A podcast for the people that truly make Mountain Biking happen.
As part two of our three parts series on bikes in Wilderness Areas in the US we hear from Eric Melson of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Eric’s new role is in Government Relations and he’ll give the background on the Boulder-Whiteclouds and explain the new Recreation Not Red Tape Act. Next episode we’ll be hearing from Ted Stroll, President of the Sustainable Trails Coalition.
Continue reading “Ep 26 – Bikes in Wilderness Part 2: Interview with Eric Melson of IMBA”
As part one of a three part series about Mountain Bikes in US Wilderness Areas we begin with a history lesson. Starting from the beginning, in 1964 when the Wilderness Act was signed moving to how it’s effected local trail associations today. We’ll hear from Yvonne Kraus, Executive Director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and Lance Pysher, President of the Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists on what there respective groups are doing to a address trail loss. And we’ll also get some perspective from Ian Jones, President of the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association and Ryan Dunfee, AddUp Community Manager at the Sierra Club. Part 2 will be with Eric Melson of IMBA and Part 3 with Ted Stroll of the Sustainable Trails Coalition.
Continue reading “Ep 25 – Bikes In Wilderness Part 1: Your Introduction to the Topic”
For the second part in our series looking at the relationship between the Advocacy world and the Cycling Industry we look at how Trail Organizations can create and grow partnerships. First we hear from Seb Kemp, Canadian Brand Manager of Santa Cruz and Juliana Bicycles. Then we dig into the North Shore Trail Adoption Plan (TAP) with North Shore Mountain Bike Association Board Member and TAP Coordinator: Cynthia Young.
Continue reading “Ep 24 – Industry Influence Part 2: Creating a Partner in the Bike Industry”
The first part of our exploration into the Bike Industry’s influence on Mountain Bike Advocacy we focus on Mountain Bike Media. Looking at two examples, the first, when things go wrong and the second, when things go right. Our first guest is Steve Sheldon, Trail Director for the Tri-Cities Off-Road Cycling Association. And finally, we hear from Ryan Dunfee, AddUp Community Manager at the Sierra Club.
Continue reading “Ep 23 – Industry Influence Part 1: Has Media Gone Rogue?”
This episode we sit down with the Marketing Chairperson at the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists, Brandon Gallagher Watson. Brandon lets us know just what the differences between Branding, Marketing & Promotions is and how your organization can find it’s voice and deliver it to your various audiences.
A strong organization will almost always exist because of the existence of a strong Board of Directors. Without a Strong Board a local Trail organizations won’t be as capable of meeting the communities needs. A strong board can certainly happen by chance, but Ian Jones, President of the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association explains how to not leave something so important to chance.
Continue reading “Ep 21 – Building a Strong Board: Interview with Ian Jones of the SWMMBA”
This episode we hear from Ziv Stamper about how Israeli Jews and Arabs met for a ride during a turbulent and violent moment in 2015. Despite tensions and communities becoming closed off, a group of Israeli Arabs made the choice to create an event, and to everyones surprise riders showed up, and their meet-ups have continued to this day.
Arkansas and the Ozark is quickly exploding as a Mountain Bike destination. We hear from Brannon Pack, Executive Director of the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists (OORC) and learn more about the community behind the trails. The OORC has done ton to expand their reach and capacity: Brannon shares his club’s experience with growing branches, unique Land Manager partnerships, volunteer recognition and bringing on paid staff.
We hear from Devon O’Neil, writer for BIKE Magazine about his four part article “Lines in the Dirt”. The piece explores trail access issues in three very different communities. In addition, we hear some feedback about last episode from Brannon Pack of the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists and learn a cool way for reporting on wet trails from RVA More and Friends of Pocahontas State Park.
Answering Jay Darby’s question of “How do we, as Trail Advocates, inform and educate users when it’s appropriate or not, to ride trails based on condition.” We listen to feedback from guests all over North America, including Alex Brieger, of the Central Washington Chapter of Evergreen, Matt Andrews of the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclist, Ben Horan of MTB Missoula, Jeff Hehn of the FatLanders FatTire Brigade, Brannon Pack with the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists, Christine Reid of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association and Jeff McNamee of the Salem Area Trail Alliance.
Continue reading “Ep 17 – Don’t Tread on Me: How Trail Associations can Manage Users on Soft Trails”