Valmont Bike Park Blog

Cyclocross at Valmont Bike Park

2010-06-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

The 35+ Men at Last year's VBP opening day cyclocross race.

VBP TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION MONDAY!!!

2010-05-04T13:28:00.001-07:00

Valmont Bike Park Construction to Begin Monday!

News Flash!

The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department will commence construction of Valmont City Park Phase One and the Valmont Bike Park on Monday, May 10^th. The construction contract has been awarded to J-2 Construction of Greeley, CO, and Alpine Bike Parks of Vancouver, BC. J-2 will handle the utilities, concrete, drainage and park infrastructure, and Alpine Bike Parks will build out the trails and all bike features.

Alpine Bike Parks is led by Judd DeVall, and he is bringing the A List of trail builders with him into town. DeVall and his team have built some of the finest facilities in the country, and we are truly grateful to have them working for us. Depending on the weather and other factors, we should have the foundation of the facility built in 90 days for a fall opening, with other park amenities and more landscaping added in 2011.

We want to thank you for your patience and help along the way, between picking up trash, dropping 20's in our donation buckets, and helping build enthusiasm for the project, this could not have happened without your support.

We are working with Alpine and J-2 to schedule volunteer days on site, please stay tuned to the BMA newsletters for details. We hope you ride by the site and watch the park materialize over the next few months. Please, DO NOT ENTER THE PARK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. J-2 Construction legally owns the site over the next 90 days, and will be vigilant in protecting their equipment and enforcing the no trespassing rule. If there are riders caught on site, it will delay the project. J-2 will have to hire security and erect more fencing, and this will come out of the money for the bike features and trails. Please, do not trespass.

The design team, lead by DeVall, is brining years of experience to the table. They will be creating facilities that will cater to riders of all ability levels and ages. Our vision of a world class facility is within reach, just a few more months!

We did it!! | On to the construction!!

2010-03-05T06:31:00.001-08:00

$500,000 Fundraising Goal Met

We Did It!
When we started this project back in 2008, we set a lofty fundraising goal of a half million dollars. It seemed like an enormous stretch, but we took aim and went to work. In less than two years, we've reached this milestone with cash donations, grants, and other gifts. To everyone who played a role: THANK YOU.
The community support has been simply awesome. Our biggest thanks go to the Great Outdoors Colorado grant program, which awarded a $200,000 chunk to our effort. But all donors big and small deserve a slap on the back. The funds will be used to supplement the City's budget for bike trails and terrain. The partnership between BMA and the Parks Department is stronger than ever and everyone is extremely proud of what we've accomplished together.

Construction Update

Many of you are asking, "When is the park going to open?" As with any large construction project, it is difficult to pinpoint a completion date. Our goal remains to open the park as soon as possible. At this stage, we are realistically aiming at late this summer or early fall for the first phase to be ready to ride. Rest assured, City staff and BMA volunteers are working diligently to keep this project moving.
The City is now preparing the final construction bid documents and we hope to select a group of contractors quickly and commence building later this spring.
The Parks Department originally hoped to build the park in one push. However, due to budget constraints and the complexity of the project, the strategy now is to build the park in phases as City funds become available. The good news is that a large portion of the bike park is scheduled to be built this year in 2010 - about two miles of cross country and cyclocross trails, the downhill slopestyle trails for all abilities, the race start/finish lane, and the kid's learning loop. The Parks Department is working hard to secure as much funding for the 2010 construction season as they can, and we'll add more trails and technical terrain as soon as possible.
When the park planning process began, our goal was to begin construction in 2009. We met that goal with a ceremonial groundbreaking and by completing the major earthmoving. But the sheer complexity of the project required many more steps navigating the City of Boulder's Land Use Review process than anticipated, and the primary construction got pushed into 2010.
On the plus side, in 2009 we held two awesome volunteer workdays, a super fun groundbreaking and 'cross race, and a huge amount of earth-moving was completed. We also raised a truck load of money thanks to you!
Stay tuned to the BMA newsletter for construction updates over the spring. We will ride there one day soon!

Final Donor Report

Now that our fundraising campaign is winding down and construction will soon start, this will be the last Valmont Donor email report. We are merging future Valmont Park communications into the regular BMA newsletter. All donors were awarded a BMA annual membership at the time of their donation. Many of these memberships are now up for renewal. We urge you to renew your membership and stay part of the team to help make Boulder County a great place for bicycling. If you have questions about your BMA membership, send us a message at http://bma-mtb.org/contact/
Your ongoing BMA membership is important!
In addition to working with the Parks Department on the fundraising and construction phase of Valmont, BMA will also be an active partner for trail maintenance, programming and events after the Park is complete. Your support of BMA is critical to our long-term participation and stewardship of Valmont Bike Park.

Last Donor Report? How to Stay informed

In our effort to streamline our communications with you, future Valmont Bike Park news will be folded into the newsletter of our partner organization Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA). Through the BMA Newsletter, you'll learn about other off-road cycling trails, advocacy efforts, and partnerships just like what we're doing for Valmont Bike Park. We're confident that you'll love the information you receive in this newsletter.
However, if you do not wish to receive the combined newsletter, follow unsubscribe link at the bottom of the this email... but please continue to check the Valmont Bike Park Website and blog for updates! If you don't opt out now, we'll simply add you to the usual BMA list before the next newsletter. You can always opt out of the BMA Newsletter later with a single click, so you've got nothing to lose and everything about mountain bikes in Boulder County to gain.

Happy trails in 2010!

Volunteer work party is ON! Monday October 12th 4-7PM

2009-10-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Spread the word, tomorrow, Monday October 12th from 4-7pm, Volunteer Workday is on! We could really use your help tomorrow in preparation for the Groundbreaking Ceremony and Cyclocross race NEXT SATURDAY, Oct 17th.

A few details about the volunteer night tomorrow:

Come whenever you are free, and stay only as long as you want.
Park your cars in the paved lot on the south side of Valmont Park, south of Valmont Rd. Don't park near the Platt Farmhouse, and don't park at the chicken barn/dog park (it is too muddy.)
Meet at the pond, next to the "pump-house" in Valmont Park. This is right next to the intersection of Valmont and Airport Rd.
Tools: All tools will be provided.
Construction of the dirt jumps is cancelled due to weather.

It should only take a few hours, and will consist of cutting weeds, raking debris, smoothing bumps, pruning branches, digging out cactus, and pounding stakes.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Pete Webber and John:
pete at imba dot com
mtbcolorado at yahoo dot com

If you can't attend, no worries! If you can, THANK YOU!!!

Valmont Bike Park | How it gets built!

2009-10-06T20:39:00.001-07:00

You ever wonder how a bike park gets built? Well, in the case of Valmont Bike Park, this is a MAJOR undertaking as nearly 45 acres of land will be meticulously groomed and shaped by earth movers to literally make the elevation gains and losses we want to have the most fun on as off road cyclists. Your donations and the substantial money invested by the city of Boulder make this happen and the VBP committee is dedicated to ensuring this becomes world class. To our knowledge, no bike park in the United States is at the scale or caliber of this multi-million dollar investment. So to demonstrate, here’s what a typical day in the life of a bike park’s development looks like in a brief 45 second snapshot:

Over and over…all day…a parade of monster earth movers and groomers literally take land from one place and deposit it elsewhere to create the contours, hills and valleys we’ve designed into the Park. Once groomed and shaped, the park will have it's courses laid in and natural vegetation carefully replanted to give the park a great taste of Colorado’s finest singletrack.

As previously mentioned, October 17th will be the park’s groundbreaking day and a Cyclocross Race! To give you a bit of a teaser, here’s a preview of the course to whet appetites. HUP HUP!

Valmont Bike Park Cyclocross Course Map

View more documents from Greg Keller.

Valmont Bike Park Groundbreaking!

2009-09-29T13:01:00.001-07:00

Valmont Bike Park Fest

Official Groundbreaking with an ACA Cyclocross Race & Fun Cycling Activities!!

Saturday, October 17th
CX Race and Bike Activities: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Groundbreaking: 11:00 am
Valmont City Park
Valmont Road and Airport Road, NE corner
Boulder, Colorado

The time has come to break ground at the site of our future Valmont Bike Park! Construction officially begins in 2010, but big changes are already happening at VBP - come see for yourself. The Park will be dirty, bumpy, and very far from finished, with a temporary one-time trail built just for the Cyclocross Race... but we are excited to see construction changes underway and, hey, it's never too early to start having fun at your new favorite Boulder City Park!
The Groundbreaking is only one part of VBP Fest, a full day of activities and fun, including:

Valmont Bike Park Ground Breaking Cross races, 8 am to 4 pm
Kids fun: jumpy castle and mini skills park
Beer Garden sponsored by Boulder Beer, right on the CX course
Jump Jam
Food vendors
Site tours to check out the bike park site and plans

Bring your friends and family! Forward this message to share the fun, and stay tuned for more details!
Contact info@valmontbikepark.com with any questions.
We will see you on October 17th!

