Greetings Fellow Trail Enthusiants,
Nathan has decided to stage the reopening of the trails in Forest Hill Park. Gone is the plan to close the entire park until everything is finished. In place now is a plan to reopen each section as it is completed.
The first stage to be completed will run from the Reedy Creek bridge, along the ridge below the school, across the cobblestone walkway, and to the switchbacks above the creek. Before this section can be reopened there are a couple of things that need to happen. First, a small crib wall needs to be built behind the school. Next, a 16 foot bridge needs to be constructed across the small creek at the bottom of the switchbacks. In addition, some rock work needs to be done on the switchback turns. The rock work on the switchback turns does not have to be completed before the section is opened.
Nathan and his crew are working almost full time during the week to get this project finished. If you can't come out on the weekend, please consider helping Nathan during the week if you have the time. Because Nathan's schedule can change during the week, it is best to either email or call him before coming out. Nathan's email is nathan.burrell@richmondgov.com. His phone is (804) 357-8897.
On another note, if you have any concerns or questions about the work being done in Forest Hill Park or in the James River Park System, Nathan urges you to contact him to discuss the issue or question. It doesn't matter if you're a mountain biker, hiker, runner, etc., Nathan wants to hear what you have to say.
This Saturday we will be working on the first stage. Nathan will have a small but very experienced crew building the crib wall behind the school. The rest of us will be adjusting and refinding the trail until we get to the switchbacks. This will include fine tuning the backslope and pulling leaves back down onto the lower part of the trail edge.
Again, please respect Nathan's wish for the trails to be closed. The trails are in no condition to be used and if ridden will just make it harder for us to finish the work. As each section is completed, we will announce its opening here and on our website. Please be patient, we are trying our hardest to get these trails open.
If we get snowed out, I'll send this out again next week.
That's it for now, we look forward to seeing you this Saturday.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Sweco is here.
Well friends the dice tumbled and we hit a win. The Sweco arrived Monday and the boys got right to work Tuesday. As of Wednesday evening Nathan, “BigWorm” & Mike were basically a day up on the project. The workload was looking like (4) 10-hour days but the boys think they will have it finished in 3 days thanks in large part to the talent behind the blade who goes by the name “Big Worm” and the gratuitous efforts of all of you wonderful volunteers who came out in to help out in a big way. If not for your efforts the trail corridor would not have been ready and things would not be what they are.
Thank You all of you.
You can check out a few more pictures of the Sweco work in progress thanks to Greg Rollins behind the camera lens. Take a look here.
To quote Nathan from our monthly RaMORE meeting tonight “As soon as the Sweco work is done we can start the “FUN” part.” I will get into a bit of that in our next post. Nathan, {& Mike & Big Worm} who by the way pulled a 10 hour day of trail work then braved West End rush hour traffic to give his insight during the meeting tonight and provide us with an update on the Sweco work will be hard at it again for another 10 hour day tomorrow. Talk about dedication! There is a good reason that I envy the passion that these guys bring to the table. Thanks guys.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Forest Hill Park Fundraiser Event............its TRAILICIOUS
Help us raise funds for the Forest Hill park trail reroute. Stop by for a fun evening.
TRAILICIOUS is a benefit hosted by Richmond MORE to raise funds for the Forest Hill Park trail reroute project. The event will take place Saturday February 27 from 7-11pm at the Capital Ale House downtown Richmond. Free parking is available at 6th and Carey Street deck. Join us... for a fun evening of music, socializing and amazing raffle prizes. There will be a local Blue Grass/Americana band (fronted by fellow off road fixed gear aficionado Glenn A.) called Broke Bike Mountain, big screen videos of local riding and trail building and did we say tons of amazing raffle prizes! There may also be a few surprise guest appearances by some local legends as well as plenty of other great things that you will just have to be there to know about and see. So mark your calendars, come thirsty for fine beer and bring a few bucks for some raffle tickets. Admission is $10 at the door............or you can prepay on line. Sign up today; event is limited to 300 people. Click here to get your tickets!
