Club News

Photo: Rachael Kimola - Castanet

via Castanet



Sure, it’s been open to the public for a couple of weeks, but we can’t let this landmark event pass without a party.  So we’re having one.

Sunday, July 25th at 10:00 am.  There will be demos, a Jump Jam and contest, music, and lots of cool stuff.  The Jump Contest will be open to anyone who is an MTBco member, and we’ll be there early to sign people up. Prizes for the jam are being donated by all the local shops:

• ChainLine Cycle
• Cyclepath Kelowna
• Kelowna Cycle
• Outbound Cycle
• Rock ‘n Road
• Sovereign Cycle
• Union Cycle
• Fresh Air Experience
• Larry’s Cycle

There will be limited parking on site, so we will be providing a shuttle service from the school down on Hollywood Rd. to the site.  Or save yourself the hassle and RIDE YOUR BIKE!  Even if you park several blocks away, riding your bike to the park makes more sense.  Thanks to Monashee Adventure Tours for providing the shuttles.

The park couldn’t have been built without the following supporters:

• Winn Rentals
• Tree Line Design and Creations
• J & M Contracting
• AG Appel
• Super Save Group
• Mod U Loc Fencing
• Redline Bobcat Services
• Big Steel Box
• Connor Steeves
• Kelowna Ready Mix

..and of course don’t forget the City of Kelowna, because it wouldn’t have happened without them.

There are also two maintenance days between now and then, one this coming Sunday at 9:30 to do any major work on the park, and another next Saturday to buff ‘n fluff the park for the next day.

The City of Kelowna’s first mountain bike skills park is now open.

“The City collaborated with local riders and the Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan to build a park that provides something for of all ages and abilities,” says Park Projects Manager Andrew Gibbs.

The Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan will manage the park, provide education and training for users and maintain the bike facilities. The Club is planning an official grand opening for the park later this summer.

Located on a 3.4 hectare site at 1960 Hollywood Road South, the skills park includes a pump track and six dirt jump lanes progressing from beginner to expert. Riders can access the park by bike via the Mission Creek Greenway.

“We have been working closely with the mountain biking community and this type of facility was identified as a priority,” says Gibbs. The 2008 Kelowna & Area Mountain Bike Strategy, a joint project with the City, Regional District and BC Parks will guide future development and management of mountain bike facilities in the area.

Completed at a cost of $243,000, the park was designed by a Gravity Logic of Whistler and van der Zalm & Associates landscape architects in collaboration with local riders and constructed by Cormode and Dickson of Kelowna and Gravity Logic. Many businesses and individuals in the community helped with construction through the supply of labour, equipment and material at reduced cost.

Find links to Kelowna’s parks and beaches at kelowna.ca/parks.

The Powers Creek Trail Maintenance Day went over very well this year.  A little bit of damp weather has made for excellent trail building conditions, and a solid 45 volunteers came out to take advantage.  Builders Only was buffed out from top to bottom, and another crew went over to 2.5 and cleared the winter deadfall (thanks Justin, Rich, and whoever else went with you).

Thanks to Dirty Dave at Outbound for putting it together, and everyone else for getting Builders ready for road bikes.  A note to all if you haven’t been out to Powers Creek this year, make sure you inspect before you hit it hard.  There’s some changes down there and the trail is VERY fast right now.

Oh yeah, it sure looks tempting, but it’s not ready yet.  With the ground holding a lot of moisture right now, it’s really important to stay off the jumps at the new park.  It will be ready to roll soon enough, but for now please respect the closure.  You’ve waited this long already, it will be worth it.

El Nino just keeps on giving to the bike community.  The warmest winter on record means that all the low elevation trails are open, and of course in Kelowna that means Knox Mtn. In case you weren’t aware, the majority of trails in Knox Mtn. Park are open to bikes.  Here’s a handy map for you to check out what’s open right now.

map download link

That’s a pretty nice selection for this time of year, don’t you think?    Since the warm weather also brings out lots of other users, try to remember that there’s going to be other folks out there using the trails.  Take ‘er easy, especially on weekends.  It’s a long bike season ahead, and it never hurts to remind everyone of the old “Rules of the Trail”.  Besides, all your favourite trails in Gillard, Powers, Postill, and Crawford are going to be open in no time so there’s no reason to over do it this early.

