GHORBA - Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association

Registration Open for BIG RING CHALLENGE RACE

christyj — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:53:12 +0000

Article category:

The Big Ring Challenge Race is in it's fourteenth year and the course at Double Lake Recreation Area is ready to go!

Date: Sunday, May 7, 2017
Location: Double Lake Recreation Area in Sam Houston Forest
Address: 301 FM 2025 Rd. Coldspring, TX 77331

Don't delay and get signed up today!

https://www.bikereg.com/34651

The Kids Kup, youth events, and Beginner Race clinic will be Saturday, May 6th.

Thank you to our 2017 BRC Race Sponsors for making this event possible.

For questions or inquiries, contact GHORBA Race Director, David Cervera at

May is Mountain Biking Month

christyj — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:39:18 +0000

Article category:

General

May is national Bike Month but we prefer to call it Mountain Biking Month!

Join GHORBA in a month long celebration of all things Mountain Bike! Check out our calendar of fun events for all age groups and skill levels.

We will kick off the month with a Social Party and Big Ring Challenge Race Carbo load at 11 Below Brewery with dinner from Carrabba's Italian Grill, then off to Double Lake Recreation area for the Fourteenth Annual BIG RING CHALLENGE RACE, and finish the month with a Mountain Bike to Work Day.

There is something for everyone so check out the Upcoming Events section weekly for details on each activity and promotion.

If your local trail or town is doing an event in May, let us know so we can add it to the calendar.

See you out on the trails!

Let's Make Jack Brooks Great Again Work Party

christyj — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 19:38:25 +0000

Article category:

General

Saturday, April 1, 2017 - 8:15am
Jack Brooks Park Trails

Be able to say you were there! This will be the first of many, many workdays to come. The plan is to start repairs, section by section and the trail back up and rideable.

Lunch will be provided: burgers and hot dogs.

Tools to bring
Shovels,
Wheelbarrow
Hoes
Hard rake
Tamper
Mattox
Solid shoes
Gloves
Strong back
A smile

Huntsville SP Trail Work Party March 12

christyj — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 14:23:53 +0000

Article category:

General

Please come out and help open the new Huntsville SP MTB trails...

Our intent is to transport wood material via ATV to the location where a boardwalk is needed.
This discrepancy is a Priority One on the 2016 Inspection report.
Once this boardwalk is completed, we can ask to have the trail closed signs removed, as long as we can show a plan to resolve the Priority 2 & 3 discrepancies in a timely manner.

There are also some down trees along the trail that require a chainsaw. Chainsaw work is a minimum of two people with CPR qualifications and one certified to operate the saw in the forest.

Contact Kevin Highfield or Michael Walsh via FBook for questions.

Where: Huntsville State Park NWCC Trail head
When: Sunday, March 12
TIme: 8:30-1:30

Bring gloves, close toed shoes, trimmers, bottled water

Double Lake Trail Work Party March 19

christyj — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 22:31:56 +0000

Article category:

General

GHORBA members and volunteers are needed to help open our beloved Double Lake MTB trails for the park's re-opening on April 1st.

There will be some new paperwork for volunteers to complete per the Forest Service and SHTC. Also, there will be limited MTB riding FOR VOLUNTEERS ONLY, and a hard stop to get off the closed property about 1:30pm. We are not sure about the restroom situation, please be ready and flexible there.

So, please come to work and then have a bit of fun AND adventure!

Jim Mackey is the DL Trail Steward, contact him via FaceBook for more info and his 'word is law' so to speak; thank you. Secondary contact is Kevin Highfield, GHORBA VP and our cycling rep on the BOD at the SHTC.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on the 19th!

When: Sunday, March 19
Where: Double Lake Recreation Area
Time: 9:00-Noon

What to bring: Water, shovels, gloves, closed toed shoes, snacks/lunch. Mountain bike is optional.

Santa Cruz Demo Coming March 5th

christyj — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 20:36:28 +0000

Article category:

General

Santa Cruz is coming to Cypress Creek MTB trails for a demo day on Sunday, March 5th. This event is sponsored by our friends at Sun & Ski Houston and will start at 9am and last till 1pm. You will need to bring an ID and CCard to hold while you try out a bike.

Also, you may reserve a bike a the Sun & Ski location at 16000 Stubner Airline Dr. Su J, Spring, TX 77379.

The Cypress Creek Crew will be serving delicious $2 tacos w/fixings, drinks, and may have a fun raffle or two with all proceeds going directly to the Cypress Creek trails. So bring your family, folding chairs, and even a friend or two!

Come for the demo, stay for the fun!

For questions, call the Sun & Ski Cypresswood at 281-537-0928, or the Sun & Ski The Woodlands at 832-610-3930

GIANT demo, Cypress Creek and Memorial Park

ScottDammitt — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 04:07:02 +0000

Article category:

General

Planetary Cycles is bringing GIANT Bicycles and Liv bicycles to our trails THIS WEEKEND.

Saturday, they'll be at Cypress Creek from 10am-3pm. Directions - Event Details

THEN

Superbowl Sunday, they'll be at Memorial Park 10am-3pm, so come and ride before the big game. Directions - Event Details

Please welcome two new board members!

ScottDammitt — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 16:14:45 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Michael Moyers has stepped up to take on the Trails Director role. Michael will coordinate tool and material purchases used for trail maintenance as well as providing guidance and leadership during trail work parties to ensure the quality of work compliues with land manager standards.

David Cervera is taking on Race Director, a role he has assisted with in the past. David will be the primary organizer for GHORBA's Big Ring Challenge at Double Lake in May as well as any other races.

Please give both of these gentlemen a round of applause and thanks for stepping up!!
See you on the trails!

Weekend recap & upcoming events

ScottDammitt — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 23:55:46 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

UPCOMING REMINDERS:

Thurs Dec 15th 7PM - Introduction to Jack Brooks Trails - Baybrook REI (RSVP required)
Fri Dec 16th 9AM - Cypress Creek Work Day - Cypress Creek MTB parking lot.
Sunday Dec 18th 8:15AM - Pre-Christmas workday and BBQ - Jack Brooks

WEEKEND RECAP:

This weekend we had two great work parties.

Karlo and his Memorial crew installed a new wooden berm, bet ya can't wait to rail this one:

At the same time, up north at the Cypresswood (Collins Park) Trail, Jon Roberts and his merry band of trail gnomes armored a washed out section of trail and installed a new piece of boardwalk on the Black Diamond section of trail.

Last but not least, Blue Line Bike Lab brought Pivot Cycles down for a demo to Oyster Creek. Those bikes look FAST!

Oh yea, and Marcus moved a really big twig at Double Lake today. Great job, Marcus!!!

=====================================

Remember, trail materials are NOT free, and these trails don't maintain themselves. We need your help for both!!
Go to www.ghorba.org/join to contribute, renew or join.

See you on the trails!!

Another great weekend for GHORBA members!

ScottDammitt — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 16:08:09 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

What a great holiday weekend. Here's a recap:

Friday:
Cypress Creek had a group ride with a great turnout. Inspired by REI's #optoutside campaign, we spent most of the day riding. Here's a video of the crew riding one of their new berms.

Saturday:
Cypresswood Trails: The crew over at Cypresswood built a new berm and got a little riding in.

Cypress Creek: Just up the road, the folks over at Cypress Creek built a new berm as well. Here is a time-lapse of the whole 8 hour work party in just under a minute and a half! The team also took on the mannequin challenge, showing the world what the chaos of a work party looks like in one split second.

Join the North Houston Mountain Bike Team!!

ScottDammitt — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 21:28:18 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Call of Duty! Get your kids off the game and outdoors on a real adventure!

Join the North Houston Mountain bike team.

Fun family practices 2x a week. 5 optional races a season camping with your team and family!

Greades 6-12 Boys and Girls are welcome!

Team is full insured rest easy knowing your child is safe!

Interested? Please Contact Emily Durbala

Emily.durbala@bikebarn.com

Call or Text 832.253.3074

Blue Line Bike Lab presents Pivot demo day at CCMTB

ScottDammitt — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:09:13 +0000

Article category:

General

Blue Line Bike Lab and Pivot Cycles are teaming up to bring us a demo out to Cypress Creek MTB.

Sat Dec 10 9am-3pm
14234 W Cypress Forest Dr, Houston, TX 77070

The trails are in the best shape they've been in since the floods, so come on out, join or renew your GHORBA membership and shred the trails on a demo bike!

Big weekend success for GHORBA!!

ScottDammitt — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 23:14:26 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

GHORBA had two big events this Saturday, and both were a success!

At Memorial Park, GHORBA Events Director Chris Brown, Trail Steward Karlo Martinez and Adam Potter from Planetary Cycles put on a skills clinic.

Meanwhile, up north at Cypress Creek, Communications Director Scott Dammitt, president Bill Collier and former Trails Director Mitch Callihan worked with GHORBA member Greg Durbala to host a fundraiser for Camp Hope, benefiting veterans suffering from PTSD. More than $700 was raised! Thanks to Gabriel Valecillos for the drone video!!

GHORBA Social, Dinner, and Membership Meeting

ScottDammitt — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 17:33:32 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Please Join Us for a

GHORBA Social, Dinner, and Membership Meeting
on Monday, November 14th
from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
at REI Baybrook
18750 Gulf Freeway
Friendswood, TX 77546

Meet your GHORBA Board of Directors and Jack Brooks Trail Steward, Darrell Hingle. President, Bill Collier, will speak about upcoming GHORBA events, and items specific to Jack Brooks & League City trails.

Enjoy a complimentary B.B.Q. Buffet provided by Red River B.B.Q.

This event is open to both members
and non-members.

Please R.S.V.P. to Christy Jones at

no later
than November 10th.

Thank you and we hope to see you on the 14th!

Timberlane STS Eliminator Race

ScottDammitt — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 13:08:02 +0000

Article category:

General

Details and resgistration HERE

Come and join GHORBA and Timber lane Utility District for a day of fun and racing!
Registration closes at 5 pm Oct 21. Register HERE.
Profits from this event will benefit Spring-Woodlands Ministries.
All ages and categories of racers welcome!

Oct 22 from 12-5 please show up at 11. Race starts at 12 sharp.

www.timberlaneud.com/parksevents

When
October 22nd, 2016 12:00 PM through 5:00 PM
Where:
22306 Aldine Westfield Road
Humble, TX 77338-1071
United States

Major Announcement Regarding Jack Brooks Park!

christyj — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:21:56 +0000

Article category:

General

It is with great excitement that we announce our newest agreement between GHORBA and the Galveston County Parks Department for the Jack Brooks Trail System. GCP is a great example of what a mutually benefiting and understanding partnership can be with a landowner.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Commissioner Joe Giusti, Julie Diaz -GCP Director, Jennifer Krupa-Programs Manager, and Bob Simoneau-Parks Operation Manger. They were incredible to work with and extremely supportive of mountain biking and our organization. Thanks to all of you for your caring, willingness, and efforts to make this agreement happen.

I can assure you this entire team is dedicated to their local residents. For example in order to learn more about the trail, Commissioner Giusti actually walked Jack Brooks with us during the heat of the summer with those huge Southeast Texas mosquitoes!!! How many of our Commissioners are that dedicated to their constituents??? Incredible!!

What can also not be stressed enough is our thanks and gratitude towards Darrell Hingle for making this agreement possible. He is a shining example of how local leaders can step up and make change happen!!! You working with GHORBA CAN make a difference. If you want to protect or grow mountain biking in your area…follow Darrel’s example and get involved!!! Darrell has also accepted the trail steward role at Jack Brooks. He is truly the kind of man who says what he is going to do…and then gets it done. Thank you Darrell. We would also like to thank Steve Booker, Rafael Fontela, and Mike Moran for their help and support. Not only is the Jack Brooks trail a special place to ride…but the community spirit you guys have built is remarkable.
Thank You,
Bill Collier
GHORBA President

CreekFest Family Bike Rally

christyj — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:33:22 +0000

Article category:

General

CreekFest Family Bike Rally presented by GHORBA is this Saturday, October 1st from 9am - 4pm.

GHORBA will offer ongoing classes and hourly tours of the beautiful trails of Cypresswood.

Activities include:
* Helmet & Bike Safety Checks
*Beginning Skills Class
*Beginning Obstacle Course
*Guided tours of the Cypresswood trails

Bring out the whole family and enjoy everything CreekFest has to offer including arts & crafts, face painting, petting zoo, rock climbing wall, entertainment such as acrobatics and a Chinese dragon dance, canoe trips down Cypress Creek, and 10 food trucks.

Best of all parking and admission is FREE!

GHORBA Social & Dinner Meeting

ScottDammitt — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:35:25 +0000

Article category:

General

Monday, October 3, 2016 - 6:00pm

Please join us for a social & dinner meeting on Monday, October 3, 2016 at Ula's Mexican Restaurant located at 5555 Washington Ave., Houston, 77007. 6:00-9:00pm.

This social & meeting is open to GHORBA members, non-members, and Memorial Park MTB trail volunteers. Dinner buffet & soft drinks will be provided. Cash bar.

Meet your GHORBA Board of Directors, Memorial Park Trail Steward, and socialize with fellow area mountain bikers. President Bill Collier will give a presentation and we will have a question/answer period afterward.

Spread the word as our trails need you today and in the future! Hope to see you at Ula's on the 3rd!

Please RSVP to membership@ghorba.org no later than Friday, September 30th.

2016 Big Ring Challenge is FINALLY here!

ScottDammitt — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 04:13:19 +0000

Article category:

General

We can't wait to see you all at the race. Thanks to Jim Mackey and many others who worked on repairs for the trail, Double Lake has recovered from the Spring floods and she's ready to rock!

See the full resolution poster here.

Registration details here.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!

ScottDammitt — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 21:45:29 +0000

Article category:

General

Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to the folks at MTBHome for sponsoring the sweepstakes!

Our Grand Prize Winner for a trip for two to Crested Butte, CO is Nancy Gioielli!!

Runners up are listed below and will be contacted with their prize details!

Runner-Up #1: Gary Meyer
Runner-Up #2: Bonny Crews
Runner-Up #3: Diana Strebel
Runner-Up #4: Kevin Napier
Runner-Up #5: Danniel Parra
Runner-Up #6: Jason Wipf
Runner-Up #7: Dave Bechberger
Runner-Up #8: Bill Prater
Runner-Up #9: Todd Calvagna
Runner-Up #10: Travis Poe

Thanks to all who registered and participated, see you on the trails!!

Please welcome our newest member of the GHORBA Board of Directors!

ScottDammitt — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 22:14:34 +0000

Article category:

General

Eric Henao has volunteered to take the interim Secretary position on the board. His focus will be updating the bylaws and organizing our data storage.

See his full profile here

Timber Lane XC STS Eliminator Race CANCELLED

ScottDammitt — Thu, 12 May 2016 12:58:22 +0000

Article category:

General

Unfortunately due to flooding on Cypress Creek, this event had to be cancelled. We are working with the land manager to reschedule a date in the fall. Refunds will be processed as soon as possible, please email

for questions or updates.

GHORBA is currently seeking to fill the Secretary position on the board of directors

ScottDammitt — Thu, 05 May 2016 01:47:35 +0000

Article category:

General

The current GHORBA Secretary has resigned. We thank Marcus for his service and dedication thus far. The GHORBA board is now seeking candidates to fill this position until elections in October.

An ideal candidate is organized, driven with some tech savvy and approximately 3-4 hours of spare time per week, in a addition to a monthly board meeting. If you have what it takes, email your qualifications by midnight of 5/19/2016 (that's two weeks).

Position descriptions for this and all other board positions are available under "Organizational Documents" here.

For additional questions about the role, contact Bill Collier or Scott Dammitt.

FREE Skills Clinic - ALL Levels - Memorial Park

ScottDammitt — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 22:14:43 +0000

Article category:

General

Trail: Memorial Park

Sunday May 15th, 2016 8:00 AM

Interested in learning some techniques to help you become a better/safer/faster rider? Come out and join us for an ALL-levels Skills Clinic. We'll meet at Memorial Park in the parking lot near the sand volleyball courts.

It's FREE to attend but you must sign up by Saturday May 7th and be a current GHORBA member.

Go to http://ghorba.org/join if you're not already a member.

