It's a blogfull morning, but one more thing!

If you are interested, the MPRB has it's 2009 proposed budget posted. This is a PDF doc, so make sure you have Acrobat Reader installed (Preview on a Mac).

http://minneapolisparks.org/documents/about/budget/2009_proposed_budget.pdf

Keep in mind that they don't generally budget money for the off-road cycling trails due to the fact that MOCA currently builds and maintains all of the trails in Theodore Wirth Park north of Hwy 55. Since MOCA is a 100% volunteer organization that gets funds through donations made to MORC, there isn't a need for the MPRB to budget money for off-road cycling trails at this time.

Riding the trails this time of year.

There are a few guidelines that will help you be careful not to damage the trail while riding it. This time of year the trails don't really get a chance to dry out. It's just too cold and when it warms up above freezing, the ground melts and makes for a wet and muddy surface. If someone rides when the ground is thawed, then a rut occurs and will last all winter and throughout the spring. So please only ride the trail when it's been a degree or two below freezing (32 degrees) for a couple of hours. This will make sure that any softer areas of the trail freeze up before they are ridden. Also, if there has been a significant amount of rainfall, give the trails the standard 36 - 48 hours time to dry up as best they can before riding it. If the trails are super wet from rainfall, they won't freeze solid as fast as they typically do.

If all riders can help care for the trail, it makes life better for riders, trailworkers, and any other trail users. We all enjoy a nice smooth and fast singletrack and it takes only a little effort by all riders to help keep it that way.

The 4 core IMBA principles:

Another Raking Party success!

The leaves were wet, which made it a little tougher to rake, but having a decent number of people really helped speed things up. We had about 10 volunteers and raked the entire trail within 3 hours! mara and I brought some delicious flavored croissants, cookies, and hot spiced apple cider for everyone. It was a good time and MOCA really appreciates the volunteers who come out and help us do such important tasks on a cold November day.

2008 Election results

On Wednesday November 12th the MOCA board held the annual elections for the officer positions. There were also two new appointed roles created and one appointed role was filled that has not been filled in a couple of years. Below are the results of this years MOCA elections.

Officer Positions:

President: Matt Moore
Vice-President: Charles Chenvert
Secretary: Steef Mansfield
Trail Stewards: mara larson and Shad Holland

Appointed Positions:

Minister of Propaganda: Justin Kalemkiarian
Master of Acquisitions: Charles Chenvert
Captain Huck: Jake Wittenberg

We will have a very productive year in 2009. Huge thanks to all of these individuals for stepping up and volunteering their time to MOCA!

Annual raking party this Sunday (11/16) at 10:30am

Every year we rake the trail after most of the leaves have fallen. It's pretty easy and light work, not like raking a yard, and we make it fun. We plan to have some bagels for the morning and maybe some warming beverages too.

So you might ask, why do we rake every fall? We do this for two main reasons. One, it makes for much better late fall and winter riding. The snow will compact better if it's not on top of a bunch of leaves. Second, and the main reason we do it, is so the trail dries up and hardens faster in the spring. This will allow us to open the trail up to a week earlier than if we had leaf cover on the trail. That is one extra week of riding in the spring when we know everyone is just itching to get on dirt.

We will meet in the par 3 parking lot at 10:30am. If you can't make it on time, just come find us on the trail or start raking and you are bound to run into us.

If you come out, please bring your favorite yard rake. If you have extras, bring those in case people don't have one. Make sure you bring your favorite colder weather beverage as well.

Important Survey to fill out if you visit or live in Minneapolis!

This is the letter we received. Please take the time to go fill out this survey.

_________________________________________________________

Dear Resident and/or Park Visitor,

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is seeking public input for its Bike, Walk and Roll Plan. It will set the programming and infrastructure guidelines for the following activities: biking, in-line skating, walking, mountain biking, hiking, running and BMX riding. The resulting plan will identify infrastructure changes or improvements as well as programming opportunities. Identified improvements are anticipated to range from basic maintenance to rehabilitation to those that might catch the eye of potential donors to the park system. The recommended improvements will become part of a new Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the MPRB.

You are encouraged to complete a biking/walking/rolling survey by Nov. 28. Surveys are also available at recreation centers and the MPRB’s customer service desk (612-230-6400). If language accommodation is needed to provide input in this process, please call 612-230-6472. You can find additional information about the CIP and the Bike, Walk and Roll Plan at www.minneapolisparks.org.

Thank you for your support of the Minneapolis park system.

__________________________________________________________

Some helpful info and survey link!

Here is the link to the page.
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1099&SearchID=216566

and a link to the survey.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=jpurl2g4t6cQ4uif_2bEY1hw_3d_3d

Last Sunday's trailwork!

What a perfect day for trialwork and a ride after. You could not have asked for better conditions on a November 1st Sunday.

mara working on the downhill rock armor.

Tom, Chuck, and mara working on the downhill rock armor. The feature really shows here. This downhill will lead you into some rollers, a berm, then a gap jump into the gully. Should be some fun flow!

During the ride we stopped to get a picture of Chuck with the Chuck Rock. Don't ask......just call it the Chuck Rock and everything will be okay.

All in all, it was a fun day. A big thanks to Ken, Mark, Chuck, and Tom for showing up to help mara and I last Sunday.