For Episode 192 we have Jennifer Clinton and J.T. Horn both of the Trust for Public Land. Earlier this year the Trust for Public Land Partnered with IMBA to author a report on the Economic Impact of Mountain Biking. They also presented this report at the International Trail Summit that was held this past April in Madison, WI. We dug into the report itself along with some takeaways from the International Trail Summit during this conversation.

Topics Include:

• About the Trust for Public Land
• Jennifer Clinton’s Backstory and background in economics
• Lab for Land and People
• The partnerships that were created to make this report happen
  • IMBA and TPL
• Creating the Economic Impact of Mountain Biking Report
  • Selecting data that was published in the past 10 years
  • Mountain Bike Specific Data (not all-inclusive cycling data)
• Key Findings in the report
• Planning Considerations – Outside of trails for the community to be successful
• Chattanooga, TN – Example Community
• Gorham, NH – Example Community
• Events and what the event can bring to the community both during and outside of the event.
• Highlights and Findings that may have been surprising to Jennifer and JT
• Attending the International Trail Summit
  • Concurrent Session about the report (Co Presenting w/ IMBA)
  • Feedback during / from the presentation
• Best Practices for using the report
• Another takeaway from the International Trail Summit – Redhead Bike Park, Chisholm, MN
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Trust for Public Land: https://www.tpl.org/

Economic Impact of Mountain Biking Report: https://www.tpl.org/resource/econmountainbiking

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For Episode 191 we have Lars Romig of Sedona, AZ. Lars has been a long-time member of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, along with being a Trail Builder and Mountain Bike Trail Access Advocate. Most Recently Lars led the charge on building the Hardline Trail. This conversation is one that I’ve wanted to have with a Sedona Local for a handful of years now as there is a ton of riding content that comes out of Sedona, but not a lot of content around how the Trails and Trail Access for mountain biking came to be in Sedona.

Topics Include:

• How Lars got into Mountain Biking
• What Lars does professionally for a career
• How Sedona Trails came to be for Mountain Biking
• The various trail zones in Sedona, and the order of when those riding zones opened up for mountain biking
• Pigtail Trail (within the Hogs network)
  • Started out as an IMBA Trail Day
  • Constant improvements to Pigtail
• Western Movies in Sedona / Broken Arrow Area
• Building a relationship with the U.S. Forest Service
• The growth of membership and engagement with the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition
• Singletrack Bypass Reroute
• The Hardline Trail backstory
  • The timeframe of building the Hardline Trail
• The Public Comment Period of the NEPA Process
• Recommended Direction Trails
• User Experience
• The user reception of the Hardline trail since it opened up
• Specialized and Soil Searching
• The Letter: H
• Trails that don’t start with the Letter H, that are still really great
• Canyon of Fools and lessons learned from that trail
• Monsoon Season and Riding Etiquette regarding wet trails
• Forest Service Trail Crew
• Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund
  • Funds Non-Motorized Trail Development and Maintenance
• What Lars looks for in a Trail Community
• Secrets to riding the Hardline Trail
  • The recommended route for a great ride that includes the classics and Hardline
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition: https://www.vvcc.us/

Specialized Soil Searching Hardline Trail: https://youtu.be/tJ06FMsIoy8?si=sBwZURjM5n-yFM3v

Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund: https://redrocktrailfund.org/

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For Episode 190 we have Chris Riley from Central Maine. Chris is the president of the Central Maine Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, and a board member of the New England Mountain Bike Association. Chris and his organization have come up with some innovative ideas on how to handle both new trail construction as well as handling annual trail maintenance. Maine and the New England region has a ton of momentum with mountain biking and trails, and that is really showcased during this conversation.

Topics Include:

• How Chris got into Mountain Biking
• Chris’s early years in mountain biking
  • Including several trips to ride in the Austin Texas area
• How Chris got involved with Mountain Biking and Advocacy in Maine
• Volunteer Engagement and Community Engagement with CE ME NEMBA
• Bringing on paid staff for trail building and maintenance
• Trail Systems that fall under the CE ME organization
• Buying an excavator to accelerate trail building in the region
• Various ways for funding trails
• Maine Trails Bond initiative
• Road Tripping to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
  • Marquette Trails
  • Houghton Trails
  • Copper Harbor Trails
• Creating destination riding communities
• Gravity Bike Parks in Maine
• Partnering with a local land trust for a new trail system
• Trail Systems proximity to communities for riding in the region
• Hub and Spoke Trail Model
• NEMBA and the 3 Year Strategic Plan
• Maintenance Matters
• What Chris looks for in a Trail Community
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Central Maine NEMBA: https://cemenemba.org/

New England Mountain Bike Association: https://www.nemba.org/

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services