Carrabassett Region NEMBA is Up and Running!

Help us Grow Mountain Biking in the Carrabassett Region of Maine!

Join Carrabassett Region NEMBA Online!

We extend a warm welcome to our newest NEMBA chapter--Carrabassett Region NEMBA.

Carrabassett Region NEMBA is planning to focus on building and stewarding a sustainable mountain bike trail network in the western mountains of Franklin and southern Summerset Counties. Their main emphasis will be to increase the use of regional trails, link communities and support local businesses. They already have a plethora of projects in the works around the region. Here’s the short list:

Carrabassett Valley

A hand full of local riders have been working with the Town of Carrabassett to build trails at the town owned (2,400 +/- acre) Outdoor Center for several years (we have not lifted a shovel yet). In August 2009, Peter Webber of IMBA visited Carrabassett and prepared a report with a list of recommendations. Hardy Avery of Sustainable Trailworks toured the Outdoor Center in November 2009 and prepared a report detailing specific routes and unit costs for construction. Both of these reports were commissioned and paid for by the town of Carrabassett with town funds. We are working with the town to obtain additional resources to have the first loop designed by Hardy Avery this summer.

We are submitting a plan to the Maine Huts and Trails to help armor and place a tread on a portion of their trail that is not easily passable by bicyclists or hikers. This section is only a few hundred yards long but would connect their Poplar Stream Hut to the town's Narrow Gauge trail which connects the Outdoor Center. We hope to start this project in August 2010. It will be great publicity.

Kingfield

There are efforts being made by the town of Kingfield to extend the Narrow Gauge trail from Carrabassett to Kingfield. We want to support this effort. We will have a presence in conjunction with Northern Lights Bike Shop (of Farmington) at a booth at the Kingfield Days Festival (July 16 through18th) with information about NEMBA and the formation of our MTB club.

Farmington

A group of riders in Farmington have been given permission to build trails at Titcomb Mountain and we want to support this effort.

Education / Events

We plan to organize weekly group rides and to hold periodic clinics (trail building, riding techniques…) organize an annual mountain bike festival and or in conjunction with a race of some sort.

Please mark your calendars!

We have planned a trail work day with Maine Huts & Trails and will be meeting at the Carrabassett town office at 8:00 am on Saturday, August 21. We will be working on the section of MH&T that starts across Houston Brook Rd from the bottom of the Narrow Gauge over to the Carriage Rd at the MH&T Poplar Stream crossing (see attached map). This section needs work to make it more inviting for bicyclists and pedestrians. There will be a dinner and club meeting after work.

Please email our secretary, Kimberly Truskowski to sign up for this historic work day! It is important that you sign up before August 18th so we can properly plan the work to accommodate the number of people.

Details:

• Expect a 6 hour work day;

• Brief club meeting;

• Ride to the Poplar Stream Hut for a tour;

• Dinner at 1040 Poplar Stream Rd in Carrabassett; when you email Kimberly to sign up, please r.s.v.p. for dinner if you plan to come.

Things to bring with you:

• Gloves, water, lunch, a rake (and if you have one; a grub axe, hoe, shovel, bucket with handle);

• Watch the weather and dress appropriately;

• Bike and gear.

For those who are traveling and anyone else who wants the experience, Maine Huts and Trails has offered lodging to our group for $35/pp/night. This includes breakfast, a bag lunch and dinner. For those who have not been to one of the huts; they are VERY NICE with beds, flush toilets and hot & cold running water (bring a pillow case) . You will not be roughing it! To make resurvations go to www.mainehuts.org tell them that you are with Carrabassett Region NEMBA to recieve the discount. While you are on the web site check out what Maine Huts & Trails are all about!


MORE NEWS:

• On Monday, The Town of Carrabassett selectman approved the Outdoor Center's trials committee's proposal to spend $6,500 on mountain bike trail improvements at the Outdoor Center this year! There is work being done on a grant that could match these funds (thank you Deb & Josh). These improvements include the construction of a pump track, bike washing station, trail design (by professional MTB trail designer Hardy Avery of Sustainable Trailworks), and a number of maintenance projects. We have Outdoor Center work days scheduled in September and October and will be sending out details in the near future.

• We are applying for a $100 - $500 NEMBA Trail Grant for the purchase of trail building tools. I have spoken to NEMBA's Executive Director (Philip Keyes) and he feels that we stand a good chance of being successful.

UPDATE:

We had a great meeting on Saturday, July 30. Nearly 30 people turned out for the meeting, half of them had not attended the first meeting. Four people filled out membership applications and gave us checks on the spot (thank you).13 people from all over Maine participated in the group ride on the Red Loop at the Outdoor Center. There has been a lot of work done on signage and trail repairs, Sugarloaf has mowed the trails and they are in great shape. Get out and ride'em!

In the short time we have been taking memberships we have two bike shops (dealers) and over 25 paid members with more coming in every day. If you have not yet joined please do so as soon as possible, your support is critical as we grow our base to solidify support for future trail projects!

Join Carrabassett Region NEMBA! - (See attached Mission Statement)

Go to the membership webpage of nemba.org

• choose a membership plan and select a membership level;

• click the drop down menu "NEMBA Chapter to Join?" and select Carrabassett Region NEMBA;

• click the drop down menu "Membership Order Status" and select New Member;

• then click "check out" to go to the payment method screen.

Done, it's that easy!

We can't do the work of making the Carrabassett Region a world class mountain biking destination without your support! Please get involved!

I hope to see you at the Carrabassett Town office on August 21at 8:00am!

Dave Hughes