In addition to the major spring clean ups, we had hoped to set up a recurring schedule for trail work. It was a wet and long spring. Then hot and dry. We managed. Then 2020…no group work days. Numerous volunteers worked solo or distanced. Here’s to 2021 beginning to ease into some group work.

Lets all give it another go. Are you willing to volunteer to arrange the schedule, coordinate with each trail coordinator, arrange for tools? Seeking one or more members to assist in this.

Eventually the plan might be that each Saturday it would rotate to a different trail. If there’s work to do, we work. No work, we ride. Bad weather? Cancelled.
This will help everyone know early in the year when the dates are. Are you willing to help? Contact us here (click it).

MMMBA is looking for members to help with events, membership and more. Please consider helping. Watch Facebook or send a note here

On December 14, 2021, the MMMBA held its first in-person membership meeting in almost two years. Covid has made in-person events a challenge, but we do what mountain bikers excel at, we adapt and overcome the challenges.

During 2021, the MMMBA resumed monthly group rides. These help showcase our local trail systems as well as provide our membership, MTB friends, and future supporters the opportunity to get updates from a board member as well as ask question regarding who we are and what we do.

At the annual meeting, elections were held for the current board openings. We would like to welcome Rob Zanger and Christian Irvine to the MMMBA board, and thank them for stepping up and volunteering their time and energy to help support the MMMBA. Jeremie Cherwinski and Scott VanWalsum were also re-elected for the other two seats, one of them is for an early vacancy.

The board would also like to take a moment to recognize and thank our outgoing board members, Nicole Cottom and Josh Woodman. Thank you for your years of work, dedication, and service to the Mid-Michigan MTB community. You will still see them on the trails and advocating for the sport we all love.

We also presented an update on Dirt School, the bicycle playground and skills park which is a partnership between MMMBA, Ingham County Parks (ICP) and Capital Youth Cycling. The budget for this project is $200,000. Two grant requests were awarded, DALMAC has again supported the efforts of the MMMBA with a $5,000 grant and a $67,000 matching grant from the Capital Region Community Foundation (CRCF) was awarded. We have secured the matching funds for the CRCF grant. Funding from MMMBA (your membership dollars and donations at work), ICP, DALMAC and many private donors were able to be doubled! Final contract work is underway and we are targeting a late spring ground-breaking. Donations for additional enhancements to this project are welcome. Questions to dirtschool@mmmba.org

The event calendar for 2022 is shaping up! Watch for the return of a number of favorites. A new MMMBA jersey is in the works for 2022.

Lastly, a note about the ICD trail system.  As was posted on our MMMBA facebook page and the Mid-Michigan Trail Conditions page, all trails north of Dexter Trail are closed to bicycles.  The text from that post follows:

“Important note to MMMBA Membership and our MTB friends.

The Ingham Conservation District has informed the MMMBA that the mountain biking trails on the north side of their property, north of Dexter Trail Rd, will be closed to bike use. ICD cited concerns with safety and environmental impact on the north side, but clearly indicated that they look forward to continuing to work with us in managing the trails on the south side which will remain open to bikes when the property once again opens to the public in January.

MMMBA will soon be working to post signage regarding this closure, and we expect all riders to respect this new trail closure and only ride where permitted.

While we are disappointed in the loss of trail mileage, we are still grateful for the opportunity we have to use the trails on the south side of the property. Please do not address questions directly to ICD, if you have any questions about this change please email info@mmmba.org.”

Moving forward into 2022, the MMMBA board looks forward to expanded member communication, social media posts, as well as giving back to you, the members! Check back for info on the upcoming All Cyclists Social as well as future group rides and events.

Reach out to a board member or info@mmmba.org if there are things you’d like to see in 2022!  Winter has arrived (at least for now), get out and enjoy the trails!

MTB Shredders, Groms, and Friends,

Your 2021 MMMBA board is hard at work for you and we promise to do everything we can to keep the positive momentum moving forward and improving your riding experience! While 2020 has provided a unique set of challenges, it has also brought an increased amount of riders on bikes (and people on foot) to our local trails! We absolutely LOVE seeing all of the riders on bikes in the woods! Also, thank you to the trail fairies that have helped clear those annoying trees that decide to fall across the trail… and are too large to be a new roll over/jump.

Let us begin with a HUGE thank you to our outgoing board members, Ron Bock, Holly Taylor, and Steve Wickham. We owe you immense debt of gratitude and thanks for all of the years of service you have given to the MMMBA. Without your hours of volunteer work and commitment to the Mid-Michigan MTB scene, we would not be where we are today.

Please welcome your new board members for 2021, Tom Beaudoin, Dylan Krupp, Brad Parsons, and Josh Woodman! Thank you for volunteering to help promote mountain biking in our community.

Also continuing to serve as board members at large are Kris Clone and Dakota Hewlett.

Your 2021 MMMBA officers:  Scott VanWalsum (President), Jeremie Cherwinski (Vice-President), Teresa DeLisle (Treasurer), and Nicole Cottom (Secretary). 

We look forward to serving you, improving your experience, and representing you within the MMMBA’s trail systems.

2020 Recap
Thanks to all of the numerous new sponsors of the MMMBA. Check them out here and please consider giving them your business or supporting them.

Directional signage and reflective arrows were installed at FoxPark. Anderson Park had some trail extensions added on green north and south, also some dirt rollers. Burchfield Park has new bridges throughout the Swamp Thing section, some surface hardening and grading changes to slow erosion and improve sustainability. Additional trail was completed at ICD plus enhancements. The map and signage were completed with most of it installed before the end of season. The bridge fundraising goal was met. 

Super cool MMMBA official socks were released. If you missed out in December, more are on the way.

Looking forward to an exciting 2021!