BTCEB Buzz, April 2021

by Scott Bartlebaugh

No milestones this month but there are a variety of items in progress:

• Austin McInerny contacted the Tilden Park Supervisor after a no bikes sign was posted on the Volmer Peak trail which is a bike authorized trail.  The sign was mistakenly installed and was taken down immediately.
• There was follow up with EBRPD regarding bike bell stations and setting up a trial program.  If you haven’t tried a bike bell consider it particularly on trails or roads with poor sight lines.  Hikers often appreciate the advanced warning that the bell provides but we still need to slow when passing.
• EBRPD Trails Development group was compiling trail access changes and we submitted a list of requests as part of the bi-annual board review of Ordinance 38.  Ordinance 38 is basically the collection of all the park rules for park users.  Changes to Ordinance 38 which would include updating attachment A which lists narrow trails that bikes are allowed to use requires board approval.  
• A public comment letter was submitted to EBRPD requesting narrow bike trails, a bike skills area, and a pump track at Roddy Ranch. 
• A meeting was held with EBMUD staff, general manager, and director Marguerite Young as follow up to her town hall meeting several months ago.  EBMUD has seen hiking permits go from 4,700 in 2019/2020 to 13,500 2020/2021.  By comparison bike permits were at 200.  The low number of bike permits is partially reflected by the very limited bike access and the allowed access being steep fire roads.  That said in the two years since the last two sections were opened to bikes they have not seen significant issues with bike use, any bike impact on water quality or significant illegal bike related activity.  With the increased users they’ve seen increased work load on dealing with enforcement and trash issues.  Recreation is NOT their top priority as a water district but we’d love to convince them they have plenty to offer with all the land they own and some trail.  We’ll continue to advocate for more and better access on these large parcels of public land.
• The EBRPD Trail User Working Group scope that was discussed last month is limited to new trails in new parks.  We have been having discussions with some hiking and equestrian members of the working group that would also like to see improved trail situations in existing parks.  We are aiming to work towards some joint proposals for improvements in existing parks.

By Tom Gandesbery

Scott Bartlebaugh, BTCEB’s new Advocacy Director, Chris Wikler, our even newer Trail Director and, Tom Gandesbery, the much older Member-at-Large conducted a reconnaissance of Briones Park trail riding opportunities on March 22nd   We were joined by local riders Ash and Alec who had contacted us about collaborating with BTCEB and East Bay Regional Parks to bring legal single track (“narrow trails” in EBRPD Parks parlance) to Briones.

With daylight burning we only had a short time to see a small sampling of this huge 6,255-acre regional park.  Incredibly, but perhaps not surprisingly, an EBRPD manager told us that there are approximately 25 miles of [bike legal] fire roads, but an additional 29 miles of narrow trails in the park that are *not* open to cyclists.  One question we are asking is: Could some of these narrow trails be managed for bicycle use?

As an aside, Scott and Austin have been attending the recently formed EBRPD “Trail Users Working Group”, a committee representing various park users and interests.  There have been only a few meetings so far, so it is a bit early to tell whether the effort will lead to more narrow-trail access on yet to be open lands in “landbank” status.  Unfortunately, the Working Group is only talking about future trails that could be built in future park lands, not what is currently happening throughout the 73 existing Regional parks.   Therefore, Scott and Austin McInerny, an active member of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, have started a parallel effort to engage some of the same stakeholders (equestrians, hikers, native plant afficionados) in conversations about what the District could do to manage the surge in demand for mountain biking across the region.  That grass-roots effort may end up paying more dividends than the “official” trails group.  Stay tuned!

by Scott Bartlebaugh

In addition to meeting up with mountain bike riders at Briones interested in advocating for better trails we also try to work with other trail users to understand how we can coexist, share trails and parks better and improve the experiences for all users.  Explosive growth of trail users during the past year under COVID has amplified already existing issues.  I met up with Amelia Marshall from the Metropolitan Horseman’s Association and Kerry Roussellot a frequent rider at Briones with a horse stabled nearby.  We hiked a loop from the Alhambra Creek staging area up Alhambra Creek and Spengler trails, then down Briones Road and Pine Tree trail and back along Orchard Trail.  This is a common loop for equestrians due to a number of stables near that trailhead and it gets ridden in both directions.  Social or bootleg trails in and of themselves generally weren’t the major issue and the majority of interactions with cyclists go well.  The interactions that don’t go well have potential to result in very serious injury.

