Guelph Off Road Bicycling Association (GORBA)

Did you know? Wellington County is now an "at risk" area for Blacklegged Deer ticks, the species known to transit Lyme Disease. Identifying these ticks can be challenging. Fortunately, there's an app for that: developed in a collaboration of several Canadian Universitiesincluding the U of GeTick is a free mobile app that allows you to submit pictures of encountered ticks and get a species identification in return. Your submissions also contribute to their public database and tick population tracking map! https://www.etick.ca/en

Our Trail Supervisor testing the new feature on Snail Trail at Guelph Lake! Another great, progressive feature, rideable by varied skill levels. Come check it out!

Speed River Bicycle knocking it out of the park with these early morning videos/pics of Snail Trail! You've got to hit the new drop next time tho!

This is good news. Thanks to all who donated!

Thanks to @gorbamtb and all the trail builders for providing an amazing place to start the day. As a low/no skill rider who hates leaving the ground, these new ...features allow you to learn with very low risk. Well done #gorba #appreciation #thankful #guelph #dawnpatrol #cyclingphotos #cycling #bikes

Bikes! Go get one if you need one!

OK Tire Winter Loop Update: TSS - Too Soft for Skinnies. Just out on the Winter Loop. Riding 3.8s at about 8psi, still slipping around quite a bit. The snow is light and soft. More packing needed. I met one rider on a Plus bike (3.0s) and they agreed that it was still tough going on the PLUS tires. Please use fat tires or snow shoes on the Winter Loop, but definitely get out and enjoy the day.

Good day all, The GRCA has completed the forestry work. Exercise caution as there may be debris concealed by the snow. Cheers

Good day all, The trails will ge closed for four days starting next Tuesday for some forestry work by the GRCA. See press release below. ... February 12, 2021 Release on receipt GORBA trails at Guelph Lake temporarily closed for tree maintenance The GORBA (Guelph Off-Road Bicycling Association) trails and public trails south of the Guelph Lake dam and north of Victoria Road South, will be temporarily closed on February 16, 17, 18 and 19th. The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) will be undertaking tree maintenance in preparation for trail improvements being supported through donations from the Rotary Club of Guelph and the City of Guelph. Trail closure signs will be posted at entrances to the property and access will not be permitted. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area while the work is underway and to obey all posted signage so that crews may complete the work safely. The maintenance work will include the removal of trees throughout the property. Most of the trees are invasive Buckthorn and plantation White Cedar species located approximately one to two metres off the main trail. Where possible, trees that are removed as part of this work will be left on the forest floor, where they will form new habitat and enrich the soil in the area as they decay. The public should be aware that trail conditions may change following this work and caution is urged when using this property. Media contacts: Cam Linwood, GRCA Communications Coordinator Phone 519-621-2763 x2251 | Email [email protected] Lisa Stocco, GRCA Manager of Communications Phone 519-621-2763 x2316 | Email [email protected]

2021 Memberships Now Available! http://gorba.ca or direct through CCN Bikes... Let's keep this momentum going! Hopefully we'll see a return to group rides in 2021!

Trail conditions are great on the OK Tire Winter Loop......and yet I could not stay on the trail during my selfie photo shoot. That's okay. No penalty for falling out of bounds in this game. Get out there and enjoy the trails this weekend.

The OK Tire Winter Loop conditions (as of Fri aft.): Excellent base (all tire sizes allowed) Some corners with icy ruts but no unrideable sections!... With Studs: Excellent (get those KOM's!) Fat Bikes: Good conditions <4": Rideable but smaller tires = sketchier corners A skilled rider could clean it without dismounting on a CX bike (33c tires, no studs). With the forecast, expect conditions to get slightly icier through the weekend but shouldn't get to studs only condition.

Important read, written by a club member:

Trails are in great shape today. Special thanks to the individual(s) who worked so hard at grooming OK Tire Winter loop and a few side trails.

