New MORC Affiliate Members
Please join us in welcoming the following organizations as MORC Affiliate Members! Cumulatively, MORC and it's Affiliates represent almost 1,500 Minnesota cyclists. Please support these fine organizations, as we continue MORC's efforts to build a stronger coalition for Minnesota off-road cycling advocacy.
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) is a voluntary organization of bicycling enthusiasts from all walks of life and various regions surrounding Lake Superior. The goal of COGGS is to improve and maintain bicycling opportunities within our natural and urban habitats for generations to come.
Year Founded: 1995
Approximate membership: 100
Other Affiliations: IMBA, CAMBA, MCF
Contact: Kurt Lange
Twin Cities Bicycling Club (TCBC) is the largest recreational bicycling club in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area! We appeal to bicyclists who enjoy group riding but don't want to race. We have rides lead by trained leaders for all skill levels. We conduct both off-road and road rides.
Year Founded: 1993
Approximate membership: 1,000+
Other Affiliations: League of American Bicyclists (LAW)
Contact: Tony Athonisen
Winona Area Mountain Bikers (WAMB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and creating off-road bicycle trails in and around Winona. We also promote safe and healthy riding habits for all bikers. WAMB was created from a small group of bikers that saw a need to raise funds to help us maintain our trails as well as stay in touch with local land management personnel. We did not want to lose our privileges to ride. There was a trend sweeping the nation to close trails to bikers because of conflicts with other users. By taking a pro active stance we not only have been able to keep our access but have worked with land managers to add trails to existing systems. Some of our successes over the last five years have included: The donation of helmets to underprivileged youth on a yearly basis. The GPS mapping of the Holzinger Trail. Rerouting and adding singletrack to the Bronk Unit - Plowline Trail. The large trailhead sign at the Holzinger Trail. Numerous crossings and bridges on washout areas. Trash cleanups (even if it is not left by bikers). The yearly running of the Cherry Bomb Bicycle race.
Year Founded: 1992
Approximate membership: 45
Other Affiliations: IMBA
Contact: Greg Gall
Maah Daah Hey Trail
You may have read some rave reviews or previews of the Maah Daah Hey single track trail in the badlands of North Dakota, and wondered if they were exaggerated. After spending 5 days doing 90 miles of the trail , I can assure you that the reviews were not overstating the experience! The trail has continually changing topography, scenery and elevation, located in remote, beautiful and unique surroundings. Except for a couple of high plateau pastures, we were always either climbing or descending. There are enough difficult short climbs to provide challenges for the strongest and most expert riders, yet us intermediate level riders weren't off and pushing enough to spoil any of the fun. Some of the long climbs were definitely enough to challenge or build one's fitness level.
Except for occasional short segments of old double track ranch road, the trail was essentially single track all the way, with much of the single track being current or old cow trails. This required some concentration and alertness in two important aspects of back country riding - avoiding soft surprises on the trail, and route finding. Sometimes the cow trail would angle off in one direction and the almost invisible mountain bike trail would lead off to the widely spaced trail markers almost out of sight over the hill. Although I often like to try to hammer along at a fast clip, the most fun I had was those few occasions when I was leading the group, with the challenge of staying on the route without backtracking to find the trail markers.
We did the trip in fairly luxurious fashion, with a commercial outfitter that provided all meals and hauled our gear & tents from one camp site to the next, with the truck meeting us en route for lunch each day. The food was excellent, and the guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and good riding companions. Because of it's remoteness and the lack of potable water along the route, the Maah Daah Hey trail is difficult to ride end-to-end without some serious shuttle and supply drop logistics. The Forest Service is building at least one campground along the route, but it's still a long way from any place along the trail to any towns with services.
If you want further information about the Maah Daah Hey trail, I can be contacted at dmy@visi.com
Don Youngdahl
Minnesota River Trail Update
The MN DNR formed a Citizen Advisory committee for the Minnesota River Valley Recreation area this spring. The meetings of this committee have covered various topics, not all of which are related to what kind of trail to put in place. The overwhelming response at the meetings about the trail was to leave it natural and unimproved. This feedback also comes from those that are not specifically mountain bikers. This is good news because this is the information that the DNR will bring to elected officials when they ask for funding for this project. The meetings will continue and I will keep members posted on any new developments that may arise.
