Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists SDMB BLOG

Raffle WInner

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:00:12 GMT

Raffle Winner 2026

SDMB is excited to announce the winner of the Cannondale Scalpel 4 mountain bike for the 2026 Bike Raffle!

Congratulations to David Ponchahar of Tucson! David purchased his raffle tickets at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and mentioned he needed a new bike — talk about perfect timing! We can’t wait to share a photo of David with his new ride soon. He said he needed to replace his current bike so was very excited that he won. It was great to hear that it is going to a fellow mountain bike rider.

This raffle was proudly sponsored by 3 Amigos Tequila, Epic Rides (host of 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo), and SDMB.

E-Bike News

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:18:30 GMT

E-Bike News

Earlier this year in February of 2025, the SDMB Board, decided by a majority vote, to sign a letter of support advocating for allowing Class-1 Pedal Assist E-Bikes on the Loop and natural surfaces in Pima County. This letter was with the support of many Pima County businesses, advocacy grouops, and trail users to urge Pima County to update its policies to allow at least type 1-Pedal Assist E-Bikes(Which do not have a throttle and cannot move without being pedaled) on all paved and natural surface trails in Pima County.

Pima County Parks and Recreation had a hearing proposal Nov 14th 2025 that was open to the public. Many community members showed up to the meeting and there was wide support for the initiative.

Victor Pereira, the Parks & Rec Director, shared that the next step will be for the County to conduct an e-bike study in 2026. That study will provide the data needed for a formal recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

EXPLORE Act Passes Congress!

kirkastroth@gmail.com (Kirk Astroth) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:50:14 GMT

Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act Passes Congress

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and our members (SDMB was a supporter) celebrate the U.S. Senate’s historic passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act , a groundbreaking bipartisan achievement that cements the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation industry as a cornerstone of America’s economy and a necessity to quality of life for all Americans. The legislation passed the House in April by Unanimous Consent and now advances to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Today’s passage of the EXPLORE Act will supercharge the outdoor recreation industry and is a victory for our economy, our communities, our quality of life, and our shared connection to the outdoors," said Jessica Wahl Turner, President of ORR . "We are ready to get to work helping millions of Americans—from 4th graders exploring national parks, to veterans seeking solace in nature and businesses recovering from natural disasters like Hurricane Helene through expanded outdoor access, modernized recreation policies, and economic growth across the nation.”  By advancing this transformative legislation, Congress has shown its commitment to ensuring every American has access to world-class outdoor experiences, from our backyard to the backcountry, while supporting the businesses, workers, and communities who make those experiences possible.

Hohokam Trail Access

kirkastroth@gmail.com (Kirk Astroth) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:00:42 GMT

We know that there have been access issues with the west side of the Hohokam Trail. The railroad right of way is private property and they have posted no trespassing signs and often block the road with boulders or gravel piles. You should not park there. We have been in contact with the railroad and they are unwilling to provide any access and certainly are unwilling to allow parking along the road next to the tracks. Pima County Natural Resources & Parks is aware of the issue and is trying to work out a solution to connect the Hohokam Trail to the Gabe Zimmerman. The long term solution is to extend Hohokam Trail west to connect to the AZT and the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead. For now folks will have to park at McKenzie and ride Hohokam as an out and back from there, or park near 3 Bridges or Gabe Z and use a combination of the AZT, dirt roads and gasline roads to connect. It is legal to park along Agua Verde Road near Marsh Station Road. However there is not much space there. We are working with Pima county to resolve this access issue. Stay tuned.

Brushtober Fest Is Here!

kirkastroth@gmail.com (Kirk Astroth) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 19:52:53 GMT

Brushtober Fest is here and you are invited to help. Each year, SDMB identifies trails in need of some "trail love" after the active monsoon season. No experience is necessary and everyone is invited to help out with brushing back overgrown vegetation, repairing minor tread damage and have fun while meeting others interested in mountain biking and trails. This year, 4 events are planned:

Sweetwater, September 28th, 8:00 to 12:30 PM
Mt. Graham, October 11-13th
Fantasy Island, October 20th, 8:00 to Noon
Starr Pass, November 9th, 8:00 to Noon

More information and registration is available on our website under "Events." Lunch and beverages are provided to all volunteers who register in advance. Tools are also provided. So, come on out and give our trails some much needed love as we get ready for the fall and winter riding season. See you on the trails.

8-ish Days of Christmas

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 01:04:00 GMT

SDMB is pleased to host the 2023 8-ish days of Christmas ride series! This will be a series of mountain bike rides around the Tucson area to celebrate the holidays. Come one come all for the festivities and relax.

Please If it's raining check the ride site before going to the ride. Rides could be cancelled due to rain. Email: Kent7varden@gmail.com , joni.dean3@gmail.com

This is what we have so far,

Dec 21: Transit to Dragoon Ride- Thursday Dec 21st meet at Transit Cycles in the MSA Annex at 530p. Ride out at 615p. This is a friendly, casual ride up the Santa Cruz from the bike shop to Dragoon Brewing. All bikes welcome! More info at: https://www.transitcycles.com/events-1

Dec 22: CANCELLED due to rain SHOOT. It's rained once with more on the way. SDMB Sweetwater Preserve (If it is raining Friday morning this ride will be cancelled) 9am @ Sweetwater Trailhead. Plan on 10 miles of intermediate rocky XC trails. Ride description: Help us kick off the 8-ish days of Christmas ride series at Sweetwater! Meet at the Sweetwater-preserve trail head at 9am riding by 915am. We will go West and take every right turn making a large loop. This is prime beginner and intermediate trail riding lasting approximately 10 miles.

Dec 23: Guru ride to Winterhaven . Meet at Guru Bikes 5:30pm

Dec 24: 2 ride options:
- Dirt Divas 9am TMP/Ironwood Ride. Co-Ed. Flowy desert ride to get the heart pumping before Christmas festivities start. Option to include Golden Gate loops. Extra holiday spirit if you wear an ugly Christmas sweater.

- Tucson Women Shredders @ NOON - TWO TUNNELS. Women/trans/femme ride. Meet at Tucson Hop Shop. Ride two tunnels trail, about 9.3mi. Hang out at the shop after! Riders are expected to: self assess their skills, bring repair gear, snacks, helmet, water, first aid, navigate ride, account for their safety, & support an inclusive + empowering environment.

Dec 25: The Casas Adobes Chain Gang , Tortolita Preserve. While your turkey roasts in the oven, enjoy a short loop ride around the Tortolita Preserve. About 9 miles. Good for beginners. Meet at the new trailhead off Moore Road at 11:00 am.

Dec 26: 2 ride options:
- Our MTB Rides Night ride https://facebook.com/events/s/8ish-days-ourmtb-full-moon-rid/1005566150506010/

- The Saguaro Clan, Robles Pass loop hosted by the Saguaro Clan. Meet at 11:00 am at the new Robles Pass Trailhead, 2680 W. Irvington Road. Intermediate ride with green/blue/black trails, about 13 miles total.

Dec 27 : Hammel Dentistry BBBR - Fantasy Island (North entrance) - 4pm This month’s Business Builder Bike Ride is sponsored by Hammel Dentistry in support of SDMBs 8-ish days of Xmas This is a monthly bike ride open to all with casual networking & free beer after the ride. Please bring your business cards, MTB & helmet! Let Cirrus Visual Communications know if your business would like to sponsor a future BBBR. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/BBBR-12-27-Sponsored-by-Hammel-Dentistry.html?soid=1103462940258&aid=YZr5WYsnNVk

Dec 28 : The Cycling Anarchists will lead a ride around the little-known "Tubac Shakur" bike trails. M eet at 10:00 AM at the west side of Chavez Siding, MP 40 on I-19 south of Tucson (opposite side of the freeway from the Border Patrol checkpoint on the east side) . Intermediate and rocky trails. We'll meet on the west side Frontage Road and drive to the trailhead from there. Approx. 2 hours+ of riding. Afterward the ride, we will convene at Tubac Jacks for beverages and the best onion rings and burgers in the area.

Dec 28: OPMTB The “ Sweet Ass Seahorse “ ride (Badlands) from the new parking dirt on Edwin about 2.7 miles in on the left hand side. 11:00 Am start. We will do upper Honeybee then the Badlands, down the back side to the new “Nessie” features then back up the normal way to Edwin

Dec 30 : The Damion Alexander Team Mural tour : Come explore back alleys, central dirt, art, murals and Tucson oddities. So much new art to explore. Perhaps a local Artist or two may join us, or not. We will start at the Mercado San Augustine at 9:30 am and finish at Borderland Brewery. First round compliments of The Damion Alexander Team at Long Realty AND everyone will receive a photo gift from Damion. Tis the season. Recommended iron horse: MTB is more fun and there will be some dirt, but nothing a TT bike, with a skilled rider, can’t slay.

Dec 31 : Tucson Bicycle Service ride La Milagrosa meet @ 11am at Suzenu. Expert level ride.

Jan 1: Tucson MTB Addicts Sweetwater-preserve trail head 12pm

Jan 2: Borderlands Adventure Club : Peckerwood Flats. Ride there before it's gone! This easy beginner terrain is great for everyone. We'll start at 10:30 am. We have lots of options, but one loop with be about 8 miles and that then can be extended to 10-12. This is state land, so e-bikes are allowed. Everyone should have a state lands recreation permit. Bring a helmet, water and a great attitude. We will start off down Art Alley, then swoop around to the Christmas tree. Directions: Take 1-10 to the Kolb Exit #270, go south on Kolb 0.8 miles to Voyager Road (8900 South). Turn left (east) at the Sycamore Park sign and drive another 0.8 miles to the parking area at the end of the road and just past the golf course.

SDMB Mt. Graham Work Leads to Awesome Trails

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 13:57:00 GMT

The Graham Cracker: Years-long project yields world-class mountain bike course on Mount Graham Read more about it here

The Graham Cracker: Years-long project yields world-class mountain bike course on Mount Graham

Sweetwater Brushtober

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 23:20:00 GMT

Sweetwater Brushtober was a great success we did a lot of great work on Red Tail Ridge, Red Canyon, and Homestead. SDMB could not maintain the trail system without Volunteers like you. Remember to join us for other events coming up this fall. https://sonorandesertmountainbicyclists.wildapricot.org/events

SDMB Board Meeting--October 11th

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:56:00 GMT

The next SDMB board meeting will take place on October 11th at the Tucson Parks & Recreation Building near Reid Park, 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Board meetings are open to the public and you are encouraged to attend to learn what SDMB is focused on, particularly during October when Brushtober Fest is in full swing to brush back and repair trail tread after the monsoon season. Email "president@sdmb" for details.

SDMB Board Meeting--September 7th

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:51:00 GMT

The next SDMB board meeting will be held September 7th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM via Zoom. We'll be discussing plans for Brushtober Fest among other topics. Board meetings are open to the public so if you wish to attend and see what we're up to, please email: rcanamar@gmail.com to get the link to sit in. We welcome your involvement.

Mountain Cog Podcast Featuring SDMB Work on Mt Graham!

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 19:27:00 GMT

Our own Nat Gordon on the SDMB Board was a recent featured guest on locally produced the Mountain Cog Podcast. He talks about our trail restoration work on Mt Graham, the vision for the Graham Cracker Ride and about what's up from his perspective as the Development Chair at SDMB. Listen Here.

Below quoted from the Mountain Cog podcast site

"Ever wondered what it takes to reconstitute and epic big mountain trail system with sick vertical drop? Today, we're fortunate to have Nat Gordon, a board member of the volunteer-run Sonoran Desert Mountain Bikers (SDMB) organization on the show, to shed some light on their organization and their efforts to revive the trails on Mount Graham in South Eastern Arizona. Nat shares incredible insights into the hard work, engineering, and environmental considerations that go into trail restorations, and how the unique conditions of the Sonoran Desert add an extra layer of complexity.

The conversation doesn't stop at trail building. We also stir up discussions about the important initiatives at SDMB to foster diversity and inclusion within their ranks. Here’s a little teaser: They are on a mission to recruit more female board members! And yes, they speak about the irresistible lure of Mount Graham, the heart of their remarkable project. It's not just about mountain biking; we also hear about the exhilarating road riding opportunities that this mountain has to offer.

Towards the end, we steer the conversation to the responsible side of mountain biking. Nat enlightens us about SDMB's "be cool" trail safety initiatives, bike skills, and bike Academy program aimed at promoting inclusion and trail etiquette. We explore the vital role of volunteers in keeping the organization running smoothly, especially in the post-pandemic world. Lastly, we also touch upon the fascinating world of trail maintenance, the cowboy gate etiquette, and the somewhat cryptic art of securing funding for these activities. So, if you're a mountain biking enthusiast or simply love hearing about behind-the-scenes operations, you can't afford to miss this episode!"

SDMB Call for Committee Volunteers!

Sun, 07 May 2023 02:39:00 GMT

Spring has sprung, so we are looking to grow our SDMB committees. We hope some of you are willing to help our committees accomplish more great things in the months and years ahead. In the past, we had some very active people on our committees, but COVID impacted committee participation.

We are looking to get back to having well-staffed committees again, and hope that many of you would be interested in helping out. The SDMB Board has done a great job of filling gaps and keeping things moving, but we are at the point where we need your help. IT TAKES A VILLAGE! We are looking for self-starters, folks that can look at a committee description and say: “This is how I want to support SDMB!” and act on that ambition.

Here are the opportunities for you to get involved that won’t require a lot of time.