1. Ride On Open Trails Only

Respect trail and road closures — ask a land manager for clarification if you are uncertain about the status of a trail. Do not trespass on private land. Obtain permits or other authorization as may be required. Be aware that bicycles may not permitted in certain protected areas.

2. Leave No Trace

Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones. When the trail is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don’t cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in.

3. Control Your Bicycle

Inattention for even a moment could put yourself and others at risk. Obey all bicycle speed regulations and recommendations, and ride within your limits.

4. Yield to Others

Do your utmost to let your fellow trail users know you’re coming — a friendly greeting or bell ring are good methods. Try to anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to all other trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. Strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

5. Never Scare Animals

Animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses, use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain). Running cattle and disturbing wildlife are serious offenses.

6. Plan Ahead

Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding — and prepare accordingly. Strive to be self-sufficient: keep your equipment in good repair and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.

Annual General Meeting

The A.G.M. is set for:

Tuesday, February 23rd
7:30PM to 9:30PM
Kinsmen Field House

That’s the usual place we have the annual meeting, and if you don’t know where it is, here’s a handy map for you.

We’re looking for some new blood to fill the ranks of the club executive this year.  Please consider joining us this year.  We are looking for people with accounting skills, grant writing experience, corporate fund raising, maybe an event co-ordinator, and some generally well organized and motivated people to help spread the load.

The first bike park in Kelowna is not quite finished yet, and now we have word that there may be a second already in the planning stages.

According to the City of Kelowna’s website, the second phase of the Powerline Linear Park may include such porposed amenities as:

“…Mountain Bike Skills Area for beginners”

Open House

An open house is scheduled for Thursday, February 25 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at Chute Lake Elementary School, 5240 Lark Street, to view the plans for the construction of the park. Residents are invited to drop by the open house and provide their comments and ask questions.

Read more about it over at the City of Kelowna site.

I got the call sometime last week from Brad Wright of The Friends of The South Slope (FOSS) asking if I could take a look at the flagged line re-routing the very top of Captain Nemo in Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park (Crawford). The re-route is intended to provide all users with an easier climb up the final few hundred meters of Nemo onto the Kettle Valley Rail bed (KVR).

Anyone who has ever climbed to the KVR via Captain Nemo can attest to the fact that this last section is brutal. It’s a hike a bike pretty much. Seems the horse riders and hikers of FOSS don’t like it either. The email went out to a group of MTBco members who had helped out to do some re route work on Vapour last year and everyone was on board to go get some work done on Sunday, November 8th. Everyone met up top at 10am (except Scott who climbed up to come do some work!). Brad Wright of FOSS brought Mccleod tools and Pulaskis and within a few minutes of arriving work was started. Teams worked away at various sections of bench cut, most of which required a lot of engineering work with rocks and logs to support the trails as it cut off camber along the steep KVR slope. Massive rocks were moved and placed to help reduce the grade of the only major swithback within the new section.

After a few hours of hard work the crew managed to get the section of trail to about half done with the bulk of the more difficult areas complete. Althought its not yet ridable, one more day of work should seal the deal. Weather dependant the work may get done this fall but most likely it will be a spring job. Look forward to a much easier climb for this last section of Captain Nemo and a longer, more flowing decent along the new section of trail.

Big thanks to all who helped out!

(Dave Petrik, Kinga Gortel, Scott Lahrs, Lee MacKay, Jon Matlock (and friend, can’t recall his name?), Joe, Roy, Brad Wright)

Mike Kittmer

Director, MTBco

Recently MTBco presented a prominate local trail builder with a cheque for $250 for his huge effort to clear deadfall from local trails. This builder has logged well over 50 hours in just deadfall clearing in recent weeks to ensure all can continue to enjoy local trails. Each year MTBco provides donations to key local builders to help offset their often huge costs for the work they do.

Next time you run into a builder improving or clearing our local trails be sure to thank them. Without their dedication we would not have the great world class trails that we do here in the Central Okanagan. You can also help us to continue to support these builders and continue to work on protecting and enhancing local trail networks by signing up each year as a paid MTBco member or club sponsor. You can also help us by spreading the work to other non members  or potential new sponsors that they should become paid members/sponsors.

MTBco relies on financial support from the local riding community and our sponsors to put on great events and work on our many ongoing projects such as the creation of the region’s first mountain bike skills park, partnerships to enhance and protect trail networks with land managers/government and trail enhancement.

Spread the word…membership and support does have its priviledges…great trails!

MTBco