For those of you who didn’t know about the JRPS fundraiser last year at Capital Ale House (long story short) there was a line of people standing outside waiting for the happy people inside to leave so that they could get in. Yup, it was sold out and people were outside trying to get in like it was free beer day or something. So if you know you want to be there you’d best buy some tickets early. It will sell out again this year in a bigger and better way.
So get your tickets now. Don’t be that guy who has to stand there and listen to his buddies talk about all the fun that he missed out on!
See you there.
TRAILICIOUS is a benefit hosted by Richmond MORE to raise funds for the Forest Hill Park trail reroute project. The event will take place Saturday February 27 from 7-11pm at the Capital Ale House downtown Richmond. Free parking is available at 6th and Carey Street deck. Join us... for a fun evening of music, socializing and amazing raffle prizes. There will be a local Blue Grass/Americana band (fronted by fellow off road fixed gear aficionado Glenn A.) called Broke Bike Mountain, big screen videos of local riding and trail building and did we say tons of amazing raffle prizes! There may also be a few surprise guest appearances by some local legends as well as plenty of other great things that you will just have to be there to know about and see. So mark your calendars, come thirsty for fine beer and bring a few bucks for some raffle tickets. Admission is $10 at the door............or you can prepay on line. Sign up today; event is limited to 300 people. Click here to get your tickets!
For those of you who didn’t know about the JRPS fundraiser last year at Capital Ale House (long story short) there was a line of people standing outside waiting for the happy people inside to leave so that they could get in. Yup, it was sold out and people were outside trying to get in like it was free beer day or something. So if you know you want to be there you’d best buy some tickets early. It will sell out again this year in a bigger and better way.
So get your tickets now. Don’t be that guy who has to stand there and listen to his buddies talk about all the fun that he missed out on!
See you there.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
More Christmas Light tour ride information.
Greetings fellow Mountain Bikers,
I wanted to send you a quick update with some info regarding the “Even Tackier Fat Tire Light Tour.”
I just got home from a pre-trip around the grand tour’s route. There are still a few patches of ice here and there and a few sheets of ice on some of the neighborhood streets but for the most part the route is 98% clear. So we are definitely still game on for the ride.
Here are a few last minute details and some reminders for the forgetful types such as myself.
The ride will leave the parking lot in front of 3-Sports/7-11/Pleasants Hardware at 6:30pm. This will be the start & finish of the ride. The address is:
3 Sports
445 North Ridge Road
Richmond, VA 23229
You will need a quality headlight/helmet light (no Walmart or Dicks AA battery powered gimmicks please) and an illuminated or blinking rear red tail light. This is required by state law for cycling on the road at night. If you don’t have these items I suggest you stop at your favorite local bike shop on the way to the meet up location. I would also suggest that if you own reflective clothing wear it. Richmond drivers are terrible drivers to begin with, toss is those last minute holiday shoppers, the folks that can’t drive in snow and a few other factors and you could have a problem. We will do our best to keep you safe out there tonight but we ask that you do your part with common sense.
The temps are still looking to be in the 33F to 29F degree range so dress appropriately. Don’t forget the roads will feel a bit colder than the trails at those temps due to wind.
We (RaMORE) won’t be providing any food or drink on the ride so be sure to bring something to drink and a power bar or something of the like if you want food on the ride. We expect the duration of the ride to be between 90 minutes upwards of 2 hours. There will be at least one mid point bail out if you need it.
Please be sure that your bike is in working order and there is at least a little bit of air in the tires BEFORE you line up to start the ride.
I’m sure I’ve forgot something but that should get you there and spinning the pedals.
See you guys and girls tonight.
I wanted to send you a quick update with some info regarding the “Even Tackier Fat Tire Light Tour.”
I just got home from a pre-trip around the grand tour’s route. There are still a few patches of ice here and there and a few sheets of ice on some of the neighborhood streets but for the most part the route is 98% clear. So we are definitely still game on for the ride.
Here are a few last minute details and some reminders for the forgetful types such as myself.
