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IMBA to Host Four Spring California Wild Rides
-- Each ride showcases classic California singletrack trails threatened by Wilderness closures
For Immediate Release: 03-18-04
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is hosting a series of mountain bike rides to showcase trails that could closed to mountain biking due to potential Wilderness designations. Congressional legislation calls for 2.5-million acres of California public land to be reclassified as federal Wilderness. Bicycle use is categorically prohibited in Wilderness areas. While IMBA supports protecting open space from development, some of the proposed areas contain popular trails that cyclists have ridden for years.
Each IMBA Wild Ride features singletrack trails with outstanding vistas. The events are designed to celebrate the spirit of mountain biking and increase awareness of great trails and lands that need protection from development, but not specifically through Wilderness designations that ban bicycle use. All events are free of charge and limited to 50 riders. Registration is now open.
This is the second year of the California IMBA Wild Ride Program. Local IMBA-affiliated clubs hosted seven events in 2003: Condor Peak, Grouse Ridge, White Mountains (Near Bishop), South Fork of the Trinity/Chinquapin, Mountain Lola/Castle Peak, Mill Creek and Feather Falls. Stay tuned for more Wild Rides later in 2004.
The 2004 Spring IMBA Wild Rides are:
Cache Creek - April 11 (Napa and Lake counties, east of Clearlake)
Feather Falls - April 24 (Butte County, northeast of Oroville)
King Range - May 1-2 (Southwest Humboldt County)
Antelope Creek/Mill Creek - May 15-16 (Tehama County, east of Red Bluff)
Details on each area/ride and registration are at: http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/03_04/03_11_wild_rides.html
To learn more about IMBA's work to save trails in California or to view a detailed list of land being considered for Wilderness designation visit
http://www.imba.com/news/action_alerts/ca_wilderness/index.html.About half of the areas being considered for Wilderness do not overlap popular mountain biking trails. IMBA is focusing on the proposed Wilderness areas that conflict with significant riding opportunities. We advocate boundary adjustments and/or alternative types of protection to keep these areas wild and open to mountain biking.
IMBA is a national and international education and advocacy organization with 500 member clubs, 32,000 individual members, and more than 400 corporate partners and dealer members. IMBA creates, enhances and preserves trail opportunities for mountain bicyclists worldwide. In 1988, five California mountain biking clubs created IMBA.
Today, more than 60 bicycling clubs in California are IMBA affiliated. California bicycle manufacturing, retailing, tourism and publishing businesses generate an estimated $2 billion per year in economic activity.
For ride details, check the IMBA website, http://www.imba.com
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