The Knoxville News Sentinel recently carried a story about the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club‘s (AMBC) efforts to build 5-miles of mountain bike accessible trails at the 275-acre Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville.
All the trails in the southern part of Ijams Nature Center will be non-motorized, multi-use trails, meaning everyone from mountain bikers and hikers to trail runners and ornithological societies will benefit from the trails development.
The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club is a chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) which recently merged with the International …

The Chattanooga Time Free Press contained two related articles the Enterprise South Nature Park’s trails.
Hamilton County’s newest park, Enterprise South Nature Park, is expected to open to the public on October 11 2010.  In an agreement with the county Chattanooga Chapter of Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA-Chattanooga) had been given special access to the park so their volunteers could start building the trails, with the goal of having 10 miles completed when the park opens.
The SORBA-Chattanooga constructed trails will be open to human powered multi-use trails, opened to hikers, runners …

Chattanooga, TN – May, 2010 – Volkswagen Group of America has made a $10,900 contribution to the Chattanooga chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA). SORBA-Chattanooga will use the donated funds to construct and complete phase I of a new multiuse trail network at Enterprise South Nature Park. Phase I consists of a 3.5 loop trail, a 2.5 loop trail, a 2 mile loop trail and a technical skill building area for mountain bikers. Eight miles of single-track trail will be added to Hamilton County’s newest wilderness park, …

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on August 14 and 15 to encourage all Americans to visit our national parks.
“This fee-free weekend provides an opportunity for individuals and families alike to take an affordable vacation or to explore a nearby park they have never visited before,” Salazar said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free admission to visit not only our greatest natural wonders but also our nation’s historic and cultural …

The IMBA/USAC Trail Tune-up Grants have been revamped — in 2010, the awards feature $2,000 in funding and a follow-up visit from one of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews in 2011. The Crews will provide technical assistance for the grant winners’ trail projects.
Projects that create or improve trails used for mountain bike racing will receive the highest consideration, but funding can also be used to improve trails for race training and recreational riding. Applicants must be current members of IMBA, as well as USA Cycling member clubs/race promoters.
The Trail Tune-Up …

A candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, Robin Smith, sent a letter to the Chattanoogan.com stating the Federal Administration’s National Recreation Trails Fund should be eliminated.
We must also be able to point to specific cuts in the budget to show our determination to deal with our debt and deficits. From examples as large as eliminating over payments for Medicare that will save billions, [b][u]to eliminating the Federal Highway Administration’s National (FHWA) Recreational Trails Fund[/u][/b] that would save $250 million over five years. We must be willing to say we can’t …

Several mountain bike organizations in the region traveled to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area to celebrate Nationals Trails Day. On hand were mountain bikers from many Tennessee Mountain Biking Alliance organizations, including Big South Fork Mountain Bike Club, Applachian Mountain Bike Club, Northeast Tennessee Mountain Bike Association and our very own SORBA-Chattanooga. A few hardy Kentucky mountain bikers were in attendance as well.
Most attendees arrived on Friday evening. After setting up camp and a quick ride, the participants walked the group campground and …

The Northeast Tennessee Mountain Bike Association and Bay’s Mountain Park have partnered to bring you the second annual Bike at Bay’s Mountain Bike Festival on Saturday, May 15, 2010, beginning at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Local bike shops will be on hand offering demo bikes for riders to test ride, who wants to test a mountain bike on pavement anyway, along with giveaways and free basic bike maintenance. There will be organized rides with experienced riders, maintenance clinics, as well as food and fun with fellow mountain bikers…all for FREE!
All …

The Montgomery Bell State Park mountain bike trail have been reopened following a recent wildfire at the park.
Approximately 6 acres of park were burned on April the 14 in the wildfire, which was confined mainly to the undergrowth in the portion of the park that contain sections of the Yellow Trail and the Green Trail.
Area mountain bikers, including members of the Middle Chapter of IMBA/SORBA, volunteered to complete trail work so the trial could be reopened.
However, additional work remains.  To prevent the fire from spreading the park cut in …

Map of the mountain bike trails noting area affected by the recent wild fies and the trails that presently close.

According to Rangers, a wild fire occurred on April 14, within the portion of the Montgomery Bell State Park that contains the mountain bike trails.
Approximately 6 acres of the park were affected, including the areas which contain portions of the Yellow Trail and the Green Trail.  Some areas were still smoldering as late as April 16.
According to one Ranger, “We dug some handline but most of the line was either …