Sorba Mid TN

FANDANGO! Daylight is slipping away….Click!

Darryl — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:10:55 +0000

“Full Moon Fandango” Night Ride Coming in October. We will finalize the date as we wrap up details for the demo lights to be available. We may even see a certain factory demo van with plenty of lights and batteries for you to test on the trail…yes at night…yes on YOUR bike! Oh, and Lock 4 is a perfect place for knobby nocturnal navigation.

Bring your lights if you got’em….let us know if you have extra lights and bring a friend. Check back in the next few days for all the details and date.

If you have questions or want to volunteer to lead a group, shoot us an email: fandango@sorbamidtn.org

Helmets and pre-ride check in will be required to at this FREE event! It’s gonna be a blast…and can you say…SHORT TRACK?

Ya’ll Come… Montgomery Bell SP – Trail Work Day

Darryl — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:31:58 +0000

An Invite from Ranger Eric Runkel…..

“Everyone,

For all who are interested Montgomery Bell State park will be hosting a trail work day on 8-28-10 from 9am-11a.
Please come out and help us prepare for the September Race. In addition to help prepare the course for the fall season.
Some projects include clearing brush from trail, tread work, etc.
All help is appreciated. We will meet at the bike trail parking lot at 9am.
Any questions please let me know.
Thanks
Ranger Eric”

Park office phone: 615-797-9052

Also…Trail Bob’s ”things to do”.

1. All the power line crossings need work.
2. Peanut sign needs to be planted (post hole diggers)
3. Snake bottom, Blue Yonder, Peanut, and probably Haynie Branch trails need trimming (that I saw). I did not ride Cat Track, Possum Trot, Downhill, Main Street or Lonesome blue. No doubt that Downhill in the powerline needs some work.
4. Shingles could be added to the hump back bridge on the Expressway, and to Table Top. I have shingles stored near Table Top.
5. Some stutter roots could be cut out at the beginning of Red Perimeter, without increasing erosion, and would smooth up the tread some.
6. There is a major re-route that needs to be done on the Mogul route nearest to the creek. That is rutting badly, and needs to be reclaimed and abandoned. A new route further up the hill could be adopted. But this is major work, for maybe not so hot of a work day.
7. There is a bad rut forming on Yellow, at the top of the Flume Zoom. Needs to be filled in with rock. This too, is a big job. If we had a bunch of folks, that could be on the adgenda.
8. There is a rut forming on Yellow, before you get to the Esses. It may need a re-route to really fix permanently.

Some are pretty big jobs and would need more than 2 hours to tackle. I plan to get with Darryl and pick up the SORBA weedeaters and some trimmer tools. (if that fits everybody else’s plans for the tools) Maybe a few pulaskis too.

Hope to see quite a few regular MB riders out there. Questions? Email us at montbell@sorbamidtn.org

SORBA Urban ride and social at Harpeth Bikes

Darryl — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:24:35 +0000

SORBA urban ride and social at Hapeth Bikes this coming Friday, Aug 6th at 5:30pm. This event will feature some sort of Urban ride or fun time trial at 5:30 followed by pizza, beer and the Ride Accross The Sky movie featuring Lance Armstrong and the Leadville 100 Mnt bike race in 2009 at 7:00pm.
Bring a friend! Bring your bike! Bring you favorite beer mug! You may also want to bring a lawn chair for the movie.

RSVP to Scott Gentile – vp@sorbamidtn.org

Address:
Harpeth Bikes
330 Mayfield Dr
Franklin TN 37067
615-567-6612

Located in Cool Springs

Signs of change

Darryl — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:14:01 +0000

A much needed communication tool coming to local trails that will compliment trailhead info centers. IMBA/SORBA members have donated to or sign and trail funds to underwrite these projects.
Look for these features at Lock 4, Hamilton Creek and Long Hunter trails this summer and fall.

Trail Love – Lock 4 West Side Work Day – This is a BIG ONE!

Darryl — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:43:20 +0000

This SUNDAY June 13th you can be part of Lock 4′s Future. We need your help to build bridges and rework the trail tread on one of Tennessee’s most popular mountain bike trails.
You can join us at 9:00 am or 1:00 pm for a day of construction and dirt work followed by a dinner time cookout. We will even get to ride on what we work on before the day ends.

Please RSVP NOW or by June 10th so we can plan on work party details and food. email trails@sorbamidtn.org
…or…
Visit us & RSVP on FACEBOOK IMBA-SORBA Middle TN FACEBOOK

We also need a few crew leaders for:
1. Trail Tread dirt prep and layout
2. Bridge base layout/construction
3. Trail Trimming
4. BBQ cook and 5pm Dinner prep
5. Trail Day head quarters / Tent and volunteer support
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF CAN HELP WITH THESE AREAS!!

