Although we have a little business to discuss, this meeting is more about riding and socializing with friends.  CITA has access to the shelter from 4-9 so come early to ride or hang out.  Rides can be coordinated from the shelter pre and post meeting.  Feel free to bring food and/or beverages to share.  No glass bottles are allowed and don’t bring a keg in your B.O.B. trailer because those aren’t allowed either.  We must be out by 9PM.

Here is our agenda for the meeting:

Here is our agenda for the meeting:

Tuesdays meeting will be at the downtown library at 7:00pm.

Kim West

I am Kim West; I have been riding bicycles for nearly 55 years.  I don’t intend to stop any time soon.  In these many years, I have ridden, as most have, for sheer pleasure, to go to school, to work, to socialize, to shop, to get around, to race, to teach my kid and grandkids to love to ride, and lately, to share time with my wife and stoker.  During the brief time I’ve known Sue, I have helped her share my love for riding gravel and trails.  It has given me an excuse to buy more bikes.

About 12 years ago, I worked with a small group of bmx enthusiasts to get what is nowEwingParkbmx off the ground.  It is now a major player on theMidwestand National bmx scene.  I continue to do some legal work for them.  I race bmx every now and then, but I hate getting beaten by little kids.

I was one of threeDes Moinescyclists who started the Bike Collective, and happily worked long and hard to get it off the ground, helping to get more folks on bikes.  I left when the collective began going in a direction that was inconsistent with how I had envisioned the original collective.  [I STILL thinkDes Moinesneeds and will get a velodrome in the not-too-distant future.]

I also hosted the Kim West radio cycling show for two years on kxno radio, until they found out it was about cycling.  During my brief run, this little weekly show covered all areas of cycling, and developed a loyal and international audience.  It was a very useful forum for advocacy, and will return in the future; hopefully during 2012.

I’ve been an attorney for nearly–gulp–30 years, and have discovered that I can sometimes be a rather vocal and ardent advocate for topics and areas that get me going, whether it’s silly little stripes on the streets [don't get me started] or banning bikes from a county’s road networks.

I look forward to working with CITA.

Jubil Young

Few places have the network of off-road trails within city limits likeDes Moinesand I am seeking a position on the CITA board because I want them to stick around and I want them to be used!

Establishing our trails multiuse, sustainable, and making them easy to access will further solidify that our trails are here to stay and it will ensure we are able to keep up with the growing number of trail users.  Previously, I was in charge of 100K of multiuse trails (bike/pump track/ski/snowshoe/hike/horse) at Snow Mountain Ranch in the Colorado Rockies where I coordinated a visit from the IMBA trail care crew.  While I was there I organized a team of volunteers to put on 4 ski events including the largest XC race inColorado.

Currently, I am pursuing my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at DMU and spend my down time skiing (if we ever get any snow), riding my bike for Rassy’s MTB team and canoeing in the summer.  I love sharing my knowledge of all the outdoor opportunities inCentral Iowaand I am excited to be able to be a part of CITA’s bright future.

Bif Ridgway

My name is Forrest L. Ridgway III most people know me as Bif. I’ve been working in the bike business since I was 13 years old and been around the industry my whole life. My family has been in business for over 35 years with a local shop called Bike World, one of CITA’s supporters. CITA has done a fabulous job of creating the trails we all enjoy and I believe there is great potential for growth in both trail systems as well as the number of people we can get involved with using the trails. Through business trips and events I’ve been to I’ve seen what destination trails do to not only the people in a community but the local economy. I would love nothing more than to see centralIowabecome a destination that attracts people from all over. I think with my connections in the industry as well as my knowledge I can benefit CITA in making this a reality.

Thanks,

Bif Ridgway

Nick Larson

Hello everyone my name is Nick Larson.  Many of you may know me from past meetings, work days or events.  If I don’t know you, feel free to stop and say hello.  My interest in becoming a board member is based around my desire and passion for riding and building trails.  I’ve spent a few years as a CITA member and enjoyed my time helping build and improve the existing trails.  I’m also excited to be building new trail.    I feel I have the capacity to help drive some of the initiatives CITA is currently involved with.  As well as create new opportunities.  I’m excited for growth and involving fresh faces and new ideas without forgetting how far we’ve come and how we got here.  I look forward to working with all of you whether as a board member, committee member or club member.

Sheri Robinson

I am a stay at home mom of two girls, 7 and 3. I love being outside, riding bikes and spending time with my family.

I have been aware of the work CITA performs in our community for quite a while and have participated in several of the events. It has only been these last 4 or 5 months where I have actually participated and

become a member.  Realizing the importance of the current trails to my family, I feel the need to participate to help maintain and even grow them further.

In the past, I worked at Easter Seals where a portion of my job was volunteer management and assisting with some grant writing. More recently, I have been involved in the promotion and organization of several bike races.  I think these experiences would be beneficial to the CITA board and I would enjoy the opportunity to serve.

