Words by Rhonna Gurevich
Photos by Dan K Lui, Stephen McCabe and Rhonna Gurevich as noted.
This past weekend marked the date of the 4th and largest NSMBA trail day of the season. Over 120 people showed up to buff CBC, arguably the North Shore’s most popular mountain biking trail.
This was an All-Sponsors trail day supported by the who’s who of the local mountain biking community.
Participants met outside Different Bikes in Parkgate Mall where they caffeinated themselves compliments of Bean Around the World coffee. After signing in and signing waivers, volunteers were shuttled to the trailhead compliments of Endless Biking. World class coaches, world class people. Huge thanks to Kelli Sherbinin and Darren Butler for stepping in at the 11th hour to provide the shuttle!
At the CBC trailhead, Spencer Willett and Nickey James from John Henry Bikes had the grill all fired up and were flipping pancakes. Yep, you read that correctly! A trail-day breakfast! With bacon and pancakes, complete with maple syrup it was a wildly popular start to the day!
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Eventually volunteers grabbed tools and buckets and made their way down the trail. Some did this with more style than others!
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
All projects were marked out in advance thanks to Chris Barker, Jeremy Power, Sean Gerke, Jonathan Armstrong, and Jarrod Norman who hiked the trail earlier in the week. All of the trail day projects were concentrated between the wooden entrance ramps and the gerbil cage. Flagging tape was placed at project areas marked with clear instructions of what work was to be performed there.
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
More than one area was flagged as needed rock work, and so let the game begin! Who will move the biggest rock?
These guys swore that theirs was "bigger than it looks". I think I've heard that line before! Next.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
This group was cocky thinking they had an in with the judge.
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
But the Indiana-Jones sized boulder unearthed by Matt Preston and his crew was clearly the winner.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Bonus points were awared to this little dude for using his head.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
And to this guy who obviously forgot to bring a bucket with him.
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
Besides all the rock work, there were the dedicated volunteers who spent time clearing and digging drainage.
Photos ~ Stephen McCabei
Is it all just a pipe dream? We hope all this work improves drainage and makes for a sustainable trail.
Photos ~ Dan K Lui
And then there was some new wood work.
Ken Bigelow and Paul Austin were hard at work building a new wooden ramp near the top of the trail.
Photos ~ Rhonna Gurevich
If you start them young…
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
..pretty soon you'll have all the Bunnies following you into the forest to check out the size of your wood!
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
Hardworking volunteers were treated to goodies thanks to Graham Archer of Kintec Footlabs who was walking up and down the trail handing out brownies and coupons. Another round of baking, compliments of Karen Gillich, also made its way down the trail to the vollies.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Lunch was akin to an international food court.
Dan the BBQ man from On Top BikeShop was on hand grilling up smokies.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Matt and Helena Juhaz of North Shore Bike Shop provided pizza and drinks.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Different Bikes and The Muddbunnies teamed up to put on a fiesta feast of homemade burritos.
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
Rob Bohncke was showing off the latest goodies from Race Face. Judging from the drool, it's clearly not just girls that like to accessorize! RaceFace also donated amazing prizes such as stems, handlebars, and a set of cranks!
Photo ~Stephen McCabe
Before the big prize giveaway and sponsorship announcement, NSMBA president Mathew Bond thanked all the sponsors for their tremendous support. Volunteers came from far and wide for this trail day. Reanne was in town from Victoria for the Muddbunnies calendar shoot and opted to come dig rather than ride.
Photo ~ Rhonna Gurevich
Christian, who put in many hours of work on Natural High, made an appearance all the way from Denmark for this day.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Excited volunteers won prizes from our generous sponsors at Ryders Eyewear, Steed Cycles and Raceface. The grand poobah of all prizes, a set of Race Face cranks, was won by Ina Hunt.
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
So what about the exciting sponsorship announcement that Matt promised to make? Rocky Mountain bikes in partnership with Different Bikes has donated one of their new Altitude bikes to the NSMBA!
Photo ~ Dan K Lui
Members have the opportunity to sign this bike out and give it a test ride. This opportunity is only available to NSMBA members.
Back on the trail some exciting projects were wrapping up.
Although an extension was planned for the gerbil cage, the sight of sagging wood and the cracking sounds heard as riders rolled into the entrance meant those plans were scrapped. All efforts were instead focused on tearing out the old rotting ramp and replacing it.
Photos ~Stephen McCabe
A tremendous effort was put in by Jeremy and his crew as they tore out and replaced the entrance in less than a day.
Photo ~Stephen McCabe
Many new berms and rock armoured sections were built throughout the day.
Photos ~Rhonna Gurevich
Several trannies were improved including the one below the big rock drop.
Photos ~Rhonna Gurevich
A big thanks to the 122 volunteers and 11 sponsors that came out and showed their love for CBC.
Over 400,000 riders have been down CBC to date! Anyone want to wager a bet on what the total will be at the next CBC trail day?!?
Photo ~Rhonna Gurevich
We hope you can join us for the next NSMBA trailday on Sunday June 28. We will be back on Fromme working on Bobsled. Sponsored by the Muddbunnies riding club, you won't want to miss it!
Want to see more trail day pictures? You can view all of Dan's photos (and hilarious captions) of the trailday here.