News From AMBC

Join us to Celebrate New Trails at Loyston Point

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Please join us and the Tennessee Valley Authority this Sunday, January 31 for the grand opening of the NEW Mill Creek Loop, a 7 mile addition at Loyston Point!

There will be guided rides for all skill levels, women’s rides, bike demos, Knoxville Track and Field Club guided trail runs and food provided by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club! Meet in the Boat Ramp Parking lot (map).

12:00 Demo tents open
1:00 TVA trail dedication and group photo (say cheese!)
1:30 Trail rides and runs depart

Beginner ride: 5-7 miles
Intermediate ride: 7-12 miles
Advanced ride: 12+ miles

It’s going to be the most fun! We’ll announce a backup date in case of inclement weather. Watch AMBC’s Facebook page for updates.

Celebrate New Year’s Day Mountain Biking at Big South Fork

bikeriders_imageonlyEvery New Year’s Day the Big South Fork Bike Club invites all mountain bikers to ride the Big South Fork at an annual event called “The Mail Run”. Bikers meet at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at 9 am (ET), January 1st and then hit the trails. “The ride is traditionally called the Mail Run because ‘neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of the night’ keep us from getting out there on the first of the year,” said Joe Cross, President of the Big South Fork Bike Club. The Mail Run consists of a choice of rides varying anywhere from 8 to 35 miles so bikers can pick the group ride of a length they are most comfortable with.

This January 1st will be a special ride since it will take place on the first day of the National Park Service’s Centennial year. In order to help celebrate the National Park Service’s one hundred years, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has partnered with the International Mountain Biking Association, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, and the Big South Fork Bike Club to highlight one hundred miles of outstanding mountain biking in the park during 2016. The 100 miles of highlighted trails include West Bandy-Collier Ridge Route, Duncan Hollow-Grand Gap Loop, IMBA/Epic Route, Kentucky Bike Trail, Chestnut Ridge-John Muir Trail Route, and Hatfield Ridge-Fork Ridge Route.  The International Mountain Biking Association now has a special webpage that helps bikers plan their routes on those trails.

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has almost 300 miles of trails that allow mountain biking and in 2012 was the first national park in the nation to receive the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) elite Epic Ride designation. “Big South Fork’s extensive mountain biking trails along with the IMBA Epic designation, is likely to draw numerous new users to this part of the country,” said Tom Sauret, IMBA Regional Director for the Southeastern United States.

For more information on the Mail Run and mountain biking at the Big South Fork go to nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/mountainbikeriding.htm or call the park at 423-569-9778.

November Meeting Recap!

Fall Events:

Riversports Pint Night – Thanks to Riversports Outfitters for including us in another great season of pint nights! We appreciate the support.

Bike Raffle – HUGE congrats to Corey Korpela for winning the Santa Cruz/Juliana bike raffle! Enjoy your sweet new ride. And THANKS to Harper’s for their awesome support and sponsorship.

Fall Fest – Mud and awesomeness!! Fantastic event once again. Many, many thanks to Brian and Mary Beth for letting us stomp all over their yard and for being such gracious hosts!

Urban Wilderness Work Day – Thanks to the 41 volunteers who came out to help! We got lots of work done in the woods and cleaned up our adopted street. And thanks to Cycology for lunch. Great work, great community, once again.

New Business:

SORBA Meeting Recap

We talked a little about the SORBA meeting last month. IMBA is making some changes and restructuring that will affect us at the club level. They are implementing a new dues structure. The dues will be going up, but we will see more of that money staying here with us. This is a good thing.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Get your tree this year from Andrew at Smokey Mountain Vintage Lumber! Ask them to donate 10% of your tree purchase to AMBC. They’ll do it!

Blue Ridge Mountain Sports Donation

Thanks to this great regional retailer for a donation from their sticker fund. $1168 to AMBC!

Clay Guerry with TVA spoke about Loyston Point, Knoxville area’s newest mountain biking destination. Everyone involved is thrilled with the response to this new trail system, but they ask that we let the new trail breathe and not ride it until it is ready. Thanks!

Upcoming:

December 12 – Sharp’s Ridge Work Day – Saturday, 9-12, lunch by TVB.

December 13 – AMBC Holiday Party at Suttree’s Tavern! – Sunday at 6:00 pm, come out and join us for some holiday cheer! Eat, drink and be merry! Knock out some shopping at the merch table. We’ll see you there!

December 18 – Tour de Lights – Everyone’s favorite bikey holiday event! Decorate your bike (and yourselves!) and join the bike parade from Market Square through the historic downtown neighborhoods and back again. Read more here.

January 1 – Mail Run – Big South Fork; Start 2016 out right and join us for a New Year’s Day ride at BSF! “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” No excuse to miss this!

**No December Meeting! We’ll see you in 2016!

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