Trail intersections and bike speed when approaching and riding through them was a significant concern.  Several of these were where bootleg trails meet the existing fire roads including right at the Alhambra Creek trailhead, where Hank & Franks comes into Alhambra Creek, and at the Alhambra Creek / Diablo View / Spengler intersection.  This is something we can impact with our choices.  Think of intersections like intersections at a ski resort where you need to slow down, be extra cautious and look for others.  Think of them as no wake zones.  We love to carry speed after we’ve worked hard against gravity but doing it at the expense of other users isn’t going to help make our case for more access and more challenging trails.  

Basic etiquette and knowledge of how a horse views a cyclist was another concern.  Horses often perceive cyclists as a predator.  This can happen more so when cyclists are above a horse on the high side of a trail or if we come into their peripheral vision.  Their response to predators is flight and often they may suddenly turn around or rear up to get away.  Horses are familiar with human voices and this can help them understand that we aren’t predators. 

Some points to keep in mind when encountering horses:

• Expect you’ll encounter other users on the trail
• Consider the available sight line and ride at a speed that allows you to get stopped safely
• Slow to walking speed and be ready to stop
• Soft pedal to avoid the freehub clicking sound (it may sound like a rattlesnake to the horse)
• Use your voice to let the rider and the horse know you’re there
• Ask the rider if they need you to stop.  If it’s not clear then stop.  Err on the side of a skittish horse.
• If stopped try to avoid unnecessary movements or sounds other than conversation
• Wait for the rider to let you know it’s ok to pass before you pass

Pine Tree Trail was another key concern.  Pine Tree trail is a recognized trail in the trail system, and it’s closed to bikes.  The upper and lower sections are open with good sight lines and room to get off the trail.  In the middle there’s a section with very limited sight lines, a narrow bench, and steep exposure below and steep slope above.  This is a spot that when an equestrian encounters a bike things can go very badly very quickly.  The alternative for cyclists is Briones Road.

Last of the top concerns were mountain bikers that are verbally abusive.  This isn’t the majority of mountain bikers.  Maybe it isn’t anybody reading this.  Sure there are other trail users that don’t share the trails as well as we’d like.  There’s people with earphones in that can’t hear you call out or ring and then are mad when you startle them.  There’s the dog walker with long leads or those that don’t control their dog.  Maybe it’s horse manure on the trails that pushes the wrong button for you.  Please, particularly with the high use the trails are seeing, take a deep breath and then another two or three, and try to take the high road.  Even if you’re justified it probably doesn’t help correct the situation and it doesn’t help us get more access or better trails.

​The parks are a shared public resource.  Do mountain bikes have their fair share of trail access?  Nope.  The majority of park users have more in common than they have differences.  Organizations and regions that have been successful have focused on better experiences for all users.  Advocacy progresses slowly even in areas that are successful.  Let’s make choices that don’t make it go even slower.  If you got this far thanks for listening.  We’re all advocates either for or against.

By John Roberts

BTCEB is helping develop trail work safety practices.  This is in collaboration with the Piedmont High School (PHS) Mountain Bike Team at Joaquin Miller Park (JMP). The focus is learning, more so than the work performed.  Visualizing the initial step is easy, it involves basic social distancing.  But actual trail work efforts can zap this concept.  That is why additional risk mitigation practices were implemented from the ‘get go’.  

Initially the volunteers participated in a live one-hour online class.  In addition, youth athletes as well as their coaches were kept to their riding pods of less than 10 volunteers each. This meant that each individual pod was assigned distinct work days. In turn, the individuals in each pod were broken up into work pairs. The purpose of the two-person teams was for one athlete to supervise trail traffic, while their partner worked.  Not only did this allow for the students to better focus on the quality of their trail work, it also kept one volunteer as a “sentinel” to focus on park visitor traffic, possible working partner hazards, and independent quality control.  For example, when the “monitoring” partners see a park user approaching on the trail, they yell “hiker”, “biker”, or “dog walker”.  This serves as notification to the park user that they can pass, and as appropriate, work is also eased and a focus on social distancing protocols is emphasized. This approach also increases the quality of work as it enhances onsite learning and balances work through alternating partner breaks.

