No trail work Saturday due to muddy conditions.

We will have our April meeting on Monday at the Greenwood Park pond shelter at 6 p.m.

Stay dry!

Join us this Sunday afternoon for some unique Earth Day trail work projects in Greenwood Park.

And get out and enjoy dry dirt -- a welcome change from the cold spring snow and rain.

The ground is wet and more rain is in the forecast throughout the weekend. So, we're rescheduling the March 24 work for Saturday, May 19.

The next Banner work day is April 28 from 8 a.m. to noon; with your help, we'll put the finishing touches on the southern, beginner singletrack and create much of the adjacent intermediate loop that morning. Again, we plan to open these trails out there on June 2.

The next Center work day is Saturday, April 14 from 8 a.m. to noon; that work will begin reroutes on the north end of Hillside near the old Science Center.

The spring trail work season begins this Saturday at Summerset State Park; we'll be finishing the singletrack on the south end of the park. Join us from 8 a.m. to noon as we clear the final half-mile corridor.

Plan to attend all of the work days...

Summerset State Park (Banner Trails)
March 17, 24
April 28
June 2

Greenwood Park (Center Trails)
April 14, 22
May 5

All trail work is on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, except April 22 (Earth Day) from 1 to 4 p.m.

Help with trail work and you'll be eligible to win stuff from a growing list of supporters including Oakley, Hay Creek Ranch, Rasmussen Bike Shop and more. Each time you attend a trail work day this spring, you are entered to win; more work equals more chances! We will draw winners on June 2 (National Trails Day) at Summerset State Park -- the day we open the trails there for public use.

See you Saturday!

2007 is in full swing!

And the Obelus Films video is online now, too. Enjoy!

Join us for our next meeting...

Monday, Feb. 26 @ 6 p.m.
Rasmussen's Bike Shop
301 Grand Ave
West Des Moines, IA

We'll make decisions about:
1. spring work days
2. Center event policy
3. committee structure/chairs

And discuss:
1. GreenWood Project support
2. Sycamore developments
3. National Trails Day
4. Trail work incentives/sponsors
5. Video: next steps
6. Darrell Brown's property
7. Grant applications

With your involvement, we can capture enormous opportunities; join the discussion affecting dirt trails!

Our annual meeting is just weeks away and you will kick yourself if you miss it...

This is your chance to shape 2007, enjoy a free keg of coveted New Belgium Fat Tire ale, see the debut of our Obelus Films advocacy video and win prizes including a Colorado Backcountry Biker trip worth $1,290...

Sunday, January 28
Raccoon River Nature Lodge
West Des Moines

Doors open at noon
Meeting at 1 p.m.
Movies at 2:30 p.m.

Tell your trail-loving friends. See you there!

Look at these folks...

They were part of the work crew that cut nearly a mile of sweet singletrack at Iowa's newest state park on Sunday.

Thanks to everyone who came out to build what, in my opinion, is one of the most aggressive trail segments in Iowa.

And those kids? They worked from 9 a.m. to noon. Rock stars.

The guy in the middle (red coat, no hat) is the DNR's Nate Hoogeveen -- a key liason on the Banner project and an outstanding steward of Iowa's natural resources.

We have about seven more trail miles to construct at Banner. With strong turn out for work days, we will have the intermediate trail (and, possibly, the beginner trail) open in the spring.

Then we'd need to have a party with the DNR staff...

At this point, I predict we'll have the advanced trail cut in fall 2007 and have the whole system online and dialed in by spring 2008 (less than 18 months away). Of course, more help means faster work...

The last work days for 2006 are Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Come join us. Make some history.

Here they are in PDF, everyone (thanks to Jason Wulf and the rest of the timing crew!)... by category and overall, plus some splits.

People kept thanking me on Sunday for putting on the race, but I was just one of so many people who made it possible...

First and foremost Dave Mable and Brian Palmer, who had passion for the idea and plenty of experience hosting races; they deserve most of the credit.

Second, the board and membership of CITA and Striders, who showed up on race day and plugged in as needed to accomodate the much-larger-than-I-expected turnout.

Third, Donny Quixote, who was a resource during planning and helped keep things jumping on race day.

Fourth, Richard Brown with the City of Des Moines, who has been supportive of our efforts to create sustainable singletrack in Greenwood and Ashworth Parks.

Fifth, Rasmussen bike shop, Oakley, Baratta's and others who donated prizes.

Sixth, my patient and supportive wife for allowing me to follow my folly.

And, finally, all of the racers and spectators who turned out in droves on a beautiful day...

I'm pleased with what this event has already done and can do for Center Trails and CITA and Striders. And, yes, I'm ready to do it again next year.

In the meantime, let's go build new trails at Banner Lakes this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet in the first parking lot dressed to get dirty. Bring water and work gloves.

And one last note: my unedited duathlon photos are here and the benevolent Mr. Sumpter is collecting a pile here, too.