Also, the DNR is looking at extending the MN River Valley Recreation area from Mankato to Big Stone Lake. This could add many more miles to this trail however; it is dependant on funding which the DNR does not have much of right now. Lets optimistically imagine a multi-use natural trail that would include mountain biking and would stretch for around 100 miles. Could it happen? Maybe, we will have to stay involved and continue to show that we are an organization that is going to be around for a long time.
We still have some work to do as far as off shoot trails that have been created that need to be blocked off. Too many trails in one area will not help our cause at all. That is one of the points that the critics of mountain biking use to close trails to riding. We also need to continue to educate other mountain bikers on trail etiquette, especially respecting other trail users. That's it for now.
Dennis Porter
MORC Board Member
Battle Creek Regional Park Update
The last pre-winter Trail work session was completed at Battle Creek Regional Park on Saturday, November 3rd. A crew of 9 MORC volunteers focused on a trail section that has experienced excessive erosion problems, due to soft soils & limited trail routing options. The work consisted of constructing “grade-dips” to evacuate water from the trail and installation of "Slope Tamer" erosion control materials to harden a soft hillside turn. The Slope Tamer installation is an important field trial, testing spot application of hardening materials to help save troublesome trail sections at Battle Creek.
Thanks to all the volunteers who have helped out at Battle Creek this year. MORC conducted 4 major work sessions and ongoing trail maintenance at Battle Creek during 2001. We had excellent turnouts at all scheduled sessions, and developed a core crew of volunteers who have done a great job of maintaining and improving the trail system at Battle Creek.
For 2002, we should have the opportunity to add some trail mileage for off-road biking, in conjunction with trail re-route and cross-country ski trail projects.
Steve Garnjobst
E-mail: mnbiker@mediaone.net
North Ramsey County Single-Track?
If the latest MORC trail initiative bears fruit, the long-standing lack of legal single-track trail in north Ramsey County will be over. The Twin City Arms & Ammunition Plant (formerly known as the New Brighton Arsenal) in Arden Hills, a large area of about 2000 acres, has been sold by the U.S. Army to the Minnesota National Guard. One of the Guard's intended uses of the property is to share it with the public for recreational purposes.
The planning process for this property has just started, and MORC has submitted a proposal, including map with proposed trail routing, to partner with the National Guard to develop multi-use hiking and mountain bike trails on the property. With our successes at Battle Creek and Lebanon Hills to build on, I'm confident that the National Guard will give serious consideration to our proposal. I'm excited about the possibility of a large addition to our metro area single-track opportunities. Watch your MORC newsletter and web site for further developments.
Don Youngdahl
Cedar Lake Trail Closure
The Cedar Lake Trail will be closed at the Royalston Avenue bridge near Downtown Minneapolis from now until April 15 to allow for replacement of the Royalston Avenue bridge. As you probably know the Cedar Lake Trail passes underneath the Royalston Avenue bridge and there is a safety concern with construction activity over the trail so we decided to temporarily close the trail. On April 15 the trail will reopen with limited access. From April to August the trail will be open from 7AM to 9AM and from 3PM to 6PM. The bridge project will be completed in August 2002. The trail south of the bridge will remain open.
This closure creates a huge inconvenience for commuter bicyclists entering Downtown Minneapolis. "A" riders are advised to exit the Cedar Lake Trail at Dunwoody Blvd to Hennepin Avenue into Downtown Minneapolis. "B" riders are advised to take the Kenwood Trail to the sculpture garden near the Walker and either cross Lyndale at the signal to the bike lanes on 15th Street or cyclists could walk their bikes over the bi-color ped bridge over I94 to Loring Park.
The Cedar Lake Parkway bridge will also be replaced within the next year or two. I will let you know what implications that has on the Cedar Lake Trail when the project is bid out.
Sorry for any inconveniences.
Donald Pflaum
Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, January 8th
7:00 p.m. at REI Bloomington
The MORC MISSION: The Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC) is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to safeguarding the future of mountain biking in Minnesota through the promotion of responsible mountain biking, the establishment and maintenance of mountain biking trails, and the preservation of Minnesota's natural resources.