right, separated by the stream.

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thing (other than the climbing) it’s the roar-ing downhills that await bikers who are able to make it past the initial elevation gain.

I use the word “famous” loosely. Outside of a rabidly supportive group of local riders, Tanasi is relatively unused.

“On a summer weekend, when the weather is perfect, you may have 50 riders spread out over these trails,” Coulter says. “It just doesn’t draw the crowds that Tsali draws.”

Coulter, who owns a bike shop in nearby Cleveland, Tenn., is quick to compare Tanasi with Tsali, a revered western North Carolina trail system about an hour away from Tanasi that receives the lion’s share of the region’s mountain biker activity. Tsali and Tanasi are like rival high schools on opposite ends of a small town, and Tsali is winning the popular-ity contest. Head to Tsali’s parking lot on any given weekend and you’ll find a sea of cars. Riders mingle on the asphalt. A vendor sells T-shirts and power gels. It’s the sort of scene

you usually only see during a race weekend at other trailheads. The system is so popu-lar, the forest service has to control traffic by enforcing an alternating trail schedule. Cer-tain trails are open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and others are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, etc.

Tanasi has no such problem. As we reach the top of our first big climb, our group stops for a water break. We haven’t seen any other riders and we won’t for the rest of the day. Nobody is sure of the exact elevation we’ve gained, but we know we’ve all been in granny gear since leaving the car. We know we’ve had to pick lines through slick roots while forcing our tires to stick to the trail. We know we’re happy to take a water break.

Coulter blames the climb we just finished for Tanasi’s lack of popularity. “There’s no way to access any of the trails without climbing at the beginning,” he says. “Right out of the parking lot, you’ve got to work your butt off. There’s not even a lot of time to get warmed up. That climb keeps people away. It’s dis-couraging and I think it weeds people out.”

Of course he’s right. While many bikers enjoy the grind of a climb, the majority are looking for the downhills without the uphills. Which helps explain Tsali’s popularity. Tsali doesn’t have any significant climbs and it’s downhills are less technical and demanding than sur-rounding trail systems like Tanasi. But, as jaded as it may sound, there’s more to a trail system’s popularity than just the quality of its trails, just as there’s more to making a hit record than just talented musicians. There’s public relations. There’s hype.

And if there’s any mountain bike trail system that deserves a little hype, it’s Tanasi. The 30 miles of trails start at the Ocoee Whitewa-ter Center and unlike most National Forest trails, these paths were built specifically for mountain biking. The elevation changes are quick and frequent, the berms are perfectly placed, and the downhills are fast, technical, and accentuated with jumps. Then there’s the location. Tanasi is two hours from Atlanta, an hour and a half from Knoxville, an hour from Chattanooga, and two and a half hours from Asheville. It’s in the heart of moun-tain bike country, sandwiched between the

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How a Bill Becomes a LawHow does an epic become an Epic? Is there some secret society that meets in the back of an Arkansas Kentucky Fried Chicken every year to decide which trail systems will be honored? Is there voodoo involved? Are virgins

sacrificed? Not at all. According to Mark Eller of IMBA, it’s a simple process of elimination and you, dear readers, play the most important part of the process.

“Bikers nominate their favorite ride as an epic on our website,” Eller says. “The challenge for us is that there are so many places to find a great ride. So we try to pick trailheads that are more than great rides. We like to showcase the work or history behind the trail systems. The partnerships between all the parties involved on the local, regional, and national level. There’s a story behind all these trail systems.”

Eller and his cohorts then review the nominations and research the worthy entries, taking into account information from regional and local clubs on the scene.

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torc riders enjoy the pavillion at tumbling waters campground. Seated from left: tim Lee, paul, doreen and brock elliot and Matt Jenkins. the camp owner is in the background.

T O R C N E W S 3 I S S U E T W O

largest population zones in the south. And yet, Tanasi doesn’t receive the bike traffic it deserves.

As it turns out, this is a problem with many Epic Rides designated by IMBA. “The Epics program has waned in recent years,” says Mark Eller, manager of IMBA. IMBA still designates a few trails every year, but their involvement with the trail systems doesn’t go much further than a designation party and ride. As a result, many of these trails, which are considered the best in the country, are completely forgotten by the biking commu-nity after the buzz from the designation party wears off. IMBA is hoping to change this with a little bit of hype.