Valmont Bike Park News Updates!

2009-08-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

Next Generation of Bike Park Plans Now Online

Time to get excited!

Detailed plans for Valmont Bike Park are now online, and you really have to see them to believe it - the Park designers have pulled out all the stops to dream up an amazing park, and you can clearly see their vision in these next generation site plans. The current plans including site maps marking feature locations and detailed drawings for individual features, but expect changes as additional design details are still being developed for the final package to guide the construction effort. Current plans include cyclocross sandpits and staircases, wall rides, banked turns, rollers and tabletops, log rides... everything you need to visualize Valmont Bike Park in your dreams.
Kudos go out to the team of designers from Alpine Bike Parks, IMBA, and Alta Planning & Design for their dedication to VBP. As far as we know, no trail builders in the nation have ever had to adhere to this level of detail. It is a big learning curve, but this is a big civil engineering project. The level of detail is necessary for proper bid and build without tons of change orders to the project. We can't thank Alpine Bike Parks enough for making their vision available to the rest of us.

Site Grading in September and October

First steps toward building Valmont Bike Park

Expect to see dirt moving around at Valmont Bike Park! The first step in making VBP a biking heaven is to move a lot of dirt, shaping it into hills and features which will then hold the trails and landscaping. The City has taken a very proactive step by creating a separate permit for the grading work at the park, so that this important first step can happen as soon as possible.

Valmont Bike Park Fundraising Hits $366K

That's right, to date we have raised $366,000 towards construction of bike features and trails at Valmont Bike Park! Thanks to a combination of individual donations from the community and generous grants from GOCO, Bikes Belong, The Dalbey Foundation and REI, we have increased the budget for bike park features by 50%.

One more time, thank you donors!

REI Grant Helps Fund VBP
$10,000 grant due to REI employees

REI employees work, play and volunteer in their communities. Because of this close relationship with the community, REI asks their employees to nominate non-profit organizations for REI grants. The Valmont Bike Park was nominated by the REI Boulder Store and we applied for funding this spring.
We are pleased to report that our grant request was approved and recently funded. Valmont Bike Park received $10,000 from REI to support trail construction and also ongoing maintenance. Some of these funds will be used for the purchase of hand tools and equipment that will be stored on-site and used by volunteers.
REI has been a long-time supporter of outdoor recreation and BMA. In fact, the 'REI Gives' Program has even provided a major grant for BMA's Volunteer Trail Work Program. Thanks REI for your support!

Groundbreaking Party and CX Race

October 17th at Valmont Bike Park!

Cyclocross Super Cup, 1998 - the last time a CX race was held at Valmont!

On October 17th, the VBP Committee and Boulder Parks and Recreation will host a groundbreaking event and party at the Park in conjunction with a cyclocross race. Details are pending, but hundreds of racers and spectators will be there to help us inaugurate the Park. The race will take place on temporary trails and under very unfinished conditions - the park and trail will not be indicative of the final product. However, this is a great opportunity to get VBP started, so that you, our donors, can see what the Park is like now and get ready for its transformation in 2010.
Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for details.

Idea of urban bike parks gains traction along Front Range

2009-08-05T11:45:00.001-07:00

By Jason Blevins
The Denver Post

Posted: 08/04/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT

Updated: 08/04/2009 06:13:02 AM MDT

Logan Watson, 13, jumps a bump at Bohn Park in Lyons. As urban mountain-biking parks become more numerous on the Front Range, their rugged terrain can also attract BMX riders. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

BOULDER — Skateboarders have their own concrete courtyards. Kayakers enjoy whitewater playparks in dozens of riverside towns. Now mountain bikers are getting their own in-town places to play.

A $4.1 million bike park under construction in Boulder, a half- dozen others already open, and circuits proposed for Golden and Denver mark yet another step in the park-and-play progression that has brought high-country sports to Colorado's downtown landscapes.

The concept is simple: Bring the playground to the people, where skills can develop without a drive deep into the hills.

"It's bringing the backcountry or action sports experience to the front country," said Ryan Schutz, Rocky Mountain regional director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, which promotes the urban bike park as a gateway to mountain biking.

Colorado has been quick to embrace the concept of a one-stop spot to learn and compete. There are 26 whitewater playparks in the state, about a quarter of the nation's total.

Schutz expects something similar to happen with bike parks.

"The active lifestyle is so important here, and I see the bike park taking off in Colorado before anywhere else," he said.

A decade ago, Colorado's ski resorts began sculpting mountainside trails into bike-ready singletracks, with many resorts, including SolVista, Keystone and Winter Park, adding downhill-specific trails with ramps, elevated paths and obstacles that cater to the new-school "freeride" cyclists.

Cities along the Front Range co-opted the concept. Lyons, Castle Rock and Lakewood have set aside areas for trails training and freeriding, and the Colorado Mountain Bike Association is asking Golden to approve a bike park in the city's Tony Grampsas Park.

Fort Collins a freeriding first

Fort Collins went first, dedicating a portion of its 100-acre Spring Canyon park for freeride bicyclists in 2007.

Spring Canyon riders pilot their bikes over logs, rocks, ramps and berms. The area is connected to Fort Collins' web of regional trails.

Craig Foreman, Fort Collins' park development director, said Spring Canyon is heavily used and local riders have become its stewards, volunteering to maintain trails and features.

A $200,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado jump-started construction of the $4.1 million Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, a 45-acre complex that will include a clubhouse, singletrack trails, a terrain park, a cyclocross race course and viewing plazas for competition spectators. The park will include terrain for riders of all abilities.

Plans for the park began in 1996, when the city of Boulder acquired a former chicken farm near its eastern boundary.

Boulder's biking community shifted planning into high gear nearly three years ago, lobbying local leaders with their never-been-done-before idea.

"No one had ever built a cycling facility like this," said Bobby Noyes , a Boulder cyclist who helped sculpt the Valmont park plan.

Pedaling big dreams

Through the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, local pedalers have raised $158,000 to fund the park's construction and maintenance.

Already, cyclists are dreaming big.

They think the Boulder park could anchor a national mountain bike racing league. It could regularly host school kids and provide a venue for teaching bike safety, delivering lessons that could ultimately dilute the growing animosity between cyclists and drivers. It could be the home to national cyclocross championships, which appeals to the Front Range's 2,500 licensed cyclocross racers.

"The potential is huge for what we are about to create here," said Chris Grealish, a Boulder bike racer who promotes and stages international cyclocross races, which feature off-road racing on short, muddy, obstacle-riddled tracks.

It's not just for cyclists, though. Planners hope that as the state's whitewater playparks evolve into spectator-friendly riverside hangouts, the Boulder park's appeal will reach beyond pedalers.

(And for the record, the park's plans include a dog park and traditional playground equipment.)

"We are hoping this becomes a community amenity that will be used by more than just cyclists," said city parks planner Perry Brooks.

In the past couple of years, the urban bike park concept has gained traction nationwide. One is under construction in Grand Rapids, Mich. Bike groups in Portland, Ore., San Francisco and Orlando, Fla., are jockeying for city approval and funding to develop urban bike playgrounds. A park in Chicago and Seattle's new Interstate 5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Park — tucked beneath an interstate overpass — have become international models for what cities can do for local off-road cyclists.

Ski operator eyes Denver

In Denver, Winter Park ski area operator Intrawest is developing plans to build a 4-acre downhill bike course at North Barnum Park, a sort of summer equivalent of the ski resort's winter activities at Denver's Ruby Hill park.

Intrawest's idea is to groom the next generation of riders who might someday visit Winter Park's expanding network of downhill and freeride trails, while a dilapidated Denver park gets an upgrade.

"This could be a well-structured spot for riders to develop their skills," said Bob Holme, manager of Winter Park's bike park, "and it's a chance to reach out to kids in the city and get them involved in the sport of cycling."

Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374or jblevins@denverpost.com

Valmont Bike Park Awarded GOCO Grant!

2009-06-22T21:16:00.001-07:00

Valmont Bike Park Awarded Great Outdoors Colorado Grant!
Additional funding of $200,000 from GOCO

We are thrilled to announce that Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) has awarded $200,000 to Boulder Parks & Recreation for construction at the Valmont Bike Park (VBP). Forty-five applications were submitted requesting more than $7 million - so VBP was among some pretty tough competition!

Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) played an integral role in the grant application, and our partnership with City of Boulder Parks & Recreation Department helped strengthen the proposal immensely. The community support for a bike park at Valmont, as well as more than $150,000 in individual donations from over 500 people and businesses also made our application competitive in GOCO's process.

This generous grant from GOCO will bring us much closer to the vision of a world-class bike park at Valmont City Park. This grant will be used to supplement the City's construction budget to help build a cutting-edge bike park, and also help us seek additional funding from local foundations that hold GOCO's decisions in high regard.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Valmont Bike Park - your volunteer time and generous donations have truly paid off!

The PRO-ness of Valmont Bike Park

2009-06-09T09:22:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to share with you a little sampling of what’s coming. What people need to understand is that this project is literally at the tip of the spear in many aspects…from the way we organized to push the concept in 2007 with the City of Boulder to the aggregation of the most professional resources possible to ensure this park is world class.

One such example is Tarras Landscape Innovation. This is the team which was selected by the Valmont Park Committee after they submitted their designs held during an open competition and clearly blew the team away. Their contributions will be to look conceptually at the space we have allotted to us (45 acres) and look specifically at the ‘details’ of the Park itself to balance aesthetics with usability/sustainability all the while keeping the theme of cycling and cyclists at the core of their usable designs.

It’s worth a look at this brief snapshot they’ve provided.

Get excited!

Valmont Bike Park is a GO!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-05T06:21:00.001-07:00

Board OKs first phase of Valmont park construction

45-acre parcel to include bike park and disc-golf course

By Zak Brown (Contact)
Thursday, June 4, 2009

Photo by Marty Caivano

Jasmine Wong plays with her dog, Bella, on the south side of Valmont City Park on Thursday.

Photo by Marty Caivano

Trucks dump dirt at Valmont City Park on Thursday. The dirt will be used to shape the bike park planned for the spot just south of the Boulder County Jail.

BOULDER, Colo. — After more than a decade, a plot of land Boulder voters envisioned as a park with community-wide appeal took a major step toward reality Thursday night.

The site review for the first, $4.5 million phase of the Valmont City Park was approved unanimously by the Boulder Planning Board, clearing the way for a 45-acre section of the park that will include a bike park, trails, a dog park, a “tot lot” and a disc-golf course.

“When the idea for this park first started, it was meant to be an active park that could be a place for several different activities,” said Alice Guthrie, a superintendent with Boulder Parks and Recreation. “And we really think we’ve accomplished that with this plan.”

Voters approved a tax to pay for the park in 1998.

Construction is expected to start this summer or fall on the first of three phases of Valmont City Park, which in all covers a 132-acre parcel in northeast Boulder. The first phase is expected to be finished in about a year.

The bike park — which includes several different levels and types of terrain, such as dirt tracks and a cyclocross course — is already being designed with help from the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, which has donated $70,000 to the project.

The bike park is “the first built anywhere, that we know of,” Guthrie said.

The development of Valmont City Park has been a long and sometimes-complicated process.

Between 1999 and 2003, the parks department tried to find private or nonprofit partners to help develop the park. But after those attempts fell through, staffers went back to the drawing board.

The Valmont City Park Advisory Group was formed in 2007, and it restarted the process of trying to formulate the park.

After the group submitted a concept plan, the Planning Board made some suggestions, such as trying to reduce auto congestion and increase vegetation, and the City Council approved the concept last summer.

The parks department found much of the money to pay for the first phase of construction from the sale of two parks properties, which netted a little more than $3 million.

Teva and The Outdoor Foundation Support Valmont Bike Park!

2009-05-20T05:50:00.001-07:00

(Note the generous donation Teva and the Outdoor Federation will be making to the VBP!)

Teva Partners With Outdoor Foundation and IMBA, Introduces B1-G Air Contest

Teva, a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation, and the Outdoor Foundation have announced a new partnership effort aimed at broadening the outdoor community by engaging new audiences and industries in nature-based activities. Teva has launched the Teva B1-G Air Contest, which will invite contestants to create a short video of their biggest-air trick and try to win a trip to the 2010 Teva Mountain Games.

The effort also includes a cause-related component where a donation from Teva and The Outdoor Foundation will be made in the winner's name to IMBA to help build the Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO.

Valmont Clean Up a Success!

2009-05-10T20:41:00.001-07:00

Valmont Clean Up a Success!

A Post Volunteer Work Day Report by Pete Webber

The future home of the Valmont Bike Park got a spring cleaning this weekend thanks to 60 volunteers who spent their Saturday afternoon working to clear trash, junk, and old fences from the site.

The plan was to clean up the 40-acres in anticipation of official construction to begin later this year. By the end of the day, piles of trash included car tires, lumber, innumerable plastic bags, and unexpected discoveries like a shopping cart, golf bag, rusted bed frame, lawn furniture, and 11 different shoes.

The crews also dismantled 700 feet of barbed wire fences that were hold-overs from when portions of the property were a farm. Along with the barbed wire came nearly 100 fence-posts that had to be pried out of the ground.

The vibe was super positive as young and old got dirty and pitched in to do their part for the project. Everyone also got a close look at the park plans and toured the site with some of the team involved in the planning and design.

The event was organized by the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department, with help from the International Mountain Biking Association.

Since day one, the public support for this park has been unbelievable, and this weekend's event was no different. Stay tuned for future events later this year and come join the fun!

See the full set of images here, or enjoy them in the slide show below!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Valmont Bike Park Work Day!

2009-05-02T13:43:00.001-07:00

Valmont Clean-Up Day, May 9th

We are getting closer to construction for the Valmont Bike Park,
and we need your help!

When: Saturday May 9th, 2-6pm
Why: Site prep
Time to begin site prep for the Valmont Bike Park! We hope to begin construction over the summer, but first work needs to be done this spring. We will meet at the site at 2pm, Saturday May 9th, to get the ball rolling on construction. The site has been neglected for years - there are downed fences, windblown debris, and invasive weeds that need to be removed. We are partnering with BMA for this Valmont Bike Park work day, but we also need your help. BMA work days are rewarding and a good chance to meet other like minded members of the community, so pitch in, it is cool to help out.
We scheduled the clean up so you could ride in the morning, and help out in the afternoon. After breaking into groups of ten, we will learn about the park while prepping the site for construction. This is your first opportunity to see the plans on site, ask questions and help out. We will provide the materials, just bring work gloves.
We have to limit the number of volunteers to 60, and there has been a tremendous outpouring of offers to help. Please click here to register; register early because once we reach 60 volunteers, we will respond that the event is full.
The Valmont Bike Park will be a model civic bike project for years to come. Come out, watch it unfold, be a part of it.

Valmont Bike Park at Sea Otter!

2009-04-19T05:40:00.001-07:00

This is a re-cast of Rob Love’s post, owner of Blue Sky Velo in Longmont and Mavic Neutral Support Personality Extraordinaire. They’re in Monterey for The Otter and had this to say…

VBP at Sea Otter

BAM, that number plate just got tagged, Valmont-style!

hey kids:
for those of you lucky enough to be reading this blog from Sea Otter, and for the rest of us that need to live vicariously through pictures showing a little VitaminD, check it out: Mike Eubank of the Valmont Bike Park crew is out at Sea Otter doing his thing along with IMBA getting the word out about the park. Mike is spending his own time and money out there, spreading the gospel! This will definitely get some national attention to the park, and help speed along fundraising and construction.

The IMBA booth is 20x20ft of bike-avocating madness!

The VBP trail map is about as Pro as it gets.

Alright, that's about it for right now--so if you or someone you know is out in Monterrey, give'em a text, tweet, e-mail, or smoke signal and tell 'em to get over to the booth and give Mike and the crew some props!
Rob Love, over&out.

Pedestrian Shops & Boulder Arts & Crafts Host Fundraiser for VBP!

2009-04-10T16:45:00.001-07:00

'Old Friend' Businesses Celebrate Children's Day And Earth Day The Pedestrian Shops and Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery are teaming up for a kids' Crocs-decorating event to benefit the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance designated for the Kids' Learning Loop at the Valmont Bike Park. Parents and kids can purchase a pair of kids' Crocs at the Pedestrian Shops and take them next door to the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery to decorate them, 1-3 p.m. April 24, 1400 block of Pearl Street, 303-443-3683 or 303-449-5260

VBP Crew at University Bicycles!