2016 "The even bigger" Big Ring Challenge - Double Lake Marathon Race

ScottDammitt — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 02:07:21 +0000

Article category:

General

Join us January 16.

Click here for full resolution of the poster.

Camping registration link

GHORBA Fall 2015 Newsletter

ScottDammitt — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 15:43:38 +0000

Article category:

General

Viewable in browser here

Groups audience:

GHORBA Girls

Meet your 2016 Board of Directors!

ScottDammitt — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:07:36 +0000

Article category:

General

Congratulations and thanks are due to the members who stepped up this year and volunteered to serve on the board.

Bill Collier, President

Kevin Highfield, Vice President

Scott Philbrook, Treasurer

Marcus Jennings, Secretary

Scott Dammitt, Communications Director

Chris Brown, Events Director

Mitch Callihan, Membership Director

Bill Rustam, Trails Director

Rafael Fontela, Race & Sponsorship Director

Gabriela Tamez, At Large Director

With these new roles defined we hope that those filling them come with passion and accountability to help improve, for example, the quality and frequency of social events, skills clinics, newsletters, races, community outreach and rider support.

Congratulations and thanks to this year's BOD! Click this link to read their biographies.

Sam Houston Trails Coalition Awarded Matching Funds for Sustainable Trail Maintenance

ScottDammitt — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 19:18:15 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Houston, TX - The Sam Houston Trails Coalition is pleased to announce the receipt of a $5,000 grant from the National Forest Foundation (NFF) to purchase equipment and supplies for the continued
expansion and maintenance of hiking, biking, equestrian, and motorized multi-use trails in the 164,000 acre Sam Houston National Forest.

As user demand increases for the Sam Houston National Forest, the NFF award positions the trails coalition to support the U.S. Forest Service in managing over 250 miles of official trails, providing an
outdoor destination for Houston and the surrounding region’s growing population. These combined efforts provide valuable access to nature for diverse outdoor recreation while protecting natural
resources and educating the public accordingly.

With oversight from the U.S. Forest Service, coalition members volunteer nearly 2,000 hours towards trail maintenance each year. Current trails maintained by the coalition include the popular 128 mile
Lone Star Hiking Trail, 85 miles of multi-use trail, 50 miles of mountain bike trail, and numerous smaller trails and forest service roads. Chris Hardy, Sam Houston Trails Coalition Chair, states that “without the
help of the coalition volunteers and the NFF grant, the U.S. Forest Service would be forced to close many of the existing trails due to limited maintenance resources.”

Other amenities in the Sam Houston National Forest include two developed campgrounds, designated wilderness, scenic, and recreation areas, and access to Lake Conroe through multiple boat and canoe
launches. Hunting, fishing, camping, and paddling opportunities also abound.

Founded by Congress in 1991, the National Forest Foundation works to conserve, restore, and enhance America’s 192-million-acre National Forest System. Through community-based strategies and public-
private partnerships, the NFF helps enhance wildlife habitat, revitalize wildfire-damaged landscapes, restore watersheds, and improve recreational resources for the benefit of all Americans.
Funding for this grant is made available through the foundation’s 2015 Matching Awards Program.

For questions about the national forest or to learn more about the Sam Houston Trails Coalition, please
visit www.trailscoalitionoftexas.org.

Go Vote! Election time for the new Board!!

clmbngfl — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:17:42 +0000

Article category:

General

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e21Zmr6znmgGnI0Cris8p1YAlsrfneMqfJN4Dxi2bAc/viewform

Harris County bond proposals in November impact our trail systems

ScottDammitt — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 03:59:59 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

This November, voters will have a chance to make a difference in their communities with a bond vote. Two propositions in particular will impact our natural surface trail systems.

Proposition 1: $700 million for roadway projects, to include roadways and bridges.
Proposition 2: $60 million for parks and trails expansions, including Cypress Creek Greenway and the Kickerillo-Mischner Preserve in Precinct 4
Proposition 3: $24 million for a new animal shelter.
Proposition 4: $64 million for Harris County Flood Control projects, including flood mitigation projects and new acquisitions for land, which can be used for parks and trails.

Stand up and be counted! Read the full story here!

100 Acre Wood ribbon cutting, work party and bike ride

ScottDammitt — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 05:01:02 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Please join us this Saturday, September 26th to celebrate National Public Lands Day.

RSVP IS required: 281-576-1634 orinfo@bayouland.org

We've got all kinds of trail and invasive species work areas throughout the miles of trails on this preserve. Projects range from easy enough for toddlers and their parents to more difficult activities for who are ready to sweat with wheelbarrows and shovels. Experience levels of all kinds wanted and needed as we beautify and maintain some of the many hike and bike trails on our 100 Acre Wood Preserve.

Celebrate the groundbreaking of construction for the major hike and bike Cypress Creek Greenway that will start in October, finishing at the end of this year.

Click and share the flyer for more event details, including the map.

GHORBA Board of Directors elections coming soon!

ScottDammitt — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 21:19:51 +0000

Article category:

General

Hi members and friends of GHORBA,

Are you ready to make a difference? Are you tired of seeing things happen to our trails that you wish could be different? Do you wish you could make a difference for mountain biking in Houston and have your voice be heard? Well now is your chance!! It’s time again for elections on the GHORBA board for another year. We have 10 positions open that we are hoping many of you will volunteer to fill. The roles and responsibilities for each position are now defined. By having the positions defined it is our hope you will be able to pick the one that best fits your skill set and passion. The positions are Communication, Events, Race Directors/Fund Raising, Membership, Trails, President, VP (Advocacy), Treasurer, Secretary, and one at large position. With these new roles defined we hope that those wishing to fill them come with passion and accountability to help improve, for example, the quality and frequency of social events, skills clinics, newsletters, races, community outreach and rider support.

If you’re interested in joining the GHORBA board for 2016, please review the roles listed below and submit your nomination to directors@ghorba.org

We’ll need your name, email address, the role you’re interested in and a brief bio to add to the ballot. We are allowing 10 days for nominations, closing the nomination period September 28th, at which point we will begin compiling a ballot for release in October.

Regards,
Marcus Jennings
GHORBA President.

President

·         Meeting chair for all board meetings
·         Arrange and publish agenda, keep meeting on time and in line with agreed agenda
·         Understand and enforce GHORBA bylaws
·         Ensures and cultivates positive relationships with media, donors, and other organizations
·         Serve as the primary spokesperson including: Media, Gov. and non Gov. organizations, timely and appropriate reporting of Board decisions and actions to all interested parties
·         Signing officer for certain documents including countersign checks correspondence, applications, reports, contracts or other documents on behalf of organization.
·         Ensures that structures and procedures are in place for securing the resources required by the organization. May require a leadership role in fundraising campaigns through personal contributions of services and money.
·         Define with the board members their development goals and objectives.
·         Create the long term vision for GHORBA's future direction
·         Cultivates relationships with like minded organizations and possible partnering organizations

Vice President & Advocacy Director

·         Back up Presidential duties
·         Advocacy Committee Lead
·         Investigate new trail opportunities that come to GHORBA from members or the public.
·         Take the lead on all efforts for new trail development. Develop hand-off point to Trails
·         Cultivate and maintain external land owner/manager relationships
·         Identify additional areas for trail expansion
·         Primary person for accountability of Grants
·         Establish and maintain an advocacy committee comprised of non-board members

Treasurer

·         Maintain and balance banking accounts for organization
·         Manage volunteer reimbursements
·         Supply information to accountant for taxes
·         Administer grants, manage grant reimbursements, and maintain records for grant audits.
·         Propose and implement annual budget for organization
·         Pay bills for organization
·         Manage registration at key fundraising events (such as BRC)
·         Participate in financial discussions regarding events etc.

Secretary

·         Take and record all meeting notes
·         Pick up mail at PO Box of organization
·         Publish board meeting notes to GHORBA's website
·         Updating and preservation of bylaws
·         Document and records management both hardcopy and online
·         Facilitate Elections

Communications Director

·         Define strategy for GHORBA communication (website, facebook, twitter, instagram, email)
·         Promotional Work
·         Newsletter publication and content assembly
·         Member communications for all methods
·         Will work with appropriate board and committee members to collect content

Events Director

·         Help coordinate event volunteers and leads
·         Publish all clinics, ride and other social events through GHORBA communication channels
·         Help promote GHORBA at events for example the bikefest, races, rides and work parties
·         Schedule Educational Trail Building with certified groups

Membership Director

·         Manage and report on membership gains and loses
·         Define strategy for driving growth in membership member services
·         Insures members get membership packets & renewal notices

Trails Director

·         Oversee Trail Stewards work programs and objectives
·         Recruit Trail Stewards for trail systems
·         Assist Stewards with arrangement of funds, materials & tools needed for trail work
·         Keep inventory of GHORBA tools
·         Report work progress for grants
·         Keep work hours from various trail systems
·         Promote GHORBA to the public

Race & Sponsorship Director

·         Race Directors shall agree that the safety of participants and spectators is an essential consideration in organizing a cycling competition and they shall take those reasonable acts necessary to promote the safety of participants and spectators.
·         The Race Director shall agree to give written advance notification regarding the race to any government or property authorities who have jurisdiction over the race venue and to abide by all regulations or agreements established by those authorities regarding
the race.
·         Publish all required race layouts, at least a month prior to the event
·         Sets and manages the budget for the Big Ring Challenge and other racing events.
·         Represents GHORBA in all affiliate racing organization (TMBRA, USAC)
·         Ensures the organization has sufficient insurance and manages any damage deposits.
·         Works with Communications Director to promote and publish all racing news.
·         Manages content for all local publicity and act as media contact during the event.
·         Produces the official program of the event
·         Provides Race Committee (within US Cycling Guidelines), safety and support personal..
·         For all USA Cycling events a Race Director shall follow the guidelines of USA Cycling.

At Large Board Member

·         Promote GHORBA at local events for example the HTX bikefest, local races, group rides, work parties
·         Help as a backup writing our monthly Newsletter
·         Other assorted duties

Wild & Scenic Film Festival, hosted by Bayou Land Conservancy

ScottDammitt — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 16:44:59 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Join us for an evening of inspiring, entertaining, and thought-provoking short films, from the biggest environmental film festival in the US.

Details and tickets.

Each year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival draws top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators and well-known world adventurers to the historic downtown areas of Nevada City and Grass Valley, California. Considered one of the nation’s premiere environmental and adventure film festivals, this year’s films combine stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions and possibilities to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation.

Each year, the festival goes ON TOUR with events hosted by local environmental groups. Our film program includes adventures in the outdoors, stories of courage and activism, beautiful wilderness, and films that explore human relationships with nature. Festival-goers can expect to see award winning films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, Native American and indigenous cultures. This year’s selections will not only take audiences to some of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet, but instill a deep appreciation and a sense of wonder for the natural world that surrounds and supports us.

Films to be screened include:

Delta Dawn

The Colorado River hasn’t kissed the sea in almost two decades — until the spring of 2014 when an experimental pulse of water was released into this forgotten delta. A team of river runners followed the water to witness this unprecedented restoration effort, and attempted to be the only, and potentially the last to float the Colorado River to the sea by paddle board. With unpredictable adventure as the backdrop, filmmaker Pete McBride tells the story of Western water, a challenged Colorado River and the uplifting potential for environmental restoration via collaboration, all through his repeated experiences chasing a river to the sea.

Wilderness Act

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, this film captures what drove us as a nation to create the Wilderness Act. Those motivations are partially rooted in the fight to protect, but also the wonderment of seeing and feeling these lands and realizing their priceless value to not only nature, but human nature.

El Campo Es Vida

Javier Vera is a third generation gaucho living in Patagonia, Chile - a region that has deteriorated significantly due to agricultural use by previous generations of gauchos. While maintaining a traditional lifestyle, Javier is one of many young locals working in conservation-based tourism initiatives across Patagonia that are serving as new models for conserving the region's wild lands.

Additional titles include School’s Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten, Bounce - This Is Not A Freestyle Movie, and Love in the Tetons.

The show starts at 7 PM - there will be an intermission halfway through the evening's presentation.

Blazing Saddles, the afterburn

ScottDammitt — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:13:19 +0000

Article category:

General

Come join us for Sun & Ski Sports' Blazing Saddles race!

Details: http://ghorba.org/events/races/5751

Call Your Senator!

radams — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:59:00 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Call to Action!! Don’t let us lose our funding for National Parks Trails!

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced an amendment that eliminates the Transportation Alternatives Program—the nation's largest dedicated source of funding for trails, walking and biking. This program also funds the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), and helps people like you and me stay healthy, get outdoors, support our local economy and get where we need to go
.
Contact your senator today and tell them

“My name is [FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME] from [YOUR TOWN], and I'm calling about the Senate's transportation bill. Please support funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program, or TAP, and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) within it. I ask that my senator vote against Sen. Mike Lee's amendment (S.A. 2280) and any other attempts to eliminate TAP and funding for walking, biking, recreational trails or TAP. We should be supporting these modes of transportation, not limiting them. Thank you."

Use this link below to leave a message. It is just a voice mail so it is easy

https://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup (link is external)

Or email them at

ted@tedcruz.org
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm (link is external)
Sponsors

GHORBA Monthly Ride -Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, TX!

ScottDammitt — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 03:59:52 +0000

Article category:

General

Please join us for our Monthly Ride, this month at Rocky Hill Ranch!
25 miles of sweet single track! Yeah!
Don't forget, $10 cash per person and bring your camelback! It's hot out there!
See ya'll soon!

http://www.rockyhillranch.com/

Memorial Park - Work Party

ScottDammitt — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 03:57:50 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Work Party - Saturday, July 25 - 8am-12pm

Meet at the Dog Wash entrance.

We will be doing a lot of trimming and filling in of some areas on Blue and Red trails.

What to bring - I will have spare tools with me:
Pruners
Loppers
Shovels
Closed toe shoes
Gloves

Optional - Hat, Long Sleeve, Bug Spray, Sun Screen

I will have Water and Snacks

GHORBA Monthly Ride- Cypresswood!

ScottDammitt — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 15:39:02 +0000

Article category:

General

Join us for our Ghorba Monthly Ride! This month at Cypresswood Trails!
Meet us at:
6727 Cypresswood Drive
77379 Spring, TX

Parking in the back lots, after the bathrooms.
Meet there at 9am!

http://ghorba.org/node/5661/

GHORBA project 'SPRING' was a huge success!!

ScottDammitt — Mon, 11 May 2015 03:14:22 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Over the last two weeks, GHORBA trail stewards have been on the grind, working with volunteers to make sure we all have a fun summer full of awesome rides!

Pictured here is trail steward and GHORBA board member Bill Collier putting the finishing touches on some trail armoring. No more mud in this spot!!

Finished product on the 100 Acre Woods. This was a low area that needed to be raised not only to prevent mud from forming but also to protect the root system of a nearby tree.

The River bend crew gets ready for some trimming

On Cypresswood trail (Collins Park), Performance Cycles 1960 store manager Gene Stovicek (right) gets the job done.

A new boardwalk goes in on Cypresswood (Collins Park)

Clear sight lines help riders to see other trail users and avert danger.

Huntsville State Park trail gets a new edition, with local legend Kevin Highfield getting the first spin!

Big Ring Challenge 2015

In the weeks leading up to BRC, Sam Houston National Forest took a heavy beating from storm systems moving toward the gulf. Steadfast volunteers, especially trail steward Jim Mackey, spent several days clearing trees. Below are just a few examples of the work that GHORBA stewards and volunteers do on a regular basis:

Trail steward Jim Mackey works his way through the limbs to clear a tree down at Double Lake. Go Jim!

A large trunk has fallen over the trail and it's up to the team to clear it before the race!

Jim Mackey and Colin Zelt work to clear the race path.

HUGE thanks to all our volunteers, stewards, board members, sponsors and land managers who make our rides possible!!

WORK PARTIES GALORE!!!

ScottDammitt — Sat, 09 May 2015 01:21:27 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

GHORBA is SPRING-ing into action with work parties at 5 area trails! All of these are paydirt eligible, so bring your forms to be signed by the trail steward.

Memorial Park - Event Details

Huntsville - Inquire at the gate

Anthills - Event Details

Riverbend - Event Details

Cypress Creek (100 Acre Wood) - Event Details

GHORBA Big Ring Challenge Results Are In!!