“We’re hoping to get special trail markers for each Epic trail system we’ve designated, and hopefully, we’ll find regional sponsors for our clubs to provide funds for maintenance,” con-tinues Eller.

Increasing the popularity of forgotten trail systems may seem like a minor issue, but convincing a portion of the nation’s 35 million mountain bikers to explore these under-used trail systems could be a necessity for moun-tain biking’s survival.

Take Bent Creek Experimental Forest, out-side of Asheville, N.C. This popular fat tire destination is reaching the breaking point

for mountain bike activity. The Blue Ridge Bicycle Club estimates Bent Creek sees 1,500 recre-ational users a week, most of which are bikers. The parking lots are consistently full, the trails are in disrepair, and the management is get-ting antsy. The small tract of forest land was originally des-ignated for timber research and David Loftis, project man-ager for the experi-mental forest, isn’t sure Bent Creek can

handle the recreational activity it’s receiving. “Bent Creek is just 6,000 acres out of 150,000 acres on the Pisgah Ranger District. We’ve reached the upper saturation level of recre-ation use on the land. There is a limit to what we can do here. There’s a lot of other forest service land.”

Such as Mills River Recreation Area, a hot-bed of mountain bike trails ten miles south of Bent Creek. While Mills River has trails that easily rival Bent Creek and while it is a popular fat tire destination among bikers in the know, it receives only a fraction of the regular traffic that Bent Creek receives. And don’t forget DuPont Forest, an Epic Ride only 45 minutes from Asheville that could easily accommodate more traffic.

Bent Creek is just one tract of forest land that’s oversaturated with mountain bike activity. Tsali, while it manages existing crowds, will certainly reach a tipping point. The trails at the Chattahoochee Recreation Area in Atlanta could certainly use some relief from constant traffic. The same can be said with trail systems near Charlotte, Rich-mond, and D.C.

And the problem is poised to get worse. While mountain biking’s popularity waned at the turn of the century, the advent of 24-hour races and the creation of the freestyle niche have increased participation in recent years. And the popularity of mountain biking among teenagers is through the roof accord-ing to the Outdoor Industry Association.

Dr. Ken Cordell is a Research Project Leader for the Outdoor Recreation and Wilder-ness Assessment team within the National Forest system. Cordell, who was a key player in turning Tsali into the successful recre-ation area that we have today, isn’t sure what to do about the increase of mountain bikers on public land. “It’s amazing how much use there is, but it’s also a real management chal-lenge to figure out how to handle it. Honestly, I don’t know how we’re going to handle the increase in use overall.”

At Tanasi, the higher you climb, the better the trails get. Each one seems to top the last. Coulter leads our group down Thunder Rock Express. This is the headliner of all Tanasi trails. The signature trail that some like to compare to heroin: it’s just that addictive. It’s fast, it’s bermy, it’s technical, it’s smooth, it’s

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rolling, it’s everything a mountain bike trail should be, and Coulter and a small group of riders have it to themselves. A fact that they’d all like to change.

Don’t get me wrong, these bikers appreci-ate the novelty of having an almost private trail system. This is the dream scenario for most mountain bikers, many of whom have been known to discourage would-be visitors of their home trails. But these bikers seem to have the big picture in mind.

“The more attention these trails receive, the better they’ll be maintained,” says Mike Alcorn, the forest service trail engineer along for the ride.He’s responsible for creating new trails near the river and is also working on relieving the congestion problem at Bent Creek. “We’ll also be able to justify creating more mountain bike trails and ultimately, it

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rocky descent at dupont Forest

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will help diffuse the traffic problems we’re seeing elsewhere.”

t h E E P i c S

ta N a s i t r a i l s ys t e m : Ocoee, Tenn. 30 miles of extremely fast singletrack and dou-bletrack accentuated by some tough climbs, all of which rises above the Ocoee River and the Olympic Whitewater Center.

More Info: www.chattbike.com.