Better late than never? The GORBA OK Tire winter loop 2020-2021 is now on GARMIN. - Travis - GORBA Corporate Liaison.

https://m.pinkbike.com//study-shows-78-million-economic-im

Happy New Year Everyone. The 2021 GORBA membership season is upon us. I guess we forgot to tell the internet, so the on-line registration process is, um, "experiencing technical difficulty". Please standby while we get it sorted. - Travis GORBA Corporate Liaison.

The Den isn't a safe-space for mice or "concrete finishers" trying smooth everything over If you're of the latter disposition please know that a trail doesn't... need to be smoother than a baby's bottom and more level than the horizon. Don't single-handedly lower this sport's bar by altering trail unilaterally. We wouldn't flatten a mountain for climbers, move the hole closer for golfers, half the weight of plates for dead-lifters and ETC. People must accomplish a lot of challenging things and learning how can be a joy when they have their heads screwed on straight. If a trail is difficult and you come along and master it then you've really done something. Mountain biking is brilliant in that regard and hiking the trails also becomes something interesting when they aren't simply sidewalks. No unauthorized changes, please. Ride/hike it as it lies #RockyAF #dontturnBlueintoGreen #TheDen #HAFTA #AgreementForest #HaltonON #MiltonON #HiltonFalls

Two Raccoons Now Open! Our latest trail, an expert jump line off Ridgeback out at our members only area, Arkell Springs.... More intermediate lines to come in the Spring, if you need to work up to it! #LookBeforeYouLeap

"You don't build up the berm, you let the berm build itself." - Bermie Deep wisdom from our Master of Berms, Bernie, at todays trail day. Nice work team!

We are quite grateful to the Grand River Conservation Authority for the land they lease us. This is a pretty stunning image.

Ever wonder what it's like inside a dam, far below the surface? Take a look inside the impressive Shand Dam, and learn about its role in flood management, in this video produced by Doors Open Waterloo Region. https://qoo.ly/38bhx2 #WaterWednesday

Great work from the volunteers who came out to Arkell Springs today! We put in a bunch of new trail and some spiffy new features!

Great work from the Thursday Night Crew last night! We hope to see you all Saturday morning 9-12 at Arkell! All are welcome (pending gathering size restrictions), no experience is necessary, bring tools if you have them but we have extra!

Trail Maintenance - Saturday Sept. 19 @ Arkell 9AM - 12 AM Help us extend Semi Sweet. ... Bring stiff rakes, McLeods, clippers, loppers, hand saws, gloves, and water. We have extra tools if you don't have any! Meet at F Gate across from Starkey Hill on Arkell Road. https://goo.gl/maps/MfU5guX4pkARLamF6 See you there!

Trail Maintenance, Saturday 9 AM - 12 PM at Arkell. Meet at the Watson Rd. Trailhead. https://goo.gl/maps/drp8AHx8fUoLqTBY7... Digging berms and bench cutting. Bring shovels and rakes. Hope to open the new trail, Giddy-Up!

The Guelph Lake trail crew has added a new skill builder! Located on the Phoenix: Wile E. Skinny (PHX Coyotes, get it?) PS Join the trail crew and help with better names... GORBA is not responsible for bent/broken derailleurs and rotors. #NeedsAHop Good Luck!

Trail Maintenance - Saturday Trail Day! Breaking New Trail Meet at 9:00 at Victoria road to hike in, or meet us at the turn around loop at the end of the main dam at about 9:15.... Bring gloves for clearing debris, trimmers, loppers, hand saws, rakes/McLeods, and lastly shovels. If you don't have tools, don't worry we have some extras. Will likely go rain or shine, but with if conditions are quite bad, we'll move to Sunday morning. See you there, Joel

Dragon's Tongue got a new berm tonight. Help us pack it down. Go ride!

The trail in this photo doesn't need any work, but the GORBA trails still have room to be made Awesome-er. Thursday night trail maintenance is a go. 6:30pm. Victoria Road trail head to meet up. See you there.

Thanks to the Thursday Night Trail Crew for bringing us our newest feature: Below the Belt! (examples in the comments!)... Located on Fight Club, this drop is made entirely from materials from the forest. It can be rolled, dropped, launched, scrubbed, or even ridden 'backwards'. How will you hit it?