News 2008

Hi everyone, we just wanted to say thanks for coming out and making the kids mountain bike event a huge success. We had about 40 kids and 20 parents out, as well as over a dozen volunteers.

We're glad the weather cooperated and everyone had a great time. We would especially like to thank all of you volunteers and parents who helped make the day such a success.

Look for a story on the event in the next issue of the Mud News, as well as some of the best photos. Now that we've got you hooked on mountain biking, remember that SIMBS offers guided rides for beginners, youth and women's rides the second Sunday of each month.

Hope to see you on the trails!

We want to do a better job of building trails in the Mt Work/Hartland Bike Park, and to do that we want to know our users better.

We also lobby various levels of government for more places to ride our bikes. Knowing who you are helps us lobby better.

To that end, we have a very short survey (only seven questions) for you to rip through in less time it takes to bookmark our site :)
Sounds good, take me there!

Hello SIMBS members past and present.

SIMBS is hosting a Kids Day at Hartland on the 5th of October from 9am-1pm.

• Bike and helmet checks
• Scavenger hunt
• Water and snacks for everyone
• Mini skills stations
• Group rides by ability
• Lots more ...

We're sorry, due to overwhelming support, we can no longer accept registrations for this event.

"As always we would like to give a big thanks to all of our sponsors and volunteers that help make events like this happen. See you there!"

Scott Mitchell
SIMBS President

What: Gear Swap.
When: Sunday October 19, 2008. 12:00-4:00
Where: James Bay Community School Centre, 140 Oswego St.
How: Bike, walk, run, teleport, drive (only if necessary) :)
Who: Buyers, sellers, traders, lookyloos.

Okay, for anyone that has a bunch of new/used bike stuff sitting in their closet or on their garage floor, raise your crank arms. Now is your opportunity to get hard cash for those bike parts your parents, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister or brother keep tripping over.

For anyone still looking for that 1998 Shimano XTR shifter, you might be in luck too!

Talk to MEC member services about signing up to sell your gear. Spaces are limited and sign-up deadline for reservations is October 8th. If you can't make it to the swap, you can visit the MEC online Gear Swap.

Brought to you by the Trek Store and SIMBS

Where: McPherson Playhouse.
When: Friday June 6th, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM
Tickets: $22.50 for "The Cackle Factor" and "Seasons".

You can pick the tickets up at the McPherson Box Office or order online

Remember way back - okay maybe it was only a month ago - we had a members only draw to win a weekend for two at Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino!

Well, we've decided to make all members winners because you deserve it!!
"What's that? We're not going with that plan, there's only two tickets you say? Oh okay. Sorry about that, he he :)

Ahem, and the winner is (drum roll please ...)
Allison Heath

Congratulations Allison. May a death cookie never grab your wheel and cause you to do an endo over your bars resulting in a generous helping of Hartland vegetation. We'll be thinking of you on your trip :P

The Sooke Bike Club Presents:

The Vancouver Island Premiere of "Seasons" - A film by The Collective
Seasons is a film that follows 7 of the worlds top mountain bikers through the course of 4 seasons of one year.

Host: Sooke Bike Club
Date: May 9th, 2008, 7:30pm
Location: Sooke, BC
Venue: Edward Milne Community School, 6218 Sooke Rd. Contact: Lorien, 642-3123 lorien@sookebikes.com
Tickets: $7 ($2 of which goes into trail building fund) $5 for students

Volunteer Trailbuilders Wanted: Cobble Hill Mountain Recreation Area. Saturday April 26, 2008 9:00am - 1:00pm

CVRD Parks is looking for keen, enthusiastic volunteers to help improve the trail system for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. We will meet at Quarry Nature Park parking lot off Empress Ave. near Cobble Hill.

For more information on this event, or for volunteer opportunities with CVRD Parks, please call Tanya Soroka, Parks Planning Technician at 746.2620 or email tsoroka@cvrd.bc.ca.
Breakfast, tools and instruction will be provided. No experience necessary and all are welcome.

Saturday April 12th, Noon - 4:00 pm at MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP - corner of Government and Johnson St.

There is no better time to become a SIMBS member or renew your membership. Everyone who becomes a member, or renews their membership, will receive a free MEC organic cotton t-shirt and be entered into a draw for a weekend for two at Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino! The draw will be held at 4:00 pm.

If you are already a member, drop by and enter the draw for the Tofino weekend. Sweet! Only SIMBS members are eligible to win.

Sunday April 13th - 10:00 am!

You are invited to a trail building workshop on Sunday April 13th at 10:00 a.m at the Hornby Island Fire Hall, 3850 Central Rd.

Tools, training and lunch are provided if you RSVP to Jeremy at 250.335.0448.

Brought to you by the Hornby Island Regional Parks Committee.

We hope to see you there!

Sunday March 9th - 9:45 am!
Introductory, Youth and Womens' Rides are happening on Sunday March 9th at Hartland.

Sunday March 16th - 8:45 am!
Trail maintenance is scheduled for March 16th.

We're back in business baby!!

March 8th & 9th in Sooke, Darcy Turenne is offering a Ladies-Only Riding Clinic

Registration Fee: $80.00/day or $150.00/wkd
Beginner and Intermediate bikers can learn in a positive, encouraging environment about:

• Basic handling skills
• Bike balance and positioning
• Braking
• Cornering
• Descending skills
• Bike maintenance and trail etiquette

But wait, you also get:

• Camp t-shirt
• CD with video/photos of the weekend
• Personal instruction from pro MTN biker Darcy Turenne.

To Find out more, call: 250.642.8000

Many of you will have read by now that SIMBS, other local advocacy groups and some local website's are talking about Sooke, and more importantly the Sooke Hills Portion of the Sea to Sea Green Blue belt lands. This is the area that most of you have probably heard of, have ridden, or have friends who ride there, at the end of Harbourview Road just off of Sooke Rd. It is one of my personal favorite riding areas, and has arguably the greatest potential for trail development and access this side of the "Hat".

There are however some issues with the CRD's management plan that we as a community need to discuss, and time is of the essence. Below is a portion of an article I wrote for my own website VIMB.com that I have been asked to post here on the SIMBS.com website. Please have a read, visit the links for more details....

Thanks,
Greg Bird (Owner/Webmaster) VIMB.com