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CHATTANOOGA BICYCLE CLUB
IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crew
The Chattanooga Bicycle Club is really honored to have had the pleasure
of Mike and Jan Riter, the IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crew, come to East
Tennessee to instruct us in trail construction and maintenance. Mike is
an expert in all types of mountain bike trail problems, including those
found on some of the trails in the Ocoee area. And besides that, they are really
neat people and have two really cool dogs.
Mike and Jan have visited 43 states and 3 other countries and led or
participated in over 150 trail projects in 1997. They have worked with
land managers throughout the country and can offer expert advice on special
needs for mountain biking. They were so successful in 1997 (their first
year of existence) that IMBA and Subaru are funding a second crew for 1998.
The day began by gathering at the Ocoee Whitewater Center and a short introduction
to proper safety and trail building techniques. We then headed to the trails.
In one short day, Mike and Jan were able to either help us fix or advise us in what
needs to be done to handle seemingly hopeless trouble spots on the Clemmer, Clear
Creek, Slickrock, and Azelea Trails.
Walt Scarborough, Tennesse State Representative for IMBA, started off the day by
introducing Mike and Jan Riter, the IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crew.
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Robert Lee, Ranger for the Ocoee District of the Forest Service, and the man behnd
the opening of trails to mountain bikers, talked about what volunteer help from the
bikers has meant to the Ocoee and to us. This is why we have the trails now.
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Mike and Jan telling about a few techniques perfected through much experience.
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In spite of all the technical knowledge around, the erecting of the flip chart
was a real challenge.
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What's left of a mud bog after proper draining.
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Rerouting the trail around a hopeless trouble spot.
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A new trail beginning to form. Starting at the south end of the
bridge at the Whitewater Center, it will eventually connect to 40 miles of existing trails.
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Jan, Mike, Chelsea, Maggie and some volunteers taking a break after a hard days work.
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