ScottDammitt — Mon, 04 May 2015 18:23:39 +0000

Article category:

General

Please follow this link for the official results.

2015 Big Ring Challenge - NEW COURSE!!

ScottDammitt — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 03:20:08 +0000

Article category:

General

2015 BIG RING CHALLENGE - new course! We got great feedback from the Marathon course we used in January and so this year the BRC will use a truncated version of the same idea - going in the reverse direction on the new trail compared to the last 4 years. It's a little longer than the previous course - about 14 miles, but that's just more to enjoy. Once again we'll do 2 laps for all Cat-1 and 2 and one lap for Cat-3.

See the full resolution poster for details.

Memorial Park Master Plan, LAST public meeting ONE WEEK AWAY

ScottDammitt — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 16:05:22 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Join us for the last public update meeting for the Memorial Park Master Plan, Monday, March 9, 2015 - 6:30pm

http://memorialparktomorrow.org/

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Brown Auditorium
Caroline Wiess Law Building
1001 Bissonnet St.
Houston, TX 77005

Monthly Ride at River Bend!

ScottDammitt — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:16:37 +0000

Article category:

General

Saturday, February 21, 2015 - 10:00am

Join us for our monthly mountain bike ride!
This months ride: River Bend trails in Sugarland!
Check out the Sugar Land MTB Facebook page!
See you at 10am!

Memorial Park Master Plan, Jan 12 slideshow

ScottDammitt — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:13:58 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Here are the details of the LAST public input meeting for the Master Plan process. If ANYONE has thoughts, they need to attend the next meeting on :

“The next public update meeting will take place on Monday, March 9th, 2015 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Brown Auditorium (Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet St., 77005). This will be the final public update meeting prior to taking the proposed plan forward for City Council review and ideally approval. We hope to see you all there.

http://www.slideshare.net/MemParkTomorrow/mem-parkjanuary2015sm

Cypress Creek Trails Master Plan Jan 28th

marz — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:12:29 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

A master plan to expand the Cypress Creek trail system and connect areas east and west of Texas 249 will be unveiled in a public meeting Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Lone Star College-University Park, 11101 Compaq Center West Drive. The meeting will be from 7-9 p.m. in the campus' west dining room.
....
In Harris County Precinct 4, the Gourley Nature Trail connecting Meyer and Collins parks is one of the first trail projects completed in the greenway project. The precinct also partnered with the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association to build the Cypresswood Trail, a mountain bike trail that extends from Collins Park to T. C. Jester Boulevard.

Full story here... http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/cyfair/news/article/Meeting-to-get-public-talking-about-Cypress-Creek-6027559.php

More information... https://www.facebook.com/CCTMP

Memorial Park Master Plan Public Update Meeting

ScottDammitt — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:19:23 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Details here.

TMBRA Marathon Series comes to Double Lake!!

ScottDammitt — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 03:50:02 +0000

Article category:

General

GHORBA Event

New board for 2015

marz — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 04:38:08 +0000

Article category:

General

New GHORBA Board for 2015

Voting has closed for 2014 and the new GHORBA board of directors comprises of

President.................Marcus Jennings
Vice President.........Steve Booker
Treasurer.................Russell Adams
Secretary................Chris Brown
Members at Large....Bill Collier
..............................Rafael Fontela
..............................Karlo Martinez
..............................Suzanne Menn
..............................Scott Minard
..............................Scott Phillbrook

Many thanks to everyone who submitted their interest to join the board and also many thanks to everyone who took the time to vote.

The next GHORBA general meeting has been scheduled for Nov 19th at Star Pizza on Norfolk Street. Members of the board will be there to introduce themselves and we're looking forward to getting member's feedback on what GHORBA should be working on and where efforts should be focused.

http://ghorba.org/events/general/5297

Your 2014 GHORBA Board of Directors nominees

ScottDammitt — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:16:15 +0000

Article category:

General

Bill Begnaud 5 years as GHORBA Board Member At Large
Wrote winning grant applications for two grants in competitive grant situations.
Have worked closely with P3 Montgomery County which resulted in FlintRidge Trail system after gaining an REI grant
Worked closely with Precinct 4 Harris Co Parks while assisting in their adoption of the Cypresswood Trails as an official system.
Provided on-trail leadership/labor for Cypresswood Trails after hurricane damage as well as assisting in design/construction of much of the new trail system
Provided onsite leadership/labor at Cypresswood Trails for the past two STS races
Worked with P3 Harris County towards transforming AntHills to an official Precinct 3 Park after winning the REI Grant
Future initiatives/interests:
Preservation of Cypresswood Trails as a natural surface system by working closely with P4 and CGGA
Contribute to resolution of the private land issue which splits the Cypresswood Trails by pursuing a right-of-way concept
Pursue trail opportunities along Cypresscreek south of the existing trails and towards the west
Continue work with P3 Montgomery Co in developing trail along the Spring Creek Greenway
Pursue matching funds for Anthills REI Grant after trail work progresses

Bill Collier My name is Bill Collier and I am running for an At Large position on the GHORBA board. The question I hope you are asking yourself is why should I vote for you? For me the answer is simple. Talk is cheap and action is what makes things happen. I love mountain biking. However, to be honest, what I love more than mountain biking is building new mountain biking trails. Over the last several years I have spent hundreds of hours maintaining, building, and seeking new places to build trails. Working with GHORBA and the Bayou Land Conservancy I was selected as one of the two trail stewards for the new 100 Acre Wood Trail system in Cypress Texas.
During this journey I learned the importance of building relationships with the right county and parks people as well as building trails the legitimate way. Long term trails systems are not sustained by rouge trail building. They are accomplished by bringing the right people together and presenting a compelling message that make sense for the community. That is my passion. Being selected as a GHORBA board member will help me continue on this journey to protect and expand our precious trail systems for all of Houston. I am asking for your vote to make that happen.

Chris Brown Chris has been involved with GHORBA since 2001 when he rode up on some trail gnomes and felt guilty for not helping. Following that encounter, he became active in trail work at Memorial and eventually became Trail Steward at Memorial. Later, he joined the Board of Directors as Central Rider Representative and then transitioned to Trails Coordinator, also serving as Assistant Race Director for a few of the Big Ring Challenges. Chris took a break from the Board for the past year, staying active and focused on his real passion within GHORBA, teaching Skills Clinics. He is currently working on rewriting the curriculum for the intermediate classes and is excited for the future of the Skills Clinics.

David Koons No biography provided for David.

Karlo Martinez Karlo Martinez has been riding a bike almost all his life and started Mountain Biking since the early 90’s which the first trails he rode were at Memorial Park when the good old trails existed. He has two young kids that also love riding the trails and because of that he wants them to enjoy the trails as he has for many years to come. Karlo started by helping Justin Dunn the former Trail Steward for Memorial Park by joining him with trail work and has now taken over as Trail Steward and has now been doing this job for about 3 years. Karlo believes that GHORBA needs to start making better relationships with all local bike shops and involve them more at trail work parties and events as they also have a vested responsibility in all trails.

Marcus Jennings Marcus moved to Houston in 2002 from England, a chance to continue a career in IT and the opportunity to discover some new trails. Previous to Houston, Marcus has lived and ridden in Ireland, Trinidad and Holland. He has traveled to ride trails from Morocco to Canada, hitting single track, forest trails, high alpine rocky paths and over grown lost trails in the rainforests.
Marcus lives on the west side of town with his wife and daughter and calls the Anthills his home trails. As president I've been learning the ropes of the role over the last year, building connections with city park departments and conservancy groups and supporting a excellent team of volunteers who help maintain the trails and plan our events.

Rafael Fontela After a couple of years absent from the board I had put my name up for nomination, initially as Membership Director, but have been notified that the position is not an elective position although it was posted as such and has been such in the pass; so my name will be up for nomination in an “at large” director. However I plan to put my name up for that position if I get your vote and become a member of this board again.

I served on the GHORBA board for 7 years as VP and Director at large fulfilling different duties (VP of Trails, Skill Clinic Director, Race Director), as a Race Director I started the Short Track Stampede races with the purpose of bringing mtb races to your local trail and having the nearby bike stores more involve with local racing. The Big Ring Challenge at Double Lake has been my responsibility for the last several years it is our biggest fund racing event and this coming year we will have our first Marathon race at the same venue all part of the Texas Mountain Biking Racing Association in which I'm the GHORBA delegate

As a Membership secretary I plan to get the membership more up to date on the affairs of the Club by better use of social media. In the past we have had more general meetings and at times they have had great participation and other times not, nevertheless I think it would be important to meet with the membership on a regular basis. Delegate responsibilities to those outside of the board by establishing committees as needed, letting members take ownership of programs that in the past have only been done by the board.

The times when we have had great turn-outs to our meetings have been by having speakers or some function to give an incentive for participation. I will like to see us moving in that direction, make our meetings worthwhile to attend.

I'll work hard to have a Club that is more inclusive where all have a chance to express their ideas in order to make GHORBA an organization that we can all be proud of and feel part of all year long not just before an election!

Russell Adams Russell Adams has served on the GHORBA board numerous times, twice as VP-Trails. Russell now takes on management and operations of GHORBA's financial items, ranging from general club funds to RTP grants.

Scott Minard My name is Scott Minard. I am 43 years old. I am a Specialized Body Geometry Master bike fitter, USA cycling race director and a level 3 coach and trainer. I am the team leader and race director for a cyclo-cross focused race team called Bayou City Racing. I was born, a long time ago, and raised in Houston. I vividly remember being introduced to mountain biking with names like Cambodia and Ho Chi Min on a 1992 orange Gary Fisher, rigid, with way too elevated chain stays. My first beginner mountain bike race would soon follow in 1993 at Cameron Park in Waco Texas. It rained nearly two inches as they staged about 60 beginners. What an introduction.

Most of my early adult working life was in the motorcycle industry. Custom Harley shops, Sales at multi-line dealers, Manufacturers sales rep for Yamaha and so on. Being in the motorsports industry allowed me to enjoy all forms of motorcycle racing; drag racing Harleys, road racing sport bikes and over a decade of racing motocross. Ultimately, it was a motocross injury that brought me more firmly into the “serious” side of cycling. Road cycling was the prescription to rehab my damaged knees in 2000. As it happens, the Tour de France was very popular at that time. Being a competitive motocross racer but not known for my fitness, I saw professional road cyclist and what they were capable of and knew I had found the way to improve my own performance. Like most cyclists, I started of slowly, as a recreational rider, but most of the people around me noticed that cycling was slowly taking over my life.

A job opportunity in 2007 allowed me to move to Wyoming, a beautiful and wild state. I lived in Laramie near the Wyoming/Colorado border. I wanted to be as near to the fabled Colorado trails as possible. There, I naturally fell into Downhill mountain bike racing with its similarities to motocross. Riding places like Winter Park, Keystone, Sol Vista, spending a few weeks each summer in Whistler B.C. really cemented my growing love of cycling.

Now, back in Houston, I have sought out all forms of cycling, road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross etc. Currently, competitively I am a category 1 mountain bike, category 2 road and cyclo-cross and category 4 track racer with USA cycling. Competition is not the only form of cycling I enjoy. I occasionally get to have a spin up to the coffee shop to indulge in my favorite vice. But frankly what may be the most fun is a casual ride with my wife and son. Which brings me to what I would like to be my contribution to Houston mountain biking.

Scott Phillbrook I've been bike advocate for a long time and have helped kids in my neighborhood learn to ride. I've helped them fix bike problems, and I've more recently been working with Pearland to try to get a mountain bike trail built on city owned flood plain land. Its supported but is slow going through the city bureaucracy.

I don't get out to ride as much as should, but really enjoy it when I do. The kids playing team sports and scouting takes a lot of time, and my job is pretty tough on hours during closing cycles lately. My local favorite trail is Jack Brooks for the challenging technical features.

I grew up in the Wash DC / VA / MD area and rode the trails out there starting back in the 1980's on full rigid bio-pace era bikes. I have raced a tiny bit in the past, but for me that seems to suck all the fun out of it. I have ridden Moab in 2000 before we had kids and when we visit up East I've taken my bike and hit trails in KY, TN and VA where my in-laws live. I also have friends in Dallas, and I must say the trails I have ridden there are very nicely done.

I've done a few MS-150's too and do own a road bike but its usually dusty and needing air. Between texters and boring roads Its hard to get enthusiastic about road riding except for physical training.

My two girls (9, 13) ride some - the older one more of a daredevil and has done most of Jack Brooks, the younger is much more risk-adverse but enjoys it. I upgraded my wife to 29FS over last winter.

I'm currently president of my HOA and have served on ski club boards.

My career is in Finance/Accounting arena which obviously helps me understand and work with budgets and keeping things afloat in the black.

I think I could contribute to the GHORBA with my experience and knowledge of how organizations like this work, and with a vision to what off road biking in Houston could be.

Steve Booker I've been into mountain biking since the early 90s, tending to Jack Brooks Park since about then. Joined up with GHORBA in 2000, shortly after that became the Trail Steward at Jack Brooks & became a GHORBA board member shortly after that. Took a couple of years off the board & returned to continue to represent the south side.

Suzanne Menn Suzanne has been a member of GHORBA for several years. Her journey into cycling began about nine years ago as a road cyclist. One day she was riding through Memorial Park, and noticed the off-road trails. From then on she was determined to get a mountain bike, and learn how to ride dirt trails. This journey was not easy. Her training ground was the Anthills at Terry Hershey Park. From there, she moved on to Memorial Park. She has ridden most trails in and around the Houston area. She has even dabbled in mtb racing.

GHORBA Board of Directors elections are coming!

ScottDammitt — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 19:34:53 +0000

Article category:

General

We're looking for a few good riders. Click the title for details.

It’s election time again and while many of us on the board would like to continuing to promote and develop mountain biking in and around the Greater Houston area, some, due to work and life obligations have had to leave the board. All positions on the board are up for re-election, it’s just for this year we have three completely open positions on the GHORBA board, two members at large and Secretary.

Why join the board, because we need your energy and enthusiasm for mountain biking, whether as a recreational rider, dirt jumper or cross country racer. We need your ideas and support to drive GHORBA forward. GHORBA started in 1999 to bring together two groups to successfully save trails for mountain bikers in Memorial Park. We’ve continued to save and develop trails across the city to the point where strong groups of volunteers now manage trails like Cypresswood, Terry Hershey Park, Jack Brooks, Flintridge and Memorial Park.

So what next for the future of GHORBA? We plan to grow. Memorial Park is again facing change, but now working with Memorial Park Conservancy, we can help evolve the trail network at Memorial Park. More member events, groups rides and meetings; meetings where the board can hear and learn from members where best to focus efforts. Continue to develop 100 miles of trail across Sam Houston state park, leading to the possibility of epic rides and marathon events. Increased support for our local bike stores, who each year provide GHORBA with tremendous support. If we ride locally we should buy locally. Help develop more trails with groups like Bayou Land Conservancy who are securing green space to not only preserve it, but make it accessible to mountain bikers and other trail users. Extend existing trails, like working with Precinct 4 to add legal mileage in the Cypresscreek area. All these interactions take time; time to build trust and respect, and time to respond and reach out to everyone. More time spent working with more groups means more people and we need your help.

What responsibilities are expected from these open roles? Board members at large work closely with park and forestry administrative teams. Build relationships with store owners, rider groups and landowners. Write proposals for grants and potentially manage grant expenditure under special projects and maintenance programs. Develop skills clinics, chair meetings and help out with logistics and planning for our larger events. It’s a great role to use existing experience and knowledge or to develop new skills and capabilities. Our Secretary helps to keep track of all GHORBA activity, from taking and publishing meeting notes to developing communication plans and producing web content and flyers. As a 501c3 charity, the role of Secretary is required by law and is therefore considered an officer of the board. The Secretary’s notes are therefore tracked as official records for GHORBA.