Advocacy Committee

This committee advocates for mountain biking and discusses strategies and implements ways to promote the development of new mountain biking trails with Pima County, Tucson and Marana. Major initiatives include the “Be Cool” trail safety and etiquette initiative; the SDMB Bike Ambassador program; and offering bike skills clinics through our MTB Bike Academy. Some members also participate in the Network for Arizona Trails which advocates for trails statewide and supports an effort to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation at the state level (like 22 other states have). We submitted comments for the Coronado National Forest Trails Plans related to MTB trails on Mt. Lemmon. There are opportunities as well to participate in the Network for Arizona Trails annual summit. To ask questions or volunteer, contact the Advocacy Chair: Kent Loganbill at: Kent7varden@gmail.com

Trails Love Corp

This committee spearheads our efforts to build and maintain MTB trails in the greater Tucson area. Some examples are the new trails SDMB helped build at Enchanted Hills, the Explorer and Portal Trails at Kennedy Park and the reopening of trails at Mt. Graham. Committee members can be trained to be crew leaders and help with trails initiatives like “Brushtober Fest,” new trail construction under the guidance of Pima County Parks & Recreation, and other local land managers. To get involved in this committee or ask questions, contact Michael Mucker at: eyebikepa@gmail.com

Outreach, Diversity & Inclusion

This committee is working to diversify our membership as well as ways to make mountain biking more attractive to a broad range of groups—young people, handicapped and physically-challenged, minorities, and special needs, among others. We want to diversify our board, but we also want to find ways to engage with urban youth (through the 100-Acre Wood Bike Park, for example), hand cycle users, underserved audiences, and other groups. We also want to be sensitive to designing and building trails that are attractive to beginners, intermediate and advanced riders, and those riding adaptive hand cycles. To find out more or volunteer, contact chair Ruth Cañamar at: rcanamar@gmail.com

Development & Fundraising

Our committee is forward looking and seeks to help define SDMB’s sustainable future. We do this through partnership development, process improvement and the creation of new initiatives such as trail projects. If you’re interested in development, you may spend time helping to engage our sponsors and land manager partners. You may help us revamp our sponsorship program which is in the works. We take on special projects like merchandise procurement to make sure SDMB is getting the best value and we are working on supporting our membership team in revamping that program. Fundraising is a natural extension of Development as we need funding to support our general operating costs, for our projects (like skills clinics and bike ambassadors), for trail work day incentives (lunches/refreshments/prizes) and for new trail projects like consultation, design, and construction costs. This will involve grant writing, private donor solicitation, fundraising campaigns. To find out more about Development and Fundraising at SDMB, contact the committee chair, Nathaniel Gordon at: gordee151@gmail.com

Time Commitment:

For all committees, the commitment would average around 2 to 3 hours a month and probably 2 to 3 weekends a year. If you want to do more, that is up to you. The more people on the committee, the less work it will be for everyone. No experience needed.

Compensation:

The pay? Knowing that you are making Tucson a better place to ride! Priceless.

Tucson has a huge opportunity to make this area one of the top cycling destinations in the country, and you can be the reason.

We hope that many of you will join one of our committees and help us maximize our impact in the greater Tucson area.

Underexposed Tucson, AZ

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:24:00 GMT

Check out the latest video from Brice Shirbach about SDMB and TORCA as two exemplary trail organizations working on behalf of mountain bikers and all trail users in the greater Tucson area. Kudos to Dave Slagle for representing us so well.

Click here to see the video

2022 8-ish Days of Christmas

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 01:03:00 GMT

SDMB is pleased to host the 2022 8-ish days of Christmas ride series! This will be a series of mountain bike rides around the Tucson area to celebrate the holidays. Come one come all for the festivities and relax.

We are currently in the planning phase for this series of events and welcome community input!

Here is what we have so far,

Dec 23 - Sweetwater Preserve

9am @ Sweetwater Trailhead

Facebook event info/RSVP here

Plan on 10 miles of intermediate rocky XC trails.

Ride description: Help us kick off the 8-ish days of Christmas ride series at Sweetwater! Meet at the Sweetwater-preserve trail head at 9am riding by 915am. We will go West and take every right turn making a large loop. This is prime beginner and intermediate trail riding lasting approximately 10 miles.

Dec 24th - Our MTB Rides Family Loop Ride

9am at The Loop entrance located at Craycroft and River Rd

Facebook event info/RSVP here

Plan on an easy 15 miles on pavement

Description: Meet at 9 am, plan on wheels rolling by 915am. We'll head West on The Loop to the Children's Memorial Park just past River Rd and Oracle Rd. This is a chill family ride open to all riders, families encouraged!

Dec 26 - Old Pueblo Eastside, Vail Vortex ride from Garrigan's Gulch

10am @ E Garrigan's Gulch and S Camino Loma Alta

Facebook event info/RSVP here

Plan on 15 miles on easy XC trails

Ride description:

Dec 27 - Fantasy Island North Loops with Our MTB Rides

7pm @ Fantasy Island North trailhead

Facebook event info/RSVP here

Plan on 10-15 miles of fun undulating XC single track

Description: Meet at the picnic table at 7pm and plan to start riding at 7:15. We will ride the North loops, Cactus, Burro Pit and Bo's loops. There will be a refreshment stop at the park off of the Xmas tree loop.(bring a beverage of choice to enjoy with us).

After the ride we all (or most of us) meet at Mulligans just down the street for some post ride refreshments and bike stories.

Dec 28 - 50 Year Trail ride with Old Pueblo MTB

2pm @ Golder Ranch Trailhead

Facebook event info/RVSP here

Plan on 10+ miles of intermediate single track with many fun lines suitable for all experience levels. Estimated ride time is ~2 hours.

Ride description: A "Midday Mayhem" ride ::: A Basic Intermediate level trail with lots to explore. Midday Mayhem rides can be shortened, or portions of the trails can be skipped often times to create a more Beginner friendly experience. MM rides often times have locations that are chosen for their flexibility & variety to provide riders of various technical skill levels & fitness level to make their own ideal route. Rides are generally big enough to allow for groups to split on routes and meet back up to finish together.

Dec 29 - Tortilita Preserve hosted by Brian/Catalina Brewing Company

10am at the Tortilita Preserve Trailhead

Facebook event info/RSVP found here

Plan on a 9.5 mile loop of easy cross country single track suitable for all experience levels.

Ride description: a fun easy loop of classic desert singletrack fun for all skill levels. Post ride refreshments to be had at the one and only Catalina Brewing Company!

Dec 30 - Honeybee & Badlands trails with Old Pueblo MTB

10am @ Honeybee Trail Head

Facebook event info/RSVP here

Ride description: A "Midday Mayhem" ride ::: A Basic Intermediate level trail with lots to explore. Midday Mayhem rides can be shortened, or portions of the trails can be skipped often times to create a more Beginner friendly experience. Midday Mayhem rides often times have locations that are chosen for their flexibility & variety to provide riders of various technical skill levels & fitness level to make their own ideal route. Rides are generally big enough to allow for groups to split on routes and meet back up to finish together.

SPECIAL INFO: Route selection is the now in-famous Travis special "Sweet-Ass Seahorse" that includes a stop at the summit of 420 Hill and a counter-clockwise loop around "The Badlands".

FIP (Feet In Pedals) @ as close to 10:00 AM, so Meet at 9:45 am at Edwin Rd. & Honeybee Intersection on the dirt road.

Dec 31 - AZT shuttle with SAMBA

9am @ Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead

Meetup event info/RSVP here

Plan on 26 miles of beautiful XC trail along the Arizona Trail.

Description:

From Oak Tree Canyon the ride will be about 26 miles with several hills and valleys. Roughly 2000’ of climbing through hilly terrain. The trail is a blue/intermediate level ride for endurance. Probably a few hike-a-bike sections for most riders.

From the Lakes Rd to the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead is about 13.5 miles, mostly downhill. This section could be rated green/blue for some rocky downhill areas and hills.

We will plan to load shuttle vehicles at the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead at 9am. Please RSVP on the Meetup site so we make sure to have enough shuttle vehicles.

Jan 1 - MTB Addicts & Our MTB Rides Hangover Ride

1130am at the McKenzie Ranch Race Course parking lot

Facebook event info/RSVP here

Plan on 10-20miles of buttery smooth XC trails

Description: Ride off that New Years Eve hangover with MTB Addicts and Our MTB Rides at the McKenzie Ranch race course! More details to come...

Jan 2 - Millagrosa Trail with Brian

10am at Avenida de Suzenu

Facebook event info/RSVP to be announced

La Millagrosa the champagne of trails, need I say more?

Ride description: double black diamond chunky goodness, one hike a bike and three climbs cooked coupled with the gnarliest downhill Tucson has to offer courtesy Tucson MTBs Godfather himself. Meet at Avenida de Suzenu at 10am for shuttles or meet at Molino Basin at 1045am to start the hike a bike with the group. Come prepared with downhill level protection, lots of water, and a snack. Adult beverages are recommended for the mid point.

More bike rides!

Jan 8 - SDMB Poker Ride

9am at

Facebook event info here

Description: the SDMB Poker Ride is coming back January 2023! Test your luck at poker and bike riding simultaneously with a chance to win some cool stuff!

Registration starts 9am at the SDMB table, look for the SDMB easy up and banners. Want to host a poker spot? Contact our guy Kent Loganbill at kent7varden@gmail.com.

Arizona State Parks 5-Year Plan

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 17:51:00 GMT

Arizona State Parks & Trails recently released its new 5-Year plan that outlines the agency's priorities for both motorized and non-motorized recreation on state park lands. Included is information about applying for grants as well as a host of information from surveys of trail users. It is a lengthy document but might be worthwhile for you to scan for your own areas of interest. View the plane here.

Coronado National Forest Trail Plan

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 01:50:00 GMT

The Coronado National Forest recently released its 15-year trail plan for the Catalina Ranger District. Public comments are being solicited until December 2nd, and there is a public meeting scheduled for November 17th from 5-7:00 PM at the Jewish Community Center on River Road. You can also review the entire plan here

Summary

Goal 5 —Advance non-recreation program goals (fire breaks, wildlife, move trails away from nearby roads.

From here, the plan goes into specifics, and pp. 30-41 are Proposed Trail modifications. There is a summary of them on pp. 42-43.

Trail Development and Connectivity projects are described on pp. 44-56. There are 40 projects described in the plan. There is an increase in number of miles of trails for MTB’ers of 56%--approximately 55-86 miles through adoption of existing trails and building such as the directional Bug Jr. trail and the Fireline Trail.

Feedback can be submitted by email to sm.fs.scrd@usda.gov .

McKenzie Frenzy Postponed

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 01:58:00 GMT

We are sad to have to announce that this year's McKenzie Frenzy Race has been postponed to an as-yet-to-be determined date in spring 2023. We know that many people were interested in participating again in this race, but logistics and other issues have prevented us from hosting the event during the first weekend in December. Stay tuned for future announcements.

Wildlife (and not so wild) Encounters

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 20:28:00 GMT

Bike Ambassadors

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 12:58:00 GMT

Bike Ambassadors help keep Pima County trails safe

Mary Reynolds, Pima County communications, recently created a short video about our new program on local trails. A cadre of bike ambassadors is working with Pima County to promote proper safety and etiquette on trails throughout southern Arizona.

The program, organized by nonprofit Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists, is made up entirely of volunteers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ewCbC_wFBM

Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder is No More

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 16:32:00 GMT

Sponsors of the Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder have

"It is hard to express in words what this event has meant to me over the years. It all started back in 2016 with a handful of folks who had the idea of putting on an event for the communities of Tucson and Oracle to enjoy and call their own. Each year the event grew and the MLGG experienced 3 different venues starting at Arizona Zipline Adventures and ultimately calling the 3C Ranch home. After taking 2020 off due to a devastating wildfire on Mount Lemmon and the COVID-19 Pandemic, it returned better than ever and saw the largest number of participants, 500+, the event had ever experienced. But putting on these events is not easy. There are always obstacles to overcome and it takes a tremendous amount of energy. Ultimately, it takes a toll on the family."

Part 2--An electric bike rode into the backcountry. Now there's a nationwide turf war

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:03:00 GMT

The state level: Ebikes in Utah

If Scottsdale’s adjoining parks epitomize local conflicts over trail use, Utah — the cradle of American mountain biking — has emerged as a fascinating study at the state level.

This year, Sen. Weiler sponsored legislation he thought would simplify the rules, at least on nonfederal lands. One proposed change would have reduced allowable power for e-bikes while allowing them almost everywhere regular mountain bikes can go.

As Weiler tells it, manufacturers and retailers went bonkers over the reduction in battery power. So did hunters, who use eMTBs with trailers to transport their gear and game in the backcountry, and rely on 750 watts to pull those heavy loads.

Weiler said he started trying to tweak the bill, but every change stirred up new opposition. Amputees objected to a ban on e-bikes with throttles. County officials were outraged that the law would take away local control and warned that eMTBs in conservation areas would spur civil suits.

And all of that was heaped atop opposition from environmentalists, Weiler said, plus regular mountain bikers — “the purists who say if you don’t work out five hours a day you shouldn’t be out there.”

Jenn Oxborrow, executive director at Bike Utah, a nonprofit advocacy group for cycling, described other aspects of the backlash in almost comical terms.

Plans to create a permit system so anyone could be exempt from e-bike bans — even those not legally disabled — riled up the disability community by encroaching on their legal protections.

Meanwhile, search-and-rescue workers warned that electric bikes would put feeble people deep into the wilds where batteries would die or riders would suffer medical emergencies. Even Native Americans were upset, envisioning motorized bikes rolling over sacred sites.

“I kicked a hornet’s nest,” Weiler acknowledged. “Everyone hated the bill. It was cursed.”

Weiler punted the legislation to Rep. Jeff Stenquist, who came up with new guidelines and convened a public hearing, which churned up more resistance.

Eventually, lawmakers adopted legislation that Oxborrow politely describes as a “suggestion,” urging land managers to consider e-bikes when developing trails.

Weiler offers a more candid appraisal: “We ended up passing a nothing burger bill,” he said.

‘You're made to feel like an outlaw'

A few years ago, after a couple heart attacks, Steve Spiro of Orange County, California, bought his first electric mountain bike. He gets a workout using pedal power until it’s too tough, then lets the battery help out.

“It’s important that I stay active,” said Spiro, a 64-year-old real estate agent, “but not to a point of over-exertion.”

However, as Spiro began taking his mountain bike to public trails, he kept getting turned away by signs and rules banning the electric motor. It was infuriating, he said: “You’ve paid your taxes, and then you’re made to feel like an outlaw or criminal – for riding your bike!”

Spiro discovered there is no consistency in regulations and concluded that policy differences are often arbitrary.

“These land managers are willy-nilly just making determinations,” he groused. For example, Spiro said, although the Americans Disabilities Act requires accommodations for the disabled, there is no standard for applying that to electric bikes.

“They will intimidate you and tell you to leave,” Spiro said of park rangers. “I’ve been threatened (with citations). I’ve had them yell at me, ‘Get out of here!’”

Spiro said he came to realize that trail policies are based largely on politics, with the loudest voices winning. In many cases, he added, that’s horsemen, hikers, environmentalists and regular mountain bikers.

Spiro decided to fight back, creating the Electric Mountain Bike Association to rally geriatric rides. A third of the U.S. population is age 50 or older, he reasoned, and banning e-bikes amounts to elderly discrimination.

“My riding buddy Stanley Ramsey is a retired police officer and he is 82 years old,” says Spiro’s online petition. “E-bikes are a new technology that allows older citizens like myself and Stanley to ride a bike again by providing low-power pedal assist. The potential health benefits are enormous…The Future is eMTB.”

