Spring Update

 Greetings fellow mt bikers,

 

I don’t know about ya’ll but I’m itching to get some dirt riding in. However we have to get through the infamous “mud-season” which hopefully won’t last long. To help protect and preserve all our hard earned efforts, all CeMeNEMBA maintained trails are closed till further notice. I’ll be checking trail conditions weekly and give regular updates. Think Spring!!!!

 

For the upcoming 2011 riding season CeMeNEMBA will again offer a regular slate of Wednesday night rides at Central Maine locations throughout the summer.    In June, July and August, we will also offer rides for both beginning and seasoned cyclists.  Partnering with other Maine chapters of NEMBA, the Central Maine chapter is participating in a statewide initiative called The Maine NEMBA Experience.  In an effort to highlight a small fraction of the awesome trail riding in Maine, all four Maine chapters of NEMBA have scheduled rides this summer.  Be sure to check out the ride schedule in Singletracks, Facebook (Central Maine NEMBA) and our website www.CeMeNEMBA.org and of course you’ll get the regular emails.

Trail work this summer will include more rehab and new trails at Pine Ridge and Quarry Road Recreation Areas as well as Bond Brook.  Mini-grants totaling $1500 from Inland Hospital and the Healthy Maine Partnership will go a long ways to support these efforts. Work at Pine Ridge will involve the on-going attempt to connect Pine Ridge with Colby College trails.  Geographically, Colby College sits between the Pine Ridge trails and the Quarry Road trails so progress on this aspect of trail development in Waterville is key to the big picture goal of one continuous trail system.  There is also talk of building a pump track at the Quarry Road as well – another high profile, fun activity to draw more riders into NEMBA.

And now a word from Ellen our membership coordinator:

The Central Maine chapter of NEMBA (CeMeNEMBA) is making a difference for local folks who enjoy mountain biking. Our mission is to “build it, bike it” for trail lovers like you! 

Thank you and a hearty pat on the back to all current members for your on-going support and volunteer efforts, we couldn’t do it without you!  With your help and generous donations, Central Maine trails are fast becoming a destination for mountain bikers from near and far. CeMeNEMBA is a dedicated group of trail enthusiasts ~ and we appreciate your help to continue our efforts! 
 

If you enjoy mountain biking in Central Maine and you’re not yet a member or it’s time to renew your membership, please join CeMeNEMBA today on the NEMBA website at www.nemba.org! 

 

2nd annual Quarry Road Winter Carnival in Waterville was a HUGE Success!!

Click the link below for cool video of the event. Check out the CeMeNEMBA tent and bike demos.

CeMeNEMBA is active year round so if you are not a member yet, join and be part of the fun!!

http://fullwavemedia.zymichost.com/wtvl_carnival_sd.html

2010 Year in Review

As president of CeMeNEMBA, I am proud to look back at the last year and recap the group’s accomplishments; where to start?
 
Pine Ridge in Waterville has evolved from a place that people “used to” ride 10 years ago but stopped because of the degradation of the trails to a premier destination for local (and not so local) Mt Bikers. Thanks to CeMeNEMBA, Inland Hospital and many volunteers, we have designed and built many miles of single-track. There is now enough single-track at Pine Ridge (PR), to get in an 8 mile single-track ride very easily. As we get a new map developed (soon!) we will be able to get exact mileage details as well as designate trail names. Not only have we developed some nice trails, we have done extensive maintenance on some of the existing trails. New bridges have been built and many waterbars have been added to get the water off the trail. The badly eroded approach to one of the bridges has been repaired and has added some fun to it as well. More trails and bridges will be in store for 2011 at Pine Ridge….. We have had some positive progress in getting permission to connect the trails of Pine Ridge to the Quarry Road project on the other side of Waterville; stay tuned for updates.
 
Not a lot happened at Bond Brook (BB) in Augusta this year. We did clean up the slash from the logging at BB and reclaimed a couple of trails that were lost in that process. Now that the logging has been completed and most of the work has been done on the ski trails we will get in there in the spring and get a few more miles of trails to ride. The bridge over Bond Brook has been completed and with a little work we can connect the trail from the bridge to the single-track and it’ll also give us a new trail head.
 
“The Res” (Hallowell Reservoir) trails are in good shape though nothing new happened there this year. We do have some plans for further trail development and will be meeting with the city council during the winter to ask for permission. We had a great Family Mountain Bike Day at The Res earlier this summer with rides for kids and adults. Everyone enjoyed post ride pizza and conversation and a fun time was had by all.
 
Former ski trails at Lake Saint George (LSG) in Liberty were cut out and rehabbed by a Maine Conservation Corps crew this summer and fall. CeMeNEMBA has partnered with LSG to help in some of the maintenance and design of some of the trails. LSG should be ready to ride in early summer.
 