What to expect: A tough climb out of the gate but once you reach the top you’ll be treated with some of the most fun downhills in the South. Rolling and bermy: a great combination.

Must Ride: Thunder Rock Express: 1.5 miles of fast, rolling downhill. Jumps, berms, bridges; it’s the most fun you’ll ever have riding a bike with your clothes on.

Know it Alls: Scotts Bicycle Centre in Cleveland, Tenn. 423-472-9881. www.scotts-bikes.com.

Detour: Shake Shack, Cleveland, Tenn. 423-476-4770. A thirty minute drive into Cleveland and you’ll be sucking down what many say is the best milk shake in the Volunteer State.

B u l l m o u N ta i N : Dahlonega, Ga. More than 50 miles of trails wind up and around Bull Mountain in North Georgia, and if you’re willing to do some forest road riding, you can connect to a couple of other trail heads nearby.

More info: www.sorba.org.

What to expect: The climbs aren’t terribly steep but they’re technical as hell and littered with roots and rocks. Some of the trails feel more like dried up creek beds. This trail system is why God invented the full suspension bike. And be pre-pared to wash red clay off your bike for weeks.

Must Ride: Bull Mountain Loop: 11 miles. Eas-ily the most popular trail in the system. It starts with a tough, technical climb and then turns into a fast, twisting downhill (read: endo-centric). It ends with a forest road downhill, but if you ride it backwards you’ll get more singletrack descents.

Know it Alls: Cartecay River Bicycle Shop in Ellijay, Ga. 706-635-2453.

Detour: Mack Aaron’s Apple House, Ellijay, Ga. 706-273-3180. They’ve got 11 different kinds of fried pies, which is exactly what the doctor orders after riding Bull Mountain.

t sa l i : Bryson City, N.C. There are 40 miles of trails in the Tsali Recreation area, split into four different loops. All loops consist of fast, rolling singletrack that cruises by Fontana Lake. The trails follow the contour of the mountain-side as opposed to the fall line, which accounts for the roller coaster affect.

More Info: www.mtbikewnc.com

What to expect: Butter smooth trails that roll endlessly. There’s nothing too technical at Tsali, just plain, unadulterated fat tire fun. Don’t expect to have the trails to yourself…ever. The Left Loop and Right Loop, the two trails hon-ored by IMBA as Epics, are open for bikers Mon-day, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Must Ride: Left Loop: At 12 miles, it’s the lon-gest loop at Tsali and it offers the most lake side riding. There’s lots of rolling with fast turns and a couple of good climbs followed by steep downhills. Combine it with the Right Loop for the full Epic affect.

Know it Alls: Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, N.C. www.noc.com.

Detour: Aunt B’s Donut Shop in Bryson City. 828-488-0881. Fresh donuts made right in front of your eyes? What more could a biker want?

W E o f f E R t h E h i G h E S t q u A l i t y P R o d u c t S A n d S E R v i c E S t o t h E c y c l i n G E n t h u S i A S t 9 1 9 . 2 9 3 . 0 2 0 0 B i k E - i n f o @ f R A n k S c y c l E R y . c o M

T O R C N E W S 5 I S S U E T W O

this map shows the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Lumpkin county, ga., highlighting dahlonega in red. it was created with a custom script with uS census bureau data and modified with inkscape.

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D u P o N t Fo r e s t: Brevard, N.C. Almost 100 miles of singletrack, doubletrack, and for-est roads cruise through the 10,400 acre forest which was featured prominently in the film

“Last of the Mohicans.” www.dupontforest.com.

What to expect: Dupont is famous for its east-ern slickrock; big granite slabs in the middle of the trails much like Moab but without all the sand and deadly temperatures. Some of the best scenery you can imagine along a mountain bike trail: several trails take you to the base of impres-sive waterfalls. You’ll have to use fire roads to connect some of the singletrack but it’s worth it.

Must Ride: Cedar Rock: 1.5 miles of the eastern

slickrock that every-one raves about. It’s rocky, technical, and you can combine it with a handful of other similar trails for a day-long adventure.

