On May 7th (this Saturday!), the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance is partnering with Boulder County Parks & Open Space to do some trailside restoration at Betasso Preserve. Volunteers will be restoring areas along the side of the recently constructed Benjamin Trail. Your efforts will help promote native vegetation and help minimize the introduction of invasive species.

We will be using hand tools to rake native seed into the disturbed soil. We will also be placing pine needles and fallen timber on the seeded areas to prevent soil entering into the watershed. We may also be placing erosion control blanket in steeper areas. The area is located in steep terrain so please wear sturdy boots to this project. We may be hiking close to 4 miles by the time the project is over.

You will receive additional information upon signup for this project.  The project runs from 8:30am and will finish by/before 12:30pm. If you would like to carpool, meet at the Justice Center (corner of 6th and Canyon) at 7:45am for a ride up.The project is limited to 15 volunteers, so sign up now, and thanks for your help in getting the Benjamin Trail ready to open!

It's going to be a great weekend! The forcast looks great, and chances are that there will be a ton of folks out on our trails enjoying themselves, especially families with the Mom's Day holiday on Sunday.

Take a moment and consider how you'd like your mom to be treated on the trails, and then treat everyone that way. It's what your mom would want!

BMA Trail Etiquette

The long-awaited extension of the Betasso Preserve trail system, the Benjamin Loop trail, will be opening to the public on May 17 at a 4pm Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Please note: This is a date change since our last newsletter!

Here's what you need to know if you want to attend the ribbon cutting and get your ride on: 

3:30 - Time bikers should leave trailhead to comfortably get to the site in time.

4:00 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Trail Opening! Hike, horse or bike the trail on your own or accompany Ranger Jamison on a bike ride.

The new trail will add over 3 miles to the existing trails. Expect steep terrain and great views.

Join 60 volunteers as we celebrate National Trails Day and help construct the new Fourmile connection that will eventually connect the Benjamin Trail to Fourmile Canyon.

Boulder County will partner with the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and Oskar Blues, who will be sponsoring an after party. Volunteer trail-builders will use hand tools to build new trail through forest groves and open meadows while enjoying spectacular views and fresh mountain air. The trail work is on steep terrain and will require a 1 mile hike to get to the work site.

This project will run from 8:30am-1:00pm. Minimum age is 14 with adult supervision. To register please visitwww.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/wildwork or call 303-678-6193 by June 1st.  When you sign up, please indicate that you are a BMA volunteer.

Cyclists needed to support Wheelchair Racers

 

Jacob Heilveil has been encouraging and training paraplegics to get out and enjoy the many benefits of 

wheelchair & handcycle racing.  They are training now for the Bolder Boulder and could really use our help.  Jacob's group has racers from elite to newbie so any type of bike rider &/or bike works for this. They train the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month and to say they are inspirational is an understatement. Contact Hersch 

(303-570-9177) for details!

WeNR = Wednesday Night Rides (pronunciation is up to you!). We will ride every Wednesday after work, weather depending. 

For the 5/4 ride: PICTURE ROCK TRAIL, Intermediate ride

Meet at trailhead off Red Gulch Rd. in Lyons, ride the trails, and meet at Oskar Blues for some beers and food after. Stan's your ride leader.

As with out other rides:

All riders MUST wear a helmet, bring water, and have a trail-ready bike. Riders should also carry the usual basics: spare tube(s), a pump, tire levers, a chain tool, and basic Allen wrenches.

All riders ride at their own risk; group leaders take no responsibility for rider safety/injury.

Riders must sign a liability waiver once during the season. If this is your first ride of the season, please bring a signed waiver with you or be prepared to complete one at the meeting spot.

Rides launch at 6:00 pm so be at the trail head by 5:45 pm, dressed and ready to roll by 6:00 pm.

If the weather is iffy, make sure to check the website after 4:00 pm on Wednesdays for updated info.

For planning purposes and so that we can assure the City/County that we will meet permitting requirements, please sign up for this event ahead of time. This is not mandatory, but helps us with planning. You need to be registered as a website user and as a member of the WeNR Group.

If you have any trouble figuring any of this out, drop us an email at wenr@bouldermountainbike.org.