About 5,000 have signed so far. Meanwhile, Spiro offers them “mobility disability” labels that can be attached to e-bikes. The stickers have no legal weight, and he doesn’t check whether applicants qualify as disabled under the law.

The goal is to help riders avoid citations. “It’s nothing official,” Spiro acknowledged, chuckling. “They are more, um, educational.”

Why do people hate eMTBs?

Internal combustion engines are banned from single-track trails in the outback, in part, because the engine noise messes with wildlife and destroys solitude.

The e-bike’s power train is virtually silent. So, from an environmental standpoint, there are only a few differences from a regular mountain bike.

The first is that eMTBs can put far more people into wild places and take them much deeper. To date, there are almost no studies on how that affects habitat.

The second difference is the potential for a heavier, faster machine to cause trail damage. Once again, there is little research to go by. The International Mountain Bike Association performed a test years ago, concluding that trail impact from e-bikes is not significantly greater than from non-motorized bikes.

But critics point out that the study involved just one trail and was conducted by an organization that promotes cycling.

Randy Rasmussen, director of public lands and recreation for Back Country Horsemen of America, said single-track trails are not designed for motorized use, and the notion that e-bikes won’t damage them is a “myth.”

Rasmussen added that, on uphill climbs, e-bikes are likely to spook horses from behind, endangering the animal and rider.

“Horsemen and women are very alarmed by the advent of motorized bicycles,” he added. “They’re just clearly a safety concern.”

Equestrians also resisted regular mountain bikes years ago, Rasmussen acknowledged, before the two groups arrived at a “happy peace,” even collaborating on trail maintenance and development. However, he stressed, any bike with a motor represents “a different qualitative argument,” which could open the door to motorcycles on backcountry paths.

“We are worried about the slippery slope here,” said Rasmussen. “There’s a blurring of lines already.”

That fear is not as far-fetched as it might seem. When the BLM sought input on a policy for off-highway vehicles, the Capital Trail Vehicle Association submitted numerous suggestions. Among them:

“Electric motorcycles and electric mountain bikes are here and will completely take the sound issue off the table. This planning action must adequately accommodate the future use of electric motorcycles and mountain bikes on all existing single-track trails as a reasonably foreseeable development.

And then came the lawsuits

If local and state officials ignited controversies over eMTBs, federal authorities in the Trump administration poured fuel on those flames.

In 2019, without public hearings or discussion, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that electric bikes would no longer be treated as motorized vehicles and could use all trails open to regular bicycles on his department. That includes 419 national parks and recreation areas, plus millions of acres overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.

A day later, acting National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith echoed that decision in an edict to all park superintendents.

A Colorado Sun report described the directive as “one of the most controversial rules in years for the Bureau of Land Management.”

The public backlash prompted some 24,000 emails and letters to the Park Service from groups and individuals.

The American Hiking Society reaction was aghast, declaring an official position that “any vehicle that uses either an internal combustion engine or an electric motor for propulsion is a motor vehicle.”

Within months, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility filed suit, identifying 28 National Park Service venues that already were allowing electric bikes on trails set aside for nonmotorized travel. Among them: Everglades, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain national parks.

Peter Jenkins, an attorney with the employee organization, said the Park Service’s policy decision in 2019 was spurred by recommendations from an E-Bike Partner & Agency Group. The civil complaint alleges the meetings were conducted in secret and the “illegal committee” was loaded with cycling industry representatives, including PeopleForBikes.

Wilderness Watch and other conservation organizations joined.

In 2021, as the case proceeded, national park superintendents were instructed to reconsider their decisions. Jenkins said only a handful withdrew e-bike access.

Meantime, the Park Service launched a review and was flooded with more than 17,000 public comments. The policy was replaced with a new regulation empowering superintendents to allow eMTBs, but not requiring them to do so. (The rule includes a stipulation that, where e-bikes are allowed, riders may not rely solely on motor power for “an extended period of time.”)

The National Park Service did not provide comment when contacted. In court filings, agency lawyers contend the lawsuit is moot because the policy was revoked and superintendents are now required to perform environmental reviews before opening trails to e-bikes.

The U.S. Forest Service, meanwhile, adopted a flip-side policy, but with similar results. In 2019, the Forest Service treated electric mountain bikes as motorized vehicles but allowed individual ranger districts to authorize Class 1 eMTBs on multi-use trails.

Tahoe Ranger District did just that. Without environmental analysis or public hearings, 130 miles of non-motorized trails near Lake Tahoe were suddenly opened to Class 1 e-bikes in 2019. That included the 25-mile Pioneer Trail, a popular ride for equestrians. The Horseman’s Association filed suit in U.S. District Court, joined by an unlikely coalition of trail users and environmental groups.

Within months, the Forest Service backed down. The suit was settled. Trails were closed to e-bikers until environmental assessments were done and the public had an opportunity to weigh in.

Today, according to the Forest Service, just 35 miles of single-track paths in Tahoe National Forest are open to e-bikers, along with nearly 400 miles of OHV and single-track motorcycle routes. The Pioneer Trail is not included, but administrators are reviewing changes that could allow e-bikes on some segments.

Rasmussen and others noted that, even where electronic mountain bikes are prohibited, they seem to ride with impunity. For instance, under federal law electric bikes are prohibited from nearly all National Scenic Trails, including the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. But Rasmussen said he encounters them regularly on the Pacific Crest Trail near his home in central Oregon.

Potemkin enforcement

Which brings up the sticky issue of enforcement, with scant evidence that cyclists who violate e-bike laws face any repercussions.

Agencies post signs with bans, class restrictions and speed limits, but it’s not like there are cops lurking in the outback.

Keller, with the International Mountain Biking Association, said he was recently using a trail in Washington, D.C., when he came upon an eMTB rider. In nearly 20 years of riding there, he’d never seen a ranger. He thought about confronting the cyclist, then decided just to pedal on.

Every land manager contacted for this story stressed a focus is on education, rather than prosecution.

The BLM oversees about 12,000 miles of trails nationwide, about half of those open to e-bikes. In an email, bureau press secretary Brian Hines said bureau officers have documented just five electric bicycle violations in recent year. Four resulted in warnings; only the rider near Moab was ticketed.

Jamie Hinrichs, a spokeswoman for Tahoe National Forest, said rangers and law officers there have issued zero tickets to e-bikers.

He and just about everyone else in the controversy agreed that many rangers can’t even tell the difference between and electric bike and a regular one. They’d be hard-pressed to say who's violating which rules. And most trail overseers lack staffing to patrol backcountry trails, let alone appear in court over citations.

“I can sum it up in one word,” said Rasmussen. “Unenforceable.”

Back in the McDowell Mountain Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale bike salesman Roy Bury estimates that half the cyclists are on eMTBs.

What consequences do they face? Hamilton, the land manager, said volunteer stewards might advise a rider that e-bikes are barred, but that’s about it. If the person claims to be disabled, Hamilton added, staffers might respond, “Hey, have a good time.” And if they’re not disabled but insist on riding anyway? “None of us are law enforcement. We’re just educators.”

Fussell, with PeopleForBikes, said the dilemma is not unique to mountain biking. Public land managers deal with visitors hiking into restricted areas, failing to pick up dog poop, building illegal campfires. A place shouldn’t be shut down just because there are a few scofflaws, she added. The solution is to teach trail etiquette and ethics .

As more Americans turn to the outdoors and eMTBs grow in popularity, Fussell allowed, there’s a possibility “we’ll love our trails to death.” Maybe the most popular venues will limit users and require permits – a practice already underway in some national parks. But cycling advocates contend the better solution is to build more trails and make sound decisions about who gets to use them.

In her previous job, Fussell was executive director with Stowe Trails Partnership, a nonprofit that constructed 40miles of bike trails in Vermont.

At first, the partnership was “staunchly anti-eMBT,” she said, banning eMTBs entirely. But, as members grew familiar with the technology and got to know riders, hostility dissipated. Today, nearly half of the partnership trails are open to e-bikes.

Pedaling into the sunset

Which brings us back to Rand Hubbell’s ride on the Pemberton Trail.

In Arizona, the state Legislature adopted a bill declaring that Class 1 and 2 bicycles are considered non-motorized, with access to all trails where regular bikes are allowed.

A Maricopa County spokeswoman said McDowell Mountain Regional Park is "just following the law."

Yet, at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Hamilton used exactly the same language, saying managers are "just following the law" in prohibiting eMBTs.

How is that possible?

The statute in question turns out to be virtually meaningless. One sentence after establishing that e-bikes may ride on multi-use trails, it says local agencies are free to ignore that rule — banning battery-powered bikes from pathways.

Hubbell said it could be that the nation’s eMTB policies are varied by design. Voters created the McDowell Sonoran Preserve as an open-space conservation area, while the McDowell Mountain Regional Park was developed as a recreation site.

Different purposes, divergent rules.

In fact, there seems to be a consensus among trail users, conservationists and land managers that any blanket policy for electric bikes would prove a dismal failure. From Arizona deserts to Rocky Mountains highs, the logic goes, rules should be based on trail conditions, environmental factors, traffic volume and local politics.

Some day, Hubbell predicted, e-MTBs will be accepted wherever their analog counterparts are allowed, like snowboards on ski slopes. In the meantime, however, he carries a disability letter from his doctor when he cruises through the Sonoran Preserve on his e-bike, just in case one of the stewards challenges him.

Hubbell climbed back in the saddle and began pedaling. “I ride now more than I ever had before,” he said. “I’m 73 and don’t see any reason to stop in the next 10 years. Hopefully, longer than that.”

Part 1--An Electric Bike Rode into the Backcountry. Now there's a nationwide turf war

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 16:54:00 GMT

An electric bike rode into the backcountry. Now there's a nationwide turf war

Updated 9:19 am EDT May. 31, 2022

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Arizona – A gray-haired dude jumped on his mountain bike and began pedaling into the Sonoran desert along a rocky, single-track path.

The trail at McDowell Mountain Regional Park wound past towering saguaros, around paloverde trees in blooming splendor and through sand-filled arroyos. There was no sound except the grind of tires on gravel, the gush of a May breeze and the occasional call of sentinel quail.

Mile after mile, the ride seemed easy. Even as he climbed steep hills, 73-year-old Rand Hubbell barely broke a sweat. In fact, thanks to the bike’s inconspicuous electric motor, his ascent was relatively effortless: Hubbell could remain seated while a 750-watt battery let him use as much or little leg power as he chose.

Electric mountain bikes, known as eMTBs, are more than just welcomed in this 21,000-acre playground; they’re encouraged. The county park’s 40 miles of trails include specialized tracks for competition, plus rest stops with air pumps and spare inner tubes. More than half of the visitors are cyclists. A plaque at one canopy urges, "Of all the paths you take in life, make sure some of them are dirt."

Next door, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve shares a border with the regional park. It, too is laced with miles of hiking trails.

Yet that park has a giant sign at its entrances featuring a picture of an e-bike with a slash through it: “Electric Bikes Prohibited.” It is run by neighboring Scottsdale, where a municipal ordinance bans battery-powered bicycles on all 225 miles of trails. Adjacent properties. Opposite policies.

Adding to the confusion, numerous trails from the county park lead over the mountain crest and into the preserve's no-eMTB zone .

The two grounds might as well be a symbol for the turf war that has emerged with the infusion of electric mountain bikes into America's backcountry.

Over the past five years, smaller and stronger batteries have powered a booming market for electric bikes , or ebikes, of all kinds. And, especially since COVID-19 lockdowns, America’s backcountry trails have seen a proliferation of the dirt-ready variety.

While there is only partial data on the phenomenon, experts agree that cycling has skyrocketed, with electric mountain bikes the most popular model. Bicycle shops nationwide ran out of inventory during the past two years, with prospective buyers on months-long wait lists. The trend is so powerful that Scottsdale bike salesman Jeff Frost jokes about eMTBs as cycling’s “gateway drug.”

According to PeopleForBikes, an advocacy organization for manufacturers, suppliers and cyclists, electric mountain bike sales increased by 1,000% from 2015 to 2019. LEVA, another analyst, reported more e-bikes were sold i n the United States last year than electric cars. Mordor Intelligence predicts the worldwide market for battery-powered mountain bikes, valued at $5 billion in 2020, will double by 2026 .

The onslaught of motor-assisted cyclists has generated a surge of traffic not only on streets, but on trails revered for serenity – trails where, often, motorized vehicles have been considered off-limits.

Thus began the turf wars.

When U.S. Forest Service managers tried to open trails near Lake Tahoe to e-bikes three years ago, the agency wound up in court – sued by the National Horsemen’s Association.

When the Department of the Interior announced that eMTBs would be treated as nonmotorized vehicles and allowed on trails in National Parks, government employees filed another lawsuit.

In Utah, America’s Mecca for mountain biking, state lawmakers tried to devise a statute this year that would clarify rules on e-bikes and single-track trails. The proposal got battered from all sides, said state Sen. Todd Weiler, who introduced the measure. Laughing, he described what followed as a "show," but with an unprintable adjective.

“My lesson?" Weiler said . "Don’t run an electric bike bill ever again.”

On Mackinac Island in Michigan, e-bikes are banned unless a rider has what's known as a "mobility disability" — a medical condition — or an inability to walk more than 200 feet without stopping.

Back in Scottsdale, when city staffers suggested last year that the Sonoran Preserve might open some trails to e-bikers, conservationists stormed social media and bombarded City Hall with emails — most of them rabidly opposed to any motorized traffic in the parklands.

The proposal was promptly tabled, and no one has dared bring it up since. “It’s a very passionate discussion,” observed Scott Hamilton, manager of the preserve.

During a rest stop, Hubbell mentioned that in 1998 he helped write the city ordinance banning motorized vehicles from the preserve. Later, he served on a commission overseeing its trails. And from 2003-15 he was supervisor of the adjoining county park.

Hubbell said he became an avid mountain biker after retirement. But age and health issues took a toll until the morning rides just sapped his strength: “My wife’s list of to-dos didn’t get done.”

That’s when Hubbell started noticing e-bikes as they passed him on hill climbs, sometimes with older riders. “I thought, ‘That’s pretty cool.’” he recalls. “I’m working hard and these guys are going right by me. And they’re smiling.”

'Trail punks'

Manufacturers, vendors, riders and other advocates insist that, while eMTBs have motors, they are really just bicycles. They contend electric bike ownership is dominated by older people who travel slower, with less danger and trail damage. And the battery allows disabled or weak riders to enjoy the great outdoors while getting moderate exercise.

