I recently requested and received the document that IMBA uses for assessment of the trail centers that they promote. As was discussed at the most recent meeting, Reading, PA is a Bronze Level IMBA Trail Center.
In my mind, it makes the most sense to have the Lehigh Valley as a whole become a trail center. That would mean all of VMB's territory should be included when we think about the trail center criteria. I think (someone say so if I'm wrong) that would mean Trex to Nox and everything in between, and it would have to include Blue Mountain Bike Park and Jacobsburg State Park as well.
The document is 13 pages long. My plan is to post the contents of each page in the forums, and I'm asking that people respond with what they feel the Lehigh Valley's points rating should be for each of the categories. The possible points are listed in parentheses at the end of the description. It is not clear if partial points are possible, but for our purposes, I think it makes sense to consider full points and half points. For example, if I feel that the "Singletrack - easy" category is fully represented in the Lehigh Valley I would give it one (1) point. If I believe the area only partially fulfills the category, I would give it one-half (1/2) point. If I feel we don't have it in the Lehigh Valley, I would give it zero (0) points.
This is, obviously, not a very scientific approach to this information, but I think it is a good way to gauge how close we are to the necessary numbers to achieve a Bronze level or better trail center rating with IMBA. Obviously, the final review is performed by IMBA themselves, and my goal is to use the numbers that we come up with (hopefully they are good) as a catalyst to have them come out and perform the review.
Singletrack - easy: Easy singletrack trail for riders - Traditional singletrack trail. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines.
Minimum length of 3.0 miles/4.8 km. Minimum contiguous length of 2.0 mile/3.2 km. (1)
Singletrack - more difficult: More difficult singletrack trail for riders - Traditional singletrack trail. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines.
Minimum length of 6.0 miles/9.7 km. Minimum contiguous length of 4.0 mile/6.4 km. (1)
Singletrack - very difficult: Very difficult singletrack trail for riders - Traditional singletrack trail. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines.
Minimum length of 6.0 miles/9.7 km. Minimum contiguous length of 4.0 mile/6.4 km. (1)
Singletrack - extremely difficult: Extremely difficult singletrack trail for riders - Traditional singletrack trail. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines. Minimum length of 5.0 miles/8 km. Minimum contiguous length of 2.0 mile/6.4 km. (1)
Bike-specific singletrack - easy: Easy purpose-built singletrack trail that maximizes the fun and efficiency of riding a mountain bike - Purpose-built or -modified singletrack trail, the majority of which contains a high density of specific features to enhance the rider experience and provide challenge, such as berms, rollers, consistently wide turn radii, technical features, rock gardens, jumps, drops, etc. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines. Minimum length of 1.0 miles/2.5 km. Minimum contiguous length of 1.0 miles/2.5 km. (1)
Bike-specific singletrack - easy: Easy purpose-built singletrack trail that maximizes the fun and efficiency of riding a mountain bike - Purpose-built or -modified singletrack trail, the majority of which contains a high density of specific features to enhance the rider experience and provide challenge, such as berms, rollers, consistently wide turn radii, technical features, rock gardens, jumps, drops, etc. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines. Points are cumulative. Minimum length of 2.0 miles/3.2 km. Minimum contiguous length of 1.0 miles/2.5 km. (1)
Bike-specific singletrack - easy: Easy purpose-built singletrack trail that maximizes the fun and e ciency of riding a mountain bike - Purpose-built or -modified singletrack trail, the majority of which contains a high density of specific features to enhance the rider experience and provide challenge, such as berms, rollers, consistently wide turn radii, technical features, rock gardens, jumps, drops, etc. Generally complies with IMBA Trail Rating guidelines. Minimum length of 3.0 miles/4.8 km. Minimum contiguous length of 1.0 miles/2.5 km. (1)
Copy and paste what is below into your response and put the number of points you think the Lehigh Valley deserves next to each category.
Singletrack - easy:
Singletrack - more difficult:
Singletrack very difficult:
Singletrack extremely difficult:
Bike-specific singletrack - easy (min. length 1.0 miles):
Bike-specific singletrack - easy (min. length 2.0 miles):
Bike-specific singletrack - easy (min. length 3.0 miles):
My goal is to put up a new page every few days.