2009-03-14T14:40:00.001-07:00

The VBP crew was representin' down at University Bicycles today, out in the brilliant sunshine that is Boulder in March. Tim Shea and Mike Eubank were out manning the beautiful new VBP tent that was generously, and personally, donated to us by Dean Gentile of OMNI Promotions. It looked PRO!! Moreover, the ENTIRE staff at U Bikes was in support of the park by all wearing their VBP Shirts with pride. I was able to take some shots today to give you a little peak at the day.

The day was all about promoting the park to passers by, showing interested people the features being built, discussing timelines and handing out stickers and other promotional items to advertise the goodness coming to Boulder. All in all, it was amazing to see.

Click on the image below to see my set.

Come see New World Disorder 9 and Support VBP!

2009-03-05T09:45:00.001-08:00

Full Cycle will host the St. Patrick's Party and Film Night to benefit Valmont Bike Park

All Proceeds from the event will benefit Valmont Bike Park ,

a new dedicated off-road cycling facility in Boulder , Colorado planned for construction in 2009

Date/time: March 17th, Doors at 7, Movies at 8

Location: Boulder Theater

Price: $10 + service charge

Feature Movie: New World Disorder 9: Never Enough

http://www.nwdfilms.com/new/nwd_9_never_enough_teaser

Special Events: Mafia Racing is organizing Demos, Ripstoke will perform Trials Demo

Sponsored by: Full Cycle, Kona, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Drawings for cool gear from: Kona, Mavic, Oakley, Giro, Fox, Look, Bike Magazine, PBR

Wear green and get raffle tickets for $1; No Green and raffle tickets are $2

Boulder farmhouse to be moved for bike park : Get Out : Boulder Daily Camera

2009-03-04T07:02:00.001-08:00

Boulder farmhouse to be moved for bike park : Get Out : Boulder Daily Camera

Posted using ShareThis

KGNU's Valmont Bike Park PodCast!

2009-02-14T06:57:00.002-08:00

Clink the image below to access to the MP3 file and listen to the Valmont Bike Park Committee's interview with Boulder's KGNU public Radio.

Momentum in Portland!

2009-02-10T10:33:00.001-08:00

It looks like this Bike Park thing isn't a fad. Here's a recast of a story of the momentum building behind Portland's new bike park on BikePortland.

Kicking the dirt at Gateway Green

Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on February 10th, 2009 at 8:18 am

A show of momentum in and of itself, the invite-only group that showed up to the Gateway Green “Kick the Dirt” event included a wide range of stakeholders — from agencies like ODOT and PBOT to citizen activists and trail planning experts.
(Photos © J. Maus)

An effort to re-claim 35 acres of vacant land in East Portland and turn it into a bike recreation hub is building some serious momentum.

Standing at the southern end of the site.
This is the highest point on the site.

On Saturday, a select group of trail experts, bureaucrats, citizen advocates, neighborhood representatives, and agency stakeholders kicked off a focused planning effort for how bicycles might fit into the Gateway Green vision.

The “Kick the Dirt” event was funded by a grant from REI and was organized by trail advocate Tom Archer, parks advocate Linda Robinson, and the visionary developer behind the Gateway Green project, Ted Gilbert. The group spent the better half of a sunny Saturday getting to know the site firsthand and brainstorming ideas that will be organized into a forthcoming “concept plan”.

...Continue Reading the BikePortland Article here!

Lust the latest rev of the VBP trail map. Yummy.

2009-02-06T04:26:00.000-08:00

Have a looky-loo at the latest version of the trail map and race course concept. Things may still change but this should give you a pretty good feeling of what's coming.

VBP Park Map 8.5x11

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Also, Zach Lee provided some awesome 'close ups' to demonstrate some of the detail of the Park's new design. Check it:

We're live

2009-02-05T12:25:00.001-08:00

Yeah baby!

IT HAS BEGUN!!

2009-02-02T06:28:00.001-08:00

Our main man Pete Webber was on the scene at the Park yesterday and behold...DIRT IS BEING DELIVERED!! His report:

Oh yes. Progress at the Valmont Bike Park in the shape of growing
stockpiles of fresh dirt. The dirt is being delivered free of charge
from various construction sites around town.

They've got dirt to get
rid of after digging basements, and we need hundreds of truck loads
to enhance the terrain at Valmont. The dirt shown in these photos
will be used to to pump up the bike terrain in the flat southeast
zone, as well as to shape the land around the dog park, steel
building, and parking lot.

W e love dirt, and we love real tangible
progress!

BIKES BELONG DONATION MATCHING PROGRAM!!!

And don't forget: Bikes Belong has agreed to match up to $10,000 in
funds raised from individuals by this Friday Feb. 6 dollar for
dollar. If you haven't donated yet, now is an excellent time to do so
- you'll have twice the impact.

DONATE HERE!!!

Valmont Park Site Review Drawings

2009-01-29T07:55:00.001-08:00

The complete collection of plans and drawings for Valmont Park is now available online . These are medium-level design documents that show the general layout and design intent to comply with the City's site review process. There are many pages of technical documents detailing every aspect of the site, from the landscaping to the buildings to the bike stuff. Once approved by the Planning Department, the design will become much more detailed before construction begins later in 2009. Check out the progress!

Valmont Bike Park Donor Report

2009-01-28T15:19:00.001-08:00

Well last night was an AWESOME success. It shows the pride and excitement the community has. As a donor, you should be privy to the progress of the Park and where your hard earned and donated dollars are going. Below, please find an example of the first Donor Report.

Enjoy!!

(You can vie this blog post below also on the web site. Click here )

Jan 2009

Dear Valmont Bike Park Donor,
Welcome to the first edition of the Valmont Bike Park (VBP) Donor Report. The VBP Committee will be sending these out about once a month to keep you, our donors, up to date on bike park happenings and progress. You can unsubscribe at any time using the links at the bottom of this email, but we hope you'll stay with us until the grand opening of the
park in 2009.

Sincerely,

Mike Eubank
Valmont Bike Park Committee

From the Valmont Bike Park Committee

Ushering in a New Era - the Valmont Bike Park

A Message from Bobby Noyes

The Valmont Bike Park is finally becoming a reality. After years of advocating and countless meetings, the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department is moving full speed ahead with design and development - just check out Pete Webber's design update below. Boulder Parks and Rec is proud to call Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) a partner in this process, and is overwhelmed by BMA's support. Most user groups play a very small role in the development of parks facilities, and BMA is breaking new ground with their active role in design, development and maintenance of the Valmont Bike Park.
To date, we have raised more than $115,000 from over 400 donors, and more donations are coming in every day. No other project in the recent history of Parks and Recreation has garnered such support. We want to sincerely thank all who have opened their wallets to support this project.
Our financial contributions will expand the budget to create a dynamic bike park and give Boulder-area cyclists of all levels a place to call home. Just as important, our contributions have also fostered a new level of reciprocity with the City. The City now realizes how important this park is to the cycling community, and is working feverishly to make it happen. Although shovels have yet to hit the ground, your dollars are hard at work.
On a side bar, donors at the $100 level or above will be honored at the Valmont Bike Park as previously stated. The City has hired a local artist to design elements of the park while incorporating our donor recognition, but the final product might use media other than "bricks" to better fit the park design and aesthetic. Rest assured you will see recognition of your contribution at the site - thanks for your trust!
-Bobby Noyes, Chair, Valmont Bike Park Committee

Progress and Plans at VBP

Construction Projected for Summer 2009

Park designers are working furiously to complete the final design and gain thumbs up from the City of Boulder planning department and other city officials. The final design details are being drawn this winter by a team that includes City staff, a group of design specialists, and members of the cycling community. For the biking-related amenities, the pro design team includes the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), gravity specialists from Alpine Bike Parks, and designers from Alta Planning and Design.
The City hopes to put the construction work out to bid later this spring and begin building during the summer. It is impossible to predict an opening date, but everyone is working hard to get it completed as soon as possible.
Although not final, the current plans include:

3-4 mile network of flowing trails for all abilities
new-school dual slalom race course
gravity-fed slopestyle area with beginner, intermediate and expert lines
250'- long dirt jump area
lots of technical features
two pumptracks
"learning loop"
cyclocross staircase
wheel-sucking sandpits
spectator plazas
start/finish straight
even a tricycle track for the munchkins

Earlier this fall, the design team hatched the idea of converting the big old steel warehouse building on Valmont Road into a covered bike terrain park. Initial plans call for the walls to be removed, leaving just a roof that will provide protection from the snow, rain and summer sun. At this time, the City is conducting a feasibility study to determine if the building is structurally sound and how much a renovation would cost.
Stay tuned for future updates and opportunities for volunteer workdays later this year. Amd be sure to attend the Campaign Party scheduled for Tuesday, January 27th to check out the new park plans.
-Pete Webber, IMBA

Fundraising News

Bikes Belong Kicks Off $10K Matching Funds Campaign

Dollar-for-dollar matching through February 6th

Bikes Belong is the national coalition of bike-industry retailers and suppliers working together to put more people on bicycles more often. Through grassroots grants, national partnerships, lobbying, and promotion, Bikes Belong works to make bicycling in the U.S. safe, convenient, and fun for riders of all ages and abilities.