Those who oppose e-bike access to single-track trails include not just environmentalists and hikers, but equestrians and others who argue that eMTBs are faster, heavier, more dangerous and more destructive than regular mountain bikes. The motor also transports cyclists deeper into the outback, with increased impact on nature.

“It’s alarming people because it goes against why some of these places were set aside and protected,” noted the late John Freemuth, a Boise State University land policy expert. “There’s obviously a place for e-bikes… But there are places, perhaps, where they shouldn’t be allowed because other people go to national parks for experiences that don’t include whipping around on bikes at 20 mph.”

Some of the fiercest eMTB critics are regular mountain bikers — young purists who view the battery boost as “cheating.”

A 2020 article in Gear Patrol pointed out that mountain biking had once been the “drunk uncle” of outdoor activities, with riders disdained as “trail punks” by hikers, conservationists and horsemen.

After decades of diplomacy and trail-building, regular mountain bikes gradually gained acceptance. “But here we are again,” the article noted, only now e-bikers are the pariahs."

In Washington state, the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance lobbied for a bill prohibiting eMTBs from all “natural surface trails. ” The reason, as explained in Singletracks magazine, was a fear that if e-bikes are permitted then land managers might close trails to all bicycles.

Amid the sound and fury, government officials have concocted a chaos of rules and policies from Alaskan to Florida, with neighboring Arizona properties as classic examples.

The regulations and enforcement are so confusing, so inconsistent, that even vendors warn customers not to purchase electric mountain bikes until they’ve checked with city, county, state and federal land agencies to learn whether they’ll have places to ride.

What is an eMTB?

In one sense, the dilemma is like any conflict that arises with disruptive technology: A new product or invention encroaches, prompting backlash.

Years ago, snowboarders fought for access to ski slopes. Today, drone operators struggle with flight regulations aimed at protecting privacy and public safety.

But eMTBs are particularly fraught because the technology places them in a gray area. Are they motorized vehicles, or bicycles?

The dispute has churned up a mini-culture war, which is nothing new. Bicycles were invented in 1817 but did not gain popularity until the 1890’s invention of pneumatic tires allowed for a less bouncy ride.

As women began cycling during the Victorian era, wearing modified bloomers, bikes became a symbol of liberation. Anti-feminists of the day promulgated claims that the two-wheel contraptions made females walk funny, endangered reproductive ability and even caused a condition known as “bicycle face. ”

The first electric bikes also were patented in the 1890s. But, for a variety of reasons, they did not catch on until more than a century later.

Today, e-bikes are ubiquitous in Europe and Asia both as commuter vehicles and outdoor toys. The United States is playing catch-up, especially with knobby-tired mountain bikes.

The modern version features a motor that either assists a rider in pedaling or can provide all the power. Most jurisdictions set a 750-watt limit to the battery and recognize three levels of eMTB :

Class 1: The motor kicks in only when the bike is being pedaled, and a governor caps battery-enhanced speed at 20 mph.

Class 2: A rider can rely fully on the motor, without pedaling. The top speed under battery power is also 20 mph.

Class 3: The motor delivers energy only when the cyclist is pedaling, and only up to a speed of 28 mph. (With wide support from industry groups and cycling advocates, Class 3 bikes are generally banned from natural, one-track trails.)

The e-bike is a techno nerd’s dream, with multiple different motor types and software systems. But all draw power from a rechargeable battery which turns a shaft, creating torque that propels a wheel.

Because those mechanics are so small, with batteries concealed in the frame, many e-MTBs are nearly impossible to visually distinguish from regular bikes.

At the road racing world championships in 2016, cyclist Femke Van den Driessche was suspended for six years after magnetic imaging detected a battery-powered motor on her bike. Today, the Union Cycliste Internationale and some mountain biking race organizers routinely check for what’s known as “motor doping.”

But there’s another x-factor with eMTBs: The governor, which is supposed to limit a bicycle’s speed, can be hacked and overcome with apps that are available at local cycling shops and online. That means the maximum speed may be phony.

"The after-market hacks for eMTBs these days are unbelievable. It’s a booming business,” said Frost, who works in an Arizona bike shop. “There’s nothing illegal about it — until you see one go by at 35 mph.”

Anyone who has ridden a non-motorized mountain bike on steep trails knows the sport is demanding, limited to riders in physical shape. Electric motors can dramatically reduce that stress, letting riders decide how hard they want to work during climbs — a godsend to those who have health conditions or limited ambition.

Of course, that advantage comes with a price: eMTBs start at around $1,000 for a hefty model with relatively cheap materials and parts, soaring to upwards of $15,000 for a premium ride.

Legislatures and agencies around the country have struggled to define and regulate eMTBs. Most states have designated Class 1 and 2 bikes as nonmotorized, but often with confusing exceptions.

Even cycling organizations seem conflicted, caught between members who bristle at e-bikes and those who love them. The International Mountain Biking Association’s policy position is noncommittal, supporting Class 1 electric bikes in the backcountry unless that means traditional bikes will be banned.

“We want to see eMTB access granted,” said Todd Keller, the association’s director of governmental affairs, “but it has to be in a responsible way.”

PeopleForBikes, which represents manufacturers and suppliers, touts a model policy that presumes eMBTs may use trails open to regular bikes – except where prohibited or restricted in the interest of safety.

SDMB on e-bikes

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:08:00 GMT

Some recent chatter on social media about SDMB's neutrality on the e-bike issue has generated a LOT of passion and feedback. We thought it appropriate to weigh in here on the blog to offer up some points of clarification and information.

Land management agencies and local riding areas where E-Bike are or are not allowed to ride:

AZ State Parks & Trails Supports SDMB

Sat, 21 May 2022 22:05:00 GMT

Arizona State Parks & Trails recently approved a small grant to SDMB to support our Bike Ambassador program. The funds will be used to provide jerseys to Bike Ambassadors which identify them clearly out on the trails, and for First-Aid Kits and Be Cool trail etiquette materials. Congrats to Nathaniel Gordon for submitting a successful grant to support the SDMB Bike Ambassador program. Look for them on the trails.

SDMB Launches Bike Ambassador Program

Thu, 12 May 2022 22:14:00 GMT

Personally, we have noticed an improvement in trail etiquette here in Tucson with the "Be Cool" program, particularly at Sweetwater where the past was sometimes marked by complaints and conflicts from hikers about MTBers. Our new bike ambassador program is designed to take the new step to make our trails even safer and better—for all users.

Transit Cycles: Support Your Local Bike Shops--First in a Series

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 22:41:00 GMT

Transit Cycles is the first woman-owned and operated bicycle shop in Tucson. Owner and head mechanic, Jen na, has been a bicycle i ndustry professional for over 20 years.

Jenna's passion for bicycles started in her early-teens with modified three-speeds she picked up from garage sale s and thrift stores. She bought her first "real" mountain bike, a Gary Fisher Mt. Tam, in 2002 and has been hooked ever since.

Jenna began her professional career in 2001 in Rochester, NY and worked for three nationally recognized shops in the area. in 2014, Jenna left New York and moved to Santa Cruz, CA where she worked for a popular bicycle manufacturer as well as a high-end mountain bike shop in San Jose. After a few close calls in California, she moved to Tucson in 2017 and made herself at home.

Jenna purchased her dream shop, Transit Cycles, from Duncan Benning in January 2021 and has dedicated her life in an all new way to the bicycle.

Transit Cycles is located at 267 S. Avenida Del Convento in the MSA Annex, near the base of A Mountain and just off The Loop (exit westside at either Congress or Cushing St.)

Our current hours are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. Please check our website transitcycles.com or on Instagram @transitcycles for any changes.

Transit Cycles carries Revel Bikes, Esker Cycles, Surly, Salsa, All-City, State Bicycle Co. and Radio bicycles in stock. We also s pecial order Why titanium bicycles, MONÉ and Baphomet steel bikes, Linus townie-styled bikes and Cleary kid's bikes.

Transit Cycles is a full-service repair shop. From brake bleeds and suspension overhauls to building your dream bike- wheels and all, our work is done right the first time.

After mechanical service, we specialize in what we like best: bike-packing, commuting, and doing our best to rely on automobiles as little as possible. Our weather here is absolutely fantastic in Tu cson, and if you want to leave your car parked, we can help you with that.

We carry all types o f racks, bags and accessories to make getting out (or getting away) on your bike easier and more enjoyable. We do our best to carry bags and accessories made in the US. We like to support our neighbors the best we can, so in our shop you'll find brands like Bags by Bird, Widefoot, Oveja Negra, King Cage, Nittany Mountain Works, Revelate Designs, Old Man Mountain racks, DOOM handlebars and many more.

Come check us out!

Contact the shop at:

520-396-4525

Instagram @transitcycles or

Jenna@transitcycles.com Thanks Tucson!

Big Wash Trailhead to Close

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 20:40:00 GMT

We have been asked by Pima County Parks & Recreation to notify everyone that the Big Wash TH at Rancho Vistoso Blvd. will be CLOSED for a full 6 weeks while construction crews work on wash bank protection for an adjacent development. There will be absolutely no access to/from or parking at the Big Wash TH between February 21 – April 4.

The Big Wash Trail (1.3 mile trail between Rancho Vistoso Blvd. and the “Honeybee” trails to the north) will remain open but you will not be able to access it from the south. There are no other alternative access points except the church trail. Given how small the church parking area is, bikers should consider parking at the old detention center lot on the east side of Oracle Road. Edwin Road has also recently been plowed and you can access the upper Honeybee trails from this road. Development of any user created trails to bypass the construction at Big Wash is prohibited.

This will inconvenience many in the local riding community, but is unavoidable and necessary for public safety. Please share widely and adapt accordingly.

UPDATED--8(ish) Days of Xmas Ride Series 2021

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 05:27:00 GMT

UPDATE: 8(ISH) DAYS OF XMAS 2021 RIDE SERIES

With rain forecast for the next several days, be sure to check with the host of the subsequent rides to see if they will be held. Contact information for each host is below.

The 8(ish) Days of Xmas ride series is back! The 8(ish) Days was started in 2007 when some Tucson locals decided they wanted to ride every day between Christmas and New Year’s, and it’s grown into a showcase of the amazing trails and riding community in Southern Arizona. It’s a chance for folks to get out with the organizations and clubs that make Tucson a great place to live and ride. So come on out, try some new trails, make some new friends, and celebrate the holidays by bike! All are welcome for all the rides, but make sure to check out the events for info about trail difficulties.

Tuesday 12/28: Our MTB Rides Tuesday Night Lights

Event Host: https://www.facebook.com/events/294374232574121/

The Ride: Camino Loma Alta to Pistol Hill and back on the Arizona Trail

Difficulty: Intermediate

Meet Location/Time: Camino Loma Alta TH @ 7:00 PM

Wednesday, 12/29: Old Pueblo MTB

Event Host: https://www.facebook.com/groups/203787656312279

The Ride: Honeybee trails with a Badlands option (bring lights!).

Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate (depending on route).

Meet Location/Time: Big Wash TH @ 2:30 PM

Thursday, 12/30: Portal/Explorer Trail Build Day

Event Host: sdmb.org or https://www.facebook.com/SDMB.org

The Ride: Build fresh trail at Tucson Mountain Park.

Difficulty: You decide!

Meet Location/Time: NW Corner of Kennedy Park @ 9:00 AM. Bring water, snacks, rain coast, and work gloves.

Thursday, 12/30: 50-Year Trail

Event Host: Catalina Brewing Company, Brian Vance @ 520-275-2875

The Ride: 50-Year trail to the Chutes, maybe Upper 50 and Baby Jesus if there is interest.

Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced

Meet Location/Time: Golder Ranch Road parking lot @ 9:30 AM

Friday, 12/31: Guy Fawkes and the Cycling Anarchists “Champagne Ride” (Champagne for Everybody!)

Event: Cancelled because of forecasted rain

The Ride: Tortolita Preserve Loop

Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate

Meet Location/Time: Tortolita Preserve TH @ 5:00 PM

Saturday, 1/1: MTB Addicts Hangover Ride

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/559650358462043/

The Ride: A leisurely booze-fueled loop at Fantasy Island

Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate

Meet Location/Time: Fantasy Island Valencia TH @ 11:30 AM

Sunday, 1/2: SDMB Poker Ride & Trail Run

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/428959222136299/

The Ride: Non-competitive poker ride/run in the Tucson Mountains. Multiple distances. Get cards, win prizes!

Difficulty: Intermediate

Meet Location/Time: NW corner of Kennedy Park (Ramada #40) @ 9:00 AM

E-Bikes & Tucson Trails: What You Need to Know

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:00:00 GMT

E-Bikes, or electric bikes, have become increasingly popular in recent years with most major bike companies selling at least one mountain E-Bike. They have become widely accepted across much of the rest of the world; however there has been significant pushback to their acceptance in the United States. Here we strive to objectively discuss some of the ongoing controversy around E-Bikes, lay out the rules governing E-Bike usage for different land managers, and lastly identify where they can and cannot be ridden in the greater Tucson area.

Note that SDMB as an organization DOES NOT have an position about E-Bike usage, however, we partner with multiple land-management agencies to build, maintain, and advocate for trails in the area and therefore feel it is our responsibility to explain and discuss local policy and potential controversy surrounding E-Bikes. Understanding the history of the debate over mechanized vs. motorized recreational designations is important to understanding the current debate over E-Bike usage, especially for e-mountain bikes on multiple-use single-track trails.

^ “The Elephant in the Room” by Stephen Haynes (originally published in DirtRag 2015 )

What is an E-Bike?

There is a range of classifications for E-Bikes (see classifications below), but at a minimum all have a battery powered motor and pedal-assist function. Additionally, class 2 E-Bikes have a throttle that can work without pedaling. E-Bikes have provided a great resource for bicyclists who could not ride certain terrain or certain distances (due to age, injury, illness, or lack of physical ability) by providing an additional battery powered pedal-assist or throttle function. This also presents a potential problem, as the pedal assist and throttle functions allow more power to be transferred by any particular rider onto the riding surface.

The three E-Bike classes are defined as follows:

*All classes limit the motor’s power to 1 horsepower (750W).

Classification of E-Bikes differs based on land-management agency and riding area. Many agencies (U.S. Government: US Forest Service / Bureau of Land Management / National Park Service, Pima County) define all E-Bikes as motorized therefore only allowing E-Bikes where other motorized vehicles (e.g. motorcycles) can also travel. However, some agencies (locally, the State of Arizona) consider class 1 E-Bikes to be functionally similar to non-E-Bikes and therefore allow them to travel everywhere that a mechanized bicycle can also travel. This disparity in interpretation means that is E-Bike access is not ubiquitous across all trail networks. From here on we will only discuss Class 1 E-Bikes as they relate to traditional road and mountain bikes due their popularity and to their variation in regulation by land-management agencies.