In this manner, the PHS work pods worked on the Big Trees, the Sequoia Bayview, and the Horse Arena connector trails’ drainage via duff removal and ensured these trails have virtually no puddles after the next rain.  This helps keep singletrack narrow, safer, and more sustainable as water will no longer be splashed down trail.  During March, yet another PHS pod provided maintenance to the JMP pump track.  Park users consistently thanked the PHS youth as they went by the work sites.  Accordingly, thank you to all the great stewards that contributed towards this successful trail maintenance effort.  With increased COVID-related trail use, JMP greatly needed the care.

by Michael Hartlaub

Quick pump track update. After a long winter of COVID lockdowns we have pulled the tarps, cleaned up the track, and treated the soil for a good spring and summer of pump track fun. The track is open and riding well, come check it out!

We also completed a few of our project goals, we have installed a nice sign kiosk displaying all the pump track rules and thanking our project sponsors, and we now have a job storage box full of tools so we can continue to maintain the track and keep it riding well!

With the help of many volunteers from the BTCEB and the local community, we repaired winter damage, treated the surface with lime, and we also working on putting in a water tank over the next couple of weeks. The tank pad has been cleared and we are waiting for delivery base material and our new water tank in the next couple of weeks.

We are also planning our next phase of work and trying to source some good quality soil for Phase II. In addition we are working on building a nice repair stand and tools storage area so you can do some minor adjustments and pump up your tires.

With all your donations we have raised almost $10,000, but still have not hit our goal of $15,000. We can still use your support.  Please consider donating to our Phase II effort on GoFundMe. And if you have time, please spread the word on social media or email your friends so we can make this community built project even better!

Saturday April 17th – 9am to 1pm
4 21st St, Richmond, CA
37.931499, -122.350425

We had a great bunch of folks turn out for the Dirt World maintenance day in March.  If you missed it, we’d love to see you for another work day at Dirt World this month! Come on down to Dirt World Bike Park in Richmond on Saturday April 17th from 9am – 1pm to help perform maintenance on their dirt jumps and pump tracks.

Gloves, masks, water, and closed-toed shoes will again be a must. COVID-19 protocols around masking and physical distancing will be in place.

Dirt World is hard to miss but can be tricky to find parking. Try 20th Street in the Richmond Greenway just north of 20th St at Ohio Ave intersection.

Please reach out to BTCEB Trails Director Chris Wikler at trails@btceb.org with any questions. Hope to see you there!

By Mattie Terzolo

Mike Hess Brewing is releasing a seasonal, hazy IPA called “Hard Charger” on April 15th. As a part of the release of this beer, the Mike Hess Brewing Taproom located in Walnut Creek is donating a portion of Hard Charger sales to the BTCEB to support advocacy for mountain biking and trail stewardship programs.

Mike Hess Brewing will be donating 50 cents for every pint sold and $2 for every pitcher sold from April 15th – April 30th. With the taproom location so close to the base of Lime Ridge and Mount Diablo, this is a great opportunity to grab a delicious beer après-shred and support the BTCEB!

By Scott Bartlebaugh

It’s taken years since Henry Mitchell, Jim Arth, and Amy Arcus started lobbying to get a rollover gate installed at the Southwest side of the tunnel that runs underneath Cummings Skway but it’s finally installed!  The rollover gate is wider and maybe a tad higher than the one at the top of Sugar City.  And for those that aren’t comfortable with “cleaning” the rollover gate, the regular pedestrian gate is still there. 

Thanks again to Henry, Jim, and Amy for initiating this and following up.  Advocacy is a looong play… 

By Tom Boss, MCBC

Dear BTCEB members,

We are asking for your support by completing the MCBC Letter of Support for construction to allow bicycle access in Mount Tamalpais State Park.  Currently, there are no safe routes for cyclists to access Mountain Theater and Ridgecrest Boulevard from Pantoll Road.  This project on Easy Grade Trail will improve safety, reduce traffic and provide better connectivity for cyclists on the Bay Area Ridge Trail and Marin County.  The project has been approved for construction since 2019.  All we are missing are the funds: $483,000. 

Fill out this form to support our Special Budget Request to the legislature to fund the construction of this project.  You can also find the Letter of Support we’ve already sent here.

Details on the Project

California State Parks is moving a change-in-use proposal forward and now requests comments from the public.  This is the opportunity to make your voice heard. Act now to support this proposal and spread the word to your riding partners.

