Mountain Biking Training Sessions

Is your Mountain Bike growing dusty in the garage or seeing too much pavement? Want to learn how and where to ride a Mountain Bike in Michiana?

The Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (NIMBA) is holding free “Intro to Mountain Biking” sessions at each of the 4 trails that it maintains. Each session will include a discussion and demonstration of basic Mountain Biking skills followed by a guided ride on the trail where we will put the skills to use and review features of the trail.

What do you need to participate?

• Bike Helmet
• Mountain Bike that has brakes and gears in good working order
• A desire to have fun

The sessions are geared for beginner adult Mountain Bikers, but teens can also attend with an adult. They will be held from 9:30AM – Noon EDT at these locations:

• 6-16-12 Potato Creek State Park – Peppermint Hill Parking Area
• 7-14-12 Rum Village Park, South Bend – Nature Center Parking Lot
• 8-11-12 Bendix Woods County Park – Otahnagon Picnic Area
• 8-25-12 TK Lawless County Park (MI) – Main Parking Lot

Attend one, or attend them all!  Please RSVP by sending an email to NIMBA.BIKE@GMAIL.COM.

Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association Midweek Club Time Trial

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• This will be a great way for any rider beginner or expert to gauge their improvement or for some just racing for bragging rights with their friends or even just coming out to have some fun, fellowship and getting some quality trail time in.
• Based on Insurance coverage, the Race is FOR MEMBERS ONLY.
• Entry is free for NIMBA members (bring your card)
• NON NIMBA MEMBERS can purchase a NIMBA membership for only $20.  Membership forms will be available at the races.
• Arrive and sign up before 7 PM, first rider out at 7:10 PM
• Depending on the venue, we may create a beginner loop.
• Depending on how many show up, we may create classes.

 

Dates and places

• TK Lawless May 23
• TK Lawless May 30
• Rum Village June 6
• Rum Village June 13
• Potato Creek?
• Bendix Woods?

IMBA To Visit Trail Build At Bendix Woods – April 14

Andy Williamson, the Great Lakes region representative for IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) will be attending the NIMBA Bendix Woods trail workday on April 14, from 10 to 2. Andy will be sharing information regarding IMBA and what’s happening with Mountain Biking at a national, regional and state level over lunch with the trail builders. Come out and help NIMBA finish the trail at Bendix Woods and hear what’s happening in the Mountain Biking world. For more information contact NIMBA at NIMBA.BIKE @GMAIL.COM

Bicycle Swap Meet: Sat. March 12th

Pinhook Park Pavilion
March 12, 2011
12:00 to 2:30

This annual event is sponsored by the Michiana Bicycle Association (MBA) and the Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (NIMBA). There is no charge for buyers or sellers. Anyone is welcome to bring bicycle related items to sell. Sellers should arrive between 11:00 and and 11:30 to setup. First-come, first-served for table space.

Latest details at www.mbabike.com/swap

Ride the Divide Film Screening: Sun. January 30th

NIMBA, with sponsorship from Spin Zone, will host a screening of Ride the Divide as a fundraiser on Sunday, January 30th at 7:00 p.m. in Eck Visitors Center, near the University of Notre Dame.

The film is an award-winning documentary about the 2,700 mile Tour Divide mountain bike race down the Rockies from Canada to Mexico; it won best adventure film at the 2010 Vail Film Festival.

Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance online or $15 at the door. Please check the event’s Facebook page for the latest information.

The year in review – good things cycling in 2010

This is the time of year to reflect on accomplishments for the year just ended. Here is a short summary of Michiana good things cycling.

Bike to Work Week saw miles ridden in The Corporate Challenge increase to 26,154 from 16,179 (an increase of 74%). Also the number of teams increased to 119 from 111 (an increase of 7%) and South Bend closed off a street so the Bike Michiana Coalition could host an organic blueberry pancake breakfast.

Bike Michiana for Hospice saw the number of riders increase to 475 from 273 (an increase of 102%). Increases are expected again in 2011 since several new features will be added, including a 200 mile route.

Indiana Trails Advisory Board nominations sought

Individuals who blaze the state’s trails-or who know someone who does, should contact the DNR regarding five open positions on its state Trails Advisory Board (TAB).

3 Great County Parks — 1 Nice Bike Ride

Start at any of these 3 sites (check hours of operation 1st, so you don’t get locked out) or if it’s more convienent start at Darden Rd & Riverside Dr. The 3 county parks I’m speaking of are St. Patrick’s, Spicer Lake & Bendix Woods. It’s about 45 mi. to visit all 3 parks. Bendix Woods has a new mountain bike trail being developed by NIMBA.

If 45 mi. isn’t enough try locating some little known St. Joseph County Parks properties, like Chamberlin Lake & Place Trail, If you make it to Place Trail, you will be near Potato Creek State Park. They charge a $2- fee for bikes entering the park. You will find a 3.3 mi. bike path & a 6.6 mi. mountain bike trail, within this park. Now we are talk’in 70 to 80 mi. of riding.

For that century rider add Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park on the eatern edge of St. Joseph Co. I’ve done this a couple times, using different routes, but what routes would you use?

Mike McFarland

Michiana Mountain Bike Time Trials

Northern Indiana Mountain Bike Association (NIMBA) will be hosting a 6 race Mountain Bike Time Trial Series. The first race in the Series is at TK Lawless Park in Cassopolis, Michigan on June 6th, 2010. Start time is 10:00 AM with registration opening at 8:30 AM. Riders may pre-register at www.bikereg.com They may register for any individual race or the whole series. If they register for the entire series at or before the TK Lawless race, the 6th race is free. Pre-registration is highly recommended. Get more information about the race series at NIMBA’s race website www.nimbaseries.org They medal the top 3 finishers in each of the 11 categories. Points are totaled over the series by finish time and the top 3 in each category at the end of the series get a plaque for a series award.

Gary Fisher Coming to Michiana!

Gary Fisher, creator of the first reliable, low-maintenance mountain bike, is coming to Outpost Sports on Saturday, May 30 for their “Meet the Man” event! This once in a lifetime event will include a meet and greet with Gary Fisher at Outpost Saturday morning. Subsequently, there will be a ride at Dr. T.K. Lawless Park followed by a showing of Klunkerz, a movie that looks at the origins of the mountain bike. Check out the full schedule for the event below!