Headquartered here in bike-friendly Boulder, Bikes Belong is pleased to support the Valmont Bike Park through a Matching Funds Drive scheduled for January 21 through February 6th, 2009. For all individual and business donations collected during this time from our community, Bikes Belong will contribute up to $10,000 in matching funds. Please take this opportunity to donate to your local bike park or help share the story by encouraging friends to contribute. "Valmont Bike Park will make Boulder an even better place to be a bicyclist, and we're thrilled to have this world-class facility in our own backyard," said Tim Blumenthal, Executive Director of Bikes Belong.
Contribute today, and double your investment in the future of bicycling in Boulder! Visit www.valmontbikepark.com to DONATE NOW and have your funds matched, and please join us at the kickoff party on January 27th at Boulder Cycle Sport.
- Elizabeth Train, Bikes Belong

Valmont Bike Park Fundraising Hits $115K

and still climbing

Dalbey Foundation Donates $50K to VBP

Gift to Support Tot Lot, Tricycle Track

Teaching kids to ride a bike will soon get a little easier in Boulder, thanks to a $50,000 gift from the Dalbey Foundation. The donation will fund educational features at the bike park, including the tricycle track and tot lot. "This donation benefits Valmont Bike Park by enhancing facilities to help children and families learn how to ride safely and experience all aspects of cycling." said "Botsy" Phillips, President of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance.
Founded in 2005 by local entrepreneur and former competitive cyclist Russ Dalbey, the Dalbey Foundation is the charitable arm of Dalbey Education, Dalbey's business headquartered in Westminster, CO. The Dalbey Foundation's mission is to support efforts that provide people of all ages with the tools and education to improve their lives, their emotional, physical and spiritual health. A great fit with the Valmont Bike Park.
According to Dalbey Foundation spokesperson Susannah Christy, "The opportunity to invest in Valmont Bike Park was a natural fit for the Dalbey family. The project promotes everything they care about - families and children, education, health and fitness - in this case, promoting health and fitness through cycling."
The Dalbey Foundation Tot Lot will be the official name of the Valmont Bike Park amenity, thanks to their donation and support. Additional naming rights at the park are also available for donations of $15,000 or more. Please contact Mike Eubank at mikeeeubank@comcast.net for more information on these options.

VBP Fundraising and Fun at the Cyclocross State Championships

More Cowbell!

The VBP Committee had a banner day at the Cyclocross State Championships, held December 2008 in Boulder, CO. It was 62 degrees, sunny, and perfect conditions - to support the riders and Valmont Bike Park! Big thanks go to the following supporters for their in-kind donations to VBP:

Velonews sold cowbells and other cycling goodies...all monies going to VBP!
Dale's Pale Ale/Oskar Blues hooked us up with ice cold libations
Boulder Sausage supplied a plethora of delicious brats
and Izzie supplied the alcohol-free refreshments

Antonio and the Rocky Mounts Brat-Squad cooked up hundreds of brats for all. In addition to Brats, the VBP tent included socks, posters, CX Magazines, new brochures and the video on display for everyone to see. Donations that day brought in over $1600 for VBP! Most donations came from the brats/beers, but we did have several larger $250 & $100 donors that completed the form on the brochure.
At these CX events, everyone was excited about the future bike park and pretty much knew what the park was about. The experience with the cyclocross community this fall has been great. Most of the riders and core enthusiasts have donated to the park and are really excited to see it come to fruition. We are looking to replicate this awareness with the gravity, free ride, dirt jump and short track crowd, so please contact Rob Love if you would like to host or include the VBP booth at an event. Now that 'cross season is over, we are looking to host events this winter and continue to promote awareness with other events and more community members. Stay tuned for more.

From the Valmont Bike Park Committee
We can't say it enough - thanks for your support!

VBP/Bikes Belong Campaign Party (and Check Out New VBP Plans)

Valmont Bike Park has got a lot to celebrate - a huge number of donors with more every day, over $115,000 in funds so far, a gigantic grant from the Dalbey Foundation, and now a matching funds campaign with Bikes Belong.
VBP, BMA, Bikes Belong and Boulder Parks and Recreation are hosting a party to mark these occasions and get ready for many more. Join us on Tuesday, January 27, from 4-6pm, at Boulder CycleSport. We'll celebrate the many successes of VBP while encouraging contributions through the Bikes Belong fundraising campaign. We will also have the latest park design plans available for everyone to see and enjoy. Everyone is invited - bring your family and friends!

New Brochures Are In!

The VBP tri-fold brochures have been revamped with new graphics and are ready to hit the streets.

Can we display a stack at your business? Want a few to pass out in your neighborhood or to friends? The easiest way to get started is to pick up some from RockyMounts or Boulder-Denver Couriers. If you ask nice, the BD Couriers are willing to deliver (within Boulder city limits), and other arrangements can be made. Just contact Mike Eubank to get some brochures and spread the love.

How You Can Help VBP Even More

It will take more than money to make this fine bike park what we want it to be. There are so many small ways you can still help, by spreading the word and encouraging even more grass-roots support of Valmont Bike Park:

Wear your VBP socks and t-shirt - people see the shirts and socks and ask about the park, seriously. If you don't have 'em, these limited edition softgoods are available at RockyMounts and some bike shops.
Forward this newsletter to your friends and personally encourage them to donate, the one-on-one touch always counts. Links for easy forwarding are at the bottom of this newsletter.
Write a quick email to City Council, voicing your excitement and support for the bike park
Distribute VBP brochures - display them at your business, put a stack in the break room at work, pass them out to your neighbors.
Get ready for workdays later this year, start your weightlifting routine now!

Landmarks Board Rejects Moving Platt Farm House

If you take a look today, you'll notice that smack in the middle of the northern section of Valmont Park is a historic farmhouse. Sadly, the Platt Farm House has fallen into disrepair, but current plans for VBP include moving this historic asset the west side of the property, then rehabilitating and retasking it as a community resource.

Unfortunately, on January 7th, the City's Landmarks Advisory Board voted 3-2 to reject staff's recommendation to relocate the Platt Farmhouse. Do not despair! - the VBP Committee has successfully advocated that this decision be called up by the Boulder City Council; a full hearing will occur on February 17th.
Stay tuned for future developments, but know that VBP Committee is working hard to do right by the farmhouse, the bike park, and the community - by encouraging relocation of the Platt Farm House to the west side of the park. If you'd like to help reach out to Council and/or can attend the Feb. 17th meeting to support VBP, please contact Jason Vogel or Mike Barrow.
-Andria Bilich, BMA

Click here to donate now!

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Quick Links

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VBP Facebook Group
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Valmont Bike Park Committee | 3155 Darley Avenue | Boulder | CO | 80305

Pics from the VBP Party at Boulder Cycle Sport!!

2009-01-27T20:29:00.001-08:00

What an incredible night! I was running around like a crazy man with my camera shooting the vast amount of folks who came to support the Valmont Bike Park Project and opened their wallets judiciously to take advantage of the MASSIVE offer Bikes Belong has offered: To match dollar for dollar for every donation made through February 6th!

I would say that the night was a HUGE success with such a great collection of generous souls who showed so much excitement for what is going to be an UNBELIEVABLE model park.

Thanks to all who came and donated to the park!

Come see the pictures here!

Daily Camera Update on the Park!

2009-01-27T07:57:00.001-08:00

Valmont Bike Park coming together

Latest plan details pump tracks, dual slalom race course

By Marty Caivano (Contact)
Monday, January 26, 2009

If you go

What: Campaign party at Boulder Cycle Sport

When: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday

Where: 4580 Broadway, Unit B, Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. —

It may be January, but Pete Webber dreams of pump tracks.

Two state-of-the-art pump tracks, to be precise — among the most professional and sustainable tracks he’s known. And, best of all, they’re planned to be built at Boulder’s Valmont Bike Park.

“The tracks are being designed by Alpine Bike Parks, and they’ll be larger in size with more radical features and more speed, with a wall ride in the advanced version,” Webber said.