The full GHORBA board consists of the following positions…

President (meeting chairman, signatory)

Treasurer (tax and finance management, signatory)

Secretary (official board documenter, signatory)

VP of Trails (trail steward and volunteer communications and logistics)

Membership Director (communications and events)

Member at large (1) (special projects and advocacy)

Member at large (2) (special projects and advocacy)

Member at large (3) (special projects and advocacy)

Member at large (4) (special projects and advocacy)

For more information on the duties of each position, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a member of GHORBA’s board of directors, please let us know over the next week which position you are interested in and we will contact you to answer any questions you may have. You can email the board at directors@ghorba.org

Skills Clinic - Memorial Park

ScottDammitt — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 19:20:46 +0000

Article category:

General

This will be an all levels skills clinic held at Memorial Park (Rugby Field Parking Lot). For directions, click HERE

If you are interested, please register HERE. You must be an active GHORBA member to attend. http://ghorba.org/join

Dave Boyd Huntsville Classic October 12th 2014 Huntsville State Park Huntsville, TX

clmbngfl — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 03:16:40 +0000

Article category:

General

For registration:
https://www.bikereg.com/25657/Bikesport-presents-the-Dave-Boyd-Huntsville-Classic-XVII

GHORBA STS Cypresswood results

ScottDammitt — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 16:02:15 +0000

Article category:

General

Below are the results of our STS at Cypresswood:

/sites/ghorba.org/files/www/article/tt_cywood_sts.pdf

/sites/ghorba.org/files/www/article/cat5_cywood_sts.pdf

/sites/ghorba.org/files/www/article/cat4_cywood_sts.pdf

/sites/ghorba.org/files/www/article/cat3_cywood_sts.pdf

/sites/ghorba.org/files/www/article/cat2_cywood_sts.pdf

/sites/ghorba.org/files/www/article/cat1_cywood_sts.pdf

Cypresswood STS prep Work Party

ScottDammitt — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 02:27:30 +0000

Article category:

General

STS Prep WORK PARTY - SAT July 26th. This is our last weekend to clean up before the race on AUGUST 2nd. 8 am -12 noon. Lunch on GHORBA afterwards.

Mainly looking to trim new growth/raking on Sidewinder, Black Diamond, Rim Loop and on the North side of the Bamboo. We also need to see if there is enough room to run two lanes of traffic back to the park along where they are doing the pipeline work.If it is too tight the course will have to circle the softball fields. I'll get out there with the P4 guys one night this week to check it out. They'll have to move an old soccer goal to open it up.

We'll be meeting at the trail head near the bulletin board pictured above, for directions, click here.

STS Jack Brooks Results

ScottDammitt — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 02:41:18 +0000

Article category:

General

Download the full PDF here. jb_times2.pdf

STS Riverbend Results

ScottDammitt — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 02:36:58 +0000

Article category:

General

Download the full PDF here: sugar-land-sts.pdf

Action Requested: Memorial Park Master Plan survey

radams — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 02:12:54 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

A request for your input for the Memorial Park Master Plan process. Completing the survey will help guide the design process regarding what you consider important about the park. Please read and take a quick few minutes to complete. Thanks.

From the Memorial Park Conservancy:

First, thank you to those of you who have forwarded our Memorial Park Long-Range Master Planning survey to your groups, and a double thank you if you have filled it out yourself! As a reminder, we have had the survey up and active since November as a way to collect input from those who use or those who may use Memorial Park in the future. Bottom line, we seek input from anyone who cares about Memorial Park’s future.

The data we are collecting in this survey will help inform the designers as they prepare to start their design work. The last day to take this survey will be on March 11th . There will be opportunities to input in the future; however, we encourage your group to ensure that their voice is heard at this important stage prior to the start of planning.

Action Requested: Please forward this email with the link www.memorialparkmasterplan.mindmixer.com to your membership and anyone that might be interested in giving their input and let them know the last day to take the survey will be on March 11th.

Stay tuned to your email and to Memorial Park Conservancy’s website www.memorialparkconservancy.org for details on the upcoming Memorial Park Long-Range Master Plan Open House #4 on April 16th and updates as the planning process progresses, and also for updates on upcoming events and other development.

Temporary Closure of Trails in Addicks and Barker Reservoirs

radams — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 20:56:27 +0000

Article category:

General

From the US Army Corp of Engineers:

Please be advised that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a project that is repairing joints within the water discharge tunnels and reinforcing the spillways with steel plates at the Corps’ Addicks and Barker dams/reservoirs. For public safety reasons, project work requires temporary closures of the Terry Hershey Trail north of Interstate 10 (Addicks Dam) and the George Bush Trail west of State Highway 6 (Barker Dam). When possible there will be temporary bypass trails to accommodate park users. Project completion is expected to be July 2014.

More detailed information and contact information can be found at:
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Media/NewsReleases/tabid/2216/Article/21140/usace-galveston-district-begins-repair-work-at-addicks-and-barker-dams-stresses.aspx

Continued Anthills Threat

radams — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:20:17 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

From our friends at Save Our Forest:

SAVE OUR FOREST

A VERY URGENT REQUEST
FOR YOUR HELP

The Harris County Flood Control District (the "HCFCD") has been relatively quiet for almost two years but the threat of destruction of The Forest along Buffalo Bayou in Terry Hershey Park remains very real. Now, however, just this Friday (November 8th) we learned that the HCFCD is nonetheless moving ahead, planning for excavating large detention basins in forested areas along Buffalo Bayou despite known strong neighborhood and community opposition.

Your voice matters. Your strong opposition in February 2012 to the HCFCD's Charting Buffalo Study which threatened our forest was extremely important. Thank you. Without your expression of opposition, the HCFCD would not have pulled that Study immediately following its first public meeting.

Now we need you to speak again. HCFCD plans for detention along Buffalo Bayou are back. Better but more challenging alternatives like Clodine regional detention are being abandoned.

Unless these plans are stopped, much of the Forest that makes Terry Hershey Park special will be lost; the shade it provides in hot summer months, its habitat for birds and other wildlife, its recreational mountain biking and hiking trails in a natural area and its solace from daily urban life. The Park would be radically changed and the construction itself would necessitate the removal of literally thousands and thousands of cubic yards of earth from the Jacob Hershey Park.

WHAT IS NEW?

At the upcoming Harris County Commissioners Court Meeting on this coming Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 10:00 am, the HCFCD will be requesting that the Court approve a $250,000 engineering study in preparation for detention basin work between Eldridge Parkway and Wilcrest on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou. The specific agenda item is:

“Recommendation that the County Judge execute amendments/agreements with: Brooks & Sparks, Inc., in the amount of $250,000 for engineering services to achieve a better understanding of both the topographic and ground cover conditions, including trees, along the south bank of Buffalo Bayou, Unit W100-00-00 between Eldridge Parkway and Wilcrest Drive in Precinct 3.” Section I.1.d.1.e. – November 12, 2013 Commissioners Court Agenda

Approval of this measure could ultimately result in 25 acres of forest being cut down just to scrape holes in the earth. This is just the next step in HCFCD implementing their long-standing plans for up to 96 acres of detention basins along Buffalo Bayou.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. Express your opposition at the upcoming Harris County Commissioners Court meeting at 10 am on Tuesday, November 12, 2013. It is advisable to go online to request to speak by going to the following link: http://www.harriscountytx.gov/agenda/ where you can view the meeting agenda and then click on Online Appearance Request Form in the middle of the page to complete their form to request to speak. Please note that while you are allowed only three minutes to speak, your presence is very important even if you do not speak.

Where: Court Room of the Commissioners Court
9th Floor Harris County Administration Building
1001 Preston Avenue
Houston, Texas

2. Go to www.briarforestsn.org and follow the instructions to sign a special on-line petition expressing your opposition to this engineering contract and stand in favor of pursuing viable alternatives such as Clodine regional detention. Your opposition will be registered and will be electronically communicated for you directly to key County and City officials. That’s all you have to do. It will take just a few minutes but will have a big impact. This website also provides excellent background information on the Save Our Forest campaign which might help you in preparing your remarks before the County Commissioners Court.

Double Lake Free on Veteran's Day weekend

radams — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 22:52:02 +0000

Article category:

General

News
Release
U.S. Forest Service
2221 North Raguet St.
Lufkin, Texas 75904
www.fs.usda.gov/texas

Nov. 7, 2013 Contact: Ernie Murray 936-639-8562

1650-1

U.S. Forest Service waives day-use fees
for Veterans Day weekend

The National Forests and Grasslands in Texas is waiving fees at day-use recreation sites Nov. 9-11 for Veterans Day weekend.

The fee waivers are offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.

“We’re honoring our country’s brave men and women veterans by waiving day use fees over the long weekend,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We encourage people who might not normally enjoy our beautiful public lands to get out of the house and enjoy a forest or grassland near you. Our lands offer a wide range of recreation and educational benefits such as improved physical and mental health, emotional well-being, a concern for nature, and a conservation ethic.”

Traditionally, fees are not charged on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands and over two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands, nationwide, can be used for free. Many recreation opportunities such as camping, sightseeing and hiking can be enjoyed throughout the year at no cost.

The Forest Service operates approximately 17,000 recreation sites nationwide. Of those, approximately 6,000 require recreation fees, which are used to provide visitor services, repairs and replacements, and facilities maintenance.

The mission of the US Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Recreational activities on our lands contribute $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

Group Ride! Jack Brooks Park

rafdog — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 17:14:53 +0000

Article category:

General

The weather is getting cooler so it's the perfect time for a group ride at one of the more unique and challenging trails in the Houston area. The trail is lovingly maintained by our own Steve Booker (Board member) and his minions. If you have not been to this trail, this is a great opportunity to try it with the assistance of those who know it. If you have, then this is a great excuse to grab a few friends and come down. Here is more info on this intermediate to expert trail http://ghorba.org/trails/jack-brooks-park

The group ride is being run by Wladimir Moquete and Mike Strawn, so there will be plenty of snacks and beverage refills for you along with some good folk to chat with. Don't forget to bring you helmet, some water and a great attitude. See you then!

October General Meeting

rafdog — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 13:41:40 +0000

Article category:

General

Come join us for GHORBA's next general meeting. Why? To meet and welcome (read: haze) our new officers, break bread with fellow riders, celebrate Columbus Day AND Canadian Thanksgiving, and to hear what is going on in your cycling community. Even better, you can buy those officers leaving a beer to help stem the flow of tears.

As always, there will be free pizza and soft drinks. In addition, we will have drawings for some gift cards for those in attendance. We may even have forums on what to do with your life now that Breaking Bad is over.

http://ghorba.org/events/general/4488

GHORBA Elections

rafdog — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 19:40:26 +0000

Article category:

General

Time to get your vote on. By now members should be receiving a ballot via e-mail (what we have on file). Please take a few seconds to vote and see who the officers will be this coming year. It's a solid group with a mix of some old hands and some greenhorns. We still have a spot open for a board member at large if you are interested. VOTING ENDS OCTOBER 11. Come meet the new board on October 13. Details soon.

Secretary candidate - Ben Marshall bio

radams — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 20:47:08 +0000

Article category:

General

With our upcoming elections, we wanted to provide our members with the bios of some potentially new board members. Please find the bio for Ben Marshall below who is running for Secretary:

Ben currently lives a Sugar Land and works in international tax advising. He regularly rides Memorial Park, River Bend Trail, Justin Brindley Memorial Park trail (Sugar Land), and the Antills. Other favorite areas include Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort and Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville.

Ben joined GHORBA in August 2013 and is excited to serve as the BOD Secretary.

Bayou Land Conservancy 100 Acre Wood Preserve

peach — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 15:05:31 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

The 100 Acre Wood Preserve is situated on 98.04 acres in northwest Harris County. It borders Jones Road to the east, a Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District 230 water treatment facility to the west, Cypress Creek to the north, and the Norchester Subdivision to the south. Bayou Land Conservancy raised all the funds associated with the subsequent donation of the property to Harris County, and has ensured that the property will be forever protected by placing a conservation easement over it. The conservation easement ensures that the property will never be cleared, or otherwise developed. This Harris County nature preserve will be mostly left in its natural state, with the exception of approximately two miles of trail that will continue to be maintained...hopefully with GHORBA’s continued significant contributions to that maintenance! The county will be constructing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible “trunkline” trail through a portion of the preserve, and Bayou Land Conservancy is interested in that trail being constructed of a permeable material that is not asphalt or concrete, but a green material such as http://www.truegridpaver.com/

Four unique forest communities are present on the preserve, which is also dotted with small patches of pocket prairie. The forests here are mature second growth, and are inhabited by trees that may be in excess of half a century. Mixed pine hardwood uplands occur on well-drained soils and are dominated by a healthy population of mature post oaks and loblolly pine. American beautyberry and yaupon can be found in the understory. Moist transitional forests are highly diverse communities with overstory species such as water oak, water hickory, loblolly pine, sweetgum, and American holly. A variety of hawthorn species as well as deciduous holly and dwarf palmetto can be found in the understories. The preserve also harbors a number of forested wetlands, which occur on poorly drained soils and hold water mainly in the winter months or following large rain events. Tree species here include water oak and water hickory. There is a large nearly pure stand of overcup oak, which occurs here at the southwestern edge of its range. Species such as river birch and American sycamore thrive in riparian forests along Cypress Creek. The conservation easement held by Bayou Land Conservancy will ensure that these forests remain intact for the enjoyment of future generations.

On June 1st, 2013, National Trails Day, celebrating the thousands of miles of great public trails our country has to offer, was held at this preserve. In honor of this day, Bayou Land Conservancy hosted residents of the nearby Norchester Subdivision, Harris County Pct. 4 Parks Dept., as well as many BLC members from the region at the new 100-Acre Wood Preserve.

Bayou Land Conservancy is thrilled to have raised the funds to purchase this land, donate it to Harris County Parks Dept., and then permanently protect it with a conservation easement. This special green space with post oaks is now an important part of the growing Cypress Creek Greenway.

Bayou Land Conservancy’s main sponsor for this preserve, Houston Endowment, also attended this event including other partners including: REI, GHORBA, and the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition. Houston History magazine was also there with copies of their latest edition – with the cover story on the Spring Creek and Cypress Creek Greenway history (photos and articles by Bayou Land Conservancy!)

We hope all GHORBA members will become also members of Bayou Land Conservancy and bring their family, friends and neighbors to introduce them to this new two-mile trail system that is free and finally formally (and now legally!) open to the public! For more information about Bayou Land Conservancy please visit http://www.bayoulandconservancy.org/

Watch the youtube video here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IWjD4NRUH8

Jennifer Lorenz
Executive Director
www.BayouLandConservancy.org

New Anthills Kiosk and Trail Armoring

peach — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:22:47 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

We had a great turnout for the Anthills trail work party on Saturday, July 13th. The photo shows 9 of the 11 trail gnomes that worked on armoring the trail, installing another kiosk and trimming the trail. The second kiosk was installed at trail level near Dairy Ashford. Plans are to install two more, one at Eldridge and one at Kirkwood so that there will be one at each major street crossing. We also armored the section of bench cut on the east shoulder of the Dairy Ashford bridge to protect the trail when the nearby water pipe is leaking. The guys really put there backs into digging up the trail and placing concrete chunks to act as "cobblestones" when the trail is wet. Thanks Gnomes!

Besides the other two kiosks, future projects include erosion control work under the Wilcrest bridge, installation of the marker posts (see green one to the left in the photo) at trail intersections and replacement of the old bridge just east of Kirkwood. Due to the fact that the river bank keeps sloughing off next to the old bridge, I think the new bridge should be further uphill. This will involve some new trail and a longer bridge. Please let me know your ideas for a new route!

If you would like to join the Anthills Trail Work Email Group, please send an email via the link on the Anthills Trail Condition page. Similarly, there is a link on that page for you to contact the Trail Steward if there is a tree down or other major impediment on the trail. But please remember, this is an intermediate/advanced level trail so occasionally we leave an impediment in place as a technical challenge.

-Anthills Trail Steward Eric Dickson

Group Ride at Anthills on July 6th

peach — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:17:42 +0000

Article category:

General

There was an awesome turnout for the Anthills group ride on Saturday July 6th! There were nearly 50 people including the ride leaders. Some attendees were first-timers but many said they rode the Anthills regularly but had never been on some of the sections they rode which made the ride even more fun. Thanks to the six ride leaders for a great job and for sharing their favorite trails!

A couple of the riders mentioned that the trails were fast and flowy with very little debris or face/leg slappers. The trails were in mint condition thanks to the Anthills trail steward and his trail gnomes!

And of course we owe many thanks to Mike Strawn and Wladimir Moquete for organizing the ride and being ride leaders. There is talk that the next group ride may be at Jack Brooks park.

