Hamilton Burlington Mountain Biking Association

*** Almost, but not quite! Christie Lake Trails are still closed. *** We know everyone is excited to get out on the trails at Christie Lake, but we'd appreciate mountain bikers stay off the singletrack for just a few more days. The trails, especially the lower trails, are still wet and muddy. We are keeping a close eye on them with the Hamilton Conservation Authority, and will post AS SOON AS they're ready! Thanks for your understanding.

*Christie Lake trails are still closed*. With all the beautiful weather this past weekend, the trails at Christie Lake are drying out well. Unfortunately some folks have ignored our requests to stay off the trails and the lower lying areas are now rutted or the trail has widened. We know everyone is anxious to get out and ride - we are too. However, until we've given everyone the all clear, please stay off the trails. Fixing and repairing trails takes time away from new trail...s and new features. Additionally, some individual(s) have thrown logs and sticks across the entrance of the G-out in an attempt to prevent people from riding this section. While it may have been done to keep people off the trail, it has now crated a potentially dangerous situation for a new rider who doesn't know that the trails are closed and who has never been to the trails. While we are restricted from hosting large work groups, we will be looking for individuals and family groups to help clean the trails. Please stay tuned for clean up days and of course, for our official trail opening. For those early risers, if you are listening, we hope to see you out this year on our volunteer days to give back to the trails. Thanks and happy trails!

* Christie Lake trails remain closed. * While the weather has improved and there are reports of dry trails elsewhere, we need to give Christie Lake a few more days to dry out. We’ll be heading in there this weekend to assess. Stay tuned for updates!

Christie Lake is still closed. And with this week’s rain (and more in the forecast tomorrow), the rest of our local singletrack will be muddy, as well. Please give the trails a chance to dry out! If you’re leaving ruts, you’re damaging the trail surface.

This article from Canadian Cycling Magazine provides some great tips on how to decide if you should be riding a trail in the spring. Our trails at Christie Lake are still closed, but we will be keeping a close eye on them and will post here when they're ready to ride. https://cyclingmagazine.ca/uncategoriz/spring-riding-guide/

Good morning! Just a friendly reminder to please stay off the trails and give them an opportunity to dry out. Trails at Christie Lake are closed until further notice and reports are that other trails in the area are still pretty wet!

Wishing our HBMBA members, their families, our sponsors and supporters, and the local cycling community a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!

Just a friendly reminder... it’s been a wet week with snow and rain. Please stay off the trails at Christie Lake (and other local trails if they're wet). Riding through mud wrecks the trail. If you can see ruts or footprints, it’s too wet. Thank you!

Conservation authorities have the mandate to ensure conservation, restoration and responsible management of Ontario’s water, land and natural habitats. But the ...government of Ontario is stripping their decision-making ability and drastically increasing developers’ free rein in the province. Send your message now to help stop Ontario from bulldozing nature https://bit.ly/3q8f2oT See more

As you may have heard in the news, changes have been proposed by the provincial government that will hinder conservation authorities' ability to protect the environment and watershed. This release from Hamilton Conservation Authority explains their response and provides information about what's at stake. https://conservationhamilton.ca/hcas-preliminary-response-/

Hamilton Conservation Authority has shared the winners of their 2019 Hamilton Conservation Areas Photo Contest. First place in the Recreation category went to Bikejoring in Dundas Valley by Floriane Vallery. https://conservationhamilton.ca/picture-perfect-hca-2019-p/ https://conservationhamilton.ca//1-441-Bikejoring-in-Dunda

Since we can't run our annual costumed Big Ass Night Ride this year, we thought we'd run a pumpkin-carving contest instead. We are hosting it from Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/hbmtba/ Carve a bike-themed jack-o'-lantern for a chance to win your membership for next year or other HBMBA swag. Use the hashtag #hbmbapumpkin to enter. Contest closes at midnight Oct. 31. Entries will be judged by the board.

