Tag: <span>MORC</span>

Published October 7, 2012 by

Photo album: Lebanon Hills West Trailhead grand opening

Lebanon Hills West Trailhead grand openingDespite the windy and cold conditions, a big crowd showed up for yesterday’s grand opening of Dakota County’s  Lebanon Hills West Trailhead, featuring the new mountain bike skills park (see my Aug. 7 blog post of preview photos/video of the park’s technical features). 

Willis Branning, Thomas Egan, Nancy Schouweiler, Chris Anderson ribbon-cutting, Lebanon Hills West Trailhead grand opening Amanda Scholz, Meghann Fedde 
There were dignitaries on hand, including Dakota County Commissioners Willis Branning, Thomas Egan and Nancy Schouweiler. MORC‘s 2012 Land Manager of the Year award went to Dakota County Parks and board member Chris Anderson presented the commissioners with a cool plaque, prior to the official ribbon cutting.  And board member Amanda Scholz presented Meghann Fedde with MORC’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year award.

The Blue Door Pub crew The Indeed Brewing crew mountain bikers pigging out
Crews from the Blue Door Pub and Indeed Brewing kept the crowd well-nourished.

See the large slideshow of 60 photos (recommended) or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:

Events Organizations Photo album

Amanda Scholz Blue Door Pub Chris Anderson Dakota County Indeed Brewing Lebanon Hills Meghann Fedde MORC Nancy Schouweiler Thomas Egan Willis Branning

Published May 3, 2012 by

Anatomy of a MORC MTB trail work crew: adding options to the XX rock gardens at Lebanon Hills

Half of the Lebanon Hills trail crew, April 24, 2012Last Tuesday I joined a MORC / Lebanon Hills trail crew working on the XX rock gardens and was amazed at what was accomplished in two hours.

I only took one photo that night (right), and that was just half of the 20+ people who showed up to work from 6-8 pm. So this week I went back for round 2 to chronicle the follow-up work with photos.

A MORC mountain bike trail work crew is typically organized by the Dirt Bosses for the trail. One of them announces the date and time in the MORC forum for that trail, inviting others to sign up.  When I saw this April 23 invitation by John Lundell, one of the Lebanon Hills Dirt Bosses, I just had to go since I love Leb’s rock gardens:

We will continue our efforts in the XX rock gardens this week. Meet in the parking lot (assume trail will be open) – everyone is welcome! Post up if you can make it. Crew leaves the lot promptly at 6pm so if you are coming late let us know.

First lesson I learned: you don’t ride your bike to the work location on the trail.  The Dirt Bosses bring all the tools for the job but you’re expected to help carry them.  So everyone walks in. They recommend long pants, gloves, boots, and eye protection.  Newbies are given a short safety chat on handling the sharp tools.

The task for the crew on this project was to add some difficulty and options to a couple of Leb’s double X rock garden areas. One of the hallmarks of good mountain bike park is that it’s constantly changing, drawing riders at all levels back for new challenges.  Leb excels at this and last year’s addition of a huge advanced beginner’s loop is but one example.

Worker bees like me on last week’s crew spent much of our time digging out boulders from the wooded areas around the XX portion of the trail and rolling them downhill (bowling?) for the ‘architects’ to place.  While the Bosses have a general idea of what they’re trying to accomplish, everyone’s input is considered because the terrain and available rocks require creativity. “We’re making this up as we go” is the modus operandi.

New lines for a double X section at Lebanon Hills New lines for a double X section at Lebanon Hills Double X section work crew at Lebanon Hills, May 1, 2012
The photo on the left shows what was accomplished after this week’s session with one section of the trail. The green arrow indicates where the only option was originally.  The red arrows indicate four new options, with varying levels of difficulty.

In the center photo, the green arrow shows the original more difficult line down the rock.  The red arrows show two new challenging lines down the rock steps.  Previously, that line was quite easy.