Know it Alls: Back-country Outdoors in Brevard, N.C.: 828-884-4262

Detour: Hawg Wild Barbecue, Pisgah, N.C. 828-877-4404. Do you

really need a reason to check this place out or is the name enticing enough?

t h e s o u t h e r N t r av e r s e : Harri-sonburg, Va. 32 miles of beastly single track that takes you through a historic Civil War battle field while climbing 3,000 feet of elevation in the George Washington National Forest.

More Info: www.mtntouring.com.

What to expect: Lots of ridge riding on this tight, winding mostly single track trail system.

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T O R C N E W S 6 I S S U E T W O

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Other than the climbing you’ll hit fast downhills and technical rock gardens

Must ride: This 17-mile trail is the backbone of the Southern Traverse. Most people ride it from North to South in order to climb the forest roads and descend the single track and most sane people arrange a shuttle at the end of the ride. Bring tires that can withstand some pounding.

Know it Alls: The Shenandoah Bicycle Com-pany in Harrisonburg, Va. 540-437-9000.

Detour: Dave’s Down-town Taverna, Harri-sonburg, Va. 540-564-1487. $2 Natural Light pitchers all the time and it’s not even sleazy. You can’t beat that.

G au l e y h e a D -wat e r s : Slaty-fork, W.Va. Rocks, hills, rocks, hills, and

rocky hills dominate these 37 miles of trails within the Cranberry Wilderness. This is classic gnarly West Virginia singletrack and quite pos-sibly some of the toughest trails in the east.

More Info: www.wvmba.com.

What to expect: From expansive meadows to deep hardwood forests, the scenery is breath-taking, but so are the trails. Finish ten miles of

the Gauley Headwaters and you’ll feel like you actually accomplished something with your life—a rare feeling for a day of mountain biking.

Must ride: Tea Creek Mountain Trail: 4.5 miles of rocks and roots. The climb at the begin-ning is a beast (there’s no shame in walking) but you’re rewarded with a three mile downhill that’s tight, narrow, and fast.

Know it Alls: Elk River Touring Center in Slaty-fork, W.Va. www.ertc.com.

Detour: Forget the restaurants. Pack a lunch and head to Snowshoe for some lift-served downhill riding and mountain bike park fun. You’ve earned it. www.ride.snowshoemtn.com.

the Southern traverse is 32 miles of beastly single track that takes you through the george washington national Forest while climbing 3,000 feet of elevation.

R o c k t h E v o t E

Got a trail system that you think deserves an Epic designation from IMBA? Tell IMBA. Log on to www.IMBA.com and tell them about your favorite trail system and why you think it deserves to be labeled the best of the best.

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T O R C N E W S 7 I S S U E T W O

After a very suc-cessful 2008, David Houskeeper (Ride Director) and Sean Callihan (Race Director) have put together another blockbuster ride/race program for 2009. The summer pro-grams are outlined below. Changes and additions may occur so visit the TORC website to keep up-to-date.

Weekly Rides

The summer months will be busy for TORC riders as we gather for regular rides each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. These will be beginner-friendly, no-drop rides. Come out and join us for some great riding with good friends.

Memorial Weekend at tsali

Memorial Weekend is sure to be a hit with a trip to Tsali that’s designed to appeal to families, beginning riders and more advanced riders. The trails at Tsali are smooth, long and offer beautiful vistas. For beginners, families with young kids and those simply wanting to ride at a leisurely pace we will offer single loop rides. We’ll stop often to chat, catch our breath and enjoy the mountains. There’ll be no hurry on this ride. We’ll bring a lunch and stop to eat trailside or maybe walk down to the lake.

For those looking for a faster paced week-end we’ll ride the first two legs of TORC’s

Epic Challenge. Saturday we’ll make our way to the Tanasi trails for our ride. There’ll be 30 miles of tough climbs and scream-ing descents. On Sunday we’ll hit the Tsali trails and complete the Right/Left Loop 23-mile Epic.

In addition to biking, possible activities include a hike to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, star gazing on a nearby fire tower, exploring mountain creeks, fishing and just plain relaxing in the fresh air of the North Carolina Mountains.

TORC has the group site reserved at Tum-bling Waters Campground. Those looking for something a little less rustic will find many cabin rentals in the area and hotels in nearby Bryson City. If you have questions about accommodations please send an email to info@torc-nc.org.

