Here's what's happening in the winter wonderland of local mountain biking!

EVENTS COMING UP

Now - Dec 31st Marl Ravine trail at YRSP reverses direction. The reverse direction is not optional! Please follow the signs and exercise caution.

Night Rides will be posted to the EVMA Facebook page and will happen weekly as long as there are ride leaders and dry trails!

EVMA does not have any weekend rides scheduled for the next few weeks because of the holidays. Check the EVMA Chatter page for popup rides or post your own ride for people to join.

January 28^th- EVMA membership meeting and group rides.  Please plan to attend.

KUDOS

Thanks to everyone that came out Sunday to the Winter Solstice celebration.   It was a great time even if the weather did not cooperate for the ride. Congratulations to Penny and Paul who tied for the best chili in the chili cookoff.  A special thank you to BikeBeat, Red Barn Bikes Bicycles, and Conte's Bikes for donation of door prizes and to all the volunteers who helped make the event happen. 

Thanks to everyone who came out December 11th to Wahrani Nature Trail workday. A bridge was added to the upper loop to cross the muddy area at the beginning. Special thanks to Mike Benton and Steve Maxey for the planning and transport of the bridging. There will be another workday planned in January to replace bridges and general trail work.

A big thank you goes out to Elisa Panetta for her time as serving as EVMA secretary.  She has done a fabulous job and we are all appreciative of her hard work.  Melanie Storrs will take over as the new secretary and will strive to do as good a job.  

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

General Volunteers are needed to assist with the social aspects of the club; volunteers to assist with lunch at the club meeting, ride leaders for riders new to mountain biking, and volunteers to act as trail captains. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Jim Irby to match your interests with a task!

A NOTE ABOUT TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Want to ride around those #$%& rocks?  Want to see all those pesky leaves gone? ASK, Don't Act! The health of trees and trails depend on coordinated trail maintenance using approved trail building and maintenance methods, and all technical features and trail revisions need park approval and safe design. Advanced trails with difficult technical sections (ie: Marl Ravine) are intended to be challenging for riders with more advanced skills.  Beyond removing windfall limbs, please do not take it upon yourself to improve a trail, or make a section easier to ride. If you have a great idea for a trail improvement, contact Jim Irby to find out how to get your idea considered and implemented. Leaves are important for preventing mud holes and erosion, so please don't blow off trails without prior approval. Safety concerns can be called out on EVMA Chatter and will receive prompt attention.

SAFETY NOTE

Last week, at Freedom Park, hikers found a biker unresponsive on multiuse trail 2 near the exit of trail A. EMS was called and he was transported to the hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away. From all indications, it was a coronary event. The individual was stationed at a local military base; he was not a member of EVMA.  A complication to the incident, the biker was alone and was not carrying identification. It was a couple of hours before he was identified. Please be sure to ride with a partner (it’s more fun that way anyways) and always carry identification.