Conditions at Christie Lake have been mint. A big thank you to our member at large Rob vanBrandenburg for raking the east loop on Trillium. We'll be getting a couple more nice days of weather before rain in the forecast. Hope you get a chance to enjoy the warm weather and dry trails! https://hbmba.ca/memberships/

We saw many families out enjoying the Christie Lake trails yesterday and got to meet quite a few as they stopped by our Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day booth. We're excited for a time when we are all able to ride together as the HBMBA Grom Squad! https://hbmba.ca/hbmba-grom-squad/

Tomorrow is Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day! HBMBA board members and Stoked MTB will be at the Christie Lake trailhead tomorrow morning at 10 to greet families on their MTB adventures, and chat about local trails and our kid-centred ‘Grom Squad’ while observing COVID-19 safety protocols. https://www.facebook.com/events/1678467615643350/

It’s so fun to look back and see the costumes from all our Big Ass Night Rides. Heading down memory lane this week since we are not hosting our event this year. However we are hosting a pumpkin-carving contest over on Instagram. We can't wait to see your bike-themed pumpkins! https://www.instagram.com/hbmtba/

October 3rd is Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day, a family-focused event that aims to introduce kids to the sport of mountain biking! HBMBA board members will be at the Christie Lake trailhead to greet families on their MTB adventures, and chat about local trails and our kid-centred ‘Grom Squad’, while observing COVID-19 safety protocols. Will your family be stopping by? https://www.facebook.com/events/1678467615643350

Here's one of our Grom Squad members riding the new rollers that our weekend trail maintenance crew worked on. They're on Trillium Trail. Wanna check them out with your kids? Check out our Take a Kid Mountain Biking day event that's happening this Saturday, Oct. 3. https://www.facebook.com/events/1678467615643350?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22page_admin_bar%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A258473227903479%7D%22%7D%2C%7B%22surface%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22[]%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D

Thank you to those who came out for yesterday's trail maintenance day at Christie Lake! We worked on adding some rollers to the south side of Trillium Trail. Tomorrow we'll post a video of one of our Grom Squad members trying them out! https://hbmba.ca/hbmba-grom-squad/

Our September 12 Bike to School with the HBMBA and Stoked MTB event made it into Hamilton Community News. https://www.hamiltonnews.com//10189455-hamilton-burlingt/

Here are some photos from Saturday's Grom Squad back-to-school ride! Mel from Stoked MTB shared some essential mountain biking skills with the kids, and then led a family ride between Dundana Elementary School and Sir William Osler Elementary School. Hills were conquered, fun was had! Check out our website for more information about our HBMBA Grom Squad. https://hbmba.ca/hbmba-grom-squad/

Due to the rain in tomorrow's forecast, we have decided to postpone tomorrow's Christie Lake trail maintenance to Sunday, Sept. 27. There is another one scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, as well. Stay tuned for details. https://fb.me/e/1FGs9mUs8

Hi families! Will you be joining us for the ride tomorrow in Dundas with HBMBA and Stoked MTB? If so, please register and sign the online waiver. https://www.facebook.com/events/592463018116065

Will you be joining us for this Sunday's Trail Maintenance Day at Christie Lake? Please sign up using the link on the event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/725437124700598?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22page_admin_bar%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A258473227903479%7D%22%7D%2C%7B%22surface%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22[]%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D

September is Bike Month in the GTHA, and to celebrate, we want to help students feel more comfortable riding the Dundas double track trails by teaching some basics of trail riding and leading families along the route that connects Dundana, Sir William Osler, St. Bernadette, and Dundas Valley Secondary School. Join HBMBA and Stoked MTB this Saturday, Sept. 12 for a special event. https://www.facebook.com/events/592463018116065/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22page_admin_bar%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A258473227903479%7D%22%7D%2C%7B%22surface%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22events_admin_tool%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22[]%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D

It's Tool Time Tuesday and today Eric is explaining what we use the shovel for during our trail maintenance days. The next Christie Lake Trail Maintenance Day is this coming Sunday, Sept. 13. Please sign up through our event link if you plan to join! Thanks to Josh White of Stay Wild Films for the video.