Additionally, E-Bikes were initially very easy to spot, as they had an externally mounted battery, large motor case, and heads up control panel (e.g. Haibike SDURO shown below). However, as E-Bike design has progressed in recent years, they have come to look increasingly like non-E-Bikes (e.g. Specialized Turbo Levo below). This “blending in” of E-Bikes has led to difficulty in differentiating E-Bikes from normal bikes for park and law enforcement rangers and therefore regulating them within different agencies.

What’s all the controversy about?

Remember the mention of motorized vs. mechanized travel above? This debate stemmed from federal agency interpretations of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Act) (for much more information on federal wilderness click here ). That act defined motorized methods of travel as inconsistent with wilderness character and banned motorized travel within all future wilderness areas. Separate federal agencies then interpreted the Act, subsequently developing their own regulations governing recreational use within wilderness areas managed by each agency. In those regulations, the U.S. Forest Service defined bicycles as a mechanized form of transport, as they are human powered but provide a mechanical advantage (via gearing) to the rider. The agencies also interpreted that mechanized travel was not consistent with wilderness character and banned mechanized forms of transport (including bicycling) from all current and future wilderness areas. Additionally, there is a currently a push by some members of the mountain bike community to reopen that debate about the interpretation of whether mechanized travel is consistent with wilderness character, as it was not explicitly stated in the Act and bicycles were riding previously in areas that have since been designated wilderness. That long-term debate directly influences the current debate about E-Bike usage on designated non-motorized trails within the United States today.

Federal trails and roads are all specifically designated based on the types of allowable uses on that trail or road through the formal travel management process . These use types include hiking, horseback riding, bicycle riding, motorcycle riding, larger off-highway vehicle (OHV) driving, and street-legal vehicle driving (see table below). As E-Bikes are considered motorized, they are lumped in with motorcycles in where they are allowed to ride on federal lands. Many trails in popular riding locations (e.g. Santa Catalina Mountains) are designated as non-motorized, therefore E-Bikes are not allowed on those trails. Additionally, many state and local jurisdictions (locally, Pima County) have adopted federal guidelines for designating allowable uses on trails to maintain consistency with adjacent federal lands.

^ U.S. Forest Service singletrack trail signage in Sedona, AZ

Allowable uses by trail/road designation:

Regardless of how you feel about the wilderness debate or how mountain bikes or E-Bikes have been classified by federal agencies, current regulations govern where and how we can recreate. Not following posted regulations not only opens you up to a citation from law enforcement, but it also risks losing continued future access for all mountain bikers on our local trails.

So, where can I ride an E-Bike?

In order to answer this question, you need to know what agency manages your local riding area. If you don’t already know, please read our first SDMB In the Know dispatch: Land Managers 101 . E-Bikes are prohibited from all non-motorized trails managed by any federal agency or Pima County. E-Bikes are allowed on state lands, City of Tucson property, and trails managed by the Town of Marana (please see the table below for specific riding areas). *Note that as the Arizona Trail was designated as a federal non-motorized National Scenic Trail, E-Bikes are not allowed on it even if it is passing through lands that would otherwise allow E-Bikes (i.e. AZT in Oracle State Park). Additionally, while the Town of Marana has provided funding for trail construction and now maintains trails within Tortolita Mountain Park, Pima County manages this land, so E-Bikes are not allowed on the Ridgeline/Wild Burro Loop and roughly the upper half of Wild Mustang. Bikes (and E-Bikes) are only allowed on specific Town of Marana managed trails in the area including Lower Wild Burro (above Alamo Spring Spur)*, Alamo Spring Trail and Spur*, lower Wild Mustang, upper Javelina, and the Tortolita Preserve (* Note as these trails are accessed through the Tortolita Mountain Park, one could not ride an E-Bike to these trails). Finally, note that there are also many Forest Service motorized trails and roads (north and east side of Catalina Mountains, Redington Pass area, Santa Rita Mountains) that allow E-Bikes as well as motorized vehicles (see Coronado National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps here ).

Essentially, this means that E-Bikes can legally ride on less than ¼ of the ~400 bike-legal miles of single-track in the greater Tucson area.

Land management agencies and local riding areas where E-Bike are or are not allowed to ride:

It is imperative that local riders know and comply with the posted regulations governing E-Bike use for all local riding areas. Not doing so could potentially jeopardize future access for all mountain bikers. If you are a rider considering purchasing an E-Bike, please research where you can legally ride it. Bike shop owners and employees can be crucial in this education process by informing potential E-Bike buyers that they will be limited to riding in the few local areas that allow E-Bikes or trails and dirt roads that also allow motorized vehicles.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about where E-Bikes can legally be ridden in the greater Tucson area. If you have any questions about E-Bike or general mountain bike trail access, please contact us at SDMB.

McKenzie Frenzy Race Results

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 01:00:00 GMT

The results of the recent McKenzie Frenzy Race are now posted. Congrats to everyone who participated and enjoyed fabulous weather for a race--and no wind! More than 80 people signed up to participate. Also see overall results here: 2021 McKenzie Frenzy Results - Overall.pdf

Your Input Needed on AZ State Parks' 5 Year Plan

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 15:55:00 GMT

Arizona State Parks and Trails has launched the 2023 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation (SCORP) public survey. Every five years, the SCORP must be updated. This plan gathers information and recommendations to guide the management and funding priorities for outdoor recreation in Arizona. Please make your voice heard.

If you participate in outdoor recreation in the state of Arizona, please take the survey. The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish on the Arizona State Parks and Trails website ( azstateparks.com/scorp ).

Public participation by Arizonans over the age of 18 is vitally important. Arizona State Parks and Trails is collecting feedback from user groups, the general public, stakeholders, advocates, and recreation providers to develop outdoor recreation priorities for the state for the next five years . These priorities will inform grant criteria to guide the distribution of state and federal monies to non-profits like SDMB that can aid in the acquisition, development and maintenance of outdoor recreation sites.

The survey will be active through December 2021.

A Beginner’s Guide to Mountain Biking in Southern Arizona

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:26:00 GMT

Southern Arizona is a great place to ride all year long and we have some of the best beginner trails in the state. "Singletrack" ranked the Sweetwater Trail as one of the best beginner trails in the state.

#1—The Bike. To get started, make sure you have a good quality bike that is sized for you. A competent bike shop can get you outfitted, and we have many good bike shops in Tucson, Oro Valley, Vail and Sahuarita. Whether your decide to go for a hard tail (front suspension only), full suspension; aluminum-frame, carbon-frame; fat tire, chubby, regular; or 27.5 or 29’er tires; tubeless tires or tubes; flats or clip-in pedals--all are personal choices. Confused? At first this can all be TMI (too much information) but learning about all this will help ensure that you have a bike you can grow into. Spend some time talking about all these features at a local bike shop that specializes in mountain bikes. Buy a bike that is better than your current level of riding so your can progress into the bike. For more information on buying the "right" bike in a video, click here. Don’t buy a cheapo bike (like a Huffy or Mongoose) to save money, and if you rent a bike, rent only from trusted, reputable bike rental shops. This is a “buyer beware” market because not all bike rental companies are the same. The best ones should provide a good quality bike with tubeless tires, basic bike repair tools, water, a map of the areas you will be riding, a helmet and a bike lock, at the minimum.

#2--The Trails . Next, check the SDMB website for the best beginner trails as a place to get started. We have put up 4 of the best beginner trails. Master your competence on those and then progress to some intermediate trails. Check them out here.

#3—Personal Gear. Personal equipment is another essential. Everyone who bikes should wear a helmet, riding gloves are very helpful and help reduce numbness that can develop, water is absolutely essential, as is sunscreen. Depending on how long you plan to be out riding should determine how much water to take. Always over-estimate how much water you will need so you don’t run out. Using an electrolyte solution in your water or by itself will help prevent cramps and replenish body salts and other electrolytes you will lose by perspiring. If your bike uses tubes, be sure to carry a pump and patch kit. Know how to fix a tube with a hole in it before you head out on the trail or ride with someone else who knows how to do this. For Arizona conditions, we highly recommend riding with tubeless tires--you will have fewer flats. Click here for a video about tubes vs. tubeless tires. If you ride tubeless tires, be sure to carry at least one CO2 cartridge and air value. Sometimes a small plastic bottle of sealant is also a good idea for longer rides where the trailhead may be miles away. You might also consider carrying some tire plugs as these are a better solution than putting in a tube if you do experience a flat. Walking back to your car while pushing a bike with a flat tire is never fun. For more information via video, click here .

#4—Tips for Safe Riding . Your bike is an advanced piece of technology and engineering that can overcome many obstacles, but you have to trust the bike to do what it was designed to do. Remember, though, that you are always in control and can stop, steer around obstacles, or slow down as you wish. Here are a few common riding tips we usually provide to beginner riders:

Most importantly, have fun and be safe. Mountain biking is a great sport that is growing, and so are the number of trails. You’re only a beginner once, so learn how to ride the easy trails first so you can move on up to things more challenging. And check SDMB's Facebook and Instagram pages for announcements about bike clinics led by certified MTB instructors.

Creating an Office of Outdoor Recreation

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 21:37:00 GMT

A Vision for an Arizona Office of Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor recreation is an iconic part of Arizona - from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the canyons and bajadas of the Sonoran Desert. Arizona has a history of stewardship for our lands, waters, and wildlife. Yet, we are falling behind our neighboring states in capitalizing on our unique outdoor assets. Arizona needs an Office of Outdoor Recreation to help us leverage the potential of our natural and cultural resources. The time is long overdue. The time to act is now.

An Office of Outdoor Recreation would help to enhance the quality of life for Arizona’s residents, promote sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities for both residents and visitors, and expand and invigorate the outdoor recreation economy. This office would leverage jobs, prosperity, and wellness for all state residents in both rural as well as in large metropolitan areas. Bridging the missions of existing state agencies such as wildlife conservation, tourism, and management of state parks and trails would allow each to build upon the work of the other and scaffold the effect of their efforts.

Goals

Outcomes

Arizona would benefit from a unified voice to promote the economic value of outdoor recreation, trails, and public lands. Our neighboring states’ offices for Outdoor Recreation have already demonstrated the value of having such an office. The time for Arizona to tap into the $459 billion dollar per year outdoor recreation industry is now.

SDMB's 2020 Year in Review

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 18:23:00 GMT

SDMB's Meet the Board: Mike Mucker

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 19:17:00 GMT

SDMB's Meet the Board: Dave Slagle

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 17:21:00 GMT

SDMB's Meet the Board: Kirk Astroth

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 20:22:00 GMT

Welcome back to a SDMB's Meet the Board, where we introduce our current board members and give them an opportunity to talk about what motivates them to volunteer their time with SDMB. Second up, acting board vice-president, Kirk Astroth!

1. How long have you been involved with SDMB?

2. What about SDMB’s mission and work really motivates you?

Two things really motivate me about SDMB’s mission: trail building and protection. I love the fact that we are working to actively expand trail networks in southern Arizona and that we have an advocacy mission.

3. What is one personal/professional asset you bring to SDMB?

I got involved in the board because I am passionate about protecting trails like Honeybee that are constantly under the threat of development and elimination. I enjoy working in the political realm. I also bring my passion for data collection to SDMB. I have been placing a bike counter on various trails for the past 4 years and conducting rider surveys in order to ensure that we have hard data to bring to public discussions about the importance of protecting trails.

4. What do you want to accomplish with SDMB moving forward?

5. What is your favorite trail to ride (local preferred, but anywhere works)?

Thanks Kirk! Be on the lookout for more bios coming soon!

SDMB's Meet the Board: Evan Pilling

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 21:42:00 GMT

Welcome to a SDMB's Meet the Board, where we introduce our board members and give them an opportunity to talk about what motivates them to volunteer their time with SDMB. First up, acting board president, Evan Pilling!

1. How long have you been involved with SDMB?

I attended my first SDMB volunteer event in 2008 when the Arizona Trail was being built south of Sahuarita Road. I joined the board around 2012.

2. What about SDMB’s mission and work really motivates you?

I love bikes, I love public lands, and I love what happens when we combine them. It’s an incredible opportunity to work with government partners like Pima County and the City of Tucson to build and maintain trails, empower and educate trail users and volunteers, and get more people recreating outside.

3. What is one personal/professional asset you bring to SDMB?

My background in mediation and collaborative decision-making helps me work with land managers, other user groups, and all stakeholders to find common cause and take care of the lands we all love. Additionally, having spent the better part of a decade designing, building, and maintaining trails I’m able to make even multi-use trails fun to ride while also being sustainable and providing a good user experience.

4. What do you want to accomplish with SDMB moving forward?

I want to figure out how to get more of the riding community to step into leadership roles and take ownership of their trails. We have so many opportunities to make Tucson an even better place to live and ride, but we don’t have the capacity to realize all of them. Projects like 100-Acre Wood Bike Park and Fantasy Island take a huge amount of work, and as usual it’s done by a very small group of dedicated volunteers. Just think of what we could do if more riders became leaders in the advocacy world!

5. What is your favorite trail to ride (local preferred, but anywhere works)?

Man, picking my favorite local trail is like being asked to pick my favorite dog (I have three), so I’m just going to say I love them all. Favorite trails elsewhere? 401 and Teocali in Crested Butte, Hazzard County in Moab, and Gooseberry Mesa in Hurricane.

Thanks Evan! Be on the lookout for more bios coming soon!

Summer Reading List: Books about Bikes!

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 21:40:00 GMT

Biking Book Recommendations During the Pandemic

Compiled by SDMB board member Kirk Astroth

So, you’re holed up, it's hotter than Hades, sheltering in place and trying to stay away from the respiratory cloud of other outdoor enthusiasts. But you’re still missing biking, right? So why not curl up on the couch or patio with a good book about biking? SDMB has got you covered with some great recommendations that will take your mind off these crazy times and keep you from being bored.

Want to grab one of these books? We'd appreciate it if you kept your money local by supporting a Tucson business like Antigone Books or Bookman's. Local businesses are essential to a thriving and diverse community, and they need our support now more than ever. If you can't find the book you want locally and want to purchase online, please consider Amazon Smile and choose SDMB as your charity so that a portion of the purchase price comes back to help us build and maintain trails!

· Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike , by Grant Petersen (2012). The author worked in retail with bikes for years and was a racer. He wrote this book primarily to counter racing’s bad influence on biking and to encourage people to jettison the influences of racing that make your bike riding less fun. Among his messages: Don’t wear ridiculous outfits just to ride your bike; Don’t suffer in the name of speed; Don’t ride bikes that don’t make sense for you. He covers everything from helmets, pedals, riding techniques and upkeep. Spoiler alert: He wears plaid longsleeve shirts when riding.

· Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents , by Jim Malusa (2008). Malusa is a Tucson-based writer who was oddly influenced by Jon Krakauer’s book, Into Thin Air. Malusa decides to do the opposite—venture to the world’s lowest places and the thickest air. Armed with plenty of sunscreen, water and a sleeping bag, this book chronicles his 6 year anti-summit adventures to the Dead Sea, he rode his bike from Tucson to Death Valley, and the lowest points on four other continents (Antartica was left out for obvious reasons). Well-written, humorous and entertaining, you can’t wait to read about his next venture.

· The Coyote's Bicycle: The Untold Story of Seven Thousand Bicycles and the Rise of a Borderland Empire , by Kimball Taylor (2016). Taylor has mainly written about surfing, but when he stumbled upon large piles of used bicycles near the border in San Diego, he was determined to find out why they were there. He ends up unveiling a complicated web of intrigue and scheming involving more than 7,000 bikes that are used by migrants to cross the border, but then the bikes end up in US prisons, in the US military, Hollywood and the black market. All run by one man—El Negro and his shadowy accomplice Indio from Oaxaca.

· Eat, Sleep, Ride: How I Braved Bears, Badlands, and Big Breakfasts in My Quest to Cycle the Tour Divide , by Pau Howard (2011). This book recounts the author’s experience riding in the Continental Divide race in 2010 from Canada to Mexico, the longest mountain bike ride in the world—over 2,700 miles and 500 miles longer than the Tour de France and with the equivalent elevation gain of 7 Mt. Everests. And the guy has never ridden a mountain bike before although to be fair he did ride in the Tour. Well-written and humorous with hand-drawn maps of his route. You won’t be able to put this book down.

· The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance , by David Herlihy (2010). The author chronicles the story of Frank Lenz from Pittsburgh who in 1892 set out to cycle around the world on a new-fangled kind of bicycle with inflatable tires. Two years later and after surviving countless disasters and travails, he disappeared in Turkey on his approach to the end in Europe. His disappearance sparked a world outrage and reporters were sent out to find out what happened to Lenz.

· Full Tilt: From Ireland to India with a Bicycle , by Dervla Murphy (1987). In 1963, this young woman set off, alone, on a bike to ride to the base of the Himalayas. She took minimal support gear and hardly any food, counting on the goodness of people along the way. She had an incredible experience, particularly in Afghanistan where she had to disguise herself as a man so she could pass through rural villages. (Aside: If you like this book, you should read some of her numerous other books of adventure. She is the definition of “intrepid.”)

· It’s All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels , by Robert Penn (2011). Lance Armstrong might has suggested that it was NOT about the bike, but Penn disagrees. He has pedaled nearly every day of his adult life and traveled over 25,000 miles on a bike. Finally, he decided he need to build the “perfect bike” that he would ride for the rest of his life. This book is about his epiphany about biking wherein he explores the culture, science, and history of the bicycle. It explains why we bike. A very entertaining and informing book about all the components of why great bikes are great.

· Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey , by Goran Kropp (1997). Kropp was a 35-year old Swede who always wanted to climb Mt. Everest, so he set out in 1995 from Sweden on his bike, riding all the way to Nepal and the base of Mount Everest. He summited without oxygen, almost died on the summit, and then biked home to write about it all. Sadly, Kropp died in a rock-climbing accident in eastern Washington state in 2002.

· No Shit! There I was....A Collection of Wild Stories From Wild People , by Michael Hodgson (1994). Hodgson has collected a variety of short humorous essays and stories about adventure and misadventure. All pieces were submitted as part of a writing contest and includes the best stories.

Mountain Biking During the Pandemic Part 2: Gravel Grinding

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 23:30:00 GMT

Photo credit: Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder

Mountain Biking During the Pandemic Part 2: Gravel Grinding

Ok, so you want to be a responsible citizen and practice effective social distancing but want to keep riding? Awesome. Here in Southern Arizona we’re really fortunate to have 450+ miles of non-Wilderness singletrack, so there are plenty of ways to spread out and avoid the crowds. In our last blog post we discussed some of the “lesser-traveled” trails around Tucson that are fun to explore and unlikely to be crowded. For this blog post we’re going to share a couple of gravel routes; higher-mileage rides that use dirt roads instead of trails. Gravel grinding is an awesome way to cover a lot of ground, explore new areas, and build fitness. It’s also a great option for beginner riders, less-confident riders, and those coming from a road riding background, as by and large dirt roads are less technical (but not always!). Southern Arizona has literally thousands of miles of dirt roads in both the low desert and the mountains, so you can move up or down in elevation depending on the weather.

To get the dirt on gravel routes, we reached out to a few of our local gravel grinder race/event promoters: the Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder (MLGG) and the Spirit World 100 . The MLGG takes place in October of each year and takes riders from the 3C Ranch in Oracle up Mt. Lemmon and through the San Pedro River Valley on 40, 50, and 60-mile routes. SDMB is a nonprofit beneficiary of the MLGG, so a portion of all sponsorships and race fees benefit local trail projects! The Spirit World 100 is Southern Arizona’s newest gravel race, and it takes riders on a 50 and 100-mile route based out of Patagonia. The event is coordinated by The Cyclists’s Menu, which offers fully-catered cycling camps with amazing food courtesy of chef Zander Ault.

Exploration is one of the best parts of any ride, whether it's on singletrack or a back dirt road. You don't need to follow an established route to have a blast. Two great starting points are Charleau Gap Rd. in Catalina and Redington Rd. to the east of Tucson. Both roads are also popular with OHV users, especially on weekends, so avoid peak days/hours.

Given the distances that most gravel routes cover, it’s pretty likely that you will be driving there and stopping in small towns like Oracle and Patagonia. At this point we are all hopefully practicing social distancing, washing our hands, wearing masks, etc to help flatten the curve and end the COVID-19 outbreak. When traveling from one area to another, or from a city to a small town, please make sure to do the following:

Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder

The MLGG course has 40, 50, and 60-mile options. All routes technically start and finish at the 3C Ranch, but a good alternate start/finish is just past the ranch at the turn-off for Peppersauce Campground. While the MLGG is technically a gravel route, the Mt. Lemmon Control Road is steep, bumpy, and often has loose rock so while you can ride it on a gravel or CX bike, a hardtail 29er is the weapon of choice for most riders. The MLGG course has a low elevation of 3,000 ft. and a high elevation of 8,000 ft. (for the 60 Grind) so be prepared for a wide variety of temperatures. No matter which route you choose, the views of the Catalina and Galiuro Mountains are spectacular and the diversity of plants (Saguaros all the way up to Ponderosa Pines) on the course is second to none.

GO HERE FOR MLGG ROUTE INFORMATION

Spirit World 100

Based out of Patagonia, AZ the Sprit World 100 has 50 and 100-mile routes. These are more “traditional” gravel routes that can be ridden on a gravel/CX bike or a mountain bike. Both the 50 and 100-mile routes are between 4,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation, and cross high desert grasslands and the Patagonia, Huachuca, and Mule Mountains and the Canelo Hills. It’s proximity to the US/Mexico border makes the Spirit World 100 an interesting ride.

GO HERE FOR SPIRIT WORLD 100 ROUTE INFORMATION

The Dirty Freehub

The Dirt Freehub is a national website that features curated and vetted gravel routes in each state. They have detailed map and elevation information for all routes.

GO HERE TO SEE ARIZONA GRAVEL ROUTES ON THE DIRTY FREEHUB

From SDMB Board Member Kirk Astroth

SDMB’s own Kirk Astroth is an avid explorer of random dirt roads and backcountry routes, many of which feature interesting historical and archeological features. Read on for a list of some of his favorite gravel rides. You’ll have to do your own map and wayfinding research for these, which just makes it more of an adventure!

Mountain Biking During the Pandemic: Where to Ride

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 04:16:00 GMT

Mountain Biking During The Pandemic

Unless you live under a really large rock, on the Moon, with no connection to media of any sort, you probably know that we’re experiencing a global pandemic. In a matter of months COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we live, shop, work, and of course recreate. We all want to do our part to contain the spread and flatten the curve, but we also want to get out and ride! SDMB has covered ways to stay safe and practice social distancing in an earlier blog post; GO HERE TO READ MORE .

The short and sweet version of how to practice social distancing and be responsible while riding is:

Now that we all know how to stay safe and distant, where do we ride? Especially on weekends, trail systems like Fantasy Island, Honeybee, and Starr Pass, and Sweetwater are seeing record numbers of users, with full parking lots and crowded trails. Fortunately, in Pima County alone we have more than 450 miles of non-Wilderness singletrack, and so much more if you factor in southern Pinal County and northern Cochise County.

We’ve started a list of suggested “less-traveled” trails and trail systems within an hour(ish) drive of Tucson. This is a great opportunity to go check out some new trails… who knows, you might find your new favorite! While these are mostly “front-country” rides that present minimal risk to experienced rides, please make sure to practice common sense by bringing everything you might need, avoiding excessive heat, and riding withing your comfort zone.

Do you have suggestions to add to the list? Email trailsteward@sdmb.org and we’ll add them!

The 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail is truly a national treasure, and we’re privileged to have it right outside of Tucson. The AZT can be your go-to if you want to do long XC rides in a variety of climates and landscapes.

East of Tucson

Italian Trap: The “Italian Trap” section of the AZT runs about 2 miles south from Redingon Rd, and can be done as an out and back or turned into a loop using dirt roads. For bonus points, ride/hike-a-bike another 3 miles each way to the Wilderness boundary for a fast rip back down.

GO HERE FOR ITALIAN TRAP TRAIL INFO

Bellota Lake to top of Milagrosa: Head north on the AZT from Redington Rd. to Bellota Lake. From there you can continue over to the top of Milagrosa as an out and back or make a loop on dirt roads. Good loop options incorporate Bellota Ranch Rd. and the ATV trail.

GO HERE FOR BELLOTA TRAIL INFO

North of Tucson

Lots of option in the Oracle area! Cody Loop, Oracle State Park, and Tiger Mine are all good options. Additional loop options can be found in Oracle State Park

Good Access Points: American Flag TH, American Avenue TH, and the intersection of the AZT/SR-77 (limited parking). At this point (4/10/20), Oracle State Park is still open.

GO HERE FOR ORACLE TRAIL INFO

South/East of Tucson

Pick a trailhead and ride south as far as you want! A good access point is at SR-83 at Sahuarita Rd. Other options include Lakes Rd. (Twin Tanks) or Rosemont Junction.

Box Canyon area: Park at the Box Canyon TH, ride the AZT and explore the dirt roads in the Santa Rita Mtns.

Please note that the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead is popular with riders, hikers, and equestrian users. Probably best to avoid on peak days/times.

GO HERE FOR LAS CIENEGAS TRAIL INFO

The AZT runs through Kentucky Camp/Gardner Canyon area, and there are miles of dirt roads to make loops. You can even find running water! Check out the IMBA Epic route and the Arizona Endurance Series route.

GO HERE FOR KENTUCKY CAMP TRAIL INFO

We’re a little partial to McKenzie Ranch because, well, we built it! The McKenzie area has 13 miles of fast flowy trail (including Hohokam Trail), that’s beginner-friendly and easy to follow. There are several loop options to shorten it up (or do multiple laps for more miles!) and as another directional system it will be easier to practice social distancing.

GO HERE FOR MCKENZIE RANCH TRAIL INFO

Elephant Head Mountain Bike Route

Elephant Head was one of the original MTB routes in Southern Arizona, and offers spectacular views of the Elephant Head formation on the western end of the Santa Ritas. It's old-school! For bonus points link up to Mt. Hopkins and Madeira Canyon via dirt and paved roads.

GO HERE FOR ELEPHANT HEAD TRAIL INFO

West Desert Trails

With more than 30 miles of low-desert XC riding, the West Desert Trails have a variety of loop options for riders of all ability levels. Please note that the trails are on land owned by Freeport McMoRan mining company and a permit is required. GO HERE TO GET YOUR PERMIT

GO HERE FOR WEST DESERT TRAILS INFO

There are great trails on the west side of Tucson Mountain Park too! Trails like Golden Gate, Prospector, Ironwood, and Caliche Flats offer a variety of riding experiences and are generally less crowded. Brown Mountain is a great option for more experienced riders, but may have increased hiker traffic. Best parking options are any of the numbered pull-offs along Gates Pass Rd. and Kinney Rd.. Based on reports, probably best to steer clear of Ironwood Picnic Area, Gilbert Ray, and King’s Canyon trailhead.

GO HERE FOR TMP WEST TRAIL INFO

Casa Grande is only an hour away, and there’s a great trail system up there! There are plenty of options with beginner, intermediate, and advanced options, and easy access from the I-10. Please note that Casa Grande Mountain is extremely exposed so go earlier as it gets hotter.

GO HERE FOR CASA GRANDE TRAIL INFO

Everybody’s favorite place to ride laps in the desert with 2,000 of their closest friends! The 24HOP Course offers a mellow 16-mile XC loop. It’s a directional loop too, so even better for social distancing. To add some flavor, ride Bones and Painter Boy, two trails that make an awesome loop that connects to the course.

Please note that the 24HOP Course is on AZSLD land, so a permit is required. GO HERE TO GET YOUR AZSLD PERMIT

GO HERE FOR 24HOP TRAIL INFO

Cobre Ridge probably wins the “Way Out” award, and you’re unlikely to see another soul on this 16-mile loop south of Tucson near the Mexican border. It’s a little higher in elevation at 4,500 feet, so will be a bit cooler than areas closer to Tucson.

GO HERE FOR COBRE RIDGE TRAIL INFO

If you’ve never explored the Huachuca Mountains outside of Sierra Vista, you’re in for a treat. The Sky Islands range has a great mix of grasslands, chaparral, and Ponderosa Pine forests. And it’s cooler than Tucson! Brown Canyon and Carr Canyon both provide mixes of singletrack and doubletrack, and make for a great day of riding.