Easy Grade Trail is one of three existing trails that connect Old Stage Fire Road near Pantoll Station with the Mountain Theater and Rock Spring Fire Road.  It is currently open to hikers only. CA State Parks is proposing a change-in-use to a hiker/biker trail, following modifications to address user safety and pre-existing environmental impacts.  The nearby Bootjack Trail will remain hiker only and Old Mine Trail will remain hiker/equestrian.

The project will:

1. address safety of bicyclists, 
2. close a gap in the Bay Area Ridge Trail and 
3. allow for environmental enhancements in the area.

Easy Grade Trail Change-In-Use…

• …would provide a much safer option than the current practice of cycling along Pan Toll Road, which is narrow, has no shoulders and significant vehicle traffic.
• …would provide a shorter route between Pantoll Station and Rock Spring Fire Road, which is a natural corridor for getting from one side of the mountain to the other.
• …would provide a car-free route from downtown Mill Valley to the Mountain Theater, which will encourage more people to visit the facility under their own power, rather than by car or bus.
• …adopts an existing trail, which avoids the environmental impacts and high costs associated with new trail construction.
• …avoids displacement of equestrians by utilizing a trail that is currently closed to them.
• …closes a significant user gap for bicyclists in the Bay Area Ridge Trail, a multi-use trail system that circumnavigates the San Francisco Bay.
• …does not effect two parallel trails that provide hikers with alternate options.

MCBC has identified the Easy Grade Trail as a high priority trail project – part of our 3 Gaps Trail Initiative which will provide a contiguous off-road route from the Golden Gate Bridge to Olema when complete.  The two additional sections include Dias Ridge Trail Phases II & III, which will connect the Dias Ridge Trail with Coast View Trail, and adoption of the old Liberty Gulch ranch road near Azalea Hill in Fairfax, which would connect the Mt. Tam side of the MMWD watershed, with the Pine Mountain side.

Thank you, BTCEB members, for taking the time to help increase trail access in Marin!

Trek Dirt Series Mountain Bike Camps is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2021 season! It took a bit of time to get everything ready, as we’ve been cautiously planning this season, but we are optimistic and looking forward to a spectacular season riding our bikes.

This year we are introducing some exceptional new all-mountain locations across Canada and the USA, ample one-day camps if you can’t commit the whole weekend, co-ed locations in both countries, and some fantastic new lift-accessible areas. True to our history, we are working hard to build and deliver the best cross-country and downhill instructional program we possibly can, and aim to leave you happier about mountain biking than ever before.

Checkout our website for more details on the series.

by Marie Sayles, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

What is Ridge to Bridges (and how is it different from past years)?

Ridge to Bridges 2021 is a self-guided trail event for hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Choose your own DIY adventure! Register here.

Select from 17 different trail experiences. We have curated options for everyone from moderate to challenging, located all around the Bay Area in Marin Headlands, Carquinez Strait, Mission Peak Area, and Peninsula Skyline.

We’ll supply you with trail maps, tips, signature swag, and virtual support. Complete one trip, or challenge yourself to complete them all!  Set your own schedule, pick your distance, then hike, run, bike or ride at your own pace. Just grab the map or app, and head outdoors–now through June 5th!

Explore new trails! Have Fun! Win Prizes! 

Go the extra mile and fundraise (solo or with a team) for the Ridge Trail to champion the legacy we are building together.  

Registration opens to the public April 12th. As a special supporter, you can get a head start (and get entered into the Early Bird Raffle) by signing up today!

by Beckie Alvarez

The 8th Annual Art of Survival Century Bicycle Ride isn’t just about pedaling a road or mountain bike through beautiful stretches of country side. It’s also an opportunity to learn about a region that includes Southern Oregon’s Klamath Basin and Northern California’s Tulelake Basin and Butte Valley area. What is unique about this event—which is a ride, not a race—is that at each rest stop offers educational components and/or ranger or historian led talks highlighting the cultural history, geography, environmental issues and geology of the area. Along with providing fluids and nutritious snacks at the rest stops, riders will have opportunities to learn about the areas they’re passing through.

For more info and to sign up visit SurvivalCentury.com

by Scott Bartlebaugh

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is pushing forward on their Connected Communities effort.  Check out their video for a little inspiration and dreaming BIG.   

Also, if you need some new grips or even if you don’t and would like to support their effort the good folks at WTB are giving Sierra Buttes $5 for each pair of Ltd Edition grips they sell.