For those who have never experienced Moncton Ride Guide (MRG) it is a web site that has been used by local riders for the past years to plan and organize events in a forum setting, unfortunately the site crashed while being worked on and MRG disappeared a couple months ago. Greg, a member of the HMBA and a long time MRG user has decided to bring back MRG and return it to it's former glory so that local riders will have a place to use once again to plan their activities and chat. The site includes forums for biking, winter sports, random posts and a new buy/sell section.

We hope everyone will check it out and sign up to once again make MRG the place "Where all great rides begin".

http://monctonrideguide.ca/

HMBA update

It's hard to believe that another year is over and the HMBA is turning 1 year old. With the new biking season is just around the corner again plans are already in the works for another great year of riding and co-operation between our club and the Village of Hillsborough.
Last year started off well with a couple successful trail days followed by a great summer of riding, unfortunately the fall weather did not co-operate as well as we hoped and another trail day wasn't planned although the late fall and early winter riding turned out to be pretty good before the first large snow storm.
There has been a bunch of questions we've been ask and have found answers for to so we will share them with everyone:

• The damage to the single track trail system cause by the first large storm was actually minimal considering the amount of rain we received. There were a couple bridges washed out, a few larger trees blown over, a lot of smaller branches/ trees(most of which were cleaned up) and many new exposed roots. The double tracks and roads took more damage consisting mainly of wash outs and a section of the railroad bed washed out.
• There was also more trees blow down in the last wind storm, we haven't been over all the trails since the storm but the walking I have done I've noticed some very large trees blown down . I've been working with a local bike shop to get a builders backpack (http://www.dakine.com/sport-packs/bike/builders-pack/) to make it easier to carry the power saw in the trails to clean these up.
• Unfortunately it looks like any trail days in the spring will be more clean up days and to repair storm damage, not doing the improvements that we had hope to some of the trails that have fallen into states of disrepair.
• The trail signage is in the process of being done, both the village and Fitworks have said they would help provide signs. The local ATV club has also supplied me with signs to put up on the multi use trials that they are permitted to use.
• The person the village hired to do the map of the WRRA is not going to do it, in turn the HMBA is now going to look after getting the map done of the trails. The village will help with the project and we have someone already lined up who can put the map together after we supply the gps tracks of the trails. The plan is to walk the trails over the winter so we can have a map ASAP, more details to follow.
• The HMBA has submitted an IMBA trail crew visit application to have the trail crew come this summer to put on a trail building workshop. This visit will help us both with our planning of our trail system and proper building techniques.

More mountain biking in national parks

Likely most of you haven't been following what's been going on with IMBA and Parks Canada but this is worth a quick read.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/progs/np-pn/dav-vag/dav-vag01.aspx
The long and the short of it is that Parks Canada will be improving their trail system and opening up more trails for mountain bikers to use, this will include real single track and not just gravel paths.
You can also help out by filling out the Parks Canada survey to tell them what type of riding you like and where you would like to see it.
http://app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/wnsc/cycling-1/

The HMBA's first annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day was a huge success. It was a great day to take the kids out on the trail and a good time was had by all.
Thanks to all who came out to participate and a special thanks to Fitworks for helping out with the prizes.
Hope to see everyone again next year.

Take a kid mountain biking day in Hillsborough

The HMBA will be participating in IMBA's 'Take a kid mountain biking day', this is a program to introduce kids to the sport of mountain biking and give them a chance to see the local trails. The event is usually held on the first Saturday of October( the 2nd this year) but due to some local events we will be holding it on the morning of October 9 from 10:30-12:00 at the main entrance of the White Rock Recreation Area. There will be a bike ride according to age and ability, prizes and food. This will be a free event to all who wish to participate and will be open to everyone, HMBA members an non-members alike. Please contact us if you are interested in participating.

Earl

Everyone will be happy to know that the effects of hurricane Earl were minimal and the trail system is still in great shape. There where some branches and trees blown down, so it would be wise to keep a look out for things on the trails.

IMBA Trail School in Fundy, NB

IMBA is putting on a trail school at the Alma activity centre on Friday, August 13 and is open to anyone interested. Click on the link for all the details.
http://www.imba.com/civicrm/event/info?id=42&reset=1