The ride will leave the parking lot in front of 3-Sports/7-11/Pleasants Hardware at 6:30pm. This will be the start & finish of the ride. The address is:
3 Sports
445 North Ridge Road
Richmond, VA 23229
You will need a quality headlight/helmet light (no Walmart or Dicks AA battery powered gimmicks please) and an illuminated or blinking rear red tail light. This is required by state law for cycling on the road at night. If you don’t have these items I suggest you stop at your favorite local bike shop on the way to the meet up location. I would also suggest that if you own reflective clothing wear it. Richmond drivers are terrible drivers to begin with, toss is those last minute holiday shoppers, the folks that can’t drive in snow and a few other factors and you could have a problem. We will do our best to keep you safe out there tonight but we ask that you do your part with common sense.
The temps are still looking to be in the 33F to 29F degree range so dress appropriately. Don’t forget the roads will feel a bit colder than the trails at those temps due to wind.
We (RaMORE) won’t be providing any food or drink on the ride so be sure to bring something to drink and a power bar or something of the like if you want food on the ride. We expect the duration of the ride to be between 90 minutes upwards of 2 hours. There will be at least one mid point bail out if you need it.
Please be sure that your bike is in working order and there is at least a little bit of air in the tires BEFORE you line up to start the ride.
I’m sure I’ve forgot something but that should get you there and spinning the pedals.
See you guys and girls tonight.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Richmond MORE’s soon to be annual “The other Christmas light ride.”
Richmond MORE’s soon to be annual “The other Christmas light ride.”
Tuesday Dec.22nd 2009 6:30pm
Maybe you’ve herd about the Christmas light ride aka the Tacky Light Tour via bike that our friends at RABA do?
Well this year we’ve decided to have a fat tire version. The ride will start at 6:30 pm on 12/22/09 (weather pending) from 3-Sports (on Ridge road) and snake around the West End to check out some beautiful & festive lighting arrangements for a bit then return to 3-Sports to play a quick game of rock, paper, scissors to decide which “social establishment” might best re-fuel us from our ride.
This isn’t going to be a fast paced ride. What it will be is a nice fun social paced ride making stops for pictures and electric bill guesstimates along the way. We do require that you have your bike equipped with a helmet or handlebar light capable of lighting the path in front of you with enough light to ride comfortably. You don’t need 1,000 lumens of power for this but at least 100 should get you by. We also ask that for your safety (and to be compliant with state laws) you have a red rear light.
So please come out and join us for a great time.
More info will soon follow.
Tuesday Dec.22nd 2009 6:30pm
Maybe you’ve herd about the Christmas light ride aka the Tacky Light Tour via bike that our friends at RABA do?
Well this year we’ve decided to have a fat tire version. The ride will start at 6:30 pm on 12/22/09 (weather pending) from 3-Sports (on Ridge road) and snake around the West End to check out some beautiful & festive lighting arrangements for a bit then return to 3-Sports to play a quick game of rock, paper, scissors to decide which “social establishment” might best re-fuel us from our ride.
This isn’t going to be a fast paced ride. What it will be is a nice fun social paced ride making stops for pictures and electric bill guesstimates along the way. We do require that you have your bike equipped with a helmet or handlebar light capable of lighting the path in front of you with enough light to ride comfortably. You don’t need 1,000 lumens of power for this but at least 100 should get you by. We also ask that for your safety (and to be compliant with state laws) you have a red rear light.
So please come out and join us for a great time.
More info will soon follow.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
December 16th our Last RaMORE meeting of 2009
Greetings Fellow Mountain Bikers and Trail Enthusiasts,
Our next club meeting is this Wednesday December 16th at 6:00pm at Capitol Ale House Downtown. They are located at:
623 East Main Street (6th and Main St.)
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone 804-780-ALES
The Downtown location offers free parking after 4:00 pm weekdays and anytime on weekends in the Lanier Parking Systems Deck located on 6th & Cary Street.
Greg Rollins will discuss recent developments in the Forest Hill project and the plans for moving the project forward. We have a firm date from the Sweco operator, project funding has been secured and committed, and work will start soon on clearing the trail corridor. Other details will be discussed at the meeting.
Steve Hodson will discuss the Westview project and his work out there last weekend.
Bill Wright, as always, will discuss the club finances.
