Submitted by Wes Stobbe on behalf of the organization.
The Salida Bike Park Committee is a group of local Salidians who wish to construct a public pump track in the greater Salida community. A pump track is a continuous dirt loop of rollers and berms, reminiscent of a BMX track but smaller in scale, which can be ridden by cyclists of all ages and skill levels. Pump tracks can be placed in a very small footprint, require little maintenance and are free to the public. These tracks teach riders of all ages and abilities essential riding skills while building fitness and bike handling skills, all in a low-risk environment.
The Salida Bike Park Committee is taking up the challenge of designing, building and maintaining a public pump track and a low risk skills area at the Marvin Park Ball Fields. Our hopes are to be designated by IMBA as the first “Pump Town, USA”. It looks like our valley could have a half dozen public and private pump tracks by summer. The success and challenges with this transition bike park will be closely monitored and evaluated by the Committee and the City of Salida.
Pump tracks and bike parks are springing up in communities around the world. From the conceptual $4 million Valmont Bike Park (http://www.bma-mtb.org/valmontbikepark/) in Boulder, CO to the jungle and rice paddies of the Philippines and Indonesia, cyclists of all ages and abilities are “getting their pump on”. Numerous Colorado communities have already built pump tracks and/or bike parks including: Gunnison, Crested Butte, Del Norte, Lyons, Ft. Collins, Eagle, Leadville, Snowmass, Keystone, Colorado Springs, Telluride, and Winter Park. Proposals to Poncha Springs and Buena Vista are already in progress.
The popularity of “pumping” highlights its inherent ability to offer an incredible cardiovascular and core body workout in a very short time. It rapidly develops and hones biking skills for all fitness and skill levels; whether you’re a five-year old kid pedaling thru the rollers or you just won the 2009 Pump Track World Championship in Australia.
Take a look at World Champion Mick Hanna who lives in Buena Vista.
On April 2-3 2010, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) will be hosting a Colorado Mountain Biking Summit. Saturday’s feature session will be “Creating, Funding and Managing Community Bike Parks”. The Conference activities will conclude with a tour of “backyard bike parks in Salida”. The tour will include: the Pump Farm, Pumpanhoot, Absolute Bike Park, and a peek at the design and construction process of Salida’s “Homerun Pump Track”.
Saturday night following the pump track tour will be our “Pumpraiser”, a fundraiser that will include a raffle, silent auction and live music from the Groove Farmers. It will be held at the Salida Steam plant, conference attendees and the public are welcome to attend, it will be a real Pumping Good Time!
We have a large fundraising goal for our transition bike park “Homerun Pump Track”. We have raised $24,500, 74% of our funding needs and in-kind services in the last month. Please consider helping us with the remaining $8,620.
As part of our sponsor benefits, we are printing “Pump Town USA, Salida, CO” T-shirts. These shirts will be worn by scores of Salida Bike Park volunteers at the upcoming IMBA conference, and the National Trails Day dedication of Homerun Pump Track on June 5, 2010. Additional printed material on sponsors will be provided to all conference participants. Sponsor names will be on our Pumpraiser poster. Non-cash donations appreciated!
Sponsorship Levels
Pumpologist $500 Name/Logo shirt/conference materials 4 free t- shirts
Pumpanarian $100 Name on shirt/conference materials 2 free t-shirts
Pumpaneer $30 No name on shirt/conf. materials only 1 free t-shirt
The Salida Bike Park Committee is under Salida Parks, Open Space and Trails (SPOT) a 501c3 and Salida Mountain Trails (SMT). The Salida Bike Park Committee is composed of three local cyclists who are pumped on building Salida a public bike park.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions about this community project. Tony is out of town until March 16th. Please contact Fawn or Wes until then.
Sincerely,
Fawn Walker
Absolute Bikes
303-621-5443
fawn@absolutebikes.com
Wes Stobbe
Mercury Design
719-539-3141
wes@mercurydesign.com
Tony Boone
Arrowhead Trails
720-244-7804
dirtfarmerz@yahoo.com
So pumperdoodles, thanks for putting this together! Our community will benefit from your efforts for years to come. Where do we send our donations?
Donations can be dropped off at Absolute Bikes or at Mercury Design located in the Dangerous Collective Office building. The Dangerous Collective is accessed from the alley behind Gambles. It’s the single story sage green building with the large aluminum C3.
I would like to thank the community for their support so far on this project and can’t wait to see everyone out there this spring.
One thing we forgot to mention is Sponsorships need to be turned in by March 8th to allow for the printing of our tee-shirts.
Great idea! I Love the long term plan. Thanks for stepping up and making this happen!
Another argument I can make when my son moans, “I’m bored!”
Awesome! Thank you.
Excellent work Salida Bike Park Committee! It’ll be a good summer.
dude you ive been riding bmx for a few years in colorado, and colorado lacks a good bmx park–you guys also should make some good hits for freestyle riding–just like a few dobbles–with a steep face and about 10 to 15 feet apart!
Stoked to get in on this, I will have the Best BMX Bike parts & Complete BMB bikes around, Killer prices for Killer Bike Parts!
Skate Stuff Too & Lifestyle Clothing As well!
April 20th Grand Opening
The Spot
203 F.St. (Round Back in the Alley off 2nd St.)
Salida,Co.
719-221-4912