Thanks to everyone that joined us at Summit’s Wayside this month. It was great to see some new faces and we encourage everyone to come out when you can. If you weren’t able to be there this month, here’s the latest news.

Jay Wilkes opened the meeting with updates from both Cherokee County and the City of Woodstock. Cherokee has purchased 29 acres of land in Canton for the construction of a connector trail that will allow users to walk/ride/run from Heritage Park to Boling Park. Woodstock has given SORBA the approval and funding to complete some additional trail enhancements at Rope Mill Park. First up here will be new access to the Avalanche Trail by way of a switchback trail on the west side of the Avalanche Kiosk. This will be the counter-clockwise or “to the right” entrance for Avalanche.

We’re very excited to announce that the Georgia Games will be holding their MTB event this summer at Rope Mill! This looks to be our first race event on Avalanche and it is scheduled for July 24^th, 2011. More info can be found on their website: http://www.georgiagames.org/mountain_biking.htm

Also at Rope Mill, we are still expecting the pedestrian bridge to be installed around the end of February and look forward to starting construction on the new beginner loop there in late-March. This loop is currently flagged at about 3.5 miles.

Over at Blankets Creek, finishing touches are being applied to our new downhill trail dubbed “Quehl Holler.” We’re working diligently to get it ready to open and we’ll have a full write-up on this trail on the homepage soon. The installation of the new trail markers is progressing nicely. You can see the full details of this project here. Unfortunately, the improvements to the Blankets parking lot look to be delayed until next year. There are no definitive dates to start construction but everything is being done to get this project through the red-tape and into reality.

Plans for this year’s Pedalpalooza are taking shape. Scheduled for May 7^th, 2011, Pedalpalooza will be held at Blankets Creek and will feature group rides, contests, and bike giveaways. JD’s BBQ will be there providing delicious food and adding a great “air” to the event. Bring the whole family and enjoy what is sure to be a great time.

Out Spokin’ Bicycles is providing a Cannondale Trail SL 29er 2 to be raffled off at the 2011 Dirty Duathlon, to be held April 9^th at Blankets Creek. You can find more info about the raffle and the event at Mountain Goat Adventures’ website at http://mountaingoatadventures.com/blanketsduathlon/

MGA is also beginning plans for two other events on SORBA Woodstock trails this year. A six-hour “twilight” race at Blankets will be held August 13^th, 2011 from 4pm-10pm and another Dirty Duathlon race at Rope Mill is scheduled for October 29^th. More details on these events will be forthcoming.

Our new National Mountain Bike Patrol Director, Mark Taylor, brought us up-to-date on his plans to re-energize our NMBP program in the coming months. Dates are still being set, but if anyone is interested in this program please contact Mark via email bikepatrol@sorbawoodstock.org. You can get more info on the Bike Patrol program at IMBA’s website http://www.imba.com/nmbp

Spring is just around the corner folks and there’s a lot going on at SORBA Woodstock as we plan to have great 2011 on the trails. We encourage everyone to get involved and help us provide the MTB experience you and yours are looking for. Please feel free to contact any of our Board members with comments and suggestions. You can find a list of us and our email addresses here http://www.sorbawoodstock.org/board-of-directors/

Meeting Minutes

February 2011 Meeting Notes