Summer of Fun IITORC Announces Summer Ride and Race Program

Epic challenge

Looking for a ride that will challenge your skills and stamina? How about a long ride with good friends? Why not combine the two and join TORC for one or more of the Epic Challenge rides? These rides are described in the nearby “Simply the Best” article. We’ll ride each of these trail systems over the course of the summer. Join us for as many of these rides as you can and be sure to look for the Epic Challenge t-shirt available soon on the TORC website.

toRc Race Series

Sean Callihan has arranged another TORC summer series for Triangle racers. As was the case last year, the TORC series includes three TORC races and the always popu-lar Huck-A-Buck (Happy Fun Racing) and Race at the Reactor (Middle Ring Racing). The first race of the series is the Little River Big Race at Little River Regional Park. Race date is May 17 and registration will open soon on TORC’s website.

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Matt Jenkins riding at tsali during last year’s Memorial day campout at tsali.

T O R C N E W S 8 I S S U E T W O

TORC president Paul Elliot, and member at-large Cliff Swanson, attended the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Ninth Annual National Bike Summit, March 10-12 in Wash-ington DC. There, they joined 200 IMBA members from 23 states in learning about and lobbying for some specific items on the LAB political agenda, including the renewal of a critically important grant program that funds trail building and maintenance.

The first two weeks of the first day of the Summit… ok, maybe it was really only about the first 30 minutes of the first day, but those 30 minutes seemed two weeks long… were spent in multiple unsuccessful attempts at navigating from the entrance of the massive Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center to the actual room where an introductory information session for IMBA delegates to the Summit was scheduled. The Reagan Building is impressively large, and perfect for a meeting at which the 570+ Bike Summit delegates were alternately sched-uled to meet in one collective group, or to separate out and attend any of five different topical meetings during each of the three breakout sessions on Wednesday. But wait, we haven’t gotten beyond the first hour of Tuesday yet… On Tuesday afternoon, IMBA conducted an infor-mation session at which IMBA government affairs director, Jenn Dice, and other IMBA staff presented some very intriguing informa-tion related to the IMBA perspective on land protection and Wilder-ness policy. Cycling is not permitted on any land designated by the

Federal government as Wilderness (note the capital W), but cycling is permit-ted on public lands similarly set aside for protection under designations alter-native to Wilder-ness. The distinc-tions might seem insignificant, but the outcome for those of us interested in riding bicycles on trails through public lands is hugely dif-ferent and politi-cally slippery. IMBA enthusiastically sup-ports public lands conservation, pro-tection, and respon-sible stewardship. And, as the most politically active organization rep-resenting off-road

cycling, IMBA also fights for those lands being set aside under titles that enable access by bicycle. Yes, it’s just a bicycle, but the presence of that noble machine is politically contentious in some circles. Time and science are allies in the political battles IMBA continues waging in the effort to keep public lands accessible to cyclists, and there have

been some significant positive outcomes for mountain bikers thanks to compromise and cooperation between all conservation and recreation user groups.

OK, so where were we… right, the sec-ond day, Wednesday, was a day of choices. During each of three 75-minute breakout sessions, five different presentations were available by free choice. Most of the topics seemed not so specifically related to moun-tain biking, but we quickly learned that off-road cycling is a component of the total cycling spectrum that bridges many gaps (no puns intended) between the issues on the political agenda. Every five years the US

Sittin’ At The Table – Mountain Bikers Represent at the Ninth Annual National Bike Summit

T O R C N E W S 9 I S S U E T W O

surface transportation infrastructure is reviewed for funding. You can imagine the huge dollar figures at stake in this picture. The Bike Sum-mit always includes a day of lobbying to legisla-tors by the delegates in attendance. This year the LAB asked delegates to speak with their congres-sional representatives and senators, specifically ask-ing for programatic support of America Bikes, which is essentially a perspective promoting positive outcomes for bicycling in the federal transportation bill. Specifically included are the Com-plete the Streets initiative, the Safe Routes to School program, and, of special interest to IMBA and mountain bikers, the Federal High-

way Administration Recreational Trails Program (RTP). RTP grants are a major funding source for trails development and maintenance nationally, providing matching funds for the extensive trail work done by volunteers and professionals that adds value to communities both recreationally and as an economic engine for bike shops, hotels, restaurants, and other small businesses. The previous five-year RTP allocation was $370 million and it wasn’t enough to support the num-ber of worthy projects submitted from all 50 states. This year, IMBA

delegates lobbied legislators for $550 million during the next five-years.

