The EBRPD Board of Directors is considering placing a $500 million dollar bond measure on the ballot in 2008 that would extend Measure AA by providing new funding for Regional Park land acquisition, new park and trail development, habitat restoration and rehabilitation of aging park facilities. Cyclists should make a point to let EBRPD know that we expect increased access for our support of the measure.

We need to continue to stress that our activity is a key component for fighting the nationwide obesity and inactivity epidemic. Mountain biking also brings a clean and positive economic impact to many East Bay communities while providing hundreds of free volunteer hours. Good Health. Active Kids. Clean Business. Valuable Public Service. Mountain biking contributes to all of these important societal goals.

During the last 20 years, there has not been any significant enhancement in EBRPD for off-road cyclists. Most cyclists want the same experience as other park users, a connection with nature, an escape from the urban environment, fun, exercise, and a sense of belonging. While millions are proposed to be spend on "hiking and equestrian access" the needs of cyclists continue to go unmet, or worse, completely ignored. EBRPD doesn't offer cyclists a single unique or extraordinary opportunity in the entire park system.

Like most trail users cyclists prefer narrow trails. Whether one is hiking, running or riding a bike, users want to experience a close connection to nature, to be immersed in the natural world on narrow intimate trails. The experience just isn't the same on a wide fire road. While roads usually push straight through or over the hills, singletrack trails tend to wind around obstacles and blend into the surrounding environment. Many single track enthusiasts also seek a high degree of challenge that can not be found on ranch roads. Intermediate and advanced riders need more length and difficult trails to keep them interested. New types of riding such as free riding, downhilling and mountain unicycling need different types of accommodation in the way trails and obstacles are built.

We need to do a better job of letting EBRPD know that local cyclists deserve the same experience as other park users. It is ridiculous for the District to keep claiming cyclist are allowed on the majority of the "trails" when we're excluded from all park trails and only allowed on service and fire roads.

More info at www.ebparks.org/news/measureAA#meetings

BTCEB custom jerseys have been ordered and due to arrive this month! Thanks to all our members who per-ordered to make it happen. There is a limited number available before the jerseys go on sale at your local shop so order yours today!

Starting at the end of the month you'll be able to purchase the jersey at your local shop. Thanks to Solano Cyclery, Wheels of Justice, Sharp Bicycle, and Hank & Frank Bicycles for partnering with us to offer these great jerseys.

Let everybody know that you are a proud member of one of the oldest mountain biking organizations in the country and you support open access for mountain bikes in the East Bay.

BTCEB can only succeed if you take its future into your own hands. There are many vital roles that we need volunteers to take on and so we've started this wish list for you to do just that!

Ride Leaders
We're putting together a monthly ride gala. This monthly no-drop ride will include all skill levels for both men and women. Most importantly, we'll ride together and find camaraderie in the sport. Along with just having fun and enjoying being together outside we'll help each other progress from amateur to experienced rider. Rides generally last 1 1/2 to 2 hours and are usually attended by both inexperienced and elite riders... so you can imagine, we split into groups and need ride leaders for beginners, relaxed intermediate, and fast paced/advanced. If you can help contact our Group Ride Coordinator Bruce Nikolai.

Bike Shop Liaison
Bike shop liaisons are responsible for maintaining an active relationship with shop management and staff. You job is to brag about BTCEB and let the shop staff know what BTCEB is doing.  If you stop by your local bike shop at least once a month you're already doing most of the work. We'll arrange for you to get our printed material and all you have to do is drop it off. We'll be happy to go with you on your first official visit. Better yet if you work in a bike shop all you have to do is keep your co-workers informed!  Contact Dan for more info.

Event Coordinator and Committee Members
This is a great job. Organize parties, rides, and special events! What more can we say? If you want to win friends and influence people you could always buy a dumb book. Better yet - sign up as the Event Coordinator and save yourself all that reading. Or if you just want to conduct one special event, be it a derby, cruiser ride, shop party, picnic, national trails day event, or a full blown festival together we can make it happen. Contact Brent for more info.

Trail Maintenance Committee Members
Responsible for organizing trail maintenance, educating trail work volunteers, and recruiting trail work volunteers. Caryn Kralovansky has joined the board as the new Trail Maintenance coordinator and is looking for help on coordinating trail days in several parks, including Del Valle, Pleasanton Ridge, Mt Diablo, Garin, and Joaquin Miller. BTCEB members have volunteered numerous hours of their time to build new trails and improve existing paths. Trailwork is sweat equity, fun, rewarding, a great workout and it helps assure continuing trail access for our sport.  If any of the above parks are part of your local 'hood' contact Caryn for how you can help.

Fund Raising
It's great that we have such generous members willing to join our singletrack society for $50 or more. Still we spent more money than we made last year producing our newsletter, maintain our web site, funding our Youth Mountain Bike Adventures program, conducting trail maintenance, sponsor the NorCal High School Mt Biking Racing League, attending conferences and land manager events, helping launch our new Oakland Bike Patrol program, paying our phone bill, providing beer and food for the socials, and helping the other clubs in the Bay Area with special projects. We could us help to write grants and develop unique events like movie theater nights, silent auctions, or special rides. Contact Brent for more info.

And of course make sure to keep your membership up to date and consider joining our Singletrack Society with $50 or more or make a donation any time. All donations and membership dues are fully tax deductible.

Ok so we don't issue our own credit cards. But that doesn't mean you can't proudly shop with your very own BTCEB credit card. Capital One offers custom Visa cards and we've made it easy to create your own BTCEB card.

• Download the BTCEB Credit Card logo. (Right click the image and select "Save Picture As".)
• Visit www.capitalone.com and click on Capital One Image Card. Use your existing account or open a new one.
• Upload the BTCEB Credit Card Logo during the design process. You'll receive your new personalized card in the mail within 7–10 business days.

Been telling yourself that you want to get more involved with the club? Here is your chance. The next BTCEB meeting will be held at The next BTCEB meeting will be held at 7:00pm Tuesday June 3rd.

Then join us for beer following the meeting (which is a good enough reason to attend in itself.) If you have issues about a local park, or suggestions of how the club can be more effective, this is a great way to express those points of view. If you just wish to listen, that's just fine. The meeting, which includes free pizza provided by Sports Basement, last from 7pm to 9pm, and then those that are interested may move to the bar for informal discussions.  Come on down to the next meeting and GET INVOLVED in building Mountain Biking in your community.

Back in July of 2007, BTCEB formally ask MDSP to open 19 new trails to cyclists. The request was made under the California State Park Trail Conversion Project. Recently the California State Parks have embraced the need for multi-use trails and developed a new trail policy that provides a process for the public to request trail use conversions in state parks. As part of this policy staff will be conducting a new Trail Unit Plan and looking at access and trail issues on all park trails.

It's not unrealistic that if we stay positive, informed, and active, East Bay riders will finally enjoy the same opportunities provided by other regional state parks.

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