The trail specialist from Boulder’s International Mountain Bicycling Association has plenty of experience with these dirt loops, which combine undulating rollers and sharp turns into a feature that will improve every rider’s skills.

The tracks — one for beginner-to-intermediate riders and the other for intermediate-to-advanced — are just one of several new projects planned for the park, which is scheduled to begin construction this summer.

Other additions include a dual slalom race course, a slopestyle area (a ski resort-style section with wall rides and hip jumps) including beginner, intermediate and expert lines, a 250-foot dirt-jump area, a sand pit and staircase for cyclocross, a four-mile trail system and lots of technical features.

“All the bike terrain is going to be carved into the land much the way a golf course uses innovative earth shaping to create unique terrain,” Webber said. “We’re not trying to replicate terrain found in nature; instead we’re creating new terrain that stretches the imagination.”

The latest site design for the park, including a photo-laden schematic that brings the plans to life, is now ready for approval from the city planning department. Local riders can ogle the artwork, as well as 50 pages of detailed line drawings, at a campaign party Tuesday night at Boulder Cycle Sport in north Boulder.

The party also showcases another step forward for the park: a matching-funds drive offered by the Boulder-based coalition Bikes Belong, which will further fundraising efforts for the park’s amenities. The drive runs through Feb. 6, and all personal and business donations made in that time will be matched up to $10,000.

“This is such an important project, and it will have a big impact on Boulder,” said Elizabeth Train, grants director for Bikes Belong. “And it’s a great model for folks to do this kind of thing nationally.”

The park is a partnership between the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance. Although the city has allocated $800,000 to the bike portions of the park, BMA and the bike park committee are working to raise an additional $500,000. That money will be used to make sure the cycling features are as high-tech as Webber describes.

About $121,000 has been raised, which includes a $50,000 grant from the Dalbey Foundation. In March, the parks and rec department will apply for a $200,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, a state trust that helps projects like these.

But in the interim, the park’s planners are trying to bring in as much money as they can for the matching-funds drive.

The Pro’s Closet, a local company that resells outdoor gear on eBay, is stepping forward with a check for $500.

“We had planned on donating, and thought that this would be a good time to get the ball rolling for more donations,” said Pete Lopinto, co-owner. “We’re just super excited that something like this is happening in Boulder. It’s a natural evolution of everything we believe in, and what everyone in this town believes in.”

Bikes Belong Matching Funds Campaign Party!

2009-01-26T10:15:00.001-08:00

Bikes Belong Matching Funds Campaign Party

Tomorrow!
Check Out the Newest VBP Plans

Valmont Bike Park has got a lot to celebrate:

a huge number of donors, with more people joining the cause every day
over $120,000 in donated funds so far
a recent $50,000 gift from the Dalbey Foundation
and now a matching funds campaign with Bikes Belong for donations up to $10,000.

Valmont Bike Park Committee, Boulder Mountainbike Alliance and Bikes Belong are hosting a party to mark these occasions and get ready for many more. Join us on Tuesday, January 27, from 4-6pm, at Boulder Cycle Sport, 4580 Broadway Street, Boulder, CO (click here for a map).
We'll celebrate the many successes of VBP while encouraging new contributions through the Bikes Belong Matching Funds Campaign. We will also have the latest park design plans available for you to check out and get excited about. Refreshments provided by Upslope Brewing and Izze.
Everyone is invited - please bring your family and friends!

Dalbey Foundation Grant to VBP Funds Children's Cycling!

2009-01-16T07:18:00.001-08:00

For Immediate Release

January 14, 2009

Contacts:

Mike Eubank, BMA Valmont Bike Park Committee

303-913-9954

mikeeeubank@comcast.net

Paul Bousquet, city of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department

303-413-7239

bousquetp@bouldercolorado.gov

Local cyclist funds children’s cycling education at Valmont City Park

BOULDER, CO: Teaching kids to ride a bike will soon get a little easier in Boulder, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Dalbey Foundation. The grant will be used to add educational features to the bike park slated for construction at Valmont City Park later this year. “This donation benefits Valmont Bike Park by enhancing facilities to help children and families learn how to ride safely and experience the rush of singletrack biking, dirt jumping, and cyclocross racing. So far over 400 members of the community have donated $115,000 in a new model for cooperation between the City of Boulder and its citizens. The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance is energized by the community's outpouring of volunteerism and financial support for the Bike Park,” said Christopher "Botsy" Phillips, President of the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance.

Founded in 2005 by local entrepreneur and former competitive cyclist, Russ Dalbey, the Dalbey Foundation is the charitable arm of Dalbey Education, Dalbey’s successful business headquartered in Westminster, CO. The Dalbey Foundation's mission is to support efforts in the community that provide people of all ages with the tools and education to improve their lives, their emotional, physical and spiritual health, and in turn improve the overall lives of others. To find out more about The Dalbey Foundation, a 501(c)(3), visit DalbeyFoundation.org.

According to Dalbey Foundation spokesperson Susannah Christy, “The opportunity to invest in Valmont Bike Park was a natural fit for the Dalbey family. The project promotes everything they care about – families and children, education, health and fitness – in this case, promoting health and fitness through cycling. We are so excited to be part of this project and the opportunity to collaborate with the city of Boulder.”

The Valmont Bike Park Committee, a volunteer-led committee of local advocacy organization Boulder MountainBike Alliance, secured the grant. Fundraising efforts for the park have been led by volunteer and local cycling enthusiast Bobby Noyes, owner of Rocky Mounts. “Reaching out to Russ and inviting him to share in the development of this project seemed like such a natural fit,” says Noyes. “He’s passionate about the sport and finding ways to encourage kids to take up cycling.”

The bike park is one of several features planned for the 200-acre Valmont City Park, located at the intersection of Valmont and Airport Roads. Valmont City Park will be a phased Parks and Recreation Department development project scheduled to begin in 2009. Phase one of the park includes the development of a multi-discipline cycling park with a vast array of trail networks and cycling elements as well as an 18-hole disc golf course. To date, the Boulder MountainBike Alliance has raised over $112,000 to help fund enhanced features and ongoing maintenance of the bike park.

To learn more about Valmont City Park, contact Paul Bousquet, Marketing and Communications Manager for Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department at 303-413-7239 or visit www.bouldercolorado.gov. To donate to or volunteer for Boulder MountainBike Alliance, please visit www.valmontbikepark.com or contact Mike Eubank at mikeeeubank@comcast.net.

About Dalbey Education, Dalbey Education provides products and services focused on creating entrepreneurial success through mentor-based education and support. Headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, Dalbey Education has a team of over 275 employees and has provided educational products and support to more than 500,000 students since its inception in 1995. For more information, visit www.DalbeyEducation.com

Platinum Baby!

2008-12-17T12:36:00.001-08:00

(Originally posted by Andrew Hyde on Boulder.Me )

If you haven't heard, Boulder became the third community in the US to achieve ‘platinum bike status’ from the League of American Cyclists.

This video is produced by StreetFilms and is very well done. It perfectly captures the feeling of biking around town.

CO State 'Cross Championships hauls in the Moolah for VBP!

2008-12-09T14:06:00.001-08:00

Pretty unbelievable....even in the midst of a (shhhh) recession. The generosity of folks is stunning. Or maybe it's just bike geeks like us who REALLY want to see this park styled out with all the features of a park set to be a MODEL for many to learn from. There seem sto be a lot of us though willing to help raise funds!

Zach reported the following from the VBP tent...

- Velonews sold cowbells and other cycling goodies...all monies going to VBP
- Dales hooked us up with beer
- Boulder Sausage supplied a plethora or delicious brats
- Antonio and the Rocky Mounts Brat-Squad cooked up some tasty bites for all
- Izze supplied the alco-free suds
...all for donations to the park
- our VBP tent had socks, posters, CX Magazines, new brochures and the video on display for all to see.
...we made about $1600 today!
Most donations came from the brats/beers, but we did have several larger $250 & $100 donations, sold at least 10 subscriptions to CX mag, & sold about 6 pairs of sox. People seemed especially generous when donating for beer and brats.

Everyone was pumped, everyone pretty much knew what the park was about...but maybe just hadn't donated yet.

Unbelievable!

(photo by www.PHOTO-CYCLE.COM)

The park is going to RIP!!

9 Ball Diaries Movie Event

2008-12-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

Last week, 9 Ball Diaries played at the Boulder Theater...and it was a great time!
Hundreds of dedicated cx fans braved the snowy conditions to make the event.
First of all, the movie was awesome! TJ is a total rockstar (evidence by him winning this years USGP title yesterday). Secondly, the event helped support the bike park and props to Dave Towle for being the MC and spreading the good word.
Andrew Yee of Cyclocross Magazine hooked us up by letting us sell his magazine subscriptions and 25% of the proceeds go to the bike park.
Thanks Andrew! Here are some pics of the evening:

Come See the 9 Ball Diaries!

