RAT Fest 2012
2012 RAT Fest Schedule
Here is the Schedule for the second annual RAT Fest fundraiser. Please come, bring the family and help us raise funds for Ridgway Area Trail building.
Friday June 9th
5-7pm, Trail Building at Weaver (flagging and clearing the kid’s loop–Brian to get with Park group for ok)
7:30-9, Movie and Beer in the park (food provided by Land and Ocean–Randy to confirm)
Saturday June 10th
9-10 Set up in Town Park (10x10s, etc)
10-12 Trail Building at Weaver (and/or group ride)
12-1 Lunch (food by True Grit or 520–Brian to confirm)
1-3 Ride the RAT (group rides from town Park)
1-3 Mountain Biking Clinic with Sara Ballantyne
3-4 Band set up, Beer set up (Band is Tony Rosario and the Hillbilly Healers/Beer is NB and CB)
4-9 Band/Silent Auction/Live Auction (Live auction at 7pm set break)
Sunday June 11th
11-2: Dallas Ride, Randy provides the shuttle
2-4: After party at the riverfront Ouray Brewery Tap room
Sneffels COPMOBA Chapter is Formed
The COPMOBA Sneffels Chapter held its organizational meeting at Peak to Peak Bicyles on March 6th. Eight people attended the meeting. The group first elected the following members to the local steering committee: Bill Lindler, Gordon Reichard, Rich Durnan, Rod Fitzhugh and Randy Charrette.
Other business discussed included:
TRAILS PROJECTS
A. BLM Land: We cannot build any trail on BLM land until BLM completes its review process. Most of the review was completed last spring, but BLM decided in July of 2011 they must have a Travel Management Plan. We do not expect completion of that TMP until sometime next year at the earliest. Rod Fitzhugh will continue to monitor BLM progress through Julie Jackson and Barb Sharrow. Commissioner Lynn Padget is presently in Washington DC to meet with our Congressional delegates on various items of Ouray County business. We have briefed her fully about status of our project on BLM and she will lobby or delegation to pressure BLM for priority. Jeff Bockes will arrange a debriefing with Lynn when she returns. Jeff has completed a revised map of our proposed trail plan. We will not present that to BLM until first soliciting feedback from BLM about status and progress on the TMP.
B. State Lands: The State Park Service has commenced an independent review of the trails we have proposed for the State Park. They have the project on the fast track and expect to have full approval for 5+ miles of single track by late this spring. Construction will likely begin in the early summer. It remains to be seen whether COPMOBA volunteers will assist with the construction, as the Park Service may elect to build the trail entirely with State money paid to professional trail crews. Rich will stay in contact with State personnel about progress on the project and status.
FUNDRAISER
We scheduled the Second Annual RAT Fest fundraiser for the weekend of June 8th. We have tentatively agreed to schedule the following events:
Friday Night: beer and a movie
Saturday: gear swap, live auction, silent auction, live band and beer sales, group rides, cruiser criterium
We need to begin publicizing the event a.s.a.p. Randy Charrette will contact Brian Scranton about press releases and other advertising. Randy will work with Jack Rajca and Marisa Murphy to develop a poster design. Jack will generate t-shirt ideas. Marisa, Jack, Bill and Randy will will take the lead in organizing the details of the fundraiser and in soliciting donations of swag for the auction and cash to defer other costs. They will seek assistance from Sara Ballantyne as well. Rod will approach town council about reserving town park for the event. Rod will also request a donation from town council.
TRAIL WORK DAY
We decided to plan our trail work day for the weekend after the fundraiser. We have several options, including: State Park Lands, maintenance or new trail work in Weaver Park, new trail along Cottonwood Creek. Our first choice would be State land, but they may contract all that to professional crews. Rod will continue working with Town staff on approvals for the Cottonwood Creek project.
OTHER MATTERS
Bill explained status of the local DEVO (Junior Mt. Bike Development) organization. this year’s program starts May 8 and will continue for 8 weeks. We discussed perhaps bringing project under the auspices of COPMOBA. The group is currently affiliated with Durango Devo’s 501(3)(c) organization and will likely maintain that status at least for the present. We also resolved to create a presence for COPMOBA at other community events by renting booth space at the crafts fair, love your valley, and balloons ‘n vrooms evernts.
NEXT MEETING is scheduled for April 4, 6:00pm at Fishbone Graphics in Ridgway.
Economic Rationale for Mountain Bike and MultiUse Trails
On Friday June 10th the IMBA Trail Care Crew, Leslie and Chris Kehmeier, as an opener for the very first (and very successful) RAT Fest fundraiser, presented to us the Better Living Through Trails Presentation. This 2 hour presentation is specifically aimed at the government/business/tourism entities and details the economic and wellness aspects of trails development.
Our Very own RAT Brian Scranton assembled these notes for us from the presentation.
The Economic Rationale for Mountain Bike and Multi-Use Trails
Outdoor recreation is a $730 billion market in the United States. Of that amount, more than $622 billion is spent on travel and the expenses associated with recreation (fuel, food, lodging, etc). In the Mountain states, over 60,000 jobs are created–and in Colorado alone, more than $500 million in tax revenue are realized–thanks to outdoor users.
Over the last decade, many regions have seen great success in creating, increasing and sustaining economic development through the development of trails. For example, Jackson WY invested nearly $1.7 million over the last 10 years to create a world-class trail system. In 2010, their estimated annual income associated with mountain biking was $18 million, with over $3 million coming from local residents. Grand Junction attributes $20M in annual business revenue to mountain biking and trail development.
From a health perspective, communities that build trails tend to use them. In Southern Missouri communities, 55% of the population exercise more now that their trail system has been established. And a recent University of Colorado study showed that for every $1 spent on trails (creation and use) there is a $4 direct medical benefit.
The Perfect Fit
Demographically, mountain bikers and Colorado are perfect matches. Our terrain, views and amenities appeal to “high end” clientele. In short, mountain bikers spend money and they spend it in Colorado.
• Mountain Bikers are: Male 88%, 43 year old, 73% college or post grad, $106K median income
• 50M mountain bikers in the US
• Favorite activity of kids 6-17
• There are 1.5X more mountain bikers than golfers
• There are more mountain bike voters than those age 65+
• 35% of the Colorado population bikes/more than 41% get out on trails
• 80% of mountain bikers take one big trip per year averaging a 4.6 night stay
• 45% prefer staying in hotels
What do destination mountain bikers look for when deciding on where to travel?
1. Terrain, 2. Number of trail miles, 3. Scenery, 4. Reputation
Things We Can Do to Help Trails Succeed
• Build trails to bring new people into the sport (not double black diamond)
• Show off the beauty/scenery
• Create high quality trail maps and great signage that makes traveling on trails easy
• Align political, physical, social elements to ensure success
• Focus on the community and the infrastructure before creating a “destination”
• Be patient with local, state and federal agencies–they support trails but support creating them legally, sustainably and with full community support
• Meet with private land owners–provide the facts. Invite them to meetings. Let them know the demographic that will be on the land. Inform them of trail user’s ability and desire to police the trail.
* IMBA Better Living Through Trails presentation, 2011, Outdoor Industry Foundation, 2011, Outdoor Industry Association/Leisure Trends, 2011