Lots going on in the next few weeks! There's a Crothers
Woods trail day coming up, a build day for the long-neglected Bayview
dirtjumps, and we're bringing you news about skills parks and trail access all
over the City…
Crothers Woods
Trail Maintenance Day – Saturday Oct. 1
Come and join staff from the Natural Environment Trails
Program and IMBA on for a day of giving back to the trails in Crothers Woods.
This event is open to everyone who would like to get their hands dirty and help
out with on-going trail maintenance and management in the Don Valley. All tools
and training will be provided. No experience necessary, just come prepared for
outdoor working conditions. Trail construction, rock armouring and ecological
restoration (planting) are all on the menu!
When: Saturday October 1st, anytime between 10AM and 4PM
Where: 27 Redway Rd (Loblaws trailhead)
Rouge Valley
Update
On Friday, Alastair (current TORBA President) attended a
Rouge Park Alliance meeting in support of a presentation by IMBA Canada. As
plans for the Rouge continue, we're very concerned that mountain biking should
feature in the plans, and be both allowed and planned for. IMBA reps Jason and
Lora made a solid, credible deputation, and it was important that both TORBA
and the Durham Mountain Biking Association were present, as we represent the
two MTB groups that border the Rouge on either side. We'll continue to advocate
for mountain biking as this progresses. If you're a frequent Rouge rider and
would like to be involved, we'd love to hear from you.
High Park
High Park got a lot of media coverage after a native
group occupied and removed the dirt jump area earlier this year. That event
created immediate pressure to create an authorized replacement venue somewhere
in the area, and Graham (TORBA VP) has been actively following this issue,
meeting with councillors and city staff. Currently an RFP has been awarded to
Jay Hoots to build a replacement skills park in the Queensway and Parkside
area. A public meeting will be taking place towards the end of October, and
your involvement is needed because we need solid representation from the
mountainbike community to push this forward. Please be prepared to come to the
meeting - our next newsletter will have details of the time and place.
Bayview Dirtjumps
Build Day - Sunday Oct. 2
Many mountainbikers will know of the dirtjumps in the
Bayview and Finch area, which were neglected and fell into disrepair. Well,
they're BACK! On October 2nd there's a build day to restore and revitalize the
jumps. If you can't make it to the Crothers build, please come to this one. The
city is using this day to gauge interest in the park, and this could lead to a
complete overhaul/redesign in the spring. Call Jesse for further info: 647 835
8062.
When: Sunday October 2, 12PM onwards
Where: on Bayview just north of Finch
Bike Rodeo -
Sunday Oct. 2
If you have kids, you might be interested in getting them
out to the Fall Bicycle Rodeo, organized by the new Leaside GEARS bike shop and
Toronto Police 53 Division. Participants will have their bicycle and helmet
inspected. They will then move onto the rodeo component to be tested on their
riding skills. There will be basic
instruction on safety, hand signals, a balancing challenge and a mini time
trial to register top speeds on Laser radar.
The Toronto Police Mounted and K9 Units will be on hand
to meet the public, and a vintage 1957 Chevy police car will also be on
display. There will be gifts for the first 100 participants.
All participants are required to bring their own bicycle
and a helmet. Youth will need to have a parent sign a waiver.
When: Sunday October 2, 11AM – 3PM
Where: GEARS is located at 109 Vanderhoof, one street
south of Eglinton, just west of Brentcliffe.
MTB Fest 2012
Yup, we've started work on planning next year's MTB Fest,
to make it bigger, better, more fun… but keeping the grass-roots flavour that
everyone seemed to love this year. At this point we'd like your suggestions –
and if you can spare some time to help out, that would be fantastic. Email us
if you have any ideas or would like to volunteer.
