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Local Bike Shop Support for SORBA-Woodstock is Awesome! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ellis Alexander   
Tuesday, 12 August 2008 15:32

 

Since its inception in 1999, SORBA-Woodstock has received support from a wide variety of people, businesses and government entities, but some of the most consistent and valuable support has come from our local bike shops.

Over the past year, Dan Thornton of Free-Flite Bicycles and Kevin Poske of Out Spokin' Bicycles have stepped up in significant ways that have made our new trails at Blankets Creek a reality.

In September of 2007 Free-Flite gave our fundraising efforts for the new trails an important boost with a $5,000 cash contribution. But Dan continued to look for ways to help us raise money for this important project. In May this year, Free-Flite sponsored a silent auction featuring one of the icons of our sport, Gary Fisher. The event was a huge success with Free-Flite putting up thousands of dollars of equipment for auction with the proceeds going to our new trail fund. The event generated an additional $7,000 gift from Free-Flite, bringing their total contribution to $12,000.

SORBA-Woodstock member and racer Lisa Randall organized the Dirty Duathlon which was held in March of this year at Blankets Creek. The race was a huge success drawing rave reviews from participants and a groundswell of support for making this an annual event. Out Spokin' Bicycles played a key role in the success of this event when they agreed to be the primary sponsor. They contributed equipment and gear valued at $9,000 which was used to reward winners and participants. When their sponsorship and contribution of prizes were announced registration for the event filled up rapidly. In addition to being a lot of fun for racers and spectators, the event produced $8,000 in cash for our new trail fund.

While their contributions to our new trail fund were vital, their ongoing support of our efforts to build and maintain high quality sustainable mountain bike trails at Blankets Creek has been critical. Both shops take turns cooking dinner for our chapter meetings that are held at the trailhead during the warmer months. And both shops donate tubes and power links for our IMBA Bike Patrol members to use to come to the aid of riders who need assistance on the trails. They sponsor bike demos at the trail throughout the year and are big supporters of our annual Pedalpalooza event.

 

Dan and Kevin also wrote important letters of support for our grant application with Bikes Belong. As President of the North Georgia Bicycle Dealers Association and a member of Bikes Belong, Dan mustered the support of four other bike shops and Bikes Belong members in Metro Atlanta who wrote letters of support (Habersham Bicycles, Intown Bicycles, Cycleworks and Bicycle South). This strong support from Metro Atlanta bike shops played a key role in the decision by Bikes Belong to award SORBA-Woodstock a $10,000 grant to help us build the Van Michael Trail and Mosquito Bite.

There are few SORBA chapters and IMBA clubs around the country who enjoy as much support as SORBA-Woodstock does from Free-Flite and Out Spokin'. We are fortunate to have two bike shop owners who are willing to give back so much to the sport we all love. If you ride Blankets Creek regularly be sure to stop by these two bike shops and tell them how much you appreciate them. The best way you can thank them is to give them your business.

 

 

 
Fall Festival PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jeff Murchison   
Saturday, 09 August 2008 21:40

Come join us for our first Fall Festival, where will we holding the official grand opening of the Van Michael Trail & Mosquito Bite trail.

 

Look we even came up with this cool poster for the event.

Click for PDF Version

 

Do you love riding and showing others the beauty of riding?

Do you know your way around Blankets Creek?

Do you like to meet new people?

 

If so we are looking for people to lead the group rides for the Fall Festival. If you are interested and want to know more details drop me an email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 
County Plans to Regulate ATV use PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jeff Murchison   
Thursday, 07 August 2008 09:04

While this might not seem related to Mt. Biking we have had issues in the past with ATV's on our trails and it's great to see the Corp and the County taking action on the issue.

 

From the Cherokee Ledger News

 

"People who live around Lake Allatoona, along with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials, are complaining about noise and damage from all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and are asking the county for help. All-terrain vehicles are completely prohibited on Corps of Engineers property, Corps officials say.

