Perfecting the NWTA Elevator Speech How many times have you returned from a ride and gotten together with non-mountain biker friends to tell them what a blast it is to mountain bike? Better yet, when was the last time you explained what NWTA stands for? And how NWTA helps to open up more trails for mountain bikers? It's the elevator speech. More than a play-by-play of how you wheelied off that cliff, it's the brief, impassioned statement that singlehandedly leaves your audience thinking, "I need to get out on a mountain bike. I need to check out NWTA." Just ask Tom Archer, NWTA Advocacy Director, who used his elevator speech at least 100 times during his trip to D.C. last month at the National Bike Summit. Or Joe Rykowski, Trail Development Partnership Program Manager and trail builder extraordinaire, who led a crew of 27 volunteers to build trail last weekend at Stub Stewart State Park. You better believe they wield their NWTA elevator speech like Tony Robbins. Still, no one will have to recite his elevator speech more than NWTA's Lee Duncan. New this month, we are pleased to welcome Lee Duncan as director of the NWTA Mountain Bike Patrol Program. NWTA's Mountain Bike Patrol is part of IMBA's national program of dedicated volunteers partnering with land mangers, landowners and emergency personnel to assist, educate and inform all trail users in order to enhance their recreational experience. Lee and his growing cadre of mountain bike ambassadors are yet another way NWTA is making it happen. Don't have a NWTA elevator speech yet? Here's one I use. Try it out: We advocate for trail access. We promote responsible mountain biking. We build and maintain sustainable trails. We love riding them! Jon Pheanis, NWTA President |
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Updates
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NWTA Represents at the National Bike Summit
by Tom Archer
In mid March, I traveled to the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., representing Northwest Trail Alliance and mountain bikers throughout the region. I was one of over 800 people attending and who are part of the growing bicycle movement in this country. What does the National Bike Summit have to do with mountain biking you ask? A lot! Over 100 attendees represented mountain biking, and IMBA has a significant presence, both as one of the primary sponsors of the conference, and in lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. Oregon had one of the largest delegations - over 20 representatives - from bike manufacturing, retailing, tourism, racing, and of course, mountain biking. I was joined by fellow mountain bike advocates Woody Starr and Paul Thomasburg of Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), and Michelle Emmons from Greater Oakridge Area Trail Stewards (GOATS). Read the full write up here.
Updated Work Party Dates for L.L. Stub Stewart State Park 
NWTA has not one, but TWO volunteer trail stewards dedicated to leading crews to add more miles of single track at Stub Stewart State Park. Local bike racer and trail-building veteran Robert Clark has joined the charge to build out Stub into a local Mecca for mountain bikers, and Joe Rykowski, who has been helping with project since 2007 and leading volunteer teams actively digging trail since 2009. In addition to NWTA teams, Westside Trail Federation volunteers are building out the flow trail area link here which is on target to open this summer! Please check out the NWTA Website for more info, including work party dates here.
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Announcements ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--------------------------------- 2012 NWTA Intense 6.6/Shimano Saint Bicycle Raffle!!!  Universal Cycles Donates $5,000 Bike to NWTA
The first of two bike raffles we'll hold this year (details to come on the second, but don't miss this first opportunity!) Portland-based Universal Cycles has donated a custom painted Shimano Saint by Intense for a raffle to benefit NWTA. The 999 tickets for the custom painted, size medium Intense 6.6 went on sale at the Portland Bicycle Show on March 22nd at the Portland Expo Center and will remain available until gone or until July 1, 2012. The winner will be announced at the annual Trailfest event. Tickets will soon be available on the NWTA website. Read more here
Notice of Logging at the McKenzie River Trail
 | | McKenzie timber sale stand. |
The Goose Project is a proposed timber sale on Forest Service land along the McKenzie River, across the lower end of the popular McKenzie River Trail. The Forest Service claims the 2,134-acre project is to thin trees in order to prevent catastrophic fire, but many doubt the cutting is necessary. "The parcel in question is mature, diverse, healthy forest that is in no way at risk for catastrophic fire-one of the primary reasons given by the Forest Service as justification for the logging," says local homeowner Jerry Gilmour. "Some of the trees are majestic, old growth giants up to seven feet in diameter, and ground and ladder fuels are minimal to nonexistent."