The TORC delegates met with staff from NC senators Kay Hagen and Richard Burr; and

personally with congressmen David Price and Brad Miller, who represent the 4th and 13th con-

gressional districts, which include Raleigh, Cary, and Durham. Our meetings were well received. Asking for money

in support of an activity that promotes health and safety, reduces pollution and traffic congestion, and creates jobs and sustainable eco-nomic growth was neither difficult nor contentious. Our legislators, our newly appointed Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and President Obama, all articulate their understanding of the bicycle as both a recreational vehicle and a vital means of transportation that can help Americans realize economic recovery and sustainabil-ity. Based upon our experiences at the Bike Summit, there is reason for optimism in believing that the political will to enable and enact changes that are inclusive and positive for all forms of cycling exists.

Our experience at the 9th annual Bike Summit was positive, fun, and personally fulfilling. We met other enthusiastic mountain bikers and cyclists from across NC and the USA, engaged in our democratic process, and learned to navigate the Reagan Building without GPS assistance. Anyone interested in taking an active role in cycling advo-cacy should consider attending the 2010 Bike Summit next year.

—cliff Swanson

Every five years the US surface transportation infrastructure is reviewed for funding. You can imagine the huge dollar figures at stake in this picture.

T O R C N E W S 1 0 I S S U E T W O

realize the improvement that I had made in my physical condition.

Riding single track gave me more obstacles to overcome. Obstacles like that steep switchback on Lake Crabtree’s “Connector C” trail. I had a very difficult time going up that hill and around the turn. I prob-ably walked up that section more times than I rode it during my first year on the bike. I would start riding up but I would either run out of energy or run into a technical obstacle like a root sticking up at the start of the switch back. My momentum stopped, I would be off the bike and walking up the hill. Then one day I started my way up and somehow managed to make it over the roots and around the turn. It was a very slow climb and I was very out of breath by the time I got to the top but I had done it. Part conditioning, part skills improvement, and a little “mind over matter”; this was a major accomplishment for me. Best of all, it was an encouragement to keep trying new challenges.

Since starting to mountain bike I have lost weight and started exer-cising beyond mountain biking. My motivation wasn’t always to get healthier; it was to try to become a better mountain biker. I have never really been overly concerned with living a healthy lifestyle. But now that I have found a sport I really like, healthier choices come a little more naturally, though still not easy breaking a lifetime of unhealthy habits.

Finally, my accomplishments have had some very positive, if unin-tentional, side effects. I even give mountain biking credit for helping me cope with Attention Deficit Disorder. There are many studies that confirm my personal experience.

Mountain biking may not have come naturally to me nor I to it – but it has quickly become an important part of my life.

The Unintentional MTBr by Swin dunbar

I started mountain biking when I was thirty eight years old, over-weight, and out of shape. My start may have been inauspicious but my love of the sport is as strong as any lifelong mountain biker.

When purchasing my first mountain bike, I had no clue what was to come. Now, it’s hard to describe how much enjoyment I get rid-ing that simple two wheeled machine on the trail, up hills, down switchbacks, over roots, and even some rocks. My fun has come at some personal cost: I’ve broken a finger, suffered some bruises, bloodied my knees a few times, and, during a six hour endurance race nearly impaled myself on the handle bars. Along with the joys of riding and pain of learning I have lost weight, increased my conditioning, and made some new friends.

My first single track experience was unintentional. I was met some friends to ride the Black Creek Greenway in Cary. We decided to start our ride in Lake Crabtree County Park. What we did not know was the trails at Lake Crabtree County Park were not paved. We ventured into the trail system thinking this would be a quick connect to the greenway. My friends were falling and getting scraped up as we made our way along the trail. None of us had ridden single track before and we cer-tainly weren’t expecting to that night. It was clear my friends were not really having a good time. On the other hand, I was having a blast. My friends have not been on a single track trail since, but that was just the beginning of my experiences on my mountain bike.

