TS member Mandy Farmer heads up new trails society

[Lister Farrar]

Mandy Farmer is yet another TS member contributing in a big way to Victoria cycling. Mandy is heading up a new organization, The Nature Trails Society, trying to build links between existing trail networks for mountain bikers, 'cross riders, runners, walkers and horseback riders.

The vision is connecting existing trails, like Hartland, Gowland Todd, Partridge Hills, and Thetis Lake in a network from Brentwood to Sooke. For those who have ever tried to link Thetis to Hartland, or the Goose to Shawnigan, or remember the closure of the Millstream trails when Bear Mtn was first built, will know that feeling of 'if only...'.

The society has been catalysed by Bear Mountain, owners of a big chunk of land in the middle of those areas, changing ownership, and the new owners deciding off road cycling really does belong in the community they are building. (Bear is also the new home of the national mtb xc team, a sponsor and race site of the School Bike League, host of Jump Ship, and start-finish for the Victoria Gran Fondo.) But trail access is also the dream of many in the cycling community including SIMBS (South Island Mountain Bike Society, stewards of Hartland), and veterans of the first mtb boom in the 90's, and fans of Victoria's famous mtb racers like world cup champ and Olympic medallist Alison Sydor, and commuters looking to avoid traffic and spice up the daily back and forth.

Well, here's a chance to make "if only..." happen. As a rider and coach who uses these trails regularly, and knows the effect of variety and connection on participation, (it's huge) I'd just like to say thanks to Mandy and suggest we consider helping out any way we can. There will be plenty of ways, from supporting requests for access to managers of public land, to helping on trail building days.

If you ride, walk, run, ride a horse, coach, race, run a tourism business, would prefer an ex-urban environment maintained for outdoor recreation, or would just like to go for an off road ride without driving somewhere or grinding down the knobs first on asphalt, this project is for you.

Thanks Mandy! Tell us when the trail days are.

[EricS]

Thank you Mandy!

This is fantastic!

And Lister, would you mind posting this letter (or a version of it) to Facebook? It would be great to be able to share this around. If you only mean for us TSer's to read it, I total respect that, but your eloquent writing should be shared

Thanks,

Eric

[Lister Farrar]

Thanks Eric. It IS a good idea eh?

It's on the TS fb page now. Share away. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?v=ti ... ref=stream

[Lister Farrar]

Trail work is proceeding at Bear. Some photos from last weekend's sessions. https://www.facebook.com/NatureTrailsSo ... 4279301927


If you want to join in, next session is Saturday, 10-2. They'll provide lunch from Nourish if you book in advance with the trail crew head, Daniel Cammiade. daniel.cammiade@freakmaps.com

L

[Lister Farrar]

Update from Daniel. Its Sunday this week instead of Saturday. The youth team is busy racing a VCL then, or Roubaix in Vancouver, so will go another week. But others welcome. Make sure you email so they can include you in BBQ plans. Or bring your own lunch.

From: Daniel Cammiade [mailto:daniel.cammiade@freakmaps.com]
Sent: April-07-15 1:20 PM
To: Lister Farrar; Rob Fawcett
Subject: Re: post about trail building this Saturday

Hi Lister,

Thanks for checking. Sorry to throw a wrench into it. But this week Marty's Mountain Cycle is hosting the trail day and they requested a Sunday as Saturday is their big sales day and aren't able to get away from the shop. Sorry about the confusion. I didn't want to an announce it until I checked with Marty and the store was closed yesterday.

Also, we are planning a BBQ for the lunch so it will not be provided by Nourish this week. Rob will be flipping the burgers though.

Also mention to bring sturdy boots.

Rob said he would find a place for your bikes and changing. Pleased follow up with him on that.

What is the age range of the kids? Will they have adult supervision?

Thanks very much for helping out,
Daniel

[Lister Farrar]

society website

http://naturetrailssociety.com/