There was also the glorious moment of the planning commission revealing the data gathered from the last survey.  Another hearty thanks to everyone who took time to fill out the second survey.  Just look at these figures! The people have indeed spoken.

What’s that? Can’t read the text? Lets have a closer look.

So now we just need to keep pushing.  Within the hallowed halls of the great institution known as SFUR, which could easily be mistaken for a dive bar, we’re working to get a second draft of our bike park proposal submitted.  Then comes assurance that we can have a space to work with, then comes fundraising and building.  Then comes some sweet, sweet play time for you, me, and everyone who loves bike riding in the bay area, and many who do not yet know how much they (will) love it.

Many thanks, and if you have time, please fill out the second survey, located here.

Note that this survey is not as open ended as the first, and it is a little disappointing to not see any mention of a bike park within, especially given the results of the first survey.  Please take some time with the second survey to select the ‘other’ option and note how much you would appreciate a place for you and your children to ride bicycles off road in a structured environment.

We’re making progress on the McLaren Bike Park.  We’re gathering support and reviewing proposals to submit to the city.  Thanks to everyone who has already joined our McLaren Bike Park facebook page.  Thanks to everyone who has visited our new MBP page here on this site.  A very special thanks to everyone who signed our support petition and wrote a letter.

We’re also making a separate website just for this project.

Come by and visit us @ www.mclarenbikepark.org.

With enough voices, our momentum towards a bike park and mountain bike trails in McLaren and elsewhere will be unstoppable.  We really need everyone’s help to spread the word.  Tell people on facebook, tweet it out, send some emails, or just talk about it after your next big ride.

We’re looking for a few volunteers to help build dirt jumps, help setup a cyclocross race course, and other tasks of a general high grade of awesomeness.  If you think you could assist, please head on over to the SF Bike Expo volunteer signup page which can be found here. They’re looking for volunteers for a few days before as well, so don’t let your schedule slow you down.  SF Bike Expo has teamed up with Marin Bikes to raise funds for our future SF bicycle park (location TBD) by raffling off a Marin dirt jump hardtail!  If you’d like to enter the drawing, click here, and buy as many tickets as you are wonderful.

If you miss this event, you’re missing out on the best bicycle based event that San Francisco ever sees.  Cross Race, Dirt Jump contest, Track stand contest, great deals on all those beautiful, shiny upgrades you’ve been scouring craigslist for…

The blog over at www.sfbikeexpo.com is keeping everyone updated on last minute details.

SF Urban Riders will be there with our triple threat feature – come, ride, play, and support your local cycling scene.

]]> http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/sponsors/1121-sf-bike-expo/feed/ 0 http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/resources/trails-for-kids/ http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/resources/trails-for-kids/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:20:23 +0000 dcrites http://sfurbanriders.org/wordpress/?p=763 “It’s like Jurrasic Park!” was an enthusiastic comment overheard from one of the participants in a brand new summer program put on by the Presidio YMCA and SF Urban Riders.  This past week, the YMCA held their bicycle skills class, and for the first time, were able to bring children mountain biking without having to drive to Marin every day.  The four day Youth Mountain Bike Camp did take one day trip to Marin, a grand finale of an outing in China Camp state park.  Yet the fact that 3/4 of a mountain bike camp for children was able to be held within San Francisco city limits exhibits what is possible with the implementation of urban trail systems.  Just imagine what San Francisco could do with a bike park, enhanced trail networks from Twin Peaks to McLaren to Golden Gate park, chances for young and old alike to get out and enjoy some wilderness might not be such a rare occurence.

The YMCA’s Matt Dove and Mark G designed and managed the program, with assistance from SF Urban Riders director Dan Schneider.  Many elements of the YMCA’s programs were inspired by the popular SFUR bike skills events hosted in McLaren and Golden Gate Parks.  The YMCA’s program drew 15 to 20 youth daily to come out and experience riding a bicycle on trails.  The program has taken kids out to explore trails in the Presidio, Golden Gate Park, and of course, our beloved Mt Sutro.

The first day of the bike program was conducted at the YMCA’s presidio location, and served as a mountain bike orientation for the youth in attendance, many of whom had never ridden bicycles off road before.  The instructors presented drills and excercises that illustrated both street safety and basic off road skills.

The first day of real off road riding was hosted by SF Urban Riders, within the trail system of Mt. Sutro.  Participants in the program completed two to three laps, stopping to practice some of the more technically challenging features of the Sutro Trail system.  Young mountain bikers got to build confidence and have fun learning how to pedal through a tight switchback, how to float, rather than rattle over some particular rocky sections, and how to confidently roll off of that one tricky log in the trail.  While enjoying lunch within the serene summit garden, YMCA staff and SF Urban Rider’s Dan Schnieder presented a brief history of the area, as well as lessons on how to properly ride trails and show courtesy to other trail users.   The energy among the kids was decidedly positive, with ‘cool’ being the ubiquitous term to describe the activities.  Attendees were also overheard saying “I’m psyched for the mud…” and “I want to go back into the forest”…

Well said, young ones.  I don’t think that feeling ever changes.

So many shoes, so many shoes, that our kids will soon have beautiful trails to ride and glorious bike parks to explore…  Nike, the same powers that brought Union Square visitors the giant, gaunt, and intense poster of Lance Armstrong’s race face are now running a 650,000 dollar grant to support community and school groups which aim to unlock the potential of young people through programs that focus on sport.   Well, as you can see in the current lead story – SF Urban riders is all about getting the young’ns out on the trail.

We need your help to secure funding from this unique opportunity. Please follow this link to vote for our group and spread the word via facebook!

With your help we can secure funding to organize regular youth rides and skills camps.  If anyone remembers our skills clinics at the local Pilarcitos race series last fall, those type of programs are exactly what we will expand upon and bring to more places, with more quality features, challenges and lessons to engage and exhilarate children who stop by, no matter what their age.  If you don’t remember the events, perhaps the images and video below might stir your imagination.

Thank you for helping us in this unique community based fundraiser.

But paperboys on the corner are a thing of time past, so we’ll have to do with spreading the news electronically that we’ve made some print news.   If you’re feeling a little strained from reading on a computer all day, head down to the local newsstand and pick up a copy of the SF Examiner.  They’ve put together a nice article in the 6/13/09 issue regarding our efforts and designs on bringing a mountain bike park to San Francisco’s McLaren.  You can see the electronic version here, or by clicking on the riders below

If you go by the digital article, we’d love to have you leave a supportive comment, as that’s one way we can demonstrate public support of the Bike Park plan.  I know I’m going to grab a paper copy for posterity, and perhaps the kitty’s litter box as well.  Or perhaps some arts and crafts.   Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you ’round the trails.

Here’s a couple snapshots of the workday, and if anyone has any more snapshots, of this workday or anything else you’d like to share with SF Urban Riders, please visit our flickr group, and upload a few pictures to share.

Click below to have a look at the proposed Mclaren Bicycle Skills Park!!!  Just as some folk can remember the days when San Francisco had no skate parks, one day people will strain to remember when McLaren Park wasn’t home to an amazing bicycle skills park.

Come out to our work party on National Trail Day, June 6th, from 9am-1pm at the Woods Lot @ Mt Sutro.  We’ll help you get your old shirt dirty while building some great trail, and you can buy a nice new SFUR shirt afterwards.   Or buy a new SFUR tee and roll in the dirt with it.  The choice is yours.