Our local NICA leadership for TN High School Mountain Biking has invited you to the local premiere of “SingleTrack High”.

Ticket sales benefit the Tennessee League and 100% of the proceeds support our mission of providing safe, quality high school mountain bike programs for student-athletes and teams from public, charter and private schools throughout the state.

When: Friday, April 19 2013

Where: Endeavor Performance - 1811 Hayes Street | Nashville, TN 37203

Cost: $10 advanced; $15 at the door. Kids 12 and under are FREE.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Click here>>

Show Times: Early 6:00 pm. Late 7:40 pm.

VIDEO TRAILER…

Singletrack High Teaser from Pedal Born Pictures on Vimeo.

March 16th 2013 ~ Bells Bend Trail Love Days

Saturday 9a-1p (Lunch Provided afterwards)

Bring your trail pals to our 2nd Bells Bend mountain bike trail construction day. We will begin clearing the thick understory and rough cutting trail corridor.
Tools will be provided but you are welcome to bring your favorite grubbing hoe or stiff rake.

Email Trails@sorbamidtn.org if any questions.

Here is your Trail Workday Checklist:

WATER & TRAIL SNACKS
WORK GLOVES
STURDY BOOTS
EYE PROTECTION
DRESS IN LAYERS
Also bring FRIEND & A SMILE!

For more information: trails@sorbamidtn.org

DIRECTIONS/MAP: CLICK HERE

February 24th 2013 ~ Bells Bend Trail Love Days

Sunday afternoon 12p-4p

Bring your trail pals to our inaugural Bells Bend mountain bike trail construction day. We will begin clearing the thick understory and rough cutting trail corridor.
Tools will be provided but you are welcome to bring your favorite grubbing hoe or stiff rake.

Email Trails@sorbamidtn.org if any questions.

Here is your Trail Workday Checklist:

WATER & TRAIL SNACKS
WORK GLOVES
STURDY BOOTS
EYE PROTECTION
DRESS IN LAYERS
Also bring FRIEND & A SMILE!

For more information: trails@sorbamidtn.org

DIRECTIONS/MAP: CLICK HERE

IMBA-SORBA supporter, Gran Fondo Bike Shop is hosint a membership social, Wednesday evening March 27th at 6pm-8pm.  Let’s share a pint and chat about upcoming trails, projects and how to support mountain biking efforts in Middle TN.

Gran Fondo Trail and Fitness, 5133 Harding Rd, Nashville, TN 37205   – CLICK FOR MAP

Visit the Facebook Event page

Special Thanks to REI Brentwood, Specialized Bicycles, Clifbar, ProGold Bikes, CyclingCauses.org and Nashville Metro Parks staff.

Watch the Cycling Causes Video fun and visit IMBA.com/join to become a IMBA/SORBA member.  More trail being built in Middle TN this year and we need your involvement.

Bells Bend update 01-19-2012 – Bob Slayden

Yesterday, Darryl and I met in the afternoon and worked about 4 hours laying out trail and checking alignment on trail that I laid out 3-4 months ago or so. We first surveyed the best location for the bridge that Parks plans to have installed. We found a small shady area with benches next to the creek that must be interpretive area that is currently being used by staff. I believe that this is the area that Chris Guerin said that he wanted to preserve and that he wanted the bridge upstream of this spot. So we moved upstream about 100 ft or so and found a suitable location. The location has about 4′-5′ embankment on the north side and maybe 2′-3′ embankment on the south side. I believe that this provided the most depth for water flow under a bridge without elevating the bridge too much above the north bank elevation. Entry to the bridge site would be between two larger trees on the south bank, they being maybe 20+ ft apart. It would be ideal if the bridge construction work could be done from the south side of the creek only, so as not to break through the woods on the north side and leave a major gap in the trees out to the access road.

Once we got that done, we decided to lay out the trail that will run in the narrow stretch of woods between the creek and the access road toward the north trailhead parking lot. This was an interesting patch of woods and offered varied terrain with some exposed rock outcropping. In one patch we ran two routes, one easy beginner, and the other more advanced, though still beginner, through a 3-4′ dip. We did not try to access the creek with the trail, but imagined that some short creek access side trails could be built later. We ran this route west toward the spot that we had preselected for the trail to break out of the woods and cross the access road.

Then we went up to the southern most loop of trail that is in the wooded area. We re-aligned a few areas near the branch (now dry) on the east side. We followed that trail flagging 1500 ft, east to west, and then north, around till it broke out of the woods at the powerline cut. That is tough going, through dense brush. At that point we were about to be overtaken by a thunderstorm, so we called it a day.

We both agreed that this section of trail alignment is ready for inspection by Parks, and then ready for corridor clearing crews.

Please see the attached map. Link: http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m…9-12Model1.jpg The sections on this map shown in yellow are ready for Parks inspection and (if) when approved, ready for corridor clearing. The section near the creek in the woods measures 665 ft. The section linking to the next woods section, crossing the road measures 264 ft. The “S” shaped section in the woods nearest the road measures 1000 ft. The long sweeping section in the woods that ends at the powerline measures 1500 ft. We discussed maybe building these section, linking up to the main trailhead at the nature center, then building some loop trails out in the field. We could tie these together temporarily and make a loop to ride before the whole thing got done. Note that this map is approximate, not GPS’d.

Want more healthy family oriented outdoor facilities in the Nashville area?  The Middle TN chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association has developed a strong relationship with Nashville Davidson Country Metro Parks to create mountain bike trails in multiple parks throughout the county, particularly in areas that have no beginner or intermediate level trails.  With Tennessee being one of the 5 worst states in childhood obesity, these new trails can get the active outdoor experience a bit closer to your neighborhood.