GO HERE FOR SIERRA VISTA TRAIL INFO

Located in the Rincon Mountains and accessed via Redington Rd., Chiva Falls is a rare waterfall in the desert. With all of the snow and rain this winter Chiva is flowing nicely, and should be running for a while. This ride consists mainly of jeep roads so you’ll probably see some OHV’s (wave and say "Hi!"), but the roads are fun and the falls are well-worth the trip. You can also check out Frog Hollow, a good summertime swimming hole, and link up the Upper Chiva route or head up to the Italian Trap section of the AZT.

GO HERE FOR CHIVA FALLS TRAIL INFO

This newly-closed section of dirt road in Saguaro National Park West runs from Picture Rocks Rd. to the Sendero Esperanza trailhead, about 3 miles each way. The length and beginner-friendly nature of this ride makes it a great one to take the kids on. To extend your outing, hike up to check out the petroglyphs on Signal Hill. Please note that bikes are not permitted on singletrack in Saguaro National Park. Please respect all directions and signage.

GO HERE FOR GOLDEN GATE ROAD INFO

Mt. Graham is a bit farther away than an hour, but at 10,719 feet it will be nice and cool when the desert floor heats up. The Pinalenos are another Sky Islands range. There are a number of rideable trails on Mt. Graham, but they will require some exploring. The area is still being rehabilitated after the Frye Fire in 2017 and some trails and roads may not be re-opened yet. Please note that Coronado National Forest has closed most developed recreation sites, so campgrounds, picnic areas, etc. will likely be closed.

GO HERE FOR MT GRAHAM TRAIL INFO

COVID-19 and Outdoor Recreation

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:47:00 GMT

“Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected!” SDMB’s Recommendations for Trail Use Amid COVID-19

In light of Governor Ducey’s Stay-at-Home executive order for Arizonans to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” (which goes into effect today at 5pm and will last until at least April 30), SDMB would like to remind members and the greater Tucson mountain biking community of proper behavior and trail etiquette in these uncertain times. With many individuals having extra free time or working from home in recent weeks, many local trails have become more popular than usual. We understand that many are already going stir crazy, but now is the time to prioritize safe trail use and interactions above challenging yourself with technical riding or riding in social groups. We want you all (and all other trail users) to be able to stay safe and healthy during these uncertain times.

While all local trail network remain open (for now), SDMB has already been notified about negative trail interactions and trailhead resource damage within the last month. With stay-at-home orders in place, please consider not riding for the time being; however, if you arrive at a trailhead and it is busy, please consider going somewhere less popular. With social distancing guidelines in place, please keep rides short and mellow (no trips to the ER!), ride by yourself or with people you live with, and make sure remain a safe distance from other users while out on the trails. It’s more important than ever to follow SDMB’s Be Cool guidelines: 1) "Slow your Roll" - control your speed, especially on trails with short sight-lines, 2) "Respect Others" - yielding to all other trail users and uphill riders, and 3) "Pay Attention" - watch out for other trail users at all times and don't ride up on someone at Mach 5, always use a bell to let other users know you are approaching. It is up to us to set a good example of proper trail etiquette for other trail users, especially where time on the trail may be the only outlet for the next month. Let’s all do our part and keep ourselves safe while still getting out and responsibly using the trails.

Take a peek at our below recommendations for trail use to learn about how you can help keep the outdoors safe and enjoyable for all users (borrowed from Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz).

SDMB Recommendations:

Stay home as much as possible!

Exercise and sanity are absolutely important, however, we recommend that everyone stay at home as much as possible until this situation passes. Countries that have figured out how to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 have all enacted much stricter social distancing measures than we are experiencing here in Arizona.

If you do go out, act as if everyone you encounter out on the trails has the virus (even if they don’t!)

Give plenty of room (at least 6 feet), wash your hands frequently, and bring hand sanitizer with you on rides just in case you need it.

Do not drive to a riding location

Following Arizona guidelines, only drive across town for the absolute essentials! Car crashes are no joke, and driving to the trailhead is unacceptable right now, as automotive transport facilitates virus spread between communities. Get to know your local park, or explore new areas nearby home.

Please, do not ride/hike/do anything in large groups, aim for solo activities as much as possible!

Gathering in a large group and hitting the trails increases the chance of virus transmission between members of your group as well as transmission to other trail users. As a large group, you create a bigger obstacle for other users and set a bad example for the outdoor community.

Tell your housemates your route, share your location with them on your phone and provide them with an expected return time if you are concerned for your safety when heading out for a solo ride.

Building on the previous warning, do not shuttle under any circumstances!

Gathering together in a car, driving to a new area, and riding in a group is a dangerous and unnecessary risk to put on yourself and the community you are visiting. Maintaining the recommended 6’ between yourself and others is not possible in a car with all your buds.

In the event that parks shut down, please respect closures

If closures do occur, they are for the best of our community’s health. Respect the experts here, and avoid closed areas at all times.

Pick off-hours to ride, and avoid times of heavy traffic

If you do choose to enjoy the outdoors, pick a time when you believe there will be low traffic on the trails.

For example, riding at 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday is likely better than riding at 10:00 a.m.

Keep rides short and conservative if you do choose to enjoy the trails

We know that injuring yourself is never the goal when enjoying the outdoors. That said, stay in your comfort zone and do not put unnecessary pressure on emergency services or our trails.

Our health system cannot support additional emergencies right now, and no one wants to be the one to distract medical resources from an ongoing pandemic.

Keep your rides short and sweet for the time being. Give others ample opportunity to enjoy the trails!

Use the bathroom before your ride, and avoid snot rockets while on the trail

Many public restrooms are closed (they’re a huge vector for disease!), so do your business before hitting the trail.

No one wants to encounter your snot during their park visit, especially if it could cause transmission.

Do not share food or tools

This isn’t the time to swap snacks or share gear. Keep your tools to yourself, and if you absolutely must help someone out, sanitize tools before and after use.

Give people the space and time they need to use the trail safely

Slow down more than usual, and give fellow trail users more room than you may normally give should you need to pass.

Now is a time to prioritize the experience of others. Keep trail interactions safe, kind and respectful.

Speak up if others are not following these recommendations! Share this knowledge.

If you encounter a group of folks shuttling or disrespecting social distances, say something to them in a respectful and informative way.

We’re in this together and need to hold one another accountable.

Please remember - your choices have consequences! Any of the choices in the above could easily apply to going out for a group ride on our trails.

We know that times are hard right now, but please take the time to slow down and think through the way you use trails and interact with others during this time.

Stay safe,

SDMB Board

2019 SDMB Year in Review

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 06:21:00 GMT

SDMB Year in Review 2019

As 2019 comes to a close and we welcome in 2020 (a new decade of riding!), we wanted to share a recap of the year and our accomplishments. Everything SDMB does is made possible through your support, donations, membership dollars, and volunteer hours, so this is really a recap of what WE collectively have accomplished over the last year. Huge, huge thanks to everything the MTB and trails community does to support SDMB in our mission to Build, Ride, and Protect trails in Tucson and Southern Arizona. To join or renew your membership or make a donation, please go to www.sdmb.org . To make a donation specifically to the bike park, go to www.tucsonparks.org (make sure to specify 100-Acre Wood Bike Park!).

Also, special thanks to the SDMB board, crew leaders, and others who have taken leadership roles over the last year!

Major 2019 Accomplishments

Enchanted Hills Trails Park

100-Acre Wood Bike Park

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Teams

In 2019 SDMB was fortunate to bring not one but two AmeriCorps NCCC teams to Tucson, for a total of 12 weeks of assistance. The first team assisted with trail building and restoration efforts at Enchanted Hills in collaboration with Pima County NRPR, allowing us to build 5.3 miles of trail in just a few months.

For the second team SDMB collaborated with TORCA, the Arizona Trail Association, and Pima County NRPR. NCCC volunteers assisted with trail maintenance on Mt. Lemmon and at McKenzie Ranch Trails Park, helped build more than a mile of trail at Painted Hills Trails Park, and spent 2 weeks doing cleanup and trail building at the bike park.

Be Cool Trail Etiquette Campaign

Fantasy Island

Honeybee Canyon Trails

2 ^nd Year of McKenzie Frenzy

Tortolita Preserve

What’s Next

More bike park!

Fantasy Island

Mockingbird/Explorer Trails

Be Cool Trail Etiquette Campaign

We’ll continue handing out bike bells and spreading the “Be Cool” gospel through outreach and education. For 2020, we plan to continue the trailhead events, hand out even more bike bells, and are working with Pima County and other land managers on designing and installing trailhead signage. Be Cool out there on the trail!

2019 NCCC Team Wrap-Up

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 05:59:00 GMT

2019 NCCC TEAM WRAP-UP

For the third year in a row, SDMB had the pleasure of hosting an Americorps NCCC team. The National Civilian Community Corps is a national service program in which college-age young adults devote 1-2 years to supporting government and nonprofit programs across the country. Previous NCCC teams assisted with completion of the McKenzie Ranch XC Race Venue and Hohokam Trail (2018) and trail building and restoration work at Painted Hills Trails Park (early 2019). To learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC, go to: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americorps-nccc

Earth 9 was in Tucson for a total of six weeks.

For week 1 the team participated in a day of orientation and mountain biking courtesy of Homegrown Tours. They spent the rest of the week working with TORCA, doing brushing and tread work on Green Mountain Trail. TORCA reported that they brushed the entire trail from top to bottom and fixed sections of tread that were eroding.

For week 2 the team worked with the Arizona Trail Association. The majority of the week was spent working on the AZT from Molino Saddle to West Spring Tank (on the descent to Milagrosa), with a day spent installing a Super Gate south of Sahuarita with volunteers.

For weeks 3 and 4 the team worked with Pima County NRPR. They did trail maintenance at McKenzie Ranch and helped keep the parking lot in good shape for events, and roughed in nearly a mile of new singletrack at Painted Hills Trails Park.

For weeks 5 and 6 the team worked with SDMB at 100-Acre Wood Bike Park. They removed nearly 40 cubic yards (2 full dumpsters) of trash, cleared a huge pile of African Sumac, helped finish the Green Flow Trail, and started dirt work on the Green XC Trail.

This is your donations and membership dollars at work. Without your contributions, SDMB would not have the funding or staff time to coordinate projects like bringing AmeriCorps NCCC teams to Tucson.

Thanks for all your ongoing support!

Upcoming Milagrosa Reroute

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 06:09:00 GMT

Attention Milagrosa users!

Please read on for information from Neil Stitzer at Pima County NRPR about an upcoming reroute on the bottom section of Milagrosa:

"A 400’ section of the Milagrosa Trail will be re-routed due to private property ownership near the southern end of the trail. The new trail alignment on Pima County property will be 750’ in length. New trail construction and existing trail closure will take place January 2020. The existing trail will remain open until the new trail alignment is complete, at which time the existing trail will be closed, signed and rehabbed.

The Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation department, Pima County Attorney’s Office and private property owner have negotiated an agreement for the trail alignment change. American Conservation Experience will be performing the new trail re-route and existing trail closure with a professional trail crew. We ask for your understanding in accepting this change to the Milagrosa Trail and that public input was not feasible during the decision making process.

We realize some trail users will not be pleased with the re-route due to familiarity with the existing trail alignment. However, please understand that given the circumstances this is the best possible outcome and fortunately the trail will remain open. The new trail alignment will be an improvement in terms of sustainability and depending on the trail user, be a preferred alternative to the existing trail alignment. We appreciate your cooperation in respecting private property ownership in the area, displaying trail and land stewardship by adapting to the new trail alignment, and helping spread the word throughout the trails community about this change.

If you have any questions, please contact the Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation department: (520) 724 - 5000"

2019 8(ish) Days of Xmas

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:10:00 GMT

The 2019 8(ish) Days of Xmas ride series is here! Now in its 13 ^th year, the 8(ish) Days features daily rides on Tucson’s best trails with your favorite organizations, groups, and businesses. Let’s ride some bikes, make some new friends, and maybe even do a little trail work! Check back often for calendar updates.

All rides and events are open to everyone, and ride leaders make every effort to ensure no one gets dropped. If you are unfamiliar with a trail or unsure of your ability level, please do your research in advance. Helmets are required on all rides. Unless specifically noted, events are not hosted by SDMB.

We’re always looking to add to the ride schedule. If you’re interested in adding a ride or event, contact trailsteward@sdmb.org .

Thanks to all of our ride leaders!

2019 8(ish) Days of Xmas Ride/Event Schedule

Sat 12/21: 100-Acre Wood Bike Park Build Day

Tues 12/24: Family Ride on The Loop w/ Our MTB Rides

Tues 12/24: Christmas Eve Arizona Trail Ride w/ Copper Spoke Bicycles

Mon 12/30: Dig Day @ 100-Acre Wood Bike Park

Mon 12/30: Ben's Bikes Monday Night Ride @ Fantasy Island

Fantasy Island Update October 2019

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 03:11:00 GMT

Fantasy Island Update 10/3/19

Representatives from SDMB, TORCA, and SAMBA continue to work to preserve the core of the Fantasy Island trail system, and we are reaching the home stretch. On 9/26/19 we met with attorney Keri Sylvan (representing the Arizona State Land Department) and Teresa Olson from Council Member Shirley Scott's office. In short, the Planned Community Development (PCD) is moving forward to preserve the majority of Lone Cactus, Bo's, Burro's and Christmas Tree Loop trails. See our prior blog post for info on the PCD and other background.

On Monday, October 7 the PCD goes to the City of Tucson Zoning Examiner for review, and assuming no issues come up the PCD will then go to Mayor and Council for approval at the November City Council Meeting. For those who want to attend the Zoning Examiner Public Hearing, it will be at 6:00 PM at the Mayor and Council chambers downtown (255 W. Alameda).

If you can't attend the meeting but want to submit a letter of support (please!) you can find a draft letter here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/01qbkxv9va9rpu0/Draft%20Support%20Letters%20from%20Fantasy%20Island.docx?dl=0

Important take-home points are:

Here is some background from Keri Sylvan:

"The Arizona State Land Department (“State Land Department”) is working with the City of Tucson (“City”) to rezone approximately 2500 acres of State Trust Land (“Trust Land”) along Houghton Road to the Atterbury Trails Planned Community Development (“PCD”). See attached map for boundary of the PCD. The PCD is a zoning entitlement that allows flexibility in location of uses and overall master-planning of very large acreages within the Houghton Area Master Plan (“HAMP”) that will be developed over a 20-40-year time horizon.

The State Land Department is Trustee of over 9 million acres of land throughout the State of Arizona that it manages for 13 specific beneficiaries, primarily the State education system. State Land’s role is to ensure that all trust lands are held, leased, and/or sold to maximize the financial return for those beneficiaries. This Trust Land is part of the 7800 acres of State Land within the HAMP boundary.