New club officers and board members will be announced.
And, Santa will have plenty of free swag to give away!
This is the last club meeting of the year. We'll try to keep the focus less on business and MORE on fun. Please come join us for some holiday cheer this Wednesday at Capitol Ale House!
Our next club meeting is this Wednesday December 16th at 6:00pm at Capitol Ale House Downtown. They are located at:
623 East Main Street (6th and Main St.)
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone 804-780-ALES
The Downtown location offers free parking after 4:00 pm weekdays and anytime on weekends in the Lanier Parking Systems Deck located on 6th & Cary Street.
Greg Rollins will discuss recent developments in the Forest Hill project and the plans for moving the project forward. We have a firm date from the Sweco operator, project funding has been secured and committed, and work will start soon on clearing the trail corridor. Other details will be discussed at the meeting.
Steve Hodson will discuss the Westview project and his work out there last weekend.
Bill Wright, as always, will discuss the club finances.
New club officers and board members will be announced.
And, Santa will have plenty of free swag to give away!
This is the last club meeting of the year. We'll try to keep the focus less on business and MORE on fun. Please come join us for some holiday cheer this Wednesday at Capitol Ale House!
Dreaming of dry days
It’s no surprise that the biblical amounts of rain that we’ve had lately on top of the colder weather setting in has made trail building very difficult and trying to sneak a ride when it’s not raining, frigid, dark or muddy is becoming quite the chore. It’s a good thing that we’ve got all the family and friends around us this time of year to remind us of life off the bike and keep us from going mental from not getting to ride.
Here’s a quick tip for the holidays. Since the weather outside is frightful and you aren’t getting out to ride very much, not to mention that the fire inside is so delightful (and so is the eggnog) why not seize the opportunity to take your steed over to your favorite local bike shop for a little bit of T.L.C. While the salesmen and women may be busy this time of the year the “service side” (Mechanics) of most local bike stores is usually pretty slow so it makes for a great time to treat yourself and your bike to a tune up so that when the weather turns nice your bike will be in top shape. Don’t forget to let them know that you are a Richmond MORE member so that you will receive your discount.
Now we would like to share some pictures with you that were submitted by David Kern. David has done a wonderful job capturing the beauty our beloved James River Trails.
Thank you for sharing these photos with us David. If any other readers have photos that you would like to share please email those to ramorerides (at) gmail (dot) com. We would really like to start a “Photo Wednesday” post. It would serve as a great midweek reminder of how fortunate we are to have multiple trail networks right in our backyards. So again if you have some photos that you would like to share please send us an email and tell us where the photo was taken and who all is in the photo. It doesn’t have to be a photo of the JRPS trails it could be from any trail in the state. And who knows your photo may inspire someone to go out and ride a new trail that they’ve never been on.
Happy Holidays from all of the Richmond MORE crew its extended families.
Here’s a quick tip for the holidays. Since the weather outside is frightful and you aren’t getting out to ride very much, not to mention that the fire inside is so delightful (and so is the eggnog) why not seize the opportunity to take your steed over to your favorite local bike shop for a little bit of T.L.C. While the salesmen and women may be busy this time of the year the “service side” (Mechanics) of most local bike stores is usually pretty slow so it makes for a great time to treat yourself and your bike to a tune up so that when the weather turns nice your bike will be in top shape. Don’t forget to let them know that you are a Richmond MORE member so that you will receive your discount.
Now we would like to share some pictures with you that were submitted by David Kern. David has done a wonderful job capturing the beauty our beloved James River Trails.
Thank you for sharing these photos with us David. If any other readers have photos that you would like to share please email those to ramorerides (at) gmail (dot) com. We would really like to start a “Photo Wednesday” post. It would serve as a great midweek reminder of how fortunate we are to have multiple trail networks right in our backyards. So again if you have some photos that you would like to share please send us an email and tell us where the photo was taken and who all is in the photo. It doesn’t have to be a photo of the JRPS trails it could be from any trail in the state. And who knows your photo may inspire someone to go out and ride a new trail that they’ve never been on.
Happy Holidays from all of the Richmond MORE crew its extended families.
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