Frederick Bicycle Coalition

Saturday, June 15 9am-1pm
Although cleared and the basic trail bed set in, the reroute of the Catoctin Blue Trail in the watershed still needs some work to be considered complete. We will be working on the rock gardens and cleaning up some of the benching work on the side hills.

We will provide the tools and instruction, please bring sturdy shoes, gloves and plenty of water.

Please meet at Sand Flats parking lot. More info: http://more-mtb.org/events/trail-work-frederick-watershed-3

There will be after workday refreshments.

Sunday June 30 9am-1pm
On this workday we will be focusing on closing off the old, eroded trail. We need to effectively block passage, and attempt to divert runoff as possible so that the scarred land will heal and recover. There will be some digging, but mostly picking up of logs/brush/etc and moving them onto the trail. There is about a mile to cover, so many hands make light work!

We will provide the tools and instruction, please bring sturdy shoes, gloves and plenty of water.

Please meet at Delaughter Road and the Blue Trail. More info: http://more-mtb.org/events/trail-work-frederick-watershed-4

http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=25285

2013 Board of Directors Elections

The bylaws of The Frederick Bicycle Coalition stipulate an annual election for positions on the board of directors. Being on the FBC Board of Directors is an excellent way to influence cycling in Frederick City and County. Any member of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition may run for an open board position and all members are encouraged to run.

Except for the Founding Chair, each board member serves a one year term. The board meets in person once per month for approximately 2 hours to discuss business. Between board meetings a large amount of business takes place via email. All board members have an equal vote on issues. All board members head up bicycle related projects and advocacy issues. Additionally, each position has a specific focus which is outlined below.

To run, send an email to the following address foundingchair@frederickbicyclecoalition.com with the position you wish to run for and a bio explaining your qualifications for the position. Your bio will be posted with all candidate bios prior to the election. Candidate bios will be accepted between 2/8/2013 and  2/28/2013. Voting will take place via an electronic ballot sent to members between 3/1/2013 and 3/14/2013.

The following positions are up for election:
President
Secretary
Membership/Social Director
Treasurer
Communications Director

General position descriptions are as follows:

President: Presides at meetings of the members and the Board of Directors, has general and active management of the business of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition, and sees that orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect.

Secretary: Maintains the official record of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition. The Secretary shall attend Board meetings and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings. The Secretary shall maintain copies of the Articles of Incorporation and all amendments in effect, the Bylaws and all amendments in effect, the Club Rules, and all correspondence of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition. In the event the secretary must miss a meeting another board member can temporarily fill the role of Secretary.

Treasurer: Serves as the chief financial officer of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition. Has custody of FBC’s funds and financial records and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Frederick Bicycle Coalition. The Treasurer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition in such depositories as the Board may designate.

The Treasurer shall collect moneys due to the Frederick Bicycle Coalition (FBC) and shall be responsible for the dispersal of all club funds as the Board may authorize. The Treasurer shall render to the Board at its regular meetings, or whenever the Board may require it, an account of all transactions and the financial condition of FBC.

The Treasurer shall prepare or cause to be prepared annually a full and correct statement of FBC’s financial condition, including a balance sheet and a statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year, which shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the membership.

Membership/Social Director: The Membership/Social Director will attend monthly FBC Board meetings to provide the Board with a written or oral report of social activities as well as the current status of FBC membership. This individual will help to create and coordinate various social and fundraising events for members and friends of FBC, as well as the greater community, in addition to working closely with the Communications Director to promote membership via electronic or other media.

Communications Director: The Communications Director will attend monthly FBC Board meetings to provide the Board with a written or oral report of activities. This individual will promote FBC events and activities by communicating information to the greater community using electronic or other media.

On January 8th 2013 we are having a fundraiser at Brewer’s Alley in downtown Frederick. This is an easy way to help out the FBC because all you need to do is show up, eat, drink and be merry. Brewer’s Alley will donate a percentage from that days sales to help support cycling in Frederick, MD.  FBC board members will be on hand most of the day to chat with.  Please help out a good cause!

We want to keep everyone up to date on the latest information about the Watershed. Please see several important items below:

First: Be careful – we were just sent pictures of boards that were spiked with razor blades that were found on trails off of Fishing Creek Rd. Other trail sabotage has been found in the past included boards spike with nails and fishing line strung across the trail. If you find anything, DNR has asked for it to be left alone and reported it as follows: “When anyone finds something like razor blades in boards within the Watershed, please do not disturb this important piece of evidence and call the Frederick County Sheriff’s office at 911 as this appears to be a criminal act. If anyone encounters a hunting or natural resources violation, please call 410-260-8888 as this is the number to DNR’s central communication office who will relay any complaints to our NRP officers.”

Second: Another logging operation is underway covering 41 acres. It is taking place east of Gambrill Park Rd and south of Hamburg Rd (see attached map. Note: the black dotted line is Stoner Road). This is impacting trails in the area. As we get more info we will post updates.

