Trail Tune-up grants awarded

Six recipients of the 2008 USA Cycling-International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Tune-Up Grants were announced Thursday. A total of US $3,500 was awarded to groups displaying the highest need for trail improvement projects with an emphasis on trails used for racing.

Recipient clubs, who had to be members of USA Cycling and IMBA, were chosen from Alabama, California, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.

The New York Mountain Bike Association, based in New York, New York, was awarded $1,000 to be directed toward trail signage, the building of new trails and maintenance of old. The funds will also help complete a permanent race loop within the Highbridge trail system.

Five $500 grants were also awarded, including two to Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition will use their funds for trail improvements and maintenance on the western slopes of Massanutten Resort in order to raise trial quality and ensure better racing conditions. The funds awarded to Page Valley Cycling will help the Page County-based organization purchase hand tools for construction and maintenance on the Big Gem Mountain Bike Trail System and a BMX pump track.

In Massachussets, the North Atlantic Velo/NEMBA will rebuild bridges and add signage along race courses.

In Alabama, the grant went to the Lake Howard Trail project in Greater Sylacuga.

Finally, Roaring Mouse Cycles in California will begin construction of a small pump track as well as upgrade and realign the trail system in San Francisco's McLaren Park.

The grants were funded by USA Cycling members who donated funds to land-access uses when renewing their memberships.