As part of the PCD process, the State Land Department has reviewed the Fantasy Island Master Plan and, in working with City staff, the Ward IV office and Fantasy Island stakeholders, State Land is proposing to formalize the portion of Fantasy Island near Irvington Road as Open Space/City Park (over 200 acres of land) pursuant to the attached map. The PCD would acknowledge this area as Open Space with the Fantasy Island park and mountain bike trails in a similar regulatory manner as the Saguaro Trails PAD. The City and State Land will be working through a separate process for the City to either own, lease or otherwise obtain a permit to use this area of the PCD for Fantasy Island. This treatment in the PCD brings forward the vision in the Fantasy Island Master Plan and solidifies the rights for Fantasy Island users in this area of the PCD for generations to come. Fantasy Island stakeholders acknowledge that this means there will need to be some re-routing of trails on the western edge of the Open Space per the PCD map to permit a 300-foot buffer and option for a Harrison Road connection into the future. In addition, the Fantasy Island Trails south of the Mattamy development and City Water site will be removed once those areas are ready to be auctioned by the State Land Department to an end-user. Fantasy Island and the City will continue to work with the State Land Department and the end-users to provide appropriate connectivity from new homes/development to the bicycle trails balanced with protection of those trails into the future."

And more info about the PCD:

GO HERE TO READ THE FULL ATTERBURY TRAILS PCD DOCUMENT

2019 Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder Raffle

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 00:03:00 GMT

THE 2019 MLGG RAFFLE IS HERE!

Support trails and win sweet prizes in the 2019 Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder Raffle! Tickets start at only $10, and the more you buy the better your chances! Winners will be announced at the 2019 Mt. Lemmon Gravel Grinder on October 26, 2019.

Prizes include:

GO HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS!

Fantasy Island Update August 2019

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 05:00:00 GMT

Hopefully you all have seen our posts and updates over the last few years about the Mattamy Homes/Saguaro Trails development and the Tucson Water/SHARP recharge project. Anyone who rides Fantasy Island knows that major changes have been happening, and more are coming. To see the original 2006 Master Plan and get the historical perspective, GO HERE

Several months ago representatives from SDMB, TORCA, and SAMBA were contacted by Council Member Shirley Scott’s Office and local attorney Keri Sylan (on behalf of the Arizona State Land Department, or AZSLD) to meet and discuss the future of Fantasy Island. In short, most of the land that Fantasy Island currently occupies is owned by the AZSLD and has no permanent protection. We have known for years that some of the land would be sold and developed, and the 2006 Master Plan represented a monumental community effort to preserve as much of the trails as possible. Fast forward to 2019, and the AZSLD is preparing to sell 2,500 acres of land in the Houghton/Valencia area which includes much of Fantasy Island. To the best of our understanding, originally the AZSLD had no intention of honoring the 2006 Master Plan or preserving any of the trails (which they had no legal obligation to do) and the City of Tucson was able to negotiate the current arrangement.

We acknowledge that the loss of any trails, especially ones as important as Fantasy Island, is tragic and the sale and eventual development will impact many riders. The SDMB board truly believes that the 2006 Master Plan and the proposed preservation arrangement is the best offer on the table and that continued negotiation/advocacy will not bring any additional benefit. We will continue to advocate for preservation of as much of the original trail system as possible, and will work to minimize overall loss of mileage.

The good news:

The bad news:

What you can do:

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? PLEASE EMAIL TRAILSTEWARD@SDMB.ORG.

READ BELOW FOR THE STATEMENT FROM THE ARIZONA STATE LAND DEPARTMENT AND CITY OF TUCSON…

Atterbury Trails PCD and Fantasy Island

The Arizona State Land Department (“State Land Department”) is working with the City of Tucson (“City”) to rezone approximately 2500 acres of State Trust Land (“Trust Land”) along Houghton Road to the Atterbury Trails Planned Community Development (“PCD”). See attached map for boundary of the PCD. The PCD is a zoning entitlement that allows flexibility in location of uses and overall master-planning of very large acreages within the Houghton Area Master Plan (“HAMP”) that will be developed over a 20-40-year time horizon.

SDMB’s In the Know: Dispatch 3 - Tips and Tricks for Summer Riding in Southern Arizona

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 22:00:00 GMT

As nearly everyone knows, Tucson and southern Arizona gets HOT in the summer. But that doesn’t mean that mountain bikers stop riding. Long time desert rats have made accommodations with the extreme weather to keep on riding despite the heat. Here are a few quick tips and tricks for staying in the saddle through the hot months, especially if you’re a newer rider or visiting the area during the summer:

Here is southern Arizona, we are fortunate that we can mountain bike nearly every day of the year because of our great weather. But we have to make adjustments in summer. Hopefully these tips will help you get out even during the hottest times and still be safe.

SDMB’s In the Know: Dispatch 2 – E-Bikes and Tucson Trails

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 18:26:00 GMT

E-Bikes, or electric bikes, have become increasingly popular in recent years with most major bike companies selling at least one mountain E-Bike. They have become wildly accepted across much of the rest of the world, however there has been significant pushback to their acceptance in the United States. Here we strive to objectively discuss some of the ongoing controversy around E-Bikes, lay out the rules governing E-Bike usage for different land managers, and lastly identify where they can and cannot be ridden in the greater Tucson area.

Note that SDMB as an organization DOES NOT have an position about E-Bike usage, however, we partner with multiple land-management agencies to build, maintain, and advocate for trails in the area and therefore feel it is our responsibility to explain and discuss local policy and potential controversy surrounding E-Bikes. Understanding the history of the debate over mechanized vs. motorized recreational designations is important to understanding the current debate over E-Bike usage, especially for e-mountain bikes on multiple-use singletrack trails.

^ “The Elephant in the Room” by Stephen Haynes (originally published in DirtRag 2015 )

What is an E-Bike?

There is a range of classifications for E-Bikes (see classifications below), but at minimum all have a battery powered motor and pedal-assist function. Additionally, class 2 E-Bikes have a throttle that can work without pedaling. E-Bikes have provided a great resource for bicyclists who could not ride certain terrain or certain distances (due to injury, illness, or lack of physical ability) by providing an additional battery powered pedal-assist or throttle function. This also presents a potential problem, as the pedal assist and throttle functions allow more power to be transferred by any particular rider into the riding surface.

The three E-Bike classes are defined as follows:

Class 1: E-Bikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.

Class 2: E-Bikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.

Class 3: E- Bikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.

*All classes limit the motor’s power to 1 horsepower (750W).

What’s all the controversy about?

^ U.S. Forest Service singletrack trail signage in Sedona, AZ

Allowable uses by trail/road designation:

So, where can I ride an E-Bike?

Essentially, this means that E-Bikes can legally ride on less than ¼ of the ~400 bike-legal miles of singletrack in the greater Tucson area.

Land management agencies and local riding areas where E-Bike are or are not allowed to ride:

Please click the map below to view all of the bike-legal trails in the greater Tucson area on Trailforks. To view E-Bike legal trails within any riding area hover over the FILTER tab at the top of the map, then click the “Ebike trails” button.

SDMB In the Know: Dispatch 1 - Land Managers 101

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 22:29:00 GMT

Welcome to the first dispatch of SDMB’s ongoing “In the Know” series, where we break down the rules, tips and tricks, and benefits and impacts of mountain biking, trails, and outdoor recreation in the greater Tucson region. In Dispatch 1, we break down the agencies that manage the riding areas around Tucson as well as the rules and regulations for riding in each of those areas. We hope that locals and visitors alike can learn something new and become more knowledgeable and responsible mountain bikers.

^ Riders enjoying the McKenzie Ranch XC Race Course

Mountain bikers in Tucson are privileged to count over 400 miles of rideable (non-Wilderness) singletrack within a 90 minute drive of downtown. With so much trail spread across so many different trail networks there are seven main land managers that manage multi-use singletrack. Those are 1) Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, 2) Coronado Forest Service, 3) AZ State Parks, 4) City of Tucson, 6) Town of Marana, 6) the National Park Service, and 7) the AZ State Land Department. See the map below to find out who manages your local riding network.

These diverse agencies present a diverse riding experience based on rider experience, desired terrain, and allowed tail users. Please read below for more info on and rules for each land manager with links to more information directly from those agencies. We hope you are able to learn the rules for your local riding areas and the resources to find out more information. And as always, remember to follow proper trail etiquette and Be Cool out on the trail!

Pima County NRPR manages seven parks and preserves that allow mountain biking, which are broadly distributed across greater Tucson and offer many challenging and diverse riding opportunities for all ability levels. Click below for links to specific trail networks:

Rules differ by property and are briefly outlined below:

2) Coronado National Forest

The Coronado National Forest manages many miles of bike-legal trail (all trails outside of wilderness except where posted “closed”), which ranges from front-county singletrack to back-country epics. Much of the trail in the Catalina Mountains is rough and rugged, while the Santa Rita’s are quite a bit smoother. The 800-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail runs thr ough both mountain ranges, with prime opportunities for long, rugged rides. The Tucson Off-Road Cyclists Association (TORCA) and Arizona Trail Association (AZTA) work to maintain trails on the Coronado National Forest.

Rules are the same across all forest lands:

Arizona State Parks offers many trails statewide that are open to mountain bikes, however the two State Parks in the Tucson area are Catalina and Oracle SPs. Catalina SP is immediately east of Oro Valley and is commonly used to connect to the 50-year trail system, while Oracle is further north and represents great trails with opportunities to connect to the Arizona Trail.

Rules are the same across all State Parks:

SDMB has partnered with the City of Tucson to establish the 100-Acre Wood Bike Park! This will be Tucson’s first mountain bike specific bike park! This land is owned by the US Air Force and leased by the City of Tucson. 100-Acre Wood is a designated city park, and will contain trails and features designed to allow progression of all mountain bike users. Many of the trail corridors in Zones 1 and 2 are rideable while the bike park is under construction. For more information on 100-Acre Wood or to help out please visit http://100acrewoodbikepark.org

Rules at 100-Acre Wood are listed below:

5) Town of Marana

The Town of Marana has a commitment to maintain outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. To that end, it manages two trail networks on the flanks of the Tortolita Mountains, the Dove Mountain trails and the Tortolita Preserve. The Dove Mountain trails are generally located to the west of and below the trails in the Tortolita Mountain Park managed by Pima County. These trails are accessed through either the Wild Burro or Tortolita Preserve trailheads.

Rules are the same across all Town of Marana trails:

N ational Parks typically do not allow mountain bikes on any trails, however Saguaro National Park has two trails that allow mountain biking! This access took much negotiation, so please follow all park rules so we do not risk losing future access.

Rules are the same across both bike-legal trails in Saguaro National Park:

There are multiple trail networks on Arizona State Trust lands managed by the Arizona State Land Department. None of these trails (except for the 50-Year trail) are legal, however they represent some of the most popular trail networks in the greater Tucson area. Access to these areas is tenuous at best, so self-policing is of the utmost importance to allow for continued future access. Please use legal access points and report any vandalism / issues to SDMB.

As these trail networks are not sanctioned (except the 24 HOP course) there are technically no rules for trails on AZ State Trust lands, however following these rules will help us maintain continued access:

Thank you for reading all the way through our first In the Know dispatch! If you have any questions about the agencies that manage your local riding area or the rules that pertain to using those trails please don't hesitate to contact us at SDMB.

End of Season Be Cool Update

Wed, 08 May 2019 03:21:00 GMT

Another hot season is upon us and the high riding season is winding down. Every year it seems like the number of local and visiting mountain bikers (and other users) on Tucson trails continues to grow at a faster rate than our singletrack resources do. This puts stress on our already crowded trail systems and promotes the likelihood of user conflict between mountain bikers and other trail users. For that reason SDMB continued the Be Cool outreach campaign during the 2018/2019 winter riding season.

Between October and May, SDMB held 10 outreach events at many of the major county trailheads, including Sweetwater Preserve, Genser/Starr Pass, Gabe Zimmerman, Golder Ranch/50-year, the Tortolita Preserve, and even Oracle State Park. This totaled over 80 hours of collective effort between SDMB board members and additional volunteers (special thanks to the Oro Valley Mountain Bike Team!). We handed out over 500 bike bells (!!!), countless stickers, and much information to riders and non-riders alike. We reminded everyone of proper trail etiquette, of which users have the right-of-way on trail, and how to respect the trail when conditions are less than ideal.

The overall feedback from both riders and other trail users this season was overwhelmingly positive, with many comments about how courteous riders have been recently: yielding to non-mountain bikers as appropriate, using bike bells or calling out when riding up from behind, notifying other users of how many additional riders there are in the group, and generally being friendly and courteous. This goes a long way towards continued public acceptance of mountain bikers retaining full access to all non-wilderness trails in the greater Tucson region. Kudos to all SDMB members for supporting these efforts with your membership dollars!

We've got a lot in store for next season, with new initiatives and many more outreach events planned! So be on the lookout for ambassadors at your favorite local trailhead, and remember to Be Cool out on the trail!

As a reminder the Be Cool campaign has three components:

1) "Slow your Roll" - control your speed, especially on trails with with short sight-lines

2) "Respect Others" - yielding to uphill riders and all other trail users, and

3) "Pay Attention" - watch out for other trail users at all times and don't ride up on someone at Mach 5, always use a bell to let other users know you are approaching.

For more information on Be Cool click here .

If you are interested in helping out or getting involved with the Be Cool campaign or other SDMB advocacy initiatives, please email advocacy@sdmb.org .

Fantasy Island Update 2/22/19

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 06:41:00 GMT

If you ride FI, you have definitely noticed that construction of the Saguaro Trails subdivision. SDMB has been working with Mattamy homes for several years to mitigate the impact of construction and keep as many of the trails open as possible. Next up is Tucson Water's SHARP (South Houghton Area Recharge Project), which will impact the northern end of the Bunny Loop. GO HERE FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SHARP PROJECT

Tucson Water and Borderlands Construction have already started work in the area, and they expect to close off the designated part of the Bunny Loop (see the map below) as early as 2/25/19. We hope to have a marked reroute in place which is also on the map. Please respect all closures and reroutes and stay out of the construction area. We don't know exactly how long construction will take, but it will be several months at minimum. The good news is that when it's done, there will be riparian area in Fantasy Island with amenities like benches and ramadas! The Bunny Loop will pass through the SHARP park and around the recharge basins, and the reroute will remain in place for a high-speed bypass.

Questions? Email trailsteward@SDMB.org.