When: June 13th
Where: Silo Trail Head (trail work) & Penninsula Pavilion (5pm for dinner)
Time: 9:00am -1:00 pm & 1:30pm – 5:00pm (stay for the day!)
Bring: Plenty of water; trail snacks; favorite trail tool (optional); GLOVES; sturdy shoes, eye, sun, & bug protection; bike & gear; A FRIEND & A SMILE!
SORBA WILL BRING: Portable saw mill; Tool Trailer; Back up water & snacks; Dinner!

This project was postponed from the late winter due to such wet conditions, so we want to get YOUR trail back in shape at once! If you have love for this trail, we need you to bring a friend.

Dry trails?

Darryl — Sun, 30 May 2010 01:11:40 +0000

Ah the woes if a very wet spring. As we hit the season of green growth we prepare for lots of trail repair. Repair from rain, poor drainage and of course damage from riding wet trails.

A recent night ride offer a great perspective to how we pick and choose our windows of opportunity. With so much rain please use good judge when decided to ride. How wet is too wet…..

Trail Update – Shutes Branch

Darryl — Sat, 22 May 2010 05:28:03 +0000

“The trail is in great shape – the recent trimming has made it nice. The soil is really getting packed down in the newer sections and is a blast.

However, the stuff we cleared this year (starting at the bathhouse with the dumpster) hasn’t been trimmed yet this Spring. We broke off most of the overhanging stuff last night while riding. It’s going to need a trimming in the next few weeks.

Scott, who volunteered to trim the hillside, is working tons of OT and can’t do any trail work currently. I need a person that is not allergic to poison ivy to trim the hillside trail. This section is the only one with posion ivy and I’m highly allergic. There are also some little face slappers growing off the trees that need trimming back.

Also, the final section and the section just before the hillside need some attention soon. It’s not bad now, but it will be when it gets hot.

One other thing – we need to keep the thistles own. If you see one, knock it down – but first cut the heads off (flowers). These things are like giant dandelions only worse. If they seed, they spread quickly.

Steve”

For more info regarding Shutes Branch and Trail Work Days…

http://shutesbranchmtb.blogspot.com/

8th Annual Fat Tire Festival & Harpeth Cycles 6 Hours of Ham

Darryl — Sat, 22 May 2010 04:08:01 +0000

8th Annual Hamilton Creek Fat Tire Festival June 5th & Harpeth Bicycle’s 6 Hours of Ham on June 6th.

Wow! 8 years and still going! We welcome all of the mountain bike community to join us for a day of games and rides, followed by a day with 6 hours of Rocks and Speed.

Special Thanks to Harpeth Bicycles, Ride For Reading and Metro Parks for all their support!

…..THE FESTIVAL

…..THE 6 HOUR RACE

August 28th, 2010 ~ Trail Work, Montgomery Bell SP

Schaarschmidt — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:27:40 +0000

Saturday August 28th, 2010 ~ Montgomery Bell State Park, Dixon, TN

Trim Work 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Continued recovery from heavy growing season with trail sections in need of some summer trimming.

Bring: Plenty of water; trail snacks; favorite trimming tool; GLOVES; sturdy shoes, eye, sun, & bug protection; A FRIEND & A SMILE!

For more information: montbell@sorbamidtn.org

Spring Fest a Success – Hosted by NOC

Darryl — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:10:35 +0000

Nantahala Outdoor Center Hosts Spring Festival

On March 19^th around 100 Mountain Bikers, including Land Managers, SORBA Chapter leadership, IMBA Affiliate Clubs and IMBA-SORBA’s Executive Board, all converged on Nantahala Gorge, near Bryson City, NC. The goal was to not only gather for the spring IMBA-SORBA board meeting, but to invite all southeastern clubs and membership. Further, was to teach, share and listen to ideas. The weekend was graciously hosted by the Nantahala Outdoor Center near our trail destination of Tsali Recreation Area.

Attendees were able to draw on the success stories and expertise of professionals such as Bill Victor of Long Cane Trails, LLC and Chris & Leslie Kehmeier, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew. Bill Victor offered details in how the Forks Area Trails System (F.A.T.S) was started, with additional input from National Forest Service – Florida Trails Manager Jim Schmid. Schmid was the Ranger at the time Victor enhanced his passion for digging trail. F.A.T.S. is the host for the 2010 IMBA World Summit, near Augusta, GA with the support of our CSRA chapter.

During this leadership meeting, 40 volunteers took part in the IMBA Trail Care Crew class room ses sion to learn more about sustainable trails. After lunch the crews all headed to Tsali for trail work and rides. The rides for the day were focused on the Mouse loop and the Thompson Loop trail, which offers a great mile plus descent at the finish back to the trail head. What a pay off!

Saturday wrapped up back at NOC’s River’s End Restaurant for dinner and awards for volunteers. Special THANKS to NOC and to Oskar Blues/Dale’s Pale Ale for the social and after party. The Colorado based company offers their craft beer in cans utilizing a canning process that has grabbed the attention of many brewers. Pack’t in…Crush & Pack’t Out!

Due to the success of this festival type gathering for trail work, rides and volunteer award banquet, it is moving forward as an annual event. The Spring Festival will move throughout the southeast and highlight other regional mountain bike epics.