2008-12-01T10:04:00.001-08:00

Valmont Bike Park & Boulder Weekly Films
invite you to join us for a great evening!

The 9 Ball Diaries

DATE: Thursday, December 4

TIME: 7:30 PM

LOCATION: Boulder Theater

MORE: Tickets $10 General Admission

The Nine Ball Diaries stars U.S. Cyclocross National Champion Tim Johnson. Ride along with road racing's golden boy, Tim Johnson, as he wraps up his day job and makes the transition to compete in his true love: Cyclocross. Follow Tim as he tackles the North American cyclocross circuit, kicking it all off under the lights in Las Vegas. Then watch as he battles through the rain and mud of the greuling USGP series, eventually claiming the National Championship title on a brutal, frozen course in Kansas City.

Four-time Emmy Award-winning sports documentary producer and director, Don Hampton and his crew from DH Productions captured all of the drama and triumph in pristine high definition.

Valmont Bike Park

Valmont Bike Park is a destination being crafted specifically for you, the cycling enthusiast.This multi-discipline cycling park is being designed by some of the finest trail builders in the United States to support a vast array of trail networks created for their respective disciplines. Epic single-track for the mountain biker, rhythmic pump tracks for BMX enthusiasts, and cyclocross circuits designed in the style of the best courses in Belgium will be free for all to experience and allow any skill level to enjoy from beginner to expert, child to senior citizen.
To see the plans click here

Can't make the movie but want to support the Valmont Bike Park?
Consider buying a brick!

Valmont Bike Park Committee

Contact Rocky Mounts or DBC Events

Portland's Proposed Bike Park

2008-11-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

Looks like these things are contagious. Our brethren in PDX want to get themselves a bike park....complete with a dedicated CX course. Nice. Read about it here.

Check out the VBP Video!

2008-11-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

Valmont Bike Park from Valmont Bike Park on Vimeo.

Colorado Daily Article on VBP!

2008-11-05T13:07:00.001-08:00

Cash needed to fund Valmont Bike Park

By Marty Caivano (Contact)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

FYI

To donate and learn more about the site, visit www.valmontbikepark.com.

Mountain bikers (and cyclocrossers), in case you've been out of the loop recently, I'm here to let you know that the Valmont Bike Park is going to be a reality.

If all goes well, that means a network of singletrack, a pump track, dirt jumps and cyclocross courses in the best European tradition. Dirt enthusiasts can ride, learn, race and train all year long when the weather is good. Sweet!

Here's some background: Valmont City Park was purchased by the city of Boulder in 1995 through a voter-approved tax, but only last month did the City Council give the go-ahead to a concept plan for the space.

In its first phase of development, the plan includes a dog park, a disc-golf course and the bike park. Athletic fields, an amphitheater and an "adventure playground" will likely be completed in the second phase, once funding has been found.

Forty acres have been slated for the bike park, which will be constructed through a partnership between the city Parks and Recreation department and the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance. While there is money available for building, there's not enough to provide for all of the proposed facilities and features, said Bobby Noyes, the BMA-Valmont Park liaison.

Part of the reason is that the site imposes a heavy burden in infrastructure costs. Money must go to prairie dog remediation, fencing for the park boundary, and the moving and rehabilitation of the site's historic farmhouse -- all before the bike facilities can begin to take shape.

In addition to that, there are two sizable ditches in the park that need numerous bridge crossings to accommodate the trails that will cross them. Not only that, but the soil on the site is mostly clay, and we all know what happens when that stuff gets wet.

"They may have to excavate the trails and bring in road bed and new dirt," Noyes said. "The city wants this thing to be bulletproof and totally sustainable."

The city also wants to give the bike park designers free rein. The planners will examine the natural terrain to see if it supports some other mountain bike options, such as a dual slalom or mountain-cross course.

One thing that's high on the wish list is a permanent cyclocross run-up -- a section so steep that racers must dismount and carry their bikes up it. It would be approachable from different directions, allowing for good variety in race course design.

Another solid feature will be a kids' area, where youngsters can learn to ride and progress their skills. "The facility's going to be oriented toward the full spectrum of riders," Noyes said.

But for all this to happen, money must start flowing in.

"If we don't raise money, it will be pretty bare bones," Noyes said. "If we do raise money, we'll get the cool cyclocross start/finish area, the pump track, the wall rides, the quality facilities that we want."

In addition, Noyes pointed out, "We wanted to raise money all along, because we told the city from the beginning that we wanted to help pay for it."

As a result, the bike park organizers are on a mission to raise $500,000. They hope to collect as much as they can by Aug. 22, when they will apply for a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado. Noyes said the organization is more likely to help if it sees that it's not the only funding source for the project.

The group for the Valmont Bike Park has raised $17,500 over two weeks, mostly through selling engraved bricks for the site. If you've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to give back to the sport, now's your chance to see your name in print.

So when is this all going to happen? Naturally, there is no set date yet, as organizers are busy working to choose trail designers and take care of other background details.

But, "We would like to start construction in late spring," said Perry Brooks, park planner for the city. "We anticipate the bike facility itself will take two or three months to build."

The result, Noyes hopes, will be a place for cyclists to call home. "The Red Sox have Fenway Park, the Broncos have Mile High Stadium. With all the people involved in cycling -- roadies, mountain bikers, dirt jumpers, 'cross racers -- this can be a hub for our community."

Check out Marty Caivano's mountain bike blog at www.rubbersidedown.pmpblogs.com.

Final Public Input Meeting for VBP Design!

2008-11-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

The final public input meeting is coming soon!

What:
Final "Poster Session". This is a planning session where the public can come and provide insight to the VBP and Parks people on needs for the Bike Park.

Where:
Rocky Mounts HQ
2055 26th St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 402-0190

When:
Thursday, November 6th at 6PM

We welcome your input so please do try and make it! The public and user groups will always be free to make comments on the project, but the city has no more specific public meetings
scheduled so we'd like you there for this one.

On Site

2008-10-23T07:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Pete Webber (IMBA) gathered a few of the Valmont Committee members together at the site to look over the latest plans and talk specifically about Race Venues at the park. It was a cold windy day but everyone was pumped to be on site imagining what it's going to be like racing here. You will not believe the incredible view from the top of the hill! This park is going to be world class!

the crew discussing the latest plan

prairie dog trapping has begun

View from atop the hill

Blue Sky Velo - Xilinx CX Race

2008-10-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a great day for the Bike Park fund raising effort!
Rob Love, Dan Farrell and the Blue Sky Velo team put on an incredible cyclocross race....not only that, they helped us raise over $1000 in donations to the park! The Blue Sky crew cooked up tasty Brats and all donations went to the bike park! Talk about passionate cyclists! Thanks so much to everyone who helped and contributed!

Junior podium...sporting the Valmont T's

Dan Farrell (Blue Sky) & Bobby Noyes counting the donations.

donations!

James Batty & his daughter Bergen...raising money for the park.

We'll be out in full force again during the Boulder Cup Weekend (Nov 1st & 2nd). Come check out the tent. We'll have socks, t-shirts and stickers for sale!
For more pics of the Blue Sky Xilinx Race check out these great local photographers:
Dierdre Moynihan
Rob O'Dea
Mark Woolcott

You're Invited! Help design the gravity sections of the VBP!

2008-10-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

You're Invited!
What: Open House to View Plans and Give Input on Gravity/Jump/Technical/Flow Trails at Valmont Bikepark

When: This Friday, October 17, 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Fix Bike Shop, 3085 Bluff Street, Boulder (303.939.8349)

Why: The park designers want your input to make this a killer place to ride! Meet Randy Spangler and Judd de Vall

Who: All riders interested in gravity/jump/slalom/technical styles of mountain biking/BMX, and anyone else too!

Come over to The Fix this Friday night to check out preliminary plans for Valmont Bikepark, meet the park designers, give feedback, and learn more about the project. This gathering is focused on the downhill/dirt jump/technical riding elements at Valmont, but all types of riders are welcome to attend and check it out. Plus, there will be fizzy beverages in stock. Don't worry if you can't attend this time, as there will be future opportunities to view the plans for the entire park and give feedback as things move forward. The next chance will be at the BMA Annual Meeting and Party, Nov. 6 at Rocky Mounts.

