MEC/IMBA Canada Trailbuilding Tour visits Woodstock, Ontario

More than 20 cyclists traded a beautiful day of riding to give back to the trails they love.
During the indoor presentation, volunteers learned how to use clinometers to measure grades and layout trail.
Mark introduces the two most important trailbuilding tools, the pulaski and mcleod, and teaches a lesson in trailbuilding safety.
Thinning of the forest last year resulted in the loss of every fourth row of pine trees and a significant portion of the trails. To re-establish this great riding area, a lot of clearing needed to be done.
Trimming of branches should be done close to the trunk, but without cutting into the branch collar. John, from the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, demonstrates the importance of a sharp saw and a good cut.
Build to ride. Ride to live. Two of the Woodstock Cycling Club's younger members put some sweat equity into the trails.
An insloped turn takes shape as volunteers sculpt the disturbed slope into sweet singletrack.
Woodstock Cycling Club's trail guru, Gerald Mueller, tests the flow of the new turn.
The future looks bright for Woodstock's trails. Thanks to the work of a core group of volunteers, the Pines will be ready to ride once again.

IMBA Canada and the Woodstock Cycling Club joined forces for a revival of the trails in "The Pines" Conservation Area on the weekend of April 29, 2006 thanks to support from Mountain Equipment Co-op's Environment Fund.

During the workshop participants learned how to build sustainable singletrack and helped to re-establish one of Southern Ontario's great riding areas after thinning of the forest last year resulted in the loss of several fun and popular trails.

Despite the efforts of a great group of volunteers, there is still a lot of work to be done. Want to know what you can do to help? Contact Gerald Mueller with the Woodstock Cycling Club: chgems@sympatico.ca

Read about other visits on the MEC/IMBA Canada Trailbuilding Tour.