GHORBA Trail Conditions App

radams — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 02:32:57 +0000

Article category:

General

Thanks to one of our members (TJS), GHORBA now has a Trail Conditions app for the Droid platform. The app pulls info from the GHORBA website so you can tell if your favorite trail is in good condition to ride before showing up at the trailhead.

Link to GHORBA Trails App

Huntsville...a major bridge is crossed (and approved)

rafdog — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:23:02 +0000

Article category:

General

Great news for those of you who are looking forward to the Huntsville expansion. The TPW Commission has approved the 2013 recreational trail grant recommendations, which means that the project will receive an additional $100k to cover the cost of the large bridge we need. Here's a link to the press release - http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20130523a. This is significant as the bridge will allow us to create the trail extension (and loop) that was originally envisioned.

Who do you thank. The Sam Houston Trail Coalition has been working with the FS to improve and develop access and trails for various trail users, including hikers, equestrians, motor bikers and MTBs (of course). This is all part of developing a master plan for the Sam Houston National Forest area, which includes Huntsville and DL areas. If you ride these trails, I hope you will consider supporting the coalition by becoming a member. This group continues to demonstrate that groups with different interests can work together and with the FS to improve the area now and for future generations. From GHORBA's perspective, we have Kevin Highfield to thank for his tireless efforts in supporting MTB trails and the master plan for the area.

Big Ring Challenge- a time for thanks

peach — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 01:26:31 +0000

Article category:

General

A time for thanks.
GHORBA had its most successful Big Ring Challenge to date with 570 racers giving it their all. As a fundraiser, I anticipate it will also be successful. For the past three years, I have been the last person to leave DL after the race clean-up. I am usually exhausted, tired, and a bit sore. I broke camp around 6 p.m. and managed to lose my keys, requiring me to unshove what I had just shoved in my car to locate them. Then my car would not start because I had drained the battery. Despite this stumbling blocks, I was relieved and happy that another BRC was finished and most of the feedback was great. So I thought this month, I would reflect on things to be thankful for following an excellent and fun weekend. No names and in no particular order, I am thankful for:

great (good) weather
family
hard-working volunteers both before and during the race
comfortable t-shirts
night riding (although I did not go this year)
good craft beer (and hops)
vendors who are easy to work with
good bar-b-que
better portacans (or at least more)
radio that worked
no doping issues
bikes of every kind regardless of size, gearing, or “purpose”
silipints…they are cool
trees and flowers
a supportive government landowner
supportive family and friends
meeting new people
coffee
faith (however you envision it) and hope
a car that works
ExOfficio skivvies
people excited about racing
people excited about the trail
new trail
books (cause they make smart, or at least seem so)
kids having fun
Huffy Toss
Sponsors
adults having kid fun
people who work on trails!
funds to build trails
air mattress
a chair
light
darkness
microphones (and apparently the sound of my own voice)
stars
t-shirts
home and a warm shower.

Perhaps you will make your own list next time you can't find your keys, or are frustrated you did not make the climb. It is, after all, the things that we are happy for that keep us going during those times when life seems “tough.”

-GHORBA President Bill Rustam

Double Lake- Henry Lake North Bridge

peach — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 01:13:18 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Trailworkers at Double Lake created a 20' boardwalk over the bottom of a drainage/seep area at Henry Lake North. In addition to the boardwalk structure, 10' of concrete pavers were installed at either end of the boardwalk to fully stabilize the trail tread at that location.

Trail Building- Past and Future

peach — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 01:07:38 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

The Big Ring Challenge was a great chance for the past to meet the present. Ross Carrie was originally involved with the building and development of the "old" Double Lake trail. Ross has turned his focus to horses, he wanted to see the MTB community using it first hand. Ross was impressed with both the turnout for the race and how the trail has been maintained and improved over the years. He also had a chance to talk with Susan Stormer and Ryan Spates of S & S Trails, who built the 12 mile extension to Double Lake. Of course, the glue across the generations is the "Guvnor of Double Lake," Kevin Highfield. Double Lake continues to serve as a prime example of the Forest Service, trail professionals, and, of course, volunteers working together to make a fantastic natural-surface trail a benefit for the Houston area. Although not pictured, I would be remiss if I did not mention the importance of Warren Oja with the Forest Service in working with us to make the Double Lake extension a reality and Jim Mackey, whose tireless work in maintaining Double Lake (and getting volunteers) make the trail what it is. Jim was also involved in developing the "old" trail.

However, the story does not end with Double Lake. Kevin has worked hard to get TPW grant funds in order to add a substantial extension to the Huntsville trail system. Kevin continues to oversee the project and works closely with Warren Oja to make sure the trail is built to their standards and expectations. Moreover, Ross with RAVEN Environmental Services, Inc. has agreed to volunteer his time to GHORBA for the environmental studies. Yes, this is a big deal and we are very grateful. And, as many of you may be aware, S & S is building the Huntsville extension. It will therefore come as no surprise that we are anxiously looking forward to some more sweet trails to ride.

When WE work together, mountain bikers can make a difference and build trails that stand the test of time and are viewed as an asset by the landowner. Time, patience, and understanding who your allies are or can be (outside our group) are some of the essential ingredients to building more trail.

New Anthills Bridge Courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 993

peach — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:40:08 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

The old Anthills 4”x4" bridge between Dairy Ashford and Kirkwood was replaced this last weekend by Boy Scout Troop 993 as an Eagle Scout project. The scouts also cleared and bench cut about 100 feet of new trail on both ends of the bridge. Renwick Brocklehurst planned, raised money, purchased materials, organized the construction and coordinated the building of the bridge as his Eagle Scout project. Many thanks to Renwick and the rest of the scouts of Troop 993 for their efforts to construct the new bridge!

The new bridge and approach trails are set at a different angle across the ditch in order to get away from the “fall line” approach which was eroding quickly. This bridge is also several feet higher than the old bridge and will provide a high trail above the water in the non-drought years. Check it out on your next ride!

Buy Local

bobdole — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:24:44 +0000

Article category:

General

A refrain now heard throughout Houston restaurants, microbrews and farmer's markets. In addition to being associated with freshness and high quality products, the message that all of us benefit when we support local businesses. But what about brick and mortar stores who provide support to the cycling community? It seems that "buying local" should apply to these business as well.

As the Board prepares for the Big Ring Challenge, I am reminded of the importance of the brick and mortar stores who support our race and support cycling. Without the support of these businesses, the BRC would not be what it is. Yet it is not just our race, but road races, triathlons, other cycling events they help support. They help us not just with monetary contributions, but donating the time of their employees, for example, providing a mechanic at the BRC or skills clinics. Most offer classes on how to perform basic maintenance on your bike (including changing a flat). For our members, the stores who support us provided discounts on parts and services. In short, these stores are an integral part of the MTB community.

One goal I would like to see this year is for GHORBA to work in partnership with the stores. I hope by strengthening our relationship, it will encourage more people to try our sport knowing there is an organization who offers information, skills, and rides to make their experience more enjoyable. This year we are receiving sponsorship support from a local brewer and a car dealer.

Our sponsors deserve your consideration and support for the reasons above. From my perspective, our sponsors’ stores are offering more than just goods or services for sale. The benefits of their support impact all of us in positive ways and allows our sport to thrive.

GHORBA's Presidential Address

peach — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:04:11 +0000

Article category:

General

Fellow riders,

Given the new website and increased ability to communicate with our members, it seems appropriate to start the New Year off by writing my first state of the union address on behalf of GHORBA. I hope everyone’s year is off to a great start and each of you has resolved to spend more time on your local trails and improving your riding skills. For me, I am looking forward to another successful year of helping GHORBA continue to advance its missions and chart the future of Houston trails.

However, I would like to challenge you to do more than just riding your local trails—I would like to see every one of our members give something back to the trails and MTB community. Why? Because I believe that all trail users have a responsibility (not burden) to give back to an essential component of the mountain biking experience—the trails. This is especially true in the Houston area, where we constantly battle erosion and unique trail soil conditions, normal wear and tear, and unexpected events such as last year’s drought. The responsibility of making our trails useable, sustainable and better, falls upon us. This is true for bikers, runners and hikers alike. For the benefit of those unaware, GHORBA does not own or control any trails in Houston. Everything we do is with the permission of the landowner or manager and with access comes responsibility. All the work we do is from the sweat and hard work of the volunteers, which is where you come in.

How can you help improve our trails and give back? First and foremost, plan on attending one work party this year. Just one. Get to know your trail steward and those working on the trails. They are no different from you; they have family, work and life issues that make their time precious. Yet without our trail stewards and volunteers, the trails would eventually fail or be lost. It’s time for all of us to recognize our stake in the trails we ride. It is up to us to create and improved and sustainable product by helping and working with landowners.

A second way you can help is by getting involved with this organization. GHORBA has lots of needs, but it can be challenging to find volunteers. We are always looking for motivated and talented people to serve on the board as an officer or director. We also need people who can assist us with specific tasks. Have a talent that can advance our goals? Let us know.

Finally, you can donate money if you are unable to dedicate the time. We have been fortunate to have some members who are very generous with cash donations. Moreover, there are a number of members whose companies “pay” for their volunteer time and direct the money to a nonprofit of the employee’s choice. Large corporations such as oil and gas companies, which many of you work for, often support such programs.

Most of us are passionate about this sport. What I now ask you to consider is being passionate about giving back and making the sport better. I look forward to seeing you out on the trails…
Bill Rustam

GHORBA General Meeting

bobdole — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 03:32:41 +0000

Article category:

General

Please join us for our first general meeting of the year! We will discuss the status of trails, events such as the BRC, and what we intend to accomplish this year. In addition, we are privileged to have Dr. Ronald Grabowski with the Houston Sports Rehabilitation and Nutrition Center come and speak. Dr. Grabowski will discuss pre and post workout nutrition along with the importance of nutritional therapy to support the immune system during exercise. To learn more about the event and register please click the link http://ghorba.org/civicrm/event/info?id=29&reset=1

Tip of the hat to NWCC

rafdog — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:00:29 +0000

Article category:

General

Congratulations to Northwest Cycling club for winning USA Cycling's Club of the Year (Div II). Many of you may be members or ride with their members, but may not appreciate their contributions to mountain biking. NWCC, as mentioned in the link, has been very generous with its funds, including significant cash donations to help build the Huntsville and Double Lake expansions. In addition, the club continues to encourage its members who only ride the road bikes to try mountain biking. In fact, they had a few members show up to our last skills clinic. The award is well-deserved.

https://www.usacycling.org/congratulations-to-usa-cyclings-2012-clubs-of-the-year.htm

Groups audience:

GHORBA Girls

Places to Ride: Monarch Crest Trail, Colorado

peach — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:44:53 +0000

Article category:

General

Riding is good. Vacations are good. Mountain Biking vacations can be awesome. We are going to attempt to pull from our experiences some of the better places that we have found to ride over the years, try to show you some photos, and give enough details to either convince you to head out that direction or slow down while driving past to give the knobby tires a spin.

Places to Ride: Monarch Crest Trail, Colorado

This trail was designated an IMBA Epic only a couple of years ago but this trail has been around for much longer. With a trailhead located at the top of Monarch Pass between Salida and Gunnison in Colorado, simply slowing down for a day on the way to Crested Butte will permit you to enjoy this.

And it will take a day. This is a high elevation cross country ride best completed making good use of High Valley Shuttle in Poncha Springs for $20 / rider. The van will take you up to Monarch Pass where the fun starts. Given that this is at 11,500 elevation, it will be much cooler than at the shuttle office (7500 feet) so bring extra clothes. This is something that you will want to do regardless in case of summer storms in the mountains. From the drop off point in the parking lot, the trail contours upwards over about 5 miles for another 500 feet reaching 12,000, and then commences a somewhat gradual decent over 14 miles down to 9500 feet. The start quickly heads above the treeline with riding along the Continental Divide so good views are offered even in less than optimal weather. Fantastic views are offered with clear skies. Continuing down into the trees offers the usual, great mountain riding that one can expect in Colorado. Make sure to have a good map as there are a couple of turns that you need to watch for: specifically at Marshall Pass and the tight right hander just after the storm shelter. Once the decent down Silver Creek has been completed, the choice must be made to either descend down a dirt road to highway 285 and the downhill ride to Poncha Springs or sign up for another 10 miles of great singletrack by taking the right hand turn onto the Rainbow trail. Whichever you choose, turn left once you reach the highway for about 5 miles of downhill pavement taking you straight back to the shuttle office where your car awaits. There is some extra singletrack lurking on the left side of 285 as you descend back into town starting across the road from a mile marker a mile or two towards town. Also, no matter how tempting the continuation of the Rainbow trail looks on the other side of 285, I can personally assure you that there is better, more enjoyable riding elsewhere in the area.
Enjoy the ride!

The Facts:
Season: June – October, check local bike shops or shuttle for snow conditions
Hours: no open/close but best to get an early start in the summer to avoid afternoon thunderstorms
Entry Fee: free
Camping: USFS and BLM camping located throughout the area
Shuttle: High Valley Shuttle, http://www.monarchcrest.com/, $20 / rider
Miles of Trails: about 30 miles trail / 5+ miles downhill asphalt
Guidebook info: The local’s adventure guide to singletrack and tarmac (Salida, Buena Vista, Leadville)
Map: strong recommendation for the photo / topo offered by bike shops in the area

Forest Service Survey

bobdole — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:00:40 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

The Forest Service is writing a master plan for the next 20 years and is requesting input from land users such as yourself. The survey is wide in scope covering all USFS lands in the State of Texas so it is not just limited to Double Lake. This is a good opportunity to voice your input and make known how you utilize these public lands as the Forest Service moves through their master planning process. This master plan will guide the decision making and the user opportunities that will be available on these public lands. This survey is being hosted on the Sam Houston Trails Coalition website and is available at this link http://trailscoalitionoftexas.org/survey/
Responses must be submitted by December 10th 2012.

Signs, Kiosks and Maps for Anthills Trails

peach — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:52:28 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

The next order of business for the Anthills is to put information kiosks and trail signage in place. We also need to develop a good map of the trails.

The kiosks will be located at the major street crossings as that is where people typically enter the trail. A trail map, trail etiquette information, contact information, etc. will be displayed inside the kiosks.

The trail signs will be two types. One type will have “place” names on them. The other kind will be the flat flexible slat type signposts that will display trail difficulty colors (green, blue and black like the ski resorts) and will have a unique number on each one. The numbers will be somewhat like mile markers so if emergency aid is needed a person can be readily located based on the sign number.

Volunteers are needed to help design and build the kiosks, build and paint the place name signs and install the marker posts. A map maker is also needed. I will start a Signs, Kiosks and Maps thread on the forum to capture ideas and names of people who have the skills that we need.

And the fun part, we need names for the place name signs. I have heard the big hill just east of Kirkwood called “Buff’s Bluff”. I know a lot of you have been riding at the Anthills far longer than my measly 10 years so please post your ideas for names to go with locations in the forum.

The next Anthills Work Party is Dec 1st at 8:30am. Contact Trail Steward Eric Dickson for more information.

New Bridge at Jack Brooks

peach — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:45:24 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

We replaced the last bridge on the "Beginning" trail with a new & improved version. We had a good turn out & great weather. Thanks go out to Darrell Hingle, Mike Moran, Mike Renquenz, Brandon Renquenz, Peter Loose, Mike Gardin, & Karl Stoecklein for their hard work! Contact Jack Brooks Trail Steward Steve Booker to join in on trail work at Jack Brooks. Come out to Jack Brooks for a great ride.

Places to Ride: MaahDaah Hey Trail, North Dakota

peach — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:37:31 +0000

Article category:

General

A long standing epic ride that almost no one that you know has done. Why? “Why not?” should be the question although apparently only about 300 folks ride the entire trail every year.With approximately 100 miles of mostly singletrack in North Dakota on National Grassland (do not be fooled) between the two units of Roosevelt National Park combined with numerous other tourist destinations relatively nearby such as Mount Rushmore and Devil’s Tower, it should definitely be worthy of a road trip.

