Please take time to complete the survey. This highlights the demand for facilities, much like skate parks, golf courses, soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts to name a few facilities. Demand for recreational and sporting facilities for MTB are currently un-met nationally let alone within the Blue Mountains City Council LGA.

FROM BMORC EMAIL Today.

All

Firstly, apologies for the lack of information that we have been sharing with Blue Mountains Riders of late. We understand not everybody has time to browse the www.bmorc.com website, however, this is always the best source of up to date information.

Apologies for the extreme short notice, however BMORC and NPWS/DECCW have banded together to organise our first joint trail care program in the Blue Mountains, focusing on the single track at the Glenbrook end of the Oaks.

• BMORC supported the council paper that went to council 16/03/2010 which recommended the closure and rehabilitation of Nichols Parade downhill trail. This is in the council records.
• BMORC supported the formalisation of Old Bathurst Road trails to a sustainable internationally recognised standard
• It is not illegal to ride on a track located on council land unless sign posted otherwise by council.

Last week BMORC reps met with Tina from NPWS to talk about the existing Oaks Single track (aka Twitter Trail), how to improve on safety and erosion control.

It was decided that our first priority would be pruning back the eye whipping branches. This improves user safety. The rider will be able to keep an eye on where they are going with an improved line of sight and not need to keep ducking.

BMORC will be assembling a small team of volunteers to work with NPWS.

There are many items on the agenda and future discussions will be taking place.

Yellomundee Aboriginal Bushcare Group
Dates 2011
Time : 10.00am Lunch will be provided.

DATE: Sunday 20th March
Sunday 17th April
Friday 29th April to 1st May Bushcare Conference and Cultural Camp
Sunday 22nd May
Sunday 19th June
Sunday 17th July
Sunday 21st August
Sunday 18th September
Sunday 9th October

Well it is one year now since the fatefull council meeting in Katoomba when the Business Paper presented the plan to formalise a part of the trails at OBR and close the trail at Nichol's Pde. It seemed a reasonably good compromise at the time but the plan was resolutely squashed. There were only 8 riders there that night and we were trounced. We were disorganised and completely unaware of the opposition and disinformation that was going around.

It became obvious that some kind of advocacy group was required to present a unified voice for riders, and after discussing it on the street that night the plan was to create one. Hence about a week latter at the Lapstone Hotel the BMORC was started.

So in a year a lot has been done, but we are still waiting on some hard trail results. A lot of good work has been done forming understanding and relationships with some of the councillors and with the BMCC staff. We have also worked with the community to try and improve the image of mountain bikers and what the general mindset is of a rider with respect to the environment and society. We have greater communication and understanding with conservationist groups I think in both directions. Also I think we have a better riding community now in the mountains that was lacking before.

Well on the 26th February BMORC held a free community BBQ at Knapsack reserve to engage with local residents, schools, families, riders and basically anyone who Kingy could attract and get to talk to. We supplied maps, helped show people around and basically answered questions anyone had about what our concept is.

We had contacted local schools, done a letter box drop of the neighboring residents and posted flyers up on boards. Kingy turned up with a massive pile of sausages where I thought he had over-catered like a madman yet again, but after the many hours we were there they were gone. So by the sausage counter we managed to speak to a large number of people and received some interesting feedback.

Story in the Blue Mountains Gazette about the local Muni riders, as often witnessed down at Knapsack... good going guys!

As if hauling a regular mountain bike along bush trails was not challenging enough, two Blaxland men decided to ditch a wheel when they tackled a 12-hour endurance race recently.

Charles Hardimon and Robert O’Brien received more than their fair share of sideways looks from fellow competitors when they took on the Jet Black Cycling race at Wisemans Ferry on the their unicycles.
Despite the oppressive heatwave conditions, coupled with the obvious challenge of staying upright on the unpredictable terrain, the duo managed to complete a combined distance of over 100km during the two six-hour blocks of racing.

“The hardest part was probably dealing with the heat, as it was for most of the riders, starting out at 40 degrees and trying to slog it up a two kilometre hill,” said Charles. “It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Charles said it had taken endless patience to master the unusual craft in the five years since he traded in two wheels for one.

I picked up on this article while browsing the web for information on Platypus, after reading the article below I was thrilled to find out about a population of platypus in the Sun Valley area.
I thought this would be a great opportunity to assist Tara with her campaign to address the release of sewage into Fitzgerald's creek.
Can everyone pen a short letter or email and send it on to the Sydney Water

Postal address
Sydney Water
PO Box 399
Parramatta NSW 2124 or
email through this portal

http://sydneywater.custhelp.com/app/ask

Thanks for your support

Regards Kingy

Well here is the novelty cheque created be resident BMORC Picasso Kingy, for the money we generated for signage at the BBQ the other week.

So next stage is organising some kind of handover to show we are serious about our commitment to the reserve and working with council.

The rest of the money raised needs to be moved to other areas maybe IMBA books, tools, promotional material etc.

Hi guys,

Huge turn out I Lost count at 20 but a great effort by all.

Lots happened on the day and that's a story in itself but I will let the boys regail all the fun bits I am here to deliver that facts!

Our purchases for the day consisted of;

Pastoral Prime Country Meats
600 Sausages. $268
Chippys Foods
Onions , Serviettes, Sauces, Gloves $148

Blaxland Country Bakehouse
60 loaves sliced bread. $108

Natures Best

BMORC BBQ is nearly here will it be a success will we reach the 3000 dollar goal.

Bring your bikes come down and help promote the great the healthy lifestyle, eat a few sausage sangas and hang with your mates!