After that fateful ride at Lake Crabtree, I had indeed been bitten by the single track bug. Due to my previously mentioned physi-cal condition, biking turned into a challenge for me. I found a local riding group RTP Mountain Biking Meetup and the local advocacy organization Triangle Off-Road Cyclists. I started riding William B. Umstead State Park with the beginner group rides. Occasionally, I would purposely ride trails well above my skill level as a means to measure my bike handling skills. These rides helped me improve. I also learned that setting goals for both skill development and condi-tioning helped keep my interest level high.

One thing I learned early on is that a single track trail isn’t the only place to ride a mountain bike. Umstead State Park doesn’t have single track open to mountain bikers but its rolling, crushed gravel roads do present challenges; especially to the new rider. The first time I rode there I had to stop several times going up the many hills. During group rides I usually ended up riding “sweep”. Determined to increase my stamina, I decided to regularly ride Umstead - alone. The result has been very satisfying. Just the other day I was rid-ing the Turkey Creek trail and going in what I think is the harder direction. I didn’t need to stop once! Sure, I was out of breath and exhausted once I reached the top, but it was extremely satisfying to

pHoto courteSy oF Swin dunbar

Swin dunbar rides some sweet singletrack at beaver damn, South Loop.

But now that I have found a sport I really like, healthier choices come a little more naturally, though still not easy breaking a lifetime of unhealthy habits.

T O R C N E W S 11 I S S U E T W O

John Whitfield Takes a BreakTORC would like to extend a special thanks to John Whitfield for his dedicated service at Lake Crabtree County Park. John stepped down as the TORC Trail Coordinator at Crabtree this spring. John’s tireless efforts have resulted in many trail improvements and additions. He’s been a valuable resource to park staff and riders alike. In addition to trail work, John and his wife Jill held regular beginner rides at Crabtree so that they could share their love of mountain biking.

A busy work schedule has John calling a “time-out” as Trail Coordinator but we’re confident that he’ll remain active in the mountain bike community. Thanks John for all you’ve done to improve mountain biking in the Triangle!

Harris Lake County Park’s 10th Anniversary Celebration! Saturday, May 30, 2009, 11am-2pm

It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years already! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of celebration. Dance to some live music, scale a rock climbing wall, bring your bike for a Cycling Spoken Here led mountain bike ride, and much, much more! Bring a picnic lunch and plan to enjoy all of the festivities. This celebration would not be complete with-out you-our loyal park patrons. We thank you for your patronage past, present and future! Activities take place in the picnic shelter area.

M o u n t A i n B i k i n G f o R P E o P l E W i t h o u t M o u n t A i n B i k E S !

TORC will be holding two Mountain Bike 101 clinics this spring. These clinics are designed for people curious about riding single track trails but who don’t yet have a mountain bike. To give these folks an opportunity to ride we’ll gather some kids bikes, the Trips for Kids – Triangle fleet and some demo bikes from our bike shop sponsors.

The first clinic will be held on Saturday, May 30 at Lake Harris County Park. The event will be held in conjunction with the park’s 10th anniversary cel-ebration. The second event will be June 13 at Lake Crabtree County Park. This clinic will be held Thursday, June 4 in conjunction with a Rex Health-care Wellness event.

Be sure to tell family and friends about this event. This is a great opportu-nity to share your passion for mountain biking (without having to share your bike!). Check the TORC website for ride times and event updates.

T O R C N E W S 1 2 I S S U E T W O

T O R C N E W S 1 3 I S S U E T W O

E x E c u t i v E c o M M i t t E E

President Paul Elliot president@torc-nc.org

Vice-President Tim Lee vp@torc-nc.org

Secretary Matt Jenkins secretary@torc-nc.org

Treasurer Scott Kohn treasurer@torc-nc.org

c o M M i t t E E S

Events Tim Lee vp@torc-nc.org

Membership Allan Brunner membership@torc-nc.org

NMBP Mark Palmari patrol@torc-nc.org

PR Robert Peterson pr@torc-nc.org

Races Sean Callihan races@torc-nc.org

Rides David Houskeeper rides@torc-nc.org

Trails Stewart Bryan trails@torc-nc.org

t o R c h E l P W A n t E d A d S

Advocacy – did you read the article on pro-posed trails in Durham parks and wonder how you can get new trails in your neigh-borhood? Are you yearning for trials in that very large, nearby, state-owned property? Do you ride trails in a National Forest and want to make sure they continue to be open to mountain biking? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions then you need to get involved!Join our advocacy effort and make sure your voice is heard. Email president@torc-nc.org.