Finally: Last week Frederick Department of Public Works (DPW) called a meeting to discuss some watershed issues. DPW oversees the Watershed from the City side. The meeting was with DNR, City staff and representatives from MORE (Joe W. and Phil V.) and PATC (Clyde, owner of the Trail House and also an MTBer) were invited as well. DNR attendees included their Western Regional Manager, the DNR wildlife manager/land manager and 2 DNR Foresters. The City had the head of DPW, the Superintendent of Water Treatment and a transportation planner from the Mayor’s bicycle advisory committee. DPW had two main topics on the agenda:

• Rerouting an eroded section of the Catoctin Trail north of Delauter Rd
• The “rogue” trails in the watershed

On the Catoctin trail reroute, the City has wanted us to do this for the past 2 years but DNR approval has been delayed. All is now approved and we are hoping to start corridor clearing in mid or late January. Stay tuned.

On the rogue trails:

• The continued building of “rogue” trails is a hot issue with DNR and DPW (DNR and DPW define these as any trails built without permission). The DNR foresters who are out on the ground reported seeing changes and new trails cropping up from week to week. They have found and confiscated tool caches.
• A DNR Forester suggested taking a complete trail inventory of the property so they know what they’ve got on the property and what is in areas that impact endangered or protected species, etc. They are going to look at the cost of hiring someone to do it and give a proposal to DPW. A trail inventory does not automatically “grandfather in” all the trails. It will be a starting point for drafting a recreational use plan.
• The current Forest Management plan mentions MTB but the city suggested it needs a more comprehensive section on all recreation
• DNR Forester suggested a committee should be formed to discuss this moving forward with all users groups and interested parties represented
• DPW said there was a complaint this week from a local resident about mountain bikers shuttling/racing – most likely shuttling only, we guess the racing was just speculation but we are trying to get more information on the complaint. The city has received 3 mountain biking complaints from residents in the last few months. The mayor is personally receiving complaints, so they are on record with the city at a very high viability level.
• Signage: DPW is going to install more signs with the rules of the watershed (like the new one at Sand Flats).
• DNR land manager would like to see only the blue trail and a few spur trails off of it but also says the city needs to decide what it wants to do with things on the property
• Phil/Clyde/Joe emphasized you cannot close down trails without offering better alternatives or trails will be opened back up. Having a single, linear trail (Catoctin) which is considered official is not going to work
• DNR Regional Manager agrees a single linear trail is not a viable solution
• All parties we met with agree that mountain biking and recreational uses have a place in the watershed but the hot-button issues need to be resolved or access is at risk.
• The head of DPW asked us to communicate this message to the MTB community: rogue trail building needs to stop.

To follow the discussion, please go to http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?p=236948&mode=linear#post236948

This Sunday’s FBC Picnic Rides are:

• Joe Whitehair will be leading a moderate paced ride through the rocky goodness of Gambrill and the Watershed. Bring a helmet and a good attitude. Wheels down at 10am.

• Easy paced ride around the Gambrill yellow loop led by Jeff Stevens. The pace is easy but the terrain is tough. Bring a helmet and MTB bike.  Wheels down at 10am (this is an update from an earlier post).

• Road ride led by Barry McMahon and Mike Wali. 40 miles traversing Gambrill Park Rd with a loop around the countryside and come back up the hill on RT40/Gambrill Park Rd. Bring your helmet and a road bike. Wheels down at 8:30am.

All rides leave from the Tea Room at Gambrill State Park and end at the Tea Room for the FBC Picnic.  Please email communications@frederickbicyclecoaltion.com if you have any questions or just want to give us a heads up on what ride you want to do.

Join the Frederick Bicycle Coalition our Picnic and Bike Rides taking place on Sunday, September 9th, 2012. The picnic will take place at Gambrill State Park in the Tea Room.

FBC will provide burgers and hot dogs (veggie versions too). You bring a potluck dish to share. We’ll have some adult beverages as well.

Members and non-members are welcome. You can RSVP by posting to the web site, our Facebook page or emailing communication@frederickbicyclecoalition.com
The picnic is rain or shine, check the web site for ride information if the weather looks questionable.

When: 1pm Picnic; Bike Rides TBA

Questions? Contact communication@frederickbicyclecoalition.com

Two custom bikes were stolen at a bike polo event in Hillcrest this weekend. If seen, please call 301-514-2394 and ask for Eric. REWARD OFFERED. These bikes are geared very very low, like 32-21.  They can not be ridden very fast or very far, and they’d be hard to sell, so I imagine they are still around the Hillcrest neighborhood. Thanks for any help.

Rob Bike – Philadelphia Bike Polo

-frame and fork – all city dropout, size large, grey frame, white fork – stickers removed
-wheels – surly hubs laced to chuckers, front wheel has red wheel cover
-freewheel – white industries 21t
-tires – ribmo’s
-cranks – truvativ stylos, 175mm, bash guard, 32t chainring
-pedals – odyssey twisteds
-brake – dual u brakes, Paul duplex lever
-saddle – selle italia flite
-seat post – sakae
-headset – stolen 45/45 degree integrated
-bars – 3.5” riser bars
-grips – red ourys

JT’s Bike  – Richmond Virginia Bike Polo

-Frame – Silver MKE Bicyce Co. Bruiser Frame w/Black fork
-Stem -Thomson black stem
-Wheels – 48h Black Velocity Chukkers
-Crankset – MKE Bicycle Co. Black “polo guard “ Chain ring with integrated bash guard