We hear from the crew at the Lowelifes Respectable Citizensā Club: Treasurer and previous guest Erik Hillard, President Matt Baffert and Secretary Rob Pettersen. We discuss starting a new organization, their ongoing project of restoring the Condor Peak Trail, the surrounding Wilderness and how they’re creating an Elite Group of Volunteers while trying to not be elitist and stay welcoming to new volunteers.
Continue reading “Ep 75 – Starting Something New with the Lowelifes Respectable Citizensā Club”
We dive back into the old topic of eMTBs with a fresh perspective: Joe Vadeboncoeur, President of the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association discusses his article: “eMTB Thoughts”. Prior to being Board President, Joe worked in the Bike Industry at Trek, and he shares what it was like going from there into the world of advocacy. Briefly, we follow up with what messaging organizations are using to communicate safe riding to their members.
With recent global events regarding COVID-19, the podcast is returning two weeks early. Weāll be hearing from a few different trail associations on what theyāre doing to address the Pandemic. Weāll also hear from Eleanor Blick, Senior Communications & Advocacy Manager at the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Stay safe! Another episode will be out on April 3rd.
We hear from three Professional Trail Builders. First, Shane Wilson joins us from Hood River, OR, and is the Project Manager with the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s Trail Solutions. Pat Podolski is the Owner/Operator of Golden Dirt Trails in BC, Canada. And finally, Greg Mazu is in Fort Collins, CO and is the Chief Encouragement Officer at Singletrack Trails.
Continuing with our theme of Climate Change, we hear from the founder of Minneapolis Bike Parks: Devin Olson and Program Director: Kim Holm. They’re a fantastic example of a successful grassroots organization. They focus on building Bicycle Playgrounds that increase the Bicycle competency in kids, so that future generations are capable and comfortable with using a Bike to get around.
Jay Darby of IMBA Canada, returns to continue our discussion on Climate Change and what role Mountain Bike Trail Associations can play in addressing it. In addition we’re joined by past guest and Executive Director of the Aboriginal Youth Mountain Bike Program, Patrick Lucas. Both Jay and Patrick share their experience of working in remote British Columbia communities and how Climate Change is directly effecting them and how Mountain Biking is empowering these same communities to address it.
As a follow-up from last episode, we check in with IMBA Canada to hear about their Provincial Council Programs. We’re joined by Executive Director on IMBA Canada: AJ Strawson, Jay Darby: Field Program Coordinator for IMBA Canada and the Chair of BC Council and Dean Campbell: Board Member of IMBA Canada and founding Board Member of the Ontario Council. We also introduce the conversation of Climate Change and how we as Mountain Bike Trail Advocates can play an active role in addressing it.
Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA), Tom Stuessy, returns to the podcast. Tom shares how the Vermont Outdoor Innovation Coalition (VOICe) has evolved in earning the organization and it’s Chapters consistent funding. And a key part of the success of VOICe has been preventing donor fatigue from sponsors and adopters, insuring funding partners are engaged and included.
Our first episode back after our Summer hiatus we hear from two guests. The first, Morgan Lommele of People For Bikes, fills us in on what the order signed by the Secretary of the Interior allowing e-MTBs on Federal Land actually means. And second, we hear from Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association, he tells us about the BC Mountain BikingĀ Tourism Symposium happening in Whistler, BC, October 2nd to 4th.
This episode we hear from the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz out in California, they share their Mountain Biking Impact Review and the findings made by their Science Committee. We’re joined by Matt De Young, Executive Director and Emma Kelsey, Science Committee Chair. This also marks the final episode of the Season with the podcast slated to return in September. Have a great Summer!