Technology Chair – Do you understand alphabet soup (HTML, PHP, MySQL, Apache)? If those things make sense to you, help us please. Send an email to vp@torc-nc.org.

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on your request. If you don’t get a response call again—and again if need be. You get the picture.

Second, watch the TORC web site for updates and action items. We’ll be posting news from our meetings with other bike clubs in the state. We will also be announcing plans that will require your input and support. We can be heard if we use our collective voice.

Third, join TORC if you’re not already a member. This isn’t about money—we gener-ate only $3 per member from your dues. This is about clout. Our membership list is a political document and it’ll be a more powerful docu-ment if the list has 500 names versus the cur-rent 350 or so. Get your friends to join and let’s be very intentional in speaking with one voice.

Let’s press the issue of access together. If land managers want to have a discussion compar-ing bikers to other user groups I say bring it on. When you consider user group numbers the mountain bikers have a winning argument. Where the discussion focuses on sustainable, environmentally friendly trails we have science on our side. Where the discussion is about the shortage of state funds let’s look at the $127 per-foot cost of some trials (http://blogs.newsob-server.com/joemiller/popular-eno-trail-gets-face-lift) and compare that to the state cost incurred per mile on any trail open to mountain bikes in North Carolina (hint, that cost is almost always close to zero as we have to build our own trails).

Mountain bikes have no more impact on a properly built trail than foot traffic. Still, we’ve been held to a higher standard with regards to access and trial building. We’ve met that high standard and have the research to prove it. It’s time to fight—hard.

P R E S i d E n t ’ S M E S S A G Econtinued FroM page 1

T O R C N E W S 1 4 I S S U E T W O

TORC Summer of Fun IITORC Summer of Fun IIWeekly RidesTuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays TORC rides one of six different trail systems in the Triangle. These rides can accommodate all skill levels. Check out locations and RSVP on our calendar at www.torc-nc.org.

Weekend RidesThese rides are designed for intermediate to advanced riders. They are close enough to be done in a day trip but many choose to stay for two days of extended riding. These trips are held May through September. Check out the TORC calendar (www.torc-nc.org) for dates and locations.

Family Trip to TsaliThis Memorial Weekend TORC is having its first family adventure. This trip is for beginner to intermediate riders. In addition to riding, you can join us for a hike, star gazing from a mountaintop fire tower and fishing. The main group will be camping. Other accommodations are available. RSVP via our calendar at www.torc-nc.org.

Epic ChallengeIntermediate and Advanced level riders will love this series of rides. Over the course of the summer we will visit six of IMBA’s Epic Rides. Join us for as many weekends as you can.

May 22–23• : Tanasi, Ocoee, Tenn. and Tsali, Bryson City, N.C.

June 26–28• : Bull Mountain, Dahlonega, Ga.

July 17–19• : Gauley Headwaters, Slatyfork, W.V.

Aug. 21–23• : The Southern Traverse, Harrisonburg, Va.

Sept. 5–7• : Dupont State Forest, Brevard, N.C.

Summer Race SeriesMay 17• : Little River, Big Race Little River (rain/dirt work day May 31)

June 14• : The Tarwheel, Carolina North (rain/dirt work day June 28)

July 26• : Huck-A-Buck, Lake Crabtree (Happy Fun Racing)

TDB• : Race at the Reactor, Harris Lake (Middle Ring Racing)

Sept. 13• : Leave it to Beaver Dam, Beaver Dam, Series Championship (rain/dirt work day Sept. 27)

Dates are subject to change. For the most current information on all TORC rides and events check out the calendar at www.torc-nc.org.