Actually the trail is longer than 100 miles but since mountain bikes are not permitted to ride on the trail through the National Park, most riders start just south of the northern unit at Bennett Camp and make use of the Buffalo Gap Trail on the south end to avoid this. So, lest you be fooled into thinking that this ride must be done in one day, which it has been, most shuttle services set this up as four days/three nights with varying degrees of support. Companies such as Escape Adventures and Western Spirit are quite happy to give full support including food and a guide while Dakota Cyclery (based in Medora, ND where the trail finishes), which can offer a guide as well, offers the minimalistic gear trailer shuttle as an option. You meet at their shop, load up their trailer with your camping gear keeping only what you would need to ride approximately 25 miles, everyone gets shuttled to the start, and you find the trailer when you arrive at the first campsite. Repeat process starting at the campsite the next day. They keep your cooler stocked with ice so a cold beverage is available at the end of the day along with the possibility of food substantially better than the standard dehydrated pouches.Water pumps and standard park toilets are found at each campsite. With a large enough group or tagging onto an existing reservation, the cost per person for this drops significantly.

So enough about the logistics although I suspect that this is what folks flinch about. The riding is wonderful provided that it hasn’t rained. Rain makes this much, much less enjoyable and significant rain may alter the shuttle plans requiring a van ride around the river crossing. But if the weather is good, the trail just keeps going. Everything is well marked with wooden posts so you can spend your time riding rather than navigating but having a good map will not hurt. This is mostly a non-technical ride with almost everything rideable for those strong of leg and lung. Others might walk a little but well within most people’s tolerances. Oh yeah, just in case you were thinking that 25 miles in a day doesn’t sound like that much, besides being the spacing for the campgrounds, there are enough short and punchy climbs to give most legs a workout in that distance. That being said, don’t feel that you need to be able to ride 100 miles in a day to enjoy this trail. Turtle-style with a smile while get you there with decent conditioning and a good mindset.

Oh yeah, just in case you want some more, there are another 40+ miles of trail continuing south out of Medora, ND (where this ride finishes) called the Deuce (MDH II) that was recently built. These are well suited for day trips with the northern 20 miles being pretty well packed down at this point.

Hurry out there and experience it while you can. There are definite signs of encroachment courtesy of the recent oil boom in the area. Enjoy the ride!

The Facts:
Season: May – October (September seems to have the least rainfall, non-freezing/non-sweltering temperatures and the leaves are changing)
Entry Fee: free
Camping: USFS campsites
Shuttle: Dakota Cyclery, www.dakotacyclery.com, 701-623-4808
Miles of Trails: 100+ of mostly singletrack
Guidebook info:none
Map:USFS maps exist but the National Geographic map for Theodore Roosevelt National Park is definitely the map to have. All sections of the original trail are very well covered.

Upcoming Events!

bobdole — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:01:45 +0000

Article category:

General

GHORBA has an event for everyone in November. Skills Clinics, Group Rides, and Work Parties come on out and join in with us.

Group Ride
November 3rd and 4th - Now that the weather is cooling off it’s a good time for us to head up to Austin for a weekend road trip! With all the excellent mtb trails in the area it’s hard to decide which ones to ride so our group rides leader Mike Strawn has selected two of the most popular that are easy enough for most beginners but still challenging for more experienced riders. Saturday November 3rd features Pace Bend at 10 AM and with a side ride at Muleshoe later in the day. Sunday November 4th features a joint ride with the Austin Ridge Riders at Walnut Creek at 9:30 AM. Interested in knowing more about the rides and the trails? Check out the calendar.

Work Parties

Jack Brooks will be hosting a work party on November 3rd at 10:00 AM to repair the broken bridge at “The Beginning”. More info here.
Memorial Park is working on the Green Trail on November 5th at 6:00 PM, they will be working on completing trimming and drainage repair on Green. More info here.
River Bend is working on finishing the last sections of trail. Help the Sugar Land crew put more trail on the map. More info here.

Skills Clinic
You asked for it so you got it! Come join us at the Cypresswood trail located in Collins Park on Saturday November 10th at 10:00am for our GHORBA Beginners Skills Clinic sponsored by Bike Barn –Champions. Two clinics will be offered, Beginner 101 and Beginner 102. Though the clinic is free, pre-registration for the clinic and a current GHORBA membership is required to participate. For more information on the curriculum for each clinic as well as how to register, click here.

Support for Proposition B

rafdog — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 02:14:09 +0000

Article category:

General

Dear GHORBA members and friends,

As many of you know, our organization has endorsed and supports the Bayou Greenway Initiative. That Initiative means many things, but at its core, it reflects a value judgment made by most Houstonians that our bayous – the natural waterways flowing throughout this great city – should be protected and enhanced and serve as a respite for birds, wildlife, kids and the community. This week, early voting begins throughout the city and it is important to remember that Proposition B -- the Parks Bond -- is incredibly important to seeing the Bayou Greenway Initiative completed over the next decade. Prop B is a $166 M Parks Bond with approximately $66 M going directly into existing parks and $100 M towards the completion of the Bayou Greenway Initiative--an initiative to complete the parks and trails along all 7 of the bayous that flow throughout the city. As you vote at the top for President, it will be incredibly important to go all the way down the ballot and look for the City's propositions. Please consider voting for all of these propositions, but particularly for Prop B. And together, we can invest in Houston's future, and protect our bayous permanently by creating an urban park system like no other. We believe the application of this money for land acquisition and connectivity will result in future opportunities for natural-surface trails in the City of Houston.

For more information, take a look here: http://houstonbayougreenways.org/about-bayou-greenway/frequently-asked-questions

Thanks in advance for your consideration. And remember to vote! Bill Rustam, President of GHORBA

Upcoming Events

bobdole — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:17:12 +0000

Article category:

General

Anthills Work Party Saturday 10/13 8:30 AM - The Anthills crew will be working on removing old bridges, cleaning up the trail and completing a few trail work projects.

General Meeting Monday 10/15 7:00 PM - GHORBA will be hosting a general meeting at Star Pizza on Norfolk. Come out and meet the Board of Directors as well as your fellow members. We will be covering topics on current events facing the trails as well as opportunities for the organization. If you have an idea for the board this is a great time to come out and share it. Since pizza will be provided, please RSVP if you are planning to attend.

Group Ride Saturday 10/20 10:00 AM - GHORBA is hosting a beginners only group ride at Sugar Land Memorial Park on 10/20. Much of the well shaded, triple-wide track runs along the banks of the Brazos River which offers a couple of nice views from high up. Roots, rocks, and long climbs are nowhere to be found! Instead the Justin P. Brindley trail offers smooth, flowy, and fun track with minimal sand and a couple of very short uphills. Perfect for new riders looking to improve their bike handling skillsGHORBA will provide drinking water, Gatorade, and light snacks for all riders. GHORBA group rides are open to all bikers and not just GHORBA members so bring your friends and family!

Anhills Moving Forward

bobdole — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:45:21 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

It has been roughly two years since GHORBA folks started work on the Anthills mountain bike trails. The Anthills natural surface trails are located on the south side of Buffalo Bayou between the Eldridge and Wilcrest cross streets.

The first order of business was to get the major bridges repaired or replaced. Through a generous grant from REI to pay for tools and materials and lots of elbow grease by GHORBA trail work volunteers, eight bridges have been replaced or redecked. Of special note is the "Long Bridge" as it now provides a high water crossing when the Corps of Engineers is releasing water from the reservoirs. Now that the bridges are in place you can ride end to end on the high trails even when water is being released to empty the reservoirs. Please note though that big rain events may cause the river to run even higher right after a major rain.

The next order of business is to put in information kiosks and trail signage in place. After that, the fun stuff really begins as we can focus on creating new trails and technical features. This of course includes reroutes around several badly eroded sections of the old trail.
Many thanks to all of the people that have helped so far! We not only build new stuff but trim the trails and remove fallen trees. Please consider helping out on a trail crew!

Anthills Trail Steward: Eric Dickson

Board of Directors Election Results

bobdole — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:04:45 +0000

Article category:

General

Board of Director elections have completed and the winners of each position are listed below. The Board remains unchanged as all winners currently hold the office which they ran for. To learn more about each Board Member visit our bio's page and as always feel free to contact the board via email or forum. Come out and meet the board at our next general meeting being held on October 15th, details in this link.

President - Bill Rustam
Vice President - Justin Dunn
Treasurer - Russell Adams
Secretary - Marcus Jennings
Membership Director - Ashley Dunn
Director At Large-Bill Begnaud
Director At Large-Chris Brown
Director At Large- David Cervera
Director At Large- Eric Dickson

Anthills Voted Best in Houston

bobdole — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:36:39 +0000

Article category:

General

The Anthills were recently voted Best Bike Trail in Houston by the Houston Press. GHORBA brought these trails to official status in 2010 and since then has put in significant work to improve and maintain the trails through bridge rebuilds, reroutes, and other maintenance. Help GHORBA support the Anthills by volunteering to helpout in a work party or joining GHORBA to support our mission.

Check out the article at the Houston Press, good job Anthillers!

Trails Clinic a Success!

bobdole — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:57:13 +0000

Article category:

General

GHORBA hosted a two day trail building and maintenance clinic on September 22nd and 23rd. This clinic focused on sustainable trail building and maintenance techniques and was taught by professional trail builders Ryan Spates and Susan Stormer of S&S Trails. S&S Trails has completed projects throughout Texas and abroad and if you have ridden the Double Lake Expansion, Flintridge, or Warda you have surely ridden and enjoyed their handiwork. Attendees came from a diverse range of individuals from Mountain Bikers to Backpackers, Volunteers to Land Managers.

The first day of the clinic was held in the classroom, covering topics ranging from sustainability, the steps to follow when building a trail, proper trail design, and use of a Clinometer amongst many others. Very applicable to Houston was the information relating to how water flows down the trail and how it impacts the trail. Trail users in Houston are very familiar with the pooling and erosion that can happen on the trails, the signs of which are evident in root exposure, wash outs, and muddy areas. To quote Susan, “Erosion is not a technical feature.”; sustainability and design instruction centered heavily on how to properly design a trail that will see minimal impact from flowing water while maximizing user enjoyment.

Sunday we took to the field to apply the techniques and theories that we learned to a real world project by constructing a re-route around an area of trail that routinely floods and remains flooded. Students applied sustainable trail design techniques to route a trail across varying terrain and slopes, using a Clinometer to measure both the side slope and the slope of the proposed trail tread. Once the design process was completed, students applied construction techniques to clear the trail, build a bench cut, and construct retaining walls. Through this work, students gained hands on experience designing and building sustainable trails in a dynamic and challenging project.

GHORBA was able to provide this clinic through a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant administered through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) with the goal of increasing trail sustainability awareness throughout the Houston area. GHORBA is a 501c3 Non Profit, for more information on becoming a member of GHORBA or donating to support our mission, please visit ghorba.org/membership.

Upcoming September Events

bobdole — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:11:43 +0000

Article category:

General

Group Rides – Two group rides will be held in September. A beginners only ride will be held at Timberlane Trails on September 8th 9AM and an all level ride will be held at The Anthills on September 15th. These rides are free of charge and open to all riders so come on out and experience a new trail or ride an old trail with friends and try some new challenges.

Trail Building/Maintenance Clinic – GHORBA will be hosting a two day trail building and maintenance clinic, taught by S&S Trails, on September 22nd and 23rd. If you’re interested in learning more about sustainable trail building techniques and proper maintenance techniques, this is the place to learn it. Space is extremely limited for this clinic and you must have a confirmed registration to attend. More information is available on the clinic here and questions can be sent to the VP trails. The clinic itself is free and is provided via a TPWD RTP Grant.

For all you racers out there (or those wanting to get started!) the TMBRA Fall Series kicks off Labor Day weekend with the Camp Eagle Classic. Check out tmbra.org for more information.

Letter from the President: Upcoming Elections

bobdole — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:54:17 +0000

Article category:

General

Members,

Each year, the membership elects the officers and directors for the nine-person board that governs who GHORBA. We have been very fortunate to have passionate riders who share a vision about molding the future of mountain biking in Houston. The strides we have made as an organization in obtaining funds to build new trails, maintaining and improving existing trails and creating a new website, for example, are the result of hard work by the board and those of you who have volunteered your time.

But an all-volunteer organization can only accomplish its objectives if it replenishes its leadership with new blood and new ideas. Your opportunity to be a part of pushing GHORBA and mountain biking forward is by serving on the board (or volunteering your time). I hope you will consider running for a position if you are interested. Even if you are not ready this year, I hope will take a moment to learn about the officer positions described in the attached link. Or better yet, come to the general meeting on Monday, August 20, 2012, and talk with one of the current board members directly. For more information on the duties of each position, click here.

We are accepting nominations for President, Vice President of Trails, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Director, and the four At-Large board positions from now through September 10, 2012. The slate of candidate will be published and voted on September 17, 2012—October 1, 2012, with the new board being presented at the October general meeting.

-Bill Rustam
President, GHORBA

Action Alert: RTP Funding needs your support

bobdole — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:41:52 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

URGENT ACTION NEEDED!

SIGN ON to a letter to your Governor to ensure they keep funding the RTP in your State!

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) was reauthorized - with dedicated annual funding of $85 million for the remainder of this year and Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014 - when the President signed the transportation reauthorization legislation known as MAP-21 on July 6th. The new legislation does contain one potential roadblock to the continuation of the RTP at the state level: a provision allowing the state governors to opt out of the program if they notify the U.S. Secretary of Transportation of their decision no later than 30 days before the funds are apportioned. Since the funds will be apportioned on October 1st, any opt-out decisions must be sent to US DOT by September 1st.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has taken the lead for the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) and developed a grass-roots campaign to convince every state governor NOT to opt out of the RTP. IMBA has prepared a letter to be sent individually to each governor that RTP supporters - organizations (not individuals) - from every state are asked to sign. Signers will be broken down by state and 50 separate letters will be prepared.

We need your help to reach out to your grass-roots contacts, other regional, state and local groups and communities, and any other organizations that benefit from the RTP to ask them to sign the letters, too.

Marianne Wesley Fowler and Derrick A. Crandall, Co-Chairs of the Coalition for Recreational Trails have expressed their gratitude to the trails community, "Working together, we have come a very long way in our effort to protect the RTP.... RTP supporters everywhere should be very proud of that amazing achievement, which was only made possible by the widespread, visible and continuous support that the RTP received prior to enactment of the law. Many, many thanks for your help. The deadline to sign on to the letters is August so we urgently need your all-out help with this last (we hope) hurdle."

Please ask your Governor to keep funding the Recreational Trails Program. Click here to sign on to the letter to your Governor. In addition, please ask other organizations to sign the letter, and everyone should be encouraged to directly contact their Governor as well.

Learn more about this issue and about MAP-21...

STS Results

bobdole — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:20:35 +0000

Article category:

General

The STS results are here! PDF files for each race as well as the series overall are listed in the links below. The series is 3 out of 4 races and you must have participated in a minimum of three races to take an overall win in your Category.

How to read the results:
In the final file there are some points listed in red and in green. The red stands for changes in Cat (up or down). Example, if you are in Cat 3 but you race one time in Cat 2 you will be awarded one level up, the opposite will take place if you are in Cat 2 and race one time in Cat 3.
The green is the lowest score in the series for those racers that participated in all four races.

Have a correction that needs to be made? Contact Raf via our webform. Corrections are due by Wednesday 8/8.

Results:

Final (pdf)
Cypresswood (pdf)
Sugar Land (pdf)
Jack Brooks (pdf)
Flintridge (pdf)

Flintridge STS and more

bobdole — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:27:45 +0000

Article category:

General

The moment we’ve all been waiting for! After a few delays for weather the Flintridge STS is ON for Saturday August 4th. The weather is looking good this week to have a trail in prime shape for race day. Registration is online only and current GHORBA membership is required to participate. To register, click here. To join/renew your membership, click here. Questions? Contact the Racing Director or Membership.

Help out your trail by joining in on a work party. Memorial Park and Carl Barton have upcoming work parties on the calendar and other trails post them regularly, watch the calendar for more updates.

Interested in what the GHORBA Board is up to lately? Board meeting minutes for April and May have been posted in the Meeting Minutes section.