Jared Morford

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Jared Morford and I’m the sales manager at Skunk River Cycles inAmes,IA.  I started working at the shop two years ago as a bike builder while I was finishing my bachelors in history at ISU. Prior to ISU I proudly served as a Sergeant in the South Dakota National Guard and deployed toIraqin 2008.

In my spare time I enjoy road and gravel riding.  To be honest, I don’t mountain bike much.  Steve Fuller posted on facebook that CITA was looking for board members so I felt it was a great opportunity to help cycling in centralIowa.  I feel that it is one thing to say you ride, but what are you doing to make cycling better around you?  I’m currently working with the Ames Community Art Council to hopefully install bike racks in downtownAmes.  I’m also working with Wheatsfield Grocery Store inAmesto have bike tools installed on outside on their bike rack.  This week I coordinated with a bike brand and accessory companies to accessorize a bike for free for the Boone County Park Ranger.  The last thing I’m working on and trying to generate interest in is a Bike to Work Week inAmes.

So that’s me. If you are reading this you can probably tell I’m pretty casual and a bad writer. However, despite that I’m motivated and love cycling. I’m looking to challenge myself and help improve centralIowacycling.

Sycamore 4 results

When:  Sunday, November 13th.  11 am to 1 pm or 1 pm to 3 pm, or 11-3 if you are the gung ho type.  Ride to follow if trail conditions permit.  If enough people are interested, I’ll whip out a stop watch & put on a Quarter Rage style time trial (for those who helped).

Here’s what is on tap:

Stump Bridge fix
We’ll need a lead carpenter with bridge building tools, and a couple of helpers with pulaskis and strong backs to extend or rebuild the bridge with the big cedar stump in front of it.  CITA will provide the lumber & fasteners.

Corner Pocket refinement
We’ll need several folks to adjust the trail corridor and/or do some digging to improve the flow of the new section added this spring.  Racers – this is your chance to help this section flow better at race speed.  It would be ideal if a trail designer could flag areas to be improved *before* the workday.

Mark and rough in routes at the end of the area destroyed by excavation
Again -  need a trail designer before the workday and some earth movers (human type) to rough it in.

Bridge over low spot in CP (where high water made it inaccessable for awhile)
More carpentry.

Sign installation
I’m not sure how this will work yet, but if we have a few volunteers we’ll figure it out.  Anyway, new signage will be really nice.

Connector work
Lower priority for the moment, but if it’s a high priority to you feel free to work on the remaining section of the connector.  Warning – high labor to linear feet of new trail ratio.

Beer and snacks
We’ll need individuals to bring good beer and to consume good beer. I’ll bring the usual case of assorted Summit tastiness. Pretzels and mini kit-kat bars have been popular too.  Yes, chocolate and beer.  Together.

We’ll need leaders and helpers for each of the above.

Please pick a project to lead/help with in the comments below or email mlmccutchan AT gmail D0T com.  Thanks for your help.  With a solid team effort WE can make a lot of improvements to central Iowa’s most challenging trail – improvements that are not possible to make with only one or two people.

Matt
641 two zero two 4099

CITA would like to thank everyone that came out to make the 2011 Dirty Dualthon a great success.  Thanks to all who raced, watched, heckled and helped out.  We couldn’t put on an event like this without you!  See you next year!

Results will likely be posted tomorrow. They are done, but our trusty timer Steve has a day job (that happens to be consuming most of his weekends). We will give him a breather to get them online.

BIG THANKS again to our sponsors for the assistance this year. Recycled Artworks by Squirrel, Oakley (Rob V.), Rasmussen Bike Shop, Scheels, Kyle’s Bikes, Bike World, Peace Tree Brewing, T-Shirt Graphix, My Alibi Clothing and Spoke 9. Without your support of us, we couldn’t have the same impact on improving the trails.

Lastly, thanks to the CITA board and the volunteers. Too many names to print, but you know their faces. Buy them a beer next time you see them.

Tom Anderson
CITA – President.

The 6^th annual Dirty Duathlon will take place at Greenwood Park on Sunday, October 23^rd.  This year we have also added a trail run to the event schedule.

This event is always a blast and brings together the runners and bikers that frequently use the trails.  Whether you want to challenge yourself as a trail runner, a biker, on a team or as a solo, we have the event for you.

The running loop is approximately 2 miles long, the cycling loop is near 3 miles.  Distances may vary slightly as we look for ways to add new portions of trail to the race.

Event Schedule

9:00am          Trail Run start – 2 laps for 4 miles

11:00am Sprint/Beginner Du – 2 mile run, then 6 mile bike, no follow-up run

Categories:

• Solo Women
• Solo Men
• Relay

Noon            Kids Duathlon – great short course around the lake, appropriate for all youngsters

1:00pm          Dirty Duathlon – 2 mile run, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run

Categories:

• Solo Women
• Solo Men
• Relay

Custom awards to top finishers and a schwag drawing will be held after the race.

After the awards have been handed out, gather up the kids for CITA’s Take A Kid Mountain Biking event!

Please pre-register via this link.  We hope to see you there.

Sprint/Beginner Du Map here

Open Du Map here