Get your bike cleaned and in working order. The 2009 season officially kicks off next Wednesday.

This week we are holding two trail clean-up days. On Wednesday at 6:30 pm Terry is hosting a trail cleanup at Durham Forest where we will be removing any accumulated debris from the winter, trimming back the trail corridors, raking leaves of the trails, etc. Nothing significant just a little TLC so the trails will be ready to go next week. In commemoration of Earth Day, J-P is hosting a Durham Forest trash cleanup on Saturday at 9:00 am. We are going to clean up accumulated trash in the Durham Forest parking lot and along some of the sides of the road towards the “Bell Tower”. Please confirm your attendance on clubmtb.com.

Then the following week we ride. Regular Wednesday night group rides will start on April 29. They start in the Durham Forest main parking lot at 6:30. Typically there are enough people to split into two groups, one the fast hammer-heads, the other a more laid back pace where no one gets dropped. For the first few weeks we won’t venture too far into the Glen Major/Walker Woods property until it dries up a bit more. (Although rumour has it, it is almost ridable).

Our Saturday morning rides will kick off on Saturday May 2nd, 10AM. NOTE: our Saturday rides are rotating to a new trail head each week this year. Don’t just show up to Durham Forest like you did last year. For the month of May the schedule is:

• May 2nd, Durham Forest
• May 9th, Ganaraska Forest
• May 16th, Durham Forest (come for Pancakes)
• May 23rd, Glen Major (for those not at the 8 hour event)
• May 30th, Trail Build in Durham Forest

There are a few other events going on in May as well.

First up is our Pancake Breakfast on May 16th. We’ll be in the Durham Forest parking lot serving up pancakes hot and fresh from the griddle. A good chance to renew your membership, catch up with club members you haven’t seen in a while, see our new canopy, and eat some pancakes.

Next up is the Epic 8 Hour Race at Mansfield. DMBA will have teams entered, in fact our first has already registered. If you are participating please add DMBA to your team name to show your support for the club. Sorry no sponsorships are available but we do have a jazzy new canopy for all you DMBAers to hang out around. It should make it easier to find one another this year.

Last, but certainly not least, is our very first trail build in Durham Forest. This will happen on Saturday May 30th. Expect a full day or trail work starting around 10am and going until 3 or 4pm. We’ll be repairing and improving a section that was impacted by the summer logging in 2007. More details will follow closer to the date. Please check back here for more details as we close in on the 30th.

That’s all for the month of May. See you on the trail. Keep the rubber side down.