We added a BOB trailer and backpack leaf blower to our tool arsenal this year; many thanks to the generous donations that made these purchases possible. The blower will make short work of clearing the trails of debris in the spring.
 
It was a great year for mountain biking in Central Maine! Not only did we build a bunch of trails this summer, the weather was so great we got to ride ‘em as well. We proved that “build it ~ bike it” isn’t just a tag line, its reality…….
 
To continue turning the dream of better mountain biking in Central Maine into reality, I hope you’ll consider a year-end, tax deductible donation to CeMeNEMBA.  To make a donation, call NEMBA at 800-576-3622 (be sure to specify that the donation is intended for the Central Maine chapter) or checks can be mailed to CeMeNEMBA, attn: Ellen Wells at 1154 West Road, Belgrade, ME  04917.  Thank you for your continued support!
 
Ride on!!!
 
Brian

 

Inland/Pine Ridge Trails now open!!

The new and refurbished Inland Woods and Pine Ridge Trails behind Inland Hospital on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville are now open to the community.

The trails are designed for non-motorized activities including mountain biking, walking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. They feature a one-mile loop trail on the hospital’s 17-acre property and link to the City of Waterville’s 150-acre Pine Ridge Recreation Area boasting an extended network of trails.  A 24-foot bridge crossing a small stream was constructed by the Maine Conservation Corps in July and several miles of new single-track have been added by CeMeNEMBA members.  Volunteers from Inland Hospital, CeMeNEMBA, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails, and Colby College donated numerous hours on the project over the summer.  Neighboring landowners have generously given permission for the trails to extend through their properties.  Ultimately, the Inland and Pine Ridge Trails will become part of a planned off-road trail crossing Waterville from the Webb Road to the south to the Quarry Road Trails of North Street and beyond.
A $35,000 Recreational Trail Program grant was awarded to Inland Hospital this year for the trails project.  Administered by the Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, the federal trails grant program provides funds for a variety of trails across the state.  The grant funding covers 73% of the $48,000 total project cost with the balance of the funding provided by the hospital and in-kind donations from CeMeNEMBA and others. The project also includes a planned 1700-foot paved path around the Lakewood continuing care facility, located on the Inland campus.

To learn more, visit www.inlandhospital.org or call 861-3292.

OUR FIRST YEAR IN REVIEW

Dear Friend of CeMeNEMBA ~
 
Wow, it’s been an exciting first year for the Central Maine chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association!  As a fellow trails enthusiast, I’m sure you’ll agree that our group is making a difference for local folks who enjoy mountain biking at any level.  In our first year, we’re already living up to our mission to “build it, bike it” for trail lovers like yourself here in Central Maine!  Here’s a look back at some of our accomplishments in 2009:
 
Built (and biked!) 7 miles of trails at the Bond Brook Recreation Area in Augusta
Hosted Central Maine’s first annual Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day
Represented mountain bikers in meetings in various group discussions including with the Department of Conservation to ensure mountain bikers’ interests are included in plans for the new Androscoggin Riverlands State Park and other trail projects in Central Maine
 
As we look forward to the New Year, in addition to our ongoing work at Bond Brook, our efforts will also focus on the Waterville area with a new sub-committee forming in January.  The 150 acre Pine Ridge Recreation Area, located between the Waterville Airport on Kennedy Memorial Drive and the golf course on West River Road has tons of potential for miles of single track to be added to the existing trail network. 
 
We’re a dedicated group that’s gaining momentum ~ and we need your help to continue our efforts in 2010.  If you enjoy mountain biking (or just love trails and the outdoors in general!), please remember CeMeNEMBA during this giving season. 
 
You can help support our local trail efforts in a number of ways:
 
Renew your CeMeNEMBA membership or if you’re not already a member, please join us
Make a tax-deductible year-end contribution
Help us fill our wish list by donating items such as a GPS system, hand tools, or even an enclosed trailer if you happen to have a spare in the yard!
 
Please click on the Please Donate! link above to support your local trails today.  Together, we can “build it, bike it” even more!  Thank you in advance for your support.  We look forward to seeing you out on the trails in 2010! 
 
Brian Alexander, President
Brian Beneski, Vice President
Jodi Harvey, Secretary
Ellen Wells, Treasurer

CeMeNEMBA President in the news

Dierdre Fleming, Maine Outdoor Journal reporter, asks our very own president (of CeMeNEMBA) 5 questions about mountain biking and trails. Check out Brian Alexander’s responses here…

http://maineoutdoorjournal.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=299698&ac=Outdoors