Northwest Trail Alliance urges members to find out more information about the project, especially as it relates to mountain biking. Please visit savemckenziebridge.com for more details and for contact information for Forest Service officials in charge of the Goose Project as well as Congressman Peter Defazio.
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Member Spotlight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By now you've probably become familiar with one of our favorite sections. This is where we have the opportunity to showcase a different member each month who has, in some way or another, been an NWTA superstar.
Andy Jansky  NWTA's Cascade Locks and Rocky Point trail steward gets it done The only reason there is a brand new mountain bike trail in the community of Cascade Locks is because Andy Jansky knew a guy. Which guy? Port of Cascade Locks General Manager Chuck Daughtry, who told Jansky he had some currently vacant industrial land he wanted to develop for recreation. Jansky, an NWTA trail steward whose civil engineering firm had been doing contract work for Cascade Locks, knew exactly what to do with it. He started building mountain biking single track. A few months later, two of a planned six miles of single track have been carved out of a parcel of Columbia river waterfront just 40 miles from Portland. Jansky realized that the relatively flat terrain would be perfect for novice-friendly single track, something that's in short supply in the region. He also realized that because the sandy soil drains quickly, it makes for mud-free year-round riding, perfect fo r short winter days and, it turns out, nights. After Jansky and NWTA membership chair Andy Crump, along with a handful of volunteers logged 375 hours in three days to carve the initial two miles of trail in October of 2011, they realized that the mild terrain is also perfect for night riding. DimWits with BrightLights was born. The group rides many Friday nights at the new easyCLIMB trail, weather dependent, lapping the course between social interludes at a bonfire, all with the blessings of the Cascade Locks sheriff. "They welcome our presence," says Jansky. "The reason Cascade Locks wanted this trail was to bring recreational visitors to their community and develop awareness of the future CLIMB trail just up the hill." More...
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| Volunteer Opportunities
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It's Not All About the Shovel... Feeling like you want to give back after you've ripped down a trail in the dappled sunshine on one of those perfect Oregon summer days? Sitting around this winter watching bad reality TV on Netflix and thinking that there's got to be something better to do with your time? Have ideas on how to build excitement and awareness or other ways to get people outside and on their bikes? Do you own or work for a business that might be interested in giving back in some way? Harness those skills in the service of NWTA! To pitch in contact our volunteer coordinator Vic Sandrin. Thanks to those people who have responded to our recent asks. We've had great response in some areas. But we still need help in the areas below.
Sunday Parkways Volunteers
NWTA's skills park has been one of the most popular attractions at Sunday Parkways over the last couple years. These events are a blast and a chance to introduce kids (big kids too) to the challenges of riding "off street." We're looking for go-getters who could help with one or more events - setting up our snazzy tent, interacting with the public and showing people how to nail the "skinnies." For more info, please email to Raul Atencio.