Flintridge STS Rescheduled to August 4th

bobdole — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:19:27 +0000

Article category:

General

Due to the rain the area has received over the last few weeks, Flintridge will still be too wet to hold the STS race this weekend. The Flintridge STS has been moved forward one week to Saturday August 4th to give the trails more time to dry out. Long range weather forecasts look good for continuing to dry out the trail and to give minimum rain between now and next Friday. The rain sure puts a damper on riding, but we'd rather keep the trails in good condition than see them damadged when ridden while wet. All current registrations for the event will still be good for Saturday August 4th, see you there!

Weekend Event Updates

bobdole — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:53:22 +0000

Article category:

General

The Flintridge STS race re-scheduled for 7/22 has been canceled due to the significant rainfall over the week and rescheduled to July 28th. The TTF Skills clinic is still on and the weather forecast looks good to keep it that way. Space is limited for the skills clinic, currently the Beginner class at Noon has one slot remaining and the Intermediate class at noon has one slot. All other classes are currently full. Get in while you can!

For more information and to register for the upcoming Skills Clinic on 7/21, click here.
For more information and to register for the upcoming Flintridge STS on 7/28, click here.
Current GHORBA Membership is required for Skills Clinic events, click here to renew.

Upcoming Events: TTF Skills Clinic and STS Flintridge

bobdole — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:39:12 +0000

Article category:

General

This coming weekend GHORBA is offering two fun events, the popular Technical Trail Features (TTF) Skills Clinic and Justin P Brindley Park in Sugar Land and the final race of the STS Series at Flintridge in The Woodlands. Space is limited for the skills clinic, currently the Beginner class at Noon has two slots remaining and the Intermediate class at noon has five slots. All other classes are currently full. The STS is not capped for participants, join us for a fun day of racing and a celebration of the expansion at Flintridge.

For more information and to register for the upcoming Skills Clinic on 7/21, click here.
To register for the upcoming STS Flintridge race on 7/22, click here.
Current GHORBA Membership is required for both events, click here to renew.

Flintridge STS - July 22nd RESCHEDULED

bobdole — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 16:03:42 +0000

Article category:

General

Final STS race at Flintridge in The Woodlands, TX on July 22nd. Racer check-in opens at 8 AM and racing begins at 9 AM. Click here to register!
Registration Details

Current GHORBA membership required. Please join or renew your membership first (you may also use the Membership menu at the top).
13 to 18 yr. old and 9 to 12 yr. old youth classes
Prizes for podium finishers in each category: Men, Women and Youth
PRIZES FOR SERIES CHAMPIONS
Races start around 8:30-9 AM, depending how many sign up.

Registration is $17 per event, online, by credit card or check – NO ONSITE DAY OF RACE REGISTRATIONS! Click here to register!
If you need to renew or start your GHORBA membership please do so. If you are unsure of your current membership status please contact our membership director.

Give back to your trail - Join in on a Work Party

bobdole — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:59:16 +0000

Article category:

General

GHORBA work parties are one of the primary sources of maintenance and enhancement for the local trails. Each trail has a local trail steward who coordinates and often leads these work parties. Helping out at a work party is a great way to give back to your local trail and to help maintain the upkeep (overgrown brush, downed trees) or to improve the trails and their structures. Work party funding is supported through annual Membership Dues and various Grants. For the racers out there, these work parties are also pay-dirt eligible.

Volunteer trail stewards and workers have been busy lately with projects directly affecting the quality of the trails and their work is immediately visible. Through the past few months The Anthills have replaced multiple bridges, Double Lake has re-opened and repaired the trail from the Dangerous Trees Drought Closure, and Memorial Park has built re-routes around unrecoverable trail sections. These are just a few examples of some of the work being done around town; join up with your local trail steward to help make your trail a better place.

Upcoming opportunities are regularly held at trails throughout the Houston area, watch our Calendar Page or join one of the mailing lists below to keep up on new opportunities. There will also be significant opportunities for work parties at some of our new trail constructions such as the Huntsville Expansion, Flintridge Expansion, and River Bend. You can read more about these opportunities and their backgrounds on our Advocacy page.

Want to help out? Contact information for our trail stewards is available on each trails page or by selecting the appropriate trail on our contact form.
You can also join in on GHORBA’s email lists to be advised of upcoming work parties

Anthills
Carl Barton
Double Lake
Flintridge
Memorial Park
Sugar Land (This includes both Brindley and River Bend).

Cypresswood and Jack Brooks Park also maintain their own Yahoo Groups. These links will take you outside the GHORBA Domain.

GHORBA is a 501c3 non profit and is comprised of an all volunteer board of directors and contributors. Your annual member dues are used to support trail work and other club activities. Looking to renew your membership or join GHORBA? Click here for our membership page.

Brindley trail in the news

bobdole — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 13:14:45 +0000

Article category:

General

Local news source, Culturemap, puts the Justin Brindley trail in Suglar Land in focus in this segement of their Hidden Houston series. The video segment takes a look at both the scenery and features of the park, including the Technical Trail Features (TTF) which add a unique component to the park. Speaking of TTF's, GHORBA is hosting a skills clinic on 7/21 to teach how to ride.

Click here for the video segment.

GHORBA Update 6/27

bobdole — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:14:05 +0000

Article category:

General

Memorial Park Work Party
Hello trail workers, a reminder that we'll be holding the monthly memorial park work party on July 3rd at 6 PM. A few different things to note this time. First, our scope of work will be building a re-route on Green to bypass the "washout" section that is current closing the Green Trail. That said, we will be parking on Crestwood, north of Memorial Drive. Use the google maps link below to see the parking spot/get directions. We've got a lot of work to do on Green as it's been closed for awhile, so there will be something for everyone, from trimming back overgrowing vegetation to helping cut the re-route. We probably won't get it all done in one night so we'll have a few more throughout the month to continue our work on Green. Please bring water, gloves, and some bug spray for yourself. Since we've got a lot of work to do, I would appreciate it if you would email directly to me and confirm your attendance. Thanks.

https://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=29.763739,-95.427349&hl=en&sll=29.763...

Anthills Work Party
The little bridge just east of Kirkwood in the S-turns continues to fall apart. This is the bridge made of a hodge podge of materials and has a slight dip in the middle of it. I would like to replace this bridge and then call a halt to bridge building for the summer….it’s getting too hot. Please email Eric the Trail Steward at This Link if you can participate. Happy Trails!

Buffalo Bayou Trail Update
As you know, the trails on Buffalo Bayou have been under construction by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) these last few months. In just a few weeks, construction on the $55 million Buffalo Bayou Park – Shepherd to Sabine project will also get underway.

What this means for you and your members as trail users is that there will be a temporary inconvenience of closures. TxDOT, City of Houston, and Buffalo Bayou Partnership will all be working on the south side of the bayou at Taft and Allen Parkway and eastward to Sabine Street. Therefore, for safety reasons, the trail on the south side of Buffalo Bayou at Montrose (on the west) and Sabine (on the east) will be closed from July 5, 2012 and last about three months.

In addition, the Harris County Flood Control District will start work to realign the north side of the bayou and create a large flood bench near the Police Memorial (on the Memorial Drive side). The intention is to remove silt and sediment and re-grade the slopes of the bayou to reduce the risk of erosion. There will be temporary windows of time – perhaps one hour or one day – when the trails in this area will be closed due to trucks loading in and out. Overall, trail users should not be heavily impacted by these closures.

It is very important to Buffalo Bayou Partnership that we inform you in advance about these closures as your members use these trails frequently.

This temporary inconvenience is part of the overall park improvements planned for Buffalo Bayou that we are confident you will enjoy once they are complete in mid-2015. You can learn more about the upcoming work during our community meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 at 6-8 pm at United Way.

Also, we encourage you to share with your members the details of the trail closures, stay informed through our Buffalo Bayou Park – Shepherd to Sabine In the Works bi-monthly e-newsletter.

If you have any questions, please visit buffalobayou.org or contact Trudi Smith at tsmith@buffalobayou.org or 713.752.0314 ext. 3.

Flintridge STS - July 14th

bobdole — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:31:38 +0000

Article category:

General

Final STS race at Flintridge in The Woodlands, TX on July 14th. Racer check-in opens at 8 AM and racing begins at 9 AM. Click here to register!
Registration Details

Current GHORBA membership required. Please join or renew your membership first (you may also use the Membership menu at the top). Please join at least 48 hours prior to the race to ease processing.
13 to 18 yr. old and 9 to 12 yr. old youth classes
Prizes for podium finishers in each category: Men, Women and Youth
PRIZES FOR SERIES CHAMPIONS
Races start around 8:30-9 AM, depending how many sign up.
Please fill out the release form beforehand and bring with you. If you have family membership and your children will attend, please also fill out this Parental consent form <18 yrs. old .

Places to Ride: Palo Duro Canyon State Park

bobdole — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:30:33 +0000

Article category:

General

Places to Ride: Palo Duro Canyon State Park

When the kids are out of school and the high temperatures in Houston can melt the grips off your handlebars, we frequently head to the mountains in the west. In doing so, many of us go within 30 miles of Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the second largest canyon system in the United States. At the bottom of the canyon exists 12 miles of singletrack in some of the best scenery found in Texas.
Sure, it will be hot but if you overnight there on your way you should be able to get an early or late ride in to duck the worst of it. Be wary of simply parking at the top of the canyon and riding down if you get there before the park opens for the day during the summer. The climb out will be hot and steep. Do not bother detouring off our route to ride here if it has rained recently as the clay in the soil will make riding slippery and probably bike damaging. Enjoy.

The Facts:

Hours: change throughout the year but earliest opening is 8am
Entry Fee: $5 / person
Camping: tent and cabin available – reservations may be made through Texas State Parks at 512-389-8900
Miles of Trails: 12
TPWD info link: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon
TPWD Map link: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_...

UPDATED: Double Lake MTB Trail in SHNF Opens

bobdole — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:30:52 +0000

Article category:

General

Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail in the Sam Houston National Forest is open, according to Forest Supervisor Mark Van Every.

Trails, trailheads and other areas where the public gathers in the forest were closed in March when it became apparent that the large number of dead trees killed in the drought created a safety hazard.

Trail sections open in the Sam Houston National Forest include:

Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail in Double Lake Recreation Area.
3 miles of the Lone Star Hiking trail from Forest Service Road 219 Trailhead parking lot (the Lone Star Hiking Trail Club Trailhead No. 1) to FM 149 South Trailhead parking lot (Lone Star Hiking Trail Club Trailhead No. 4).
Three miles of the Lone Star Hiking Trail from the parking lot on the I-45 feeder road north of Huntsville State Park (Lone Star Hiking Trail Club Trailhead No. 7) to the Camella Lake spillway.
One mile adjacent to the Ranger’s office in New Waverly.

Full Details of the press release available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/texas/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5375306

Upcoming TTF Skills Clinic - July 21st

bobdole — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:20:20 +0000

Article category:

General

If you’ve ever been out to the Justin P. Brindley trail at Sugar Land Memorial Park you’ve no doubt seen the 14 man-made technical trail features that were installed when the trail was built. Have you ever wished that a real pro could teach you how to ride some of them? Well here’s your chance! Our expert TTF skills instructors Scott McCloskey and Alex Tsounis are ready to show you all you need to know to safely conquer these obstacles and more. We are offering two beginner and two intermediate classes on Saturday July 21st. Each class will have a maximum of 5 students to optimize the amount of one-on-one time. All classes will start out in the field near the pavilion on smaller TTF’s then move to the larger ones out on the trail. Registration is first come first serve so get your email to me quick! Please do not sign up if you have no intention of trying the TTF’s out on the trail. Make room for those who will.

Current GHORBA Membership is required to participate. Click here to Verify Membership Expiration Date (must be logged in) or Contact the Membership Director.
Class Times: (Click each link to register)

Beginner – 9:00am (2 Slots Remain)
Intermediate – 9:00am (5 Slots Remain)

Beginner – 12 noon (4 Slots Remain)
Intermediate – 12 noon (4 Slots Remain)

In addition to registering you MUST email me, Mike Strawn, Clinics Director to reserve your spot. Just clicking on the register button on this page will NOT guarantee you a spot. Please include which class and at what time you would like to attend. Do to insurance requirements you must be a member of GHORBA to attend this clinic. GHORBA will have water, Gatorade, sodas, and light snacks on hand free of charge for all students. You must bring a bike, helmet, and water bottle or hydration pack to participate.

For more information on what will be taught please check out our Skills Clinic page on the GHORBA website here: http://ghorba.org/skills-clinics

Want to hear what former students thought of our last TTF clinic? Go here: http://ghorba.org/forums/where-are-we-riding-whats-going/1848

Great news for Flintridge and more!

bobdole — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:36:39 +0000

Article category:

General

Flintridge Expansion
As previously indicated, GHORBA has great news for the Flintridge Trail system. In conjunction with the Spring Creek Greenway project, Flintridge will be undergoing a large expansion, doubling in size! The expansion is made possible through a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant sponsored and created by GHORBA and strongly partnered with Montgomery County Precinct 3 through matching funds. The funds will be utilized to add up to an additional six miles of natural surface trail and to improve the sustainability of an additional six miles of existing natural surface trails. The end result will be a Flintridge trail system spanning all the way to I-45 on the northern side of Spring Creek. Construction will not start until a bid process is completed and contracts are in place with contractors, this is estimated to occur by the end of 2012. GHORBA is very excited for this upcoming project with special recognition to GHORBA Board Member-At-Large Bill Begnaud for being the driving force behind the success of this project.

This Courier Article has additional information on the project.

For more information on past and present GHORBA projects, check out our advocacy page or just ask one of our Board Members when you see them on the trail.

Flintridge STS Race
Let’s celebrate the Flintridge expansion! Rafael, GHORBA’s Race Director, is working on rescheduling the postponed Flintridge STS for the first weekend in July. Interested in seeing the race happen on this date? Email Raf via our contact form and let him know.

RTP Needs your help again!
The RTP program has been VERY beneficial to Houston area mountain bikers yielding $461,000 for local trails over the past few years to include Carl Barton (City of Conroe sponsoring) $45k, Double Lake $120k, Huntsville State Park $160K, Community grant $36k, and Flintridge $100k.
RTP is arguably the most important government program ever created to benefit trail based recreation, and funds the development and maintenance of thousands of miles of motorized and non-motorized trails. Please click the Take Action link to weigh in today!
TAKE ACTION!

STS Results
The up to date results of the Short Track Series are available. Each link below has the results information for each race as well as the series.
Overall (pdf)
Cypresswood (pdf)
Sugar Land (pdf)
Jack Brooks (pdf)

New Flintridge Trail Steward
Help GHORBA welcome our new trail steward for Flintridge, Karl Thompson. Karl is a local mountain biker and is eager to maintain Flintridge and see the upcoming expansion become a success. Look for Karl’s work party announcements on our calendar and on the Flintridge email group. Karl can also be reached utilizing our contact form at this link.

GHORBA Advocacy Update

bobdole — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 20:11:45 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

TPWD 2012 Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) seeks public comment on the draft of the 2012 Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan (TORP) which identifies outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance, and acts as a guide on how to best administer Texas' apportionment of the federal Land and Water Conservation Funds.
This plan is required in order to maintain state eligibility to continue receiving funds through the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program; the only federal source of funds partnering with states and local governments that is solely dedicated to protecting conservation and recreation lands for future generations of Americans.
Public feedback has been obtained in the development of the TORP through a variety of surveys. The draft is available for comment until June 22, 2012 at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/grants/.
Comments regarding the 2012 TORP draft can be sent to rec.grants@tpwd.state.tx.us. For more information, please contact Local Park Grants Manager, Dana Lagarde at (512) 389-8175.

Upcoming Public Meeting for Buffalo Bayou Trail
Transformation of Buffalo Bayou Park, one of Houston's most iconic green spaces, is well underway. With an historic $30 million catalyst gift from the Kinder Foundation, a strong public-private partnership has been created to include Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), City of Houston led by the Houston Parks & Recreation Department, and Harris County Flood Control District. BBP has been charged with leading the enhancements of the 160-acre, 2.3-mile bayou stretch from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street.
Likened to Houston's own Central Park, the ambitious $55 million project will:

Restore the bayou to a more natural and self-sustaining version of what exists today.
Reintroduce native park landscape.
Add amenities to enhance safety and visitor experience.