In response, Cherokee County may soon be the first county in the metro area to regulate all-terrain vehicles through a county ordinance. Forsyth, Fayette, and Cobb counties have laws that mention ATVs, but the ordinance being prepared for Cherokee County would specifically spell out provisions in regard to their use.

“We’ve had issues with ATVs for years, but the past two or three years have been really bad. They’ve even damaged the wetlands,” said Barry Richards, an assistant project manager with the local Army Corps of Engineers. “We have our own Title 36 rules and (regulations) against vehicles on Corps property, but we want to partner with the county.”

Richards said residents in the neighborhoods that surround Allatoona often complain about riders cutting through their yards to get to trails on Corps property and about noise from ATVs.

“They call the county sheriff’s office, but, by that time, they are on Corps property, and the marshal or responding officer is out of his jurisdiction,” Richards said.

Post 4 Commissioner Derek Good said the Corps of Engineers approached him about the situation.

The ordinance, Good and Richardssaid, would correct that situation.

“There was nothing local law enforcement could do,” Good said. “What we did in this ordinance, in essence, was to copy the federal law (that the Corps uses). This will give the marshal and the sheriff the authority to enforce the rules.”

Good pointed out that riding ATVs on public streets already is illegal and noted that residents who neighbor the lake have called him about damage from riders cutting through to Corps property.

Richards explained that ATVs are not allowed on Corps of Engineers property at all, although there are several illegal and well-used trails. “We’ve written quite a few tickets,” he said, noting that the Corps does patrol its property as well. The Corps has supplied the county with maps of the illegal trails.

“We run stings from time to time. We’ve even had people truck-mudding,” Richards said.

The Army Corps of Engineers  owns 11,586 acres of property in Cherokee, he said. It owns the land that surrounds Lake Allatoona and the land adjoining a lot of tributaries that feed the lake, up to 863 feet in elevation – the highest elevation to which the Allatoona Dam can back up water.

Doug Evans, chief ranger in charge of land management, said those who are caught with motorized vehicles on Corps property by rangers are fined $50, although some “get to talk to the federal magistrate in Rome.”

Those people are the ones who have caused damage to the property and may have to make restitution, Evans said.

The state prohibits ATVs in its parks under the Off-Road Act of 1975, documents show. It gives the county authority to adopt an ordinance regarding ATVs.

The draft ordinance that will be considered by the county commission limits the use of ATVs within unincorporated Cherokee County.

It prohibits the use of the vehicles in a careless, reckless or negligent manner; limits noise the vehicles can produce, and prohibits towing of people or things on a public right of way by an ATV. It prohibits use of the vehicles on private property without written consent of the owner and also prohibits their use on airport property, public school grounds, park property, playgrounds, recreational areas, golf courses, cemeteries, Corps of Engineers property or on any portion of public roads used for motor vehicle travel. Exceptions include posted “ATV trails” and those who have written permission of the Allatoona operations project manager.

The proposed ordinance would not prohibit the use of ATVs in organized parades approved by the county.

Under the ordinance, those who violate its terms could be found guilty of a civil violation subject to a fine of up to $1,000.

Richards said the closest ATV trails he knows of that are legal and open to the public are in the Chattahoochee National Forest in extreme North Georgia. Otherwise, he said, the vehicles must be ridden on private property with owner permission."

 
Nature's Rewards PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jay Wilkes   
Monday, 04 August 2008 17:19

There is an old philosophical saying that every coin has another side. Every night has a day.

Same for nature. The drought last year wreaked havoc on the trail system in terms of dry loose conditions, excessive dust and a loss of almost all our log crossings due to lack of humidity.

But there's always a silver lining. The same drought last year also weakened a lot of hardwood trees. This year has seen an unexpected amount of high wind storms. So combine the two and nature has graciously returned some of the log crossing opportunities back to us with some nice oak hardwoods.

Saturday's storms dropped a dozen trees on our trail system, but never fear, we got some rewards. Joining a running series of log crossings over the past 2 months is another one on Dwelling.

Charlie, Jet and Roach worked on it yesterday to put it in place. It's a beauty.

 

 

 

 
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