For Episode 191 we have Lars Romig of Sedona, AZ. Lars has been a long-time member of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, along with being a Trail Builder and Mountain Bike Trail Access Advocate. Most Recently Lars led the charge on building the Hardline Trail. This conversation is one that I’ve wanted to have with a Sedona Local for a handful of years now as there is a ton of riding content that comes out of Sedona, but not a lot of content around how the Trails and Trail Access for mountain biking came to be in Sedona.

Topics Include:

• How Lars got into Mountain Biking
• What Lars does professionally for a career
• How Sedona Trails came to be for Mountain Biking
• The various trail zones in Sedona, and the order of when those riding zones opened up for mountain biking
• Pigtail Trail (within the Hogs network)
  • Started out as an IMBA Trail Day
  • Constant improvements to Pigtail
• Western Movies in Sedona / Broken Arrow Area
• Building a relationship with the U.S. Forest Service
• The growth of membership and engagement with the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition
• Singletrack Bypass Reroute
• The Hardline Trail backstory
  • The timeframe of building the Hardline Trail
• The Public Comment Period of the NEPA Process
• Recommended Direction Trails
• User Experience
• The user reception of the Hardline trail since it opened up
• Specialized and Soil Searching
• The Letter: H
• Trails that don’t start with the Letter H, that are still really great
• Canyon of Fools and lessons learned from that trail
• Monsoon Season and Riding Etiquette regarding wet trails
• Forest Service Trail Crew
• Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund
  • Funds Non-Motorized Trail Development and Maintenance
• What Lars looks for in a Trail Community
• Secrets to riding the Hardline Trail
  • The recommended route for a great ride that includes the classics and Hardline
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition: https://www.vvcc.us/

Specialized Soil Searching Hardline Trail: https://youtu.be/tJ06FMsIoy8?si=sBwZURjM5n-yFM3v

Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund: https://redrocktrailfund.org/

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For Episode 190 we have Chris Riley from Central Maine. Chris is the president of the Central Maine Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, and a board member of the New England Mountain Bike Association. Chris and his organization have come up with some innovative ideas on how to handle both new trail construction as well as handling annual trail maintenance. Maine and the New England region has a ton of momentum with mountain biking and trails, and that is really showcased during this conversation.

Topics Include:

• How Chris got into Mountain Biking
• Chris’s early years in mountain biking
  • Including several trips to ride in the Austin Texas area
• How Chris got involved with Mountain Biking and Advocacy in Maine
• Volunteer Engagement and Community Engagement with CE ME NEMBA
• Bringing on paid staff for trail building and maintenance
• Trail Systems that fall under the CE ME organization
• Buying an excavator to accelerate trail building in the region
• Various ways for funding trails
• Maine Trails Bond initiative
• Road Tripping to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
  • Marquette Trails
  • Houghton Trails
  • Copper Harbor Trails
• Creating destination riding communities
• Gravity Bike Parks in Maine
• Partnering with a local land trust for a new trail system
• Trail Systems proximity to communities for riding in the region
• Hub and Spoke Trail Model
• NEMBA and the 3 Year Strategic Plan
• Maintenance Matters
• What Chris looks for in a Trail Community
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers: https://www.bump.org/

Oak Ass Endurance Race: https://bumpngrindraces.com/oak-ass-100/

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For Episode 189 we have Chase Draper the President of Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers otherwise known as BUMP. BUMP is another powerhouse volunteer driven trail organization that falls under the SORBA mothership in the South East region of the United States. Chase provides some exceltent stories about what can be accomplished when you are willing to outwork everyone else, and he’s got a pretty sarcastic personality as well.

Topics Include:

• How and why Chase got into Mountain Biking
• How Chase got involved with BUMP
• Becoming the President of BUMP
• The backstory of BUMP
• Gravity Project at Oak Mountain State Park
• Funding through Inovate Alabama
• What the new Gravity Trails will do for the Region and Oak Mountain State Park
• Tannehill Ironworks trail expansion and building the largest adaptive accessible mountain bike trail system in the Southeast.
• IMBA Ride Centers and how BUMP is pursuing the Silver Level Ride Center Status.
• Oak Ass Endurance Race – NUE Series Championships for 2025
• Bump-N-Grind Race
• Challenges that Chase has come across with leading the organization and managing volunteers
• What makes a great trail community in Chase’s opinion
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers: https://www.bump.org/

Oak Ass Endurance Race: https://bumpngrindraces.com/oak-ass-100/

Episode Sponsor - Coulee Creative: www.dudejustsendit.com https://www.couleecreative.com/

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services