Since 2004 SORBA Middle TN has been dedicated to enhancing our sport with better trails and user education.  Now we have land managers and government recognzing mountain bike and multi-use natural surface trails as facilities like ball parks and golf courses.  The advantage of mountain bike trails are the dedicated volunteers and low maintenance of sustainable trail design.  SORBA Mid TN recently hosted a Sustainable Trails Workshop at Bells Bend Outdoor Center to offer a hands on experience for a dozen students.  When volunteers are investing hundreds of hours in hand built sustainable trail, a lifestyle such as mountain biking starts to get noticed even more.

UPDATE: Experienced volunteer trail leaders have begun trail construction at Cane Ridge Park in the southeastern boarder of Davidson County, with the 1.8 mile phase 1 almost completed.  Phase 2 will begin this summer with detailed flagging and layout planned to offer fun flowing rhythm sections of over 4 miles.  Phase 3 will soon follow with hopes of near 9 miles of total trail at Cane Ridge.

“volunteers are investing hundreds of hours of hand built SUSTAINABLE trial…..”

IMBA-SORBA Mid TN’s 2^nd project with Metro Parks at Bell’s Bend will undergo layout and flagging this summer as well to enhance a Gateway trail of about 60% open space and the remainder in wooded gentle slopping terrain.  Bells Bend is located North of the Cumbeland River on Old Hickory Blvd.  With the Bells Bend Outdoor Center staff and programs, this 4.5 mile trail should offer many youth program opportunities liken to Trips for Kids.

The 3^rd but not final Metro Parks project with IMBA-SORBA Mid TN will be the gem of Percy Warner Park on a beautiful section at the northeast corner of the park.  International Mountain Bike Assoc. (IMBA) Trails Solutions, along with IMBA-SORBA Mid TN leadership and Warner Park Staff, has done a preliminary trail assessment of the Warner site in hopes to begin blueprint and layout during the Winter of 2012 to Spring of 2013.  This timeline and plan will rely on progress with the other two projects.  It is important for the success of these projects that all mountain bikers either Join IMBA-SORBA, share this information with other outdoor lovers and volunteer!

FUNDING THE MOVEMENT: As funding assistance for these projects, IMBA-SORBA Mid TN has applied for an RTP grant and will promote the 2^nd Annual Ale for the Trail Craft Brew Tasting, hosted at Land Rover Nashville.

IMBA-SORBA Middle TN is privileged to announce Lynskey Performance Titanium Bicycles has donated a Pro 29 Titanium Frame as a Trail Fundraising offering for only $10 donation per ticket.  Lynskey’s frame donation is a great addition to our 2^nd Annual Ale for the Trail Craft Brew Tasting, June 15^th at 6pm, hosted at Land Rover Nashville.

Ale for the Trail will offer guests flavors from 9 different breweries, a souvenir pint tasting glass, Swiftwick Socks, also sponsored by ProGold, Road ID, with more coming.  Enjoy live music from our mountain biking, country singing/songwriting friend, Keith Anderson (Picking Wild Flowers) that is also a part of this trail building evening.  $35 donation gets you an Ale for the Trail ticket.  All registration, brewery and event information available now at sorbamidtn.org.

Ale for the Trail will help fund new trail projects in the Nashville area.  For more information please contact IMBA-SORBA Middle TN at info@sorbamidtn.org

As Promised….It has become a very busy year of TRAIL BUILDING!  We are eager to not only train volunteers to better understand how to build sustainable trails, but to set a great example and pay it forward to our mountain bike community.

If you have this passion as we do….join us for two days at Bell’s Bend Outdoor Center April 14 & 15.

Click here for all the details and to register…NOW!

CLICK HERE!

Special Thanks to all the GREAT VOLUNTEERS bring more trail to Tennessee!

What great day to build a trail. Sunday January 22^nd IMBA-SORBA Middle TN hosted a party of 25 trail volunteers and gave birth to phase 1 of the Cane Ridge Park Mountain Bike Trail. This 2.2 mile section is the beginning leg of a proposed 9 mile trail system in Davidson County’s southeastern border to Rutherford county line, just off Battle Road. Cane Ridge is an established ball park and radio control airplane venue, which is one of the current volunteer projects under construction by IMBA-SORBA Middle Tennessee.

A few facts from the 1^st work day:

-26 Trail Volunteers introduced to this project

-100+ hours of TRAIL LOVE!

-3600 feet of new corridor

-Lots of smiles and energy taking us forward!

Don’t let us loose this incredible momentum and Join us….February 4^th and 18^th Cane Ridge Trail Love Work Days.

Link to more details and REGISTER to show your volunteer spirit and become a TRAIL BUILDER!

Yazoo Brew Tap Room is hosting our Nashville Premier of “Pedal Driven” Bikumentary, at 6:oo pm, Wednesday Nov. 16th.  We are eager to share much about new projects and growth of mountain biking in Middle TN, so join us to get the scoop.  We need your support to complete these new trails.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Click here and register to attend.  Limited seats available.

This is a free event.  On sight Donations and IMBA-SORBA membeships are encouraged!

Not a member?  Join us NOW! Choose Middle TN for your affiliate chapter.

Yazoo Brew Tap Room is located at 910 Divsion Street, Nashville, TN 37203 – 615.891.4649

Visit Howell at the Moon Productions to learn more about Pedal Driven and other HATM documentaries.