The gravity/technical terrain at Valmont is being designed by Alpine Bike Parks LLC, a professional bikepark and trail building company, in partnership with IMBA. The designers include Judd de Vall and Randy Spangler, veteran riders and park builders of Alpine Bike
Parks, and Pete Webber of IMBA.

Please bring an open mind, fresh ideas and show up early if you wanna ride The Fix jumps. Check inside the shop for beta before you ride.

To learn more about the project, visit: www.valmontbikepark.com

Are you coming? Drop Pete a quick email at pete@imba.com and let us know if you can.

CONTACT: Pete Webber

International Mountain Bicycling Association

cell: 303-562-7510

pete@imba.com

www.imba.com

The Valmont Bike Park Design Team

2008-08-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

Great news everyone! The design team for the Valmont Bike Park has been selected!
Three proposals were submitted to the Parks & Recs Dept and BHA Design of Ft. Collins has been chosen to lead the design for the park.

This is a very impressive team. Check them out:
• BHA Design- Lead Consultant, Project Management, Landscape Architecture, Sign Design
• Alta Planning + Design - Bike Park Designer
• International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) - Bike Park Designer
• Alpine Bike Parks - Bike Park Designer
• Drexel Barrel - Civil Engineer, Leader of the City's Land Use Review process
• OZ Architecture - Architecture, Renovation of Historic Farmhouse
• JVA - Structural Engineer
• Boulder Engineering - Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing consultant

Stay tuned....There will be opportunities in the process for
public input as the design develops. Be a part of it!

IMBA fundraising site for Valmont

2008-08-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Rich Cook from IMBA has set up a fundraising site for Valmont Bike Park.
Check it out, support the cause!

http://go.imba. com/site/ TR/Volunteerfund raiser/TeamIMBA? px=1258891&pg=personal&fr_id=1050

MOVIE: Road to Roubaix THIS WEDNESDAY!

2008-08-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

There's a killer movie promo event on Wednesday the 13th at the Boulder Theater. Info below...

MOVIE: ROAD TO ROUBAIX
Plus VeloNews TV TdF Bloopers premiere, Q & A with filmmakers and Paris-Roubaix Top 10 finisher Henk Vogels

Masterlink Films and directors, David Deal and Dave Cooper, bring you a film that goes beyond the limits of what broadcast television can offer. Road To Roubaix tells the story of the riders, mechanics, fans, and the brutal, unpredictable landscape that is the stage for Paris-Roubaix. The film combines rare, behind-the-scenes footage, stunning panoramic views of the race, and a collection of contemporary photographs, as well as rare historic archival photographs that most people never see. The film features the 2007 edition of Paris-Roubaix—the hottest in over 100 years—but the main character of the film is without a doubt the cobbles. Featuring: Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, Sean Kelly, Stuart O'Grady, Marc Madiot, Juan Antonio Flecha, Peter Van Petegem, Lance Armstrong and many more...A pre-registration table for the local epic, Boulder-Roubaix, will be in the lobby.

There will also be a lot of discussion regarding Valmont Bike Park so do what you can to come and learn more!

Go to the Boulder Theater Site HERE to learn more.

Valmont Bike Park Press Release - Fundraising Now Open!

2008-08-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

Monday, Aug. 4, 2008
For Immediate Release

Contact:
Bobby Noyes
Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) - Valmont Bike Park Director
303-402-0190 or bobby (at) rockymounts (dot) com

Boulder Mountainbike Alliance launches fundraising campaign to build 45-acre bike park in Boulder, Colo..

The Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA) and the city of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department are excited to announce the launch of a fundraising campaign to support the development of Valmont Bike Park. The 45-acre bicycle park is a significant component of the development plan for Valmont City Park, which was adopted earlier this year by the Boulder City Council.

The city of Boulder purchased the 132-acre Valmont site in 1995 with sales tax revenue, and plans are now set for Phase One development that will begin in 2009. The bike park is currently included in the Phase One development, along with the development of a dog park, the adaptive re-use of an historic farmhouse, parking, a disc golf course, infrastructure and utilities improvements.

Bike Park
The Parks and Recreation Department and BMA have entered into a public-private partnership to develop a portion of the city-owned land into a bike park. The venue will encompass a network of singletrack mountain bike trails, a permanent cyclo-cross course, a children’s skills area, a pump track, amenities for BMX and other facilities to suit beginning to experienced athletes. The park’s Front Range setting and terrain will provide an impressive backdrop for daily riding, learning and teaching. The bike park design will accommodate programming, ranging from youth cycling development programs to world-class bicycle racing. Boulder is the unofficial bike capital of the USA, and this facility will proudly represent the city and its cycling community, setting a high standard for cycling parks worldwide.

Timeline
The Parks and Recreation Department has allocated funds for planning and construction for Phase One of development. Design professionals and trail designers are currently being interviewed, with the goal of finalizing the bike park design later this year or early 2009. Construction of the facility is slated for April 2009 with an anticipated goal of completion of the bike park by later that summer.

Funding and Partnership
The city has provided the land for Valmont Bike Park, as well as funds for planning and construction. BMA has entered into a partnership with the city to provide design input, raise funds, build community awareness, and manage and maintain the site when completed. While funding is in place for much of the anticipated construction costs, there is not enough capital funding to provide for all of the proposed facilities and park features. Hence, BMA is working to raise $500,000 through grants, private donations and corporate sponsorships to help supplement the construction budget. These additional funds will allow cycling enthusiasts to enjoy a truly extraordinary, premiere outdoor cycling venue in Boulder.

How to help
Members of the cycling community are encouraged to contribute to the development of this unique world-class cycling facility. More than 10 years in the making, the Valmont Bike Park is a dream that will become a reality for cycling enthusiasts. This unique and exciting facility, which will be designed and managed by cyclists, needs the cycling community’s financial support at this critical stage of development.

Contributing is easy at www.valmontbikepark.com

####

Cyclists want to be part of solutions....

2008-08-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

There was an interesting op/ed by some Fort Collins folk on the Coloradoan today.

Cycling at an intensity level for fitness requires that we go long, go fast, or go uphill (fast). Group riding is part of the program, too. Lance Armstrong trained in groups on open roads. Neither the state's trails laws, nor the sheriff's interpretation of the highway laws, encourage us to do that on trails or roads. The huge success of the 6-Day Races at the CSU Oval indicates that track cycling is popular with all ages, both as spectators and participants.

Fort Collins should plan to provide land for a recreational and competitive cycling facility within its parks system, with a velodrome, a "closed to traffic" Criterium course, a kids' learn-to-ride course, plus MTB and Cyclocross courses.

Much of what is positioned above and in the aricle was critical to the arguments made during the planning and advocay stages in front of Boulder City Council and teh P & R board. For Fort Collins and Anywhere, USA, it will take a unified voice and very direct needs evangelized over and over to ensure what is desired and needed by the community is heard and ujltimatley recogonozed before it can be approved. This parallels the efforts of many of the core Valmont Bike Park committee members who have not deviated from their view of the Valmont Bike Park need for the community for many years.

Read the whole article here.

Valmont Bike Park Logo

2008-07-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! My name is Zach Lee, i'm a graphic designer, cross racer and have been working with the prolific Valmont Bike Park committee.
It really is amazing how contagious a good idea (the bike park) and a little bit of passion (from city, public and volunteer committee) can stir up an enormous amounts of enthusiasm.....and dare i say obsession? This is really going to happen folks, and we're in on the ground level!

For those out there who love graphic design (you know you do)....here's a little bit more about the Valmont Bike Park logo...

A sneak peak at what's to come.

2008-07-31T13:59:00.001-07:00

Momentum is growing and already there is an effort to visualize the Valmont Bike Park and begin to lay the plans for total maximization of the acreage available to us. This is a precarious job....tended to by some of the best landscape architects in the country....and must be created to make the most out of the land to service all the biking disciplines we need to while keeping the feel of the park as natural as the beautiful surroundings.

Zach has been working hard on taking the conceptual renderings of the park and inputting those into a great glossy handout for interested parties to learn more about what's going on. I wanted to share some snippets of that now...

The initial concept overview. Just look at the placement of the various trail systems....

A concept view of the Skills Park. We are taking on some of the best designs in North America to ensure what the park offers is simply the best.

The STAIR FEATURE! Hup hup hup hup! Cross fans, we're going to have our OWN permanent fixture of a full on staired run up.

The Park is being designed with a boat load of IMBA-esque technical features. The trails will be world class as mentioned, but feature...well lots of 'features'! We want to ensure that the trail systems never grow old...and have sustainable challenges that will keep you coming back again and again...and will maintain their positions over time...e.g. constructed well with sustainability in mind.