Tool Storage Area Needed We are in need of an area to store our trailers and tools. Preferably a central Portland location. Area needs to be secure, but not necessarily covered. All or a portion of rental could be a donation to our non-profit. If you have info, please send an email to toms@nw-trail.org. TrailFest Planning We've moved TrailFest to July 6-8 this year to take advantage of better weather. Interested in helping plan the festivities and rides? Send a note to SoniaS@nw-trail.org. |
Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We're putting extra effort into organizing/hosting more group rides this year. Weekly outings to Powell Butte and Scapoose and campounts for the more adventurous. Keep any eye on our calendar for updates. Click on any of the highlighted titles below to link directly to more information... Tue, April 24th (5 - 7 pm) NWTA Women's Meeting The Women's Group meeting will be in the Banquet Room at HUB from 5-7pm. Come connect with some like minded ladies and enjoy some food and beverages prior to the general meeting. Tue, April, 24th (6 - 8 pm) NWTA General Meeting The NWTA General meeting will start at 7 pm at Hopworks on Powell. Come at 6 pm to find ways to get involved. Everyone always welcome! Sat, April 28th (9 am Start) NWTA Women's Group Ride Shari White will be leading this ride on Wilson River Trail. Meet at 9am on April 28th at Elk Creek Campground (gate should be open but if not we can ride in). Fairly nontechnical trail but LOTS of climbing. There is potential for groups of varying abilities depending on how many riders show up. Contact Debbie Causey at debbiec@nw-trail.org. Multiple Sat. and Sun. into June (9 am - 3 pm) Stub Stewart Trail Building Join Westside Trail Federation or NWTA for a great day of building trails in Stub Stewart State Park. We are making the final push toward the anticipated opening on June 2, 2012 and volunteers are the key to success! See NWTA website for full details about these events. Want to see what a typical work party is like at Stub? Watch this from the January, 2012 event! Wed, April 25th - September (6 pm - 8 pm) Weekly Wednesday Scappoose Rides The Co-Ed Wednesday rides will continue on a weekly basis through the end of September, but will be an Informal Ride, meaning they will NOT be NWTA guided rides. This is your opportunity to show up at the gate on Wednesdays at 6pm and ride with someone new. Ride length will vary each week, but all riders must be back to their cars by dark as we want to respect the landowner's rules against night riding. If you need directions to the trailhead or have other questions, email debbiec@nw-trail.or or brianb@nw-trail.org. Tue, May 1 - October (6 pm - 8 pm) Weekly Tuesday Powell Butte Ride This ride happens weekly except when it conflicts with general meeting or weather. Variety of speeds and styles welcome the goal is to show a responsible MTB presence and enjoy the trails, of course. Contact Dennis - 503.860.2095 - dennisv@nw-trail.org Sat, May 5th (9 am - 3 pm) Sandy Ridge Trail Maintenance Day Expectations? A few hours of trail work then on your bike by 1 pm. We'll shuttle you and your bike up to the work area and then you can ride afterwards. Never been to a work party? No problem, come and we'll provide instruction. Contact Tom Slovak at toms@nw-trail.org with questions. Sat, May 12th (9 am - 3 pm) NWTA Co-ed All Abilities Ride at Siouxon Location to be finalized by trail conditions and weather. Ride times includes travel time. Lead by Amy Singmaster and crew. Sat, May 19th (1 pm - 5 pm) Kids Ready Rider's Rock MTB Camp A mountain bike camp for kids ages 10 - 17. Riding, nutrition, fitness, stretching, enjoying the trails...all covered in this class. For more information, call Bud Harris at 503.389.0121 or visit www.hillsborobiking.org. Tue, May 29th (6 pm - 8 pm) General Membership Meeting The NWTA General meeting will start at 7 pm at Hopworks on Powell. Come at 6 pm to find ways to get involved. Everyone always welcome! June 29th - July 1st McKenzie River Trail Annual Campout Saturday will be a mountain bike ride on MRT with the option to do a 25-mile shuttle or a 50-mile out and back. If the snow is melted enough we will do a 45-mile out and back road ride up 242 to the lava flows on Sunday. Sign up on the NWTA site so we know how many campsites to hold. July 9-12th MTB Kids Camp In collaboration with Portland Parks Teen Adventure Program, NWTA is co-hosting a kids mountain biking camp for kids ages 10-14. The camp will feature rides and education opportunities at Ventura Park, Powell Butte, Cascade Locks, Sandy Ridge and Portland's soon to be opened indoor bike park, the Lumberyard! Go here for more information. July 27, 28 and 29th Helen's Fest III Located at the Marble Mountain Snow Park on the south side of Mount St Helens in the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest. A mountain bike festival of stewardship and riding the trails; we ride two days and perform trail maintenance on Saturday. Rides offered will be advanced beginner to advanced level. Check the NWTA website frequently, new things are always being added to the calendar! |
| Call for Content
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We want your stories and ideas! Do you have an event to advertise, a ride or trail report or other idea that you would like to see in print? Send story ideas and information to: newsletter@nw-trail.org.
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