For a closer look at the process, see the large slideshow of 40+ photos (recommended) or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:

Photo album Trail work

dirt bosses Lebanon Hills MORC

Published February 15, 2012 by

MORC Board meets at QBP HQ

QPB headquarters MORC board meeting at QPB headquarters MORC board meeting at QPB headquarters

I attended the Feb. MORC Board meeting on Monday, held at QPB headquarters in Bloomington.  I’m interested in getting more involved in the organization, though I’m not sure yet what it might be. I asked about the existence of MORC committees (eg, membership, volunteers, marketing, finance, events, etc.) and evidently some are in the works.

MORC’s About Us page has info about the board and the organization, though it looks like that page needs some updating. 

Gary Sjoquist, QPB Director of Advocacy

Gary Sjoquist, QBP’s Director of Advocacy, graciously hosted the meeting and provided pizza.  Gary’s got a new mugshot on the newly revamped QPB website.  I had a chance to meet with him before the meeting. He had the upcoming Frostbike on his brain, of course, followed by developments with the Minnesota High School Cycling League. More on that to come.

Organizations

Gary Sjoquist MORC QBP

Published August 10, 2011 by

My first MORC board meeting

MORC board meeting, Aug 10, 2011I attend my first MORC board meeting last night at REI in Bloomington. MORC Chair Ryan Lieske (right in the photo) was running the show. I was amazed at all the projects and activities the organization is involved with.

I’m interested in learning more and hope to attend more board meetings.

Organizations

MORC

Published July 13, 2011 by

Gary Sjoquist, a man on a bicycle mission, with a company where you’d like to work

Gary Sjoquist, Hans Rey, John Gaddo, Jeff Verink QBP HQ in Bloomington, MN Gary Sjoquist, Griff Wigley
If you care about bicycling for yourself, your kids or your town, you should know what Gary Sjoquist is up to.

QBPI met Gary over beers in Crosby, MN a month ago (left photo, blog post here). He’s the Director of Advocacy for Bloomington, MN-based QBP (Quality Bicycle Products), one of the largest bicycle parts distributors in the world.  He invited me to take a tour of QBP’s headquarters and yesterday I took him up on his offer. (Photo album below.)

MORC MN Mtn Bike Series 2011 Trips for KidsMinnesota High School Cycling League
Among his Minnesota-related activities, Gary co-founded Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC) “a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to safeguarding the future of mountain biking in Minnesota… ” One of MORC’s projects, which Gary has worked on for over ten years, is the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trail System that opened a month ago in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival is what got me hooked on mountain biking and spending more money than I’d ever imagined at Milltown Cycles.

Gary’s the director of the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series, a non-profit organization that, besides hosting the races, uses the entry fees to fund:

  • Trips for Kids, “which provides inner city kids the opportunity to experience mountain biking on our Minnesota trail system.”
  • The new Minnesota High School Cycling League, “a newly formed Minnesota State High School League-sanctioned sport that begins competition in September of 2012.”

Nationally, Gary’s the Director of Government Relations for the Bikes Belong Coalition:

Bikes Belong CoalitionBikes Belong Coalition was formed in 1999 as the national coalition of bicycle retailers and suppliers working to put more people on bikes more often. U.S. bicycle companies recognized that they could accomplish more for bicycling by working together than by working independently. From helping create safe places to ride to promoting bicycling, we carefully select projects and partnerships that have the capacity to make a difference… Additionally, we operate the Bikes Belong Foundation to focus on children’s programs and bicycle safety.

For more on his work, see the 2008 Bike Radar article, Interview: Gary Sjoquist, advocate.

As you’ll see in my photo album, QBP’s headquarters and distribution center is not only huge, but spectacular. And it’s got a reputation as a great place to work. Their Career and benefits page has the details on why.

See my album of 30+ photos, the large slideshow (recommended), or SLOW CLICK this small slideshow:

Advocacy People Photo album

Bikes Belong Coalition Gary Sjoquist Minnesota High School Cycling League Minnesota Mountain Bike Series MORC QBP Trips for Kids