Spring Bike Blitz - Saturday May 31st
Last spring you might have come out to our spring club meeting at Freshies. We gave an update on club activities to all who attended. It wasn’t very much fun, and it didn’t seem like a good way for bikers to kick off the riding season.
This year the FMBC decided to host a “Spring Bike Blitz” to get the community excited about the upcoming biking season. We first had grand ideas of closing downtown Fernie to vehicles for the day and having a day of bikes and bike events all day long. Tricycle Races, an RCMP Bike Rodeo were a few of the ideas we had.
Unfortunately the plans this year won’t allow for the street to be closed to traffic for the day because of insurance issues. Something we hope to have cleared up for next years event.
But there are still lots of fun downtown events that will be taking place on May 31st, you will just have to watch out for people on more than 2 wheels.
Bike & Gear Swap - Elks Hall
6:00 - 8:00PM Friday Night - Drop-off
9:00-10:00 AM Saturday - Drop-off
10:00-2:00 PM Saturday - Sale
2:30-4:30 PM Saturday - Item Pickup
Bikers BBQ for Dirt Jumps
11:30 - 2:00PM - Elks Hall
All proceeds to the Fernie Dirt Jump and Skills Progression Park
Community Bike Parade/Ride
2:00PM - Meet @ the Elks Hall
A fun ride around Fernie for all ages.
BLING your BIKE!
Townie Toonie Ride # 1
7:00PM Straightline - $2 and can of food for the Fernie foodbank.
Kranked 7 Premiere - The Cackle Factor
9:00PM Park Place Lodge - $7 with a FREE BEER!!!!
Volunteers are needed to help out with the Bike Swap, BBQ and the Community Bike Parade/Ride. If you can help out please contact us.
Membership Fees Due Now
Since its inception over 10 years ago the Fernie Mountain Bike Club has never charged a dime for membership. But the times are changing, liability lawsuits become more of a threat everyday.
The Club, in its recent efforts to legalize and legitimize the trails we ride on has determined that liability insurance is one of the many steps needed to achieve this ambitious feat.
With the guidance of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) the club has been in discussions with an insurance provider that will provide liability insurance to the club, and to land owners who have signed access agreements for trails on their land.
We hope that you will recognize the benefits of supporting the club by paying your nominal annual membership fees.
$20 for individuals, $30 for families
Your annual dues can be paid online by clicking here, or you can pay up at any of the local Fernie Bike Shops.
Spring Rides
Well it’s already May and the local singletrack is still under a “little” snow. As heart breaking as it is, some of us local riders have been getting our bike fix down in the south country trying to tune up our lungs and legs, at this point my bike has been riding me. The Dorr Loop is a sweet 23 km loop of loose dusty ups and downs, very different from what we have in Fernie, yet a nice treat in early spring.
Another gem would have to be the Wigwam double track near Elko, recognized as an AMA (Access Managed Area) you will not find any motorized traffic which you will find at the Dorr Loop now and again. Although there is no motorized traffic you will find hikers and horseback riders, if you do see horses please get off your bike and communicate with the rider. The trail winds along the upper cliff lines of the Elk River, the scenery is surreal. I have always heard about the trail and not until this year have I actually ridden it. I usually ride high alpine and big long lines, but I was amazed at the vista and how dramatic the geography is on this double track. The 40 km loop is a unique trail that should be hit up early in the Elk Valley spring. Although, I really can’t wait to ride in Fernie the south country has given me that little taste of spring I’ve been waiting for since my last ride in mid November.
Click here to see maps on our website
Club News
Fernie Trails Alliance
The Fernie Mountain Bike Club and the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club met to set some guidelines and establish The Fernie Trails Alliance. The Alliance will be a united voice in communicating with private landowners, such as Tembec, our voice to want to ride bikes, doing it legitimately, legally. This will be an amazing bunch of people advocating for the privilege to ride. Stay tuned for more information on the Fernie Trails Alliance.
Trail Care
Although the snow has been consistent to melt, it’s not leaving fast enough for the collective of trail builders and volunteers that we are blessed to have living secretly among us. Every time I stroll through downtown I talk to somebody that has been up to Roots or up Hedonism (getting a spring makeover), or walking around the Provincial Park all I hear is snow, snow and more snow! I cruised up the power lines last weekend to see a solid meter of the hard crusty stuff.
Even with the snow around I have met with our two paid trail crew members to establish some guidelines of the 2008 season’s tasks and set up our volunteer trail work days. As it looks now we will be having our tradition continue Wednesdays at 6pm meet at the Aquatic Centre Trail Kiosk with some water and a will to buff up our local single-track throughout the month of June.
Trail Legitimization
The Fernie Mountain Bike Club has been working hard to legitimize the trail network and the process will begin this year for many of the trails on crown and private lands.
As part of the Fernie Trails Alliance we are securing an insurance policy that will provide liability insurance to land owners that allow trails on their private land.
An access agreement for each trail will be signed with private land owners. If a land owner does not agree to a trail on their land it will not be legitimized through this process.
In the future, before trails are built we hope to apply to land managers and secure access agreements before constructing the trail. So if you have plans for a new trail be sure to contact the Club so we can work with you on making sure your trail is legal.
Fernie Dirt Jump & Skills Progression Park
If all goes as planned the long envisioned Fernie Dirt Jump & Skills Progression Park will become a reality this summer.
Jay Hoots has been hired as a consultant to help the FMBC design a professional park and we are currently waiting for approval from the city to build the park near the Fernie Aquatic Centre. Once we have the land we will be sourcing dirt from local developers and breaking ground on construction. Stay tuned for more news on this exciting project.
BP Resolution
After the FMBC met with BP planners about their Mist Mountain CBM project it became apparent that if this project were to go forward that it would have a great impact on the long term ability for the club to achieve it’s mandate.
Although the proposed area of interest would have very little effect on the current bike trails. It was recognized that the developments that are taking place in Fernie may eventually push future trails into the proposed project area. Because of this the Fernie Mountain Bike Club cannot support the project and has sent our concerns to government.
Motorized Ridgemont?
You may have heard that their is consideration of removing the current motorized closure in the ridgemont area. The new ridgemont land manager has stated that even if the province removes the motorized closure on their newly acquired property they will keep the gate on coal creek road closed.
Logo Design Contest - Entries Due May 14th
It has been a priority of the FMBC to develop a logo that reflects what the club is all about. We have commissioned a few designs, but none have jumped out that encompass all the aspects of the club's activities.
Are you artistic? Have some rad design skills? We want you to help shape the look of the FMBC by submitting your concept for the FMBC logo.
Logo submissions can be submitted by sending an e-mail to info@bikefernie.ca and will be accepted until May 14th 2008. They can also be dropped off at Straightline in Downtown Fernie.
Winning design gets recognition as designer, free IMBA, and FMBC Membership + Other Goodies.
Contest Rules
- Logo should be in-line with vision, mission and purpose statements found on our website.
- Logo should be easily identified as the Fernie Mountain Bike Club's, either using the full name of the club, FMBC, or www.bikefernie.ca
- No offensive submissions will be accepted. Keep it PG
- No more than three (3) colours.
- Submissions should be in Vector format if possible. Hand-drawn also accepted.
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For more information on the Fernie Mountain Bike Club visit our website at www.bikefernie.ca
