Cleveland Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) Trail Building Schedule

With CAMBA’s recent announcement of access to build trails at Cleveland Metroparks' Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, this is a busy season for CAMBA trailbuilding.  Our quest is to continue to design and build some top-notch, multi-use mountain bike trails, and the first single-track in Cuyahoga County!

Over the past 5 years, many people have discovered that trail building with CAMBA is an eye-opening and fun experience.  It is a great opportunity to get involved with the local cycling community and learn what goes into proper trail design and construction. In addition to getting to know mountain bikers in the area, you will:

· Avoid the cabin-fever doldrums this winter and get out to enjoy the great outdoors, enjoying nature in a different way (off-the-bike.)

· Add another form of outdoor physical activity in the off-season (definitely better than being stuck indoors!)

· Enjoy some excellent homemade lunches, whipped-up by your local CAMBA members.

· Take some serious pride (and sense of ownership) in riding, walking, running the trails that you’ve built.

· Most importantly, contribute to progress and the importance of cycling in northern Ohio (gotta think big-picture here folks!)



There’s no doubt at this point that we’re all on the verge of something really big for cycling and mountain bike access here in Cuyahoga County. The key is that we need to step up and become a part of this process to succeed.  So if you've ever hesitated about joining CAMBA on trail days in the past, now is the prime-time to get involved.  We’ve been granted some excellent opportunities, but we still need to represent with our numbers and demonstrate that we’re serious - and responsible - about our sport, and eventually prove that more local access to mountain bike trails is workable, and badly needed.

If you need more info about trailbuilding days, send Jim Olander, CAMBA Trail Building Director, an e-mail at trails@camba.us. We hope to see you on the trail!

TRAILBUILDING SCHEDULE

Saturday, 2/17     Cleveland Metroparks OECR Reservation  9AM-1PM

Sunday, 3/4         West Branch State Park, Ravenna  9AM-1PM

Sunday, 3/18       Cleveland Metroparks OECR Reservation  9AM-1PM

Saturday, 3/31     Cleveland Metroparks OECR Reservation  9AM-1PM

Sunday, 4/15       West Branch State Park, Ravenna       9AM-1PM

Saturday, 4/28 (tentative) Cleveland Metroparks OECR Reservation 9AM-1PM

About our trail days

Typical trail days go from 9AM to 1PM. We start with the sign-in and a review on safety, then break for lunch around noon.  Although you can certainly take off anytime, some of the 'heartier' trailbuilders may hang around through the afternoon (especially if conditions are nice.) But if you can’t make it out for a full day, not a problem - we welcome all help. If you can’t show up till later in the morning, or if you need to leave early, ok with us - any help is always better than no help at all.

If you haven’t built trails before, no problem, we’ll show you how. Many of our leaders have participated in 2 or more IMBA Trail Care Clinics, so we have the know-how to do it right, and we’ll be glad to show you. Don’t worry if you don’t have any tools; we have all the tools you’ll need (and it’s actually where some membership $$ goes). If you’re worried about starving on the trail, don’t; we always have lunch covered on full trail days.

We suggest is that you dress in layers (to shed as you warm up). Always wear long pants and long-sleeves (helps with poison ivy), some hiking or work boots, work gloves, and bring some fluids to drink (Camelback works best). Clif Bar also came through again this year with enough snack bars to cover our trail days.

Directions

Detailed directions and maps are available at www.camba.us

Cleveland Metroparks: Trail work is at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, in Cleveland of off I-77, Grant Road exit .  We'll meet at the Canalway Visitor Center.

West Branch State Park: Ravenna, Ohio.  This year we're primarily meeting at the intersection of Porter Road and Cable Line Road (the eastern end of the mountain bike trails). We are NOT meeting at the trailhead.

Bad Weather/Cancellations

We ALWAYS post any cancellations on the CAMBA website (www.camba.us). If the weather looks questionable, please visit our website the day before.  If you don't see anything about the date being cancelled, then we're still on.

Questions?

Read our trail building FAQ by going to www.camba.us.  Hope to see you on the trail!