IMBA to Host California Wild Ride at Grouse Ridge Aug 7-8
For Immediate Release
06-20-04
Contact: John Gardiner
john at johngardiner dot com
650-279-3809
Ride Great Singletrack Trails That Could Be Closed to Wilderness Designations
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and Pearl Izumi Outlet Stores of Northern California will host a Wild Ride at Grouse Ridge August 7 and 8, 2004. This weekend-long event will feature two rides on fantastic High Sierra trails that face closure to bicyclists due to potential Wilderness designation.
IMBA is hosting a series of mountain bike rides to showcase trails that could be closed to mountain biking due to potential Wilderness designations. Congressional legislation calls for 2.5-million acres of California public land to be reclassified as federal Wilderness. Bicycle use is categorically prohibited in Wilderness areas. While IMBA supports protecting open space from development, some of the proposed areas contain popular trails that cyclists have ridden for years.
Each IMBA Wild Ride features singletrack trails with outstanding vistas. The events are designed to celebrate the spirit of mountain biking and increase awareness of great trails and lands that need protection from development, but not specifically through Wilderness designations that ban bicycle use. All events are free of charge and limited to 50 riders. Registration is now open. If you join IMBA for both days, primitive camping is nearby and requires no reservations. The event will feature swag, prizes and free beer!
Grouse Ridge is west of Donner Summit near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 20. It features some of the best riding in the state. For more information about area trails, visit the website of local IMBA affiliated club the Bicyclists of Nevada County (BONC) http://www.bonc.org/trailguide.htm
This event is the part of the IMBA Wild Ride program. This series of events give mountain bikers the opportunity to ride important California trails that are threatened with Wilderness closures. This is the second year of the California IMBA Wild Ride Program. Local IMBA-affiliated clubs hosted seven events in 2003: Condor Peak, Grouse Ridge, White Mountains (Near Bishop), South Fork of the Trinity/Chinquapin, Mountain Lola/Castle Peak, Mill Creek and Feather Falls. So far this year, IMBA Wild Rides have been at Cache Creek, Feather Falls, King Range and Antelope Creek/Mill Creek.
For more information contact event host John Gardiner at (650) 279-3809 or john at johngardiner dot com
Register here: http://www.imba.com/news/action_alerts/ca_wilderness/wild_rides_register.html