After two years of design and engineering, trail work is being constructed and additional improvements are slated to begin this summer. The entire project is expected to be complete in mid-2015. See the Master Plan.
Buffalo Bayou Partnership invites you to learn about the vision for this project and how the upcoming construction may impact your use of the park on June 27th @ 6 PM.
Learn more about the project at www.buffalobayou.org

Lone Star State Mountain Bike Trails are Under Fire - IMBA
A message from Jenn Dice, IMBA Government Affairs Director

“This month I have seen some of the biggest attacks against mountain bikers in many years of working for better trail access.
Old-guard groups have distorted the facts about mountain biking’s impact in an attempt to derail the tremendous momentum behind a new trail system at Big Bend National Park in Texas. Read about the Big Bend project here.
Can you believe this misleading headline?

Big Bend Breaks Ground On Single-Track Bike Racing Trail — Precedent-Setting Embrace of Converting Park Backcountry to Thrill-Sport Venues

Or what about these recently published attacks?

"While hikers would be technically allowed, they would have to dodge speeding bikers."
"The advantages of the double track (jeep road) are that the hiker can proceed on one of the tracks or jump to safety if he/she encounters a biker. Danger is increased if bikers and hikers share a single track."
" Now the problem with a multi-use mountain biker-hiker trail at Big Bend, aside from the legal and aesthetic (The park “forgot” to do the environmental paper work) is one of safety."

In fact, the trail has been designed with excellent sightlines and moderate grades to encourage a friendly hiking and bicycling experience. Read more of IMBA's response.
Help IMBA stop a few outspoken recreation opponents from spoiling a good idea. Give to the Trail Access Fund now.
Your support will fund the attorneys, professional advocates and trail designers that will protect your right to ride trails in Texas. IMBA is working in many areas to help parks be more relevant to today’s recreating public, especially kids.
Currently there is mountain biking in 44 national parks, and more are asking for IMBA’s help to plan for trails for bicycles. Mountain biking gets visitors — kids and families— out of cars and gives them a chance to experience the sights and sounds of our amazing national parks.

GHORBA Update - June 6th

bobdole — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:23:12 +0000

Article category:

General

Double Lake Re-Opening Progress
Hazard tree removal is underway by the USFS at Double Lake with a few miles of the original loop being cleared so far. This process is expected to take at least a few weeks to complete and all trails will remain closed until further notice. We’d all much rather be riding on Double Lake this time of year and we will need your help in the final stages of re-opening the trail. Work parties will be held to clean up debris and complete other tasks on the trail.

Remember, Double Lake and all other trails in the SHNF are closed until further notice due to a Forest Supervisor order regarding falling trees. GHORBA is working closely with the USFS to both expediently re-open and minimize impact to the trails.

Flintridge Trail Steward Needed
Is Flintridge your Home Trail? Are you interested in helping maintain the trail? GHORBA is in need of a volunteer trail steward for the Flintridge trail. Duties include organizing and leading work parties on an as-needed basis, maintaining volunteer hour records, and acting as liaison with the local Land Manager. Support such as tools and materials are provided through GHORBA. Contact the VP Trails if you are interested in learning more.

New trail Steward at Carl Barton
David Duroy has joined the ranks of GHORBA Trail Stewards by volunteering for the post of trail steward at Carl Barton. If you ride at Carl Barton and want to help improve and maintain the trail, you can reach David via our website. Sign up for the Carl Barton trail work mailing list at carlbarton-trailwork+subscribe@ghorba.org to receive information on upcoming work parties.

Group Ride – Lake Bryan June 16th 10 AM
An official GHORBA group ride will be held at Lake Bryan on June 16th at 10 AM. For more information, View the Event on the Calendar. As always GHORBA will provide cold water, Gatorade, and light snacks for all riders free of charge. This ride is open to all riders and is not limited to GHORBA members. All riders must bring a bike and a helmet. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We hope to see you there!

Jack Brooks STS is ON!

bobdole — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:36:09 +0000

Article category:

General

The Jack Brooks STS on June 2nd is a GO. Yesterday's thunderstorms moved quickly through the area and made the trail fast. Racer check in opens at 8 AM with racing starting by 9 AM. Click here to register for the race. If you have questions before the race, please contact the Racing Director.

Note: Current GHORBA membership is required for the race. To verify your membership, please visit this link while logged in. If you have questions about your membership, please contact the membership director.

If you want to hang out at the race, we're always looking for volunteer course marshalls and race day support. Help make the race succesful while cheering on your family or friends. If you'd like to assist, come out to the race or contact the Race Director for more information.

GHORBA Update - May 30th

bobdole — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:08:54 +0000

Article category:

General

Upcoming STS Races!
Jack Brooks Park on June 2nd at 8 AM. Click Here to Register. Current GHORBA membership required to verify your GHORBA membership, click this link while logged in. Your expiration date will be displayed near the membership pricing.
If you need assistance with membership, Contact the Membership Director.

Upcoming Group Ride
An official GHORBA group ride will be held at Lake Bryan on June 16th at 10 AM. For more information, View the Event on the Calendar. As always GHROBA will provide cold water, Gatorade, and light snacks for all riders free of charge. This ride is open to all riders and is not limited to GHORBA members. All riders must bring a bike and a helmet. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We hope to see you there!

Save the Anthills Update
In April, Channel 39 NewsFix did a segment on the efforts to Save The Anthills from destruction. View the video at this link.

Great news coming for trails in The Woodlands
Stay tuned for an upcoming update regarding a very impressive trail expansion in the North.

Upcoming Work Parties
GHORBA will be holding its monthly Memorial Park work party on June 5th from 6PM to 8PM. If you’re interested in helping maintain and improve the trails at Memorial Park, come join us. GHORBA will provide all tools and instruction, please bring water and bug spray for yourself. More information available at our calendar link.

GHORBA Update – May 21st

bobdole — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:22:22 +0000

Article category:

General

Upcoming STS Races!

May 26th Justin Brindley Park Sugar Land, TX. Click Here to Register. Current GHORBA membership required to verify your GHORBA membership, click this link while logged in. Your expiration date will be displayed near the membership pricing.
June 2nd Jack Brooks Hitchcock, TX. Click Here to Register. Current GHORBA membership required to verify your GHORBA membership, click this link while logged in. Your expiration date will be displayed near the membership pricing.

If you need assistance with membership, Contact the Membership Director.

Cypresswood Temporary Access Restriction
NOTE FROM P4 PARKS - ACCESS TO TRAILS CLOSED AT COLLINS MON (5/21)-WED (5/23). PLEASE PARK AT TC JESTER OR STRACK RD DURING THIS TIME.

Enterprise Pipeline will be working on pipeline maintenance on the line that runs across Cypress Creek behind Collins Park from 7:00am to 5-5:30pm on Monday, May 21 through Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday if needed. They will have some equipment and trucks in the parking lot by the girl’s softball complex and the road that accesses the creek. The entrance from the park to the creek will be barricaded for safety and the hike and bike trail will be closed.
If you’re interested in volunteering for work parties and other improvements at Cypresswood, contact the trail steward via this link.

Double Lake Re-Opening
Jim Mackey and Kevin Highfield have been working with various Forest Service personnel over the last week and they report that the Forest Service has got all the "danger trees" (that's the ones that are leaning) marked and several crews going into the entire DL system to get the trees removed. As of today (5/21), we are hopeful that the entire system will be re-opened in a couple of weeks - which is really good news and a whole lot better than we've been thinking up until recently. More updates will follow.

Huntsville Expansion
The current situation with the other trails in the forest being closed has diverted the attention of Forest Service personnel, but we still hope to get the approvals done over the summer so we can start building in late Fall. Once we get Double Lake re-opened, Kevin will be getting the approval stuff rolling in earnest.

Member Meeting 5/14 - 7 PM

bobdole — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:35:08 +0000

Article category:

General

Please join us at Star Pizza at NORFOLK location (just off I-59) 2111 Norfolk St Houston,TX on May 14th at 7 PM for our member meeting.

Free PIZZA and Soft Drinks.

Topics will include:

Double Lake - Update on the status of the trail closures, GHORBA's work so far, and an outlook on how this will progress.
The Anthills - Update on "Save The Anthills" effort as well as trail work that has been occuring.
Website - See some of the ins and outs of our new website and how communication will be improved.

GHORBA Greatness

bobdole — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:09:18 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) recently published an online article on GHORBA’s recent successes ranging from our Double Lake project to our in progress Huntsville expansion. Follow the link below to IMBA to read more about GHORBA’s continuing efforts to improve mountain biking in and around Houston.

Click here to read more at IMBA.com

Notice of Meeting for SHNF Trails - April 24th at 7 pm

bobdole — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:01:01 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Where: SHNF New Waverly Office Click here for Directions
When: April 24th @ 7 PM
Click here for the Public Notice letter

The Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF) is holding a collaborative meeting on April 24th at 7 PM to discuss the recent trails assessments relating to the “dead tree closures”. There will be discussion of the results of the assessments, what trails will re-open and which will remain closed, as well as discussion on plans going forward. GHORBA representatives will be in attendance as well as reps from other user groups, we highly encourage you to attend and make sure your voice is heard, especially as the Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail is directly affected by this.

- Justin Dunn
VP Trails

Opportunity to discuss Anthills with Mayor Parker Sat. April 14

bobdole — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:13:27 +0000

Article category:

Advocacy

Who: Mayor Annise Parker
What: Three Minutes with the Mayor (Neighborhood Office Hours)
When: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012
Where: Hillendahl Neighborhood Library, 2436 Gessner Rd, Houston, Texas 77080

Notes: Mayor Parker is taking her Three Minutes with the Mayor neighborhood office hours on the road again. This time the destination is Spring Branch. The mayor is traveling to a different neighborhood once every quarter because she knows many Houstonians are unable to bring their questions and concerns to her at city hall. Three Minutes with the Mayor offers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the mayor on a first-come first-served basis. It is recommended that attendees prepare ahead as each conversation will be limited to no more than three minutes. For more information, call or email the Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance office at 713-803-1062 or ruben.vela@houstontx.gov.

This is a great opportunity for you to tell Mayor Parker exactly how important it is to preserve the Anthills in its natural state for the benefit of the trail users and community.

It is a challenge to give up a Saturday afternoon, but how often do you have the opportunity to have the Mayor as a captive audience?

GHORBA Short Track Stampede Championship Series 2012 - UPDATED SCHEDULE!

bobdole — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:10:59 +0000

Article category:

General

Registration & Details

Current GHORBA membership required. Please join or renew your membership first (you may also use the Membership menu at the top). Please join at least 48 hours prior to the race to ease processing.
13 to 18 yr. old and 9 to 12 yr. old youth classes
Prizes for podium finishers in each category: Men, Women and Youth
PRIZES FOR SERIES CHAMPIONS
Races start around 8:30-9 AM, depending how many sign up.
Please fill out the release form beforehand and bring with you. If you have family membership and your children will attend, please also fill out this Parental consent form <18 yrs. old .

Registration is $17 per event, online, by credit card or check – NO ONSITE DAY OF RACE REGISTRATIONS!

Schedule (click trail name to register)

Cypresswood - April 28th @ 8AM
Jack Brooks Park - May 12th @ 8AM
Justin P. Brindley Trail (Sugar Land) - May 26th @ 8AM
Flintridge (The Woodlands) - June 2nd @ 8AM

Registration online only, in person registrations cannot be accepted.

If you need to renew or start your GHORBA membership please do so. If you are unsure of your current membership status please contact our membership director.

SHNF Trail Closures and a Call For Volunteers

bobdole — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:02:47 +0000

Article category:

General

As many of you are aware all trails in the Sam Houston National Forest are closed because of an order related to the dead trees. The number of dead trees in close proximity to the trails has caused for the forest service to prohibit all use of trails (including Double Lake) due to the perceived hazard that the falling dead trees may pose to users. The background to the closure is due to recent natural events which resulted in injuries occurring on National Forest property, particularly the flash flooding in the Ouachita NF in 2011. GHORBA cannot say enough good things about our Sam Houston NF district ranger though – he’s working very hard to coordinate with the user groups and re-open the trails.

So what does that mean for you? For the time being please stay off the trails in the SHNF. A huge effort is being rapidly mobilized through to get the hazard tree assessment done, with the help of trail users, by Friday 4/13. Once the plan is in place there will be a call for volunteers to travel the trails and record the location of dead trees on GPS devices. We are hopeful that the trails will be re-opened after the completion and consideration of this risk assessment and posting of additional warning signs. A strong showing from GHORBA in the assessment process will go a long way in getting the trails open.

Please respect the current closure and work with us to get through this issue. Your support will be greatly beneficial to the re-opening of the trails, if you have any questions please discuss in the forum link below or email myself.

-Justin Dunn
VP Trails, GHORBA
Forest Closure Order:http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5361496.pdf

GHORBA - Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association

Registration Open for BIG RING CHALLENGE RACE

May is Mountain Biking Month

Let's Make Jack Brooks Great Again Work Party

Huntsville SP Trail Work Party March 12

Double Lake Trail Work Party March 19

Santa Cruz Demo Coming March 5th

GIANT demo, Cypress Creek and Memorial Park

THEN

Please welcome two new board members!

Weekend recap & upcoming events

UPCOMING REMINDERS:

WEEKEND RECAP:

Another great weekend for GHORBA members!

Join the North Houston Mountain Bike Team!!

Blue Line Bike Lab presents Pivot demo day at CCMTB

Big weekend success for GHORBA!!

GHORBA Social, Dinner, and Membership Meeting

Timberlane STS Eliminator Race

Major Announcement Regarding Jack Brooks Park!

CreekFest Family Bike Rally

GHORBA Social & Dinner Meeting

2016 Big Ring Challenge is FINALLY here!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!

Thanks to all who registered and participated, see you on the trails!!

Please welcome our newest member of the GHORBA Board of Directors!

Timber Lane XC STS Eliminator Race *CANCELLED*

GHORBA is currently seeking to fill the Secretary position on the board of directors

FREE Skills Clinic - ALL Levels - Memorial Park

2016 "The even bigger" Big Ring Challenge - Double Lake Marathon Race

GHORBA Fall 2015 Newsletter

Meet your 2016 Board of Directors!

Sam Houston Trails Coalition Awarded Matching Funds for Sustainable Trail Maintenance

Go Vote! Election time for the new Board!!

Harris County bond proposals in November impact our trail systems

100 Acre Wood ribbon cutting, work party and bike ride

GHORBA Board of Directors elections coming soon!

Wild & Scenic Film Festival, hosted by Bayou Land Conservancy

Blazing Saddles, the afterburn

Call Your Senator!

GHORBA Monthly Ride -Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, TX!

Memorial Park - Work Party

GHORBA Monthly Ride- Cypresswood!

GHORBA project 'SPRING' was a huge success!!

Big Ring Challenge 2015

WORK PARTIES GALORE!!!

GHORBA Big Ring Challenge Results Are In!!

2015 Big Ring Challenge - NEW COURSE!!

Memorial Park Master Plan, LAST public meeting ONE WEEK AWAY

Monthly Ride at River Bend!

Memorial Park Master Plan, Jan 12 slideshow

Cypress Creek Trails Master Plan Jan 28th

Memorial Park Master Plan Public Update Meeting

TMBRA Marathon Series comes to Double Lake!!

New board for 2015

Your 2014 GHORBA Board of Directors nominees

GHORBA Board of Directors elections are coming!

Skills Clinic - Memorial Park

Dave Boyd Huntsville Classic October 12th 2014 Huntsville State Park Huntsville, TX

GHORBA STS Cypresswood results

Cypresswood STS prep Work Party

STS Jack Brooks Results

STS Riverbend Results

Action Requested: Memorial Park Master Plan survey

Temporary Closure of Trails in Addicks and Barker Reservoirs

Continued Anthills Threat

Double Lake Free on Veteran's Day weekend

Group Ride! Jack Brooks Park

October General Meeting

GHORBA Elections

Secretary candidate - Ben Marshall bio

Bayou Land Conservancy 100 Acre Wood Preserve

New Anthills Kiosk and Trail Armoring

Group Ride at Anthills on July 6th

GHORBA Trail Conditions App

Huntsville...a major bridge is crossed (and approved)

Big Ring Challenge- a time for thanks

Double Lake- Henry Lake North Bridge

Trail Building- Past and Future

New Anthills Bridge Courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 993

Timber Lane XC STS Eliminator Race CANCELLED

Flintridge STS - July 22nd RESCHEDULED