Thank you OSBT for giving the mountain bike community an opportunity to have our say.

Boo ya, it was the week of the OSBT double header!

On Thursday, February 10th (yep, day after the public hearing we talked about above), OSBT held a study session on the West TSA.  They asked hard questions of Open Space staff....

Gluttons for punishment, the BMA Advocacy Team was there to monitor the process (there was no public input at the study session).  

The results were a mixed bag; while no changes to the status quo were mandated by OSBT, the trustees did send staff back to work on possible options that could serve the cycling public.

We thank OSBT for their commitment to making the plan at least try to work for everyone.  Staff will publish their final draft February 18 and return to OSBT February 23 asking for OSBT approval.  And then it's on to City Council.

The weather gods are supposed to start cranking up the heat (is it springtime already?) in the next few days. With weather breaking into the 50's this weekend and into next week, everyone has riding on their minds. We want to ride too!  But, remember last year when all of the trails got totally thrashed by muddy riding and hiking? The trails still haven't been fixed completely. So, please wait until trails are really dry enough to ride.

Help us keep proving to the City and County that we are the best stewards of the land!  As you know, BMA is helping the mountain bike community argue for new access to trails in Boulder. Help us make that argument by riding responsibly and staying on trails, especially in muddy sections - you're a mountain biker, not a runway model (at least not all the time), so get dirty!

How muddy is too muddy? Here is a general rule: If your wheel starts slipping in mud, you are doing real damage to the trail. Go home, pack up the skis and head to the snow.

Know before you go - BMA has a rockin' Trail Conditions section to help you figure out where you can ride, and where you should hold off.  Wait until the condition is listed as "Fair" or "Good", and avoid "Poor".  If the condtion hasn't been updated since the last storm, use your best judgment and avoid places that will likely be muddy (see sidebar).

Please report what you see on the trails!

1) Go here http://bouldermountainbike.org/content/trails/conditions
2) Find the trail you know about and click on "Edit Trail Conditions"
3) On the right side of the trail page, a ways down, click on the menu for "Trail Meter" and select the right rating:

4) Click "save", and that's it! Thanks so much.  You just helped everyone get more trails to ride.

Two nights ago Open Space Board of Trustees sat through 4 hours of public testimony, to make sure that every person in Boulder who wanted to be heard could be heard. On the following night, OSBT went at it again with a multi-hour study session. (and they do all this work for FREE as volunteers, sheesh) 

 

Now OSBT needs a little more time to mull everything over and for staff to do  their jobs.

 

OSBT convenes again on February 23rd to make their decision. Rest assured Boulder Mountainbike Alliance will be there and will let you know what happens.

On March 15th, City Council will meet to hear public testimony on the West Trail Study Area. The meeting will likely be held at Boulder High School to hold the gigantic crowds!

BMA will need you there, so mark your calendars.

A lot of us backcountry ski and have to worry about aspect (the direction a slope faces) and tree cover (ok, trigger points really) for avalanche danger.  Slope aspect and tree cover are  also key when you're worried about muddy trail danger!

Because that dang Mr. Sun insists on hugging the southern horizon, trails on the North side of mountains and in trees dry out much more slowly. So places like Picture Rock, Spring Brook, and Antelope Trail will probably be no nos for quite a while (think "we need a week or more of sunny and 50's from where we are now"). Trails in the Marshall Mesa area will be a mess this weekend, but will probably be drying out pretty fast because they have a lot of sun exposure.

Use your noggin before you head out, and also consult the BMA Trail Conditions page.