The Marietta Trail Network has recently opened a new system that offers features unique to Marietta and the surrounding region. Located adjacent to the Pioneer Golf Center off Pike Street behind the Lowe’s building, Gunlock Park is a Marietta city property that has been reclaimed and planted with trees through a partnership among RG Properties, the City of Marietta, American Electric Power, the Ohio Division of Forestry and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This young, 24-acre bottomland forest plot has recently reached sufficient maturity for its development as a park open to public access.

Ryan Smith, co-owner of the Marietta Adventure Company, realized this park’s potential for recreational and fitness activities and set out over a year ago to make his vision a reality. He helped to secure a grant from McKee Foods, and with additional funding and assistance from the City of Marietta, the Marietta Community Foundation, the Marietta Adventure Company and the River Valley Mountain Bike Association, construction on Gunlock Park began.

The results so far offer bicyclists and hikers of nearly all ability levels something worth visiting again and again.

The first project developed there used the McKee Foods grant to build what is known as a “pump track.” Constructed from sculpted dirt with an asphalt surface, it allows bicyclists to generate momentum and maintain speed by using pedaling and body position on the bicycle to navigate a looped series of undulations and banked turns. This facility offers a fun workout and the chance to develop bike-handling skills for both beginners and experts alike.

Additionally, the open area next to the pump track now offers a number of BMX-style jump lines of varying difficulty that include table tops and doubles. These features allow for a progression of skill development for riders seeking to improve their bicycle jumping abilities. Obviously, riders should always wear protective equipment and ride within their ability levels on these jumps, as well as always follow posted rules and notices.

Smith mentions that since the closure of the area’s BMX tracks some years ago, there is nowhere else in the region open to the public that has these type of features. He also notes that this is just the beginning phase of the jump portion of Gunlock Park, and that more jump lines will be constructed in the near future.

Gunlock Park’s acreage extends all the way to the Ohio River’s edge, and the forested areas of the park currently have two signed, singletrack-style trails on them. Smith advises that these trails have wide corridors with minimal elevation change, making them ideal for beginner mountain bikers and hikers.

The River Loop Trail skirts the perimeter of the park through the woods and offers views of nearby farmland and the Ohio River. The Bird Land Trail weaves through the center of the property and provides stretches of wide-open bottomland with beautiful, big-sky views that can leave hikers or bikers wondering if they are still really in southeastern Ohio, let alone within Marietta city limits. As the name suggests, birds are abundant on this trail, and a diversity of wildflowers and trees, including oak, hemlock, birch and maple stands may be seen on both trails. Smith says that there are currently plans for the construction of more trail on the remaining property.

Those wishing to contribute to the ongoing development and upkeep of Gunlock Park may contact Smith at the Marietta Adventure Company on Second Street in Marietta for information about upcoming work days. Financial contributions may also be made specifically for Gunlock Park through the Marietta Community Foundation’s Trail Maintenance Fund (for more information, visit http://www.mcfohio.org/).

The post Gunlock Park appeared first on Clutch MOV.

Bicycling is an activity that is both healthful and fun. Cyclists not only improve their fitness and agility by riding, they also get the added benefit of experiencing the beauty and freedom of traveling through the outdoors.

Residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley who enjoy bicycling are especially fortunate. Ours is an area that rewards riders of almost all ability levels and riding styles. From the wooded singletrack destinations of local parks and publicly owned forests, to the roads, paved paths and rail trails of the MOV, there are more possibilities for riding for fun and fitness than most will ever see.

We also have a climate that is generally quite agreeable for cycling—except for that particular span of the calendar commonly known as winter. Across these three months bikes are annually hung in garages or in the back corners of basements until the return of robins and more reasonable thermometer readings.

Some cyclists toil away on indoor trainers or go to the gym during this dark off-time, but sadly, many more seek out the solace that only Netflix, a couch and a bag full of starchy carbohydrates can bring. And after this hibernal hiatus, just before finally saddling up and heading out again into warmer air and the scent of spring blossoms, many bicyclists step onto their bathroom scales and wonder what the heck happened.

Listen carefully: it doesn’t have to be this way.

As a cyclist myself, I’ve always tried to adopt a can-do approach toward winter riding. I figured that with sufficient layers, thick gloves, and a properly stoic attitude anything was possible. But the truth of the matter is this: cold and improperly protected extremities hurt, and being unprepared for winter cycling conditions can not only take the fun out of a ride, it can also be dangerous. Inevitably, the frequency of my wintertime rides would taper as the cold wore on, and it wouldn’t pick up again until it was safe to wear shorts.

This year, I decided to try something different. I asked the experts at the Marietta Adventure Company on Second Street in Marietta about how to go about making cold-weather bicycling not only comfortable, but enjoyable. As long-time advocates of year-round outdoor fitness, they had a lot of great info to share.

Co-owner Ryan Smith, an active winter cyclist himself, took the time to talk about how equipment has improved over the last few years, and to offer tips for staying safe and happy while riding in the cold and snow.

He immediately stressed “the evolution of winter riding equipment over the last five years.” Clothing is now “packaged with temperature ratings for almost every cold-weather condition,” he says, so a rider can be certain of proper warmth for a given air temperature.

As well, footwear, hand protection, and headwear are vastly improved over past offerings. Different shoes and boots are available for progressively colder conditions, and gloves and head and face protection can be had for low temps and wind.

Another innovation, the pogie, has recently come to bicycling from other cold-weather activities. They’re layered and insulated pouch-like covers for either end of the bike’s handlebars. With your hands inside them, you can access the bike’s shifters and brakes, and body heat makes them really quite toasty. Pogies typically have adjustable vents to regulate temperature, and they are revolutionary in the comfort they provide. (My first ride with pogies was in single-digit temps after dark on a windy night, and even though I was only wearing summer gloves, my fingers stayed absolutely pink and warm—it was incredible!)

Smith also recommends “a hybrid bicycle or mountain bike for winter commuting or city riding,” given the variable and generally looser and slicker road surfaces in the winter. He also notes the variety of “tire choices available for winter conditions, including studded tires for icy surfaces.”

As for off-road mountain biking in the cold and snowy season, Smith insists “fat bikes are the go-to option,” especially in the white stuff. These are the monster trucks of mountain biking that have gained quite a following recently, and have tires with widths that approach five inches. These bikes’ traction in slick situations is unbelievable, and they allow mountain bikers to tackle terrain and surfaces with ease that are problematic for a conventional mountain bike. (I own one and I have so much fun on mine, I ride it year round.)

Smith also discussed tips for keeping a properly-regulated body temperature during winter bicycling. He emphasized “moisture management,” especially with regards to clothing. He says to “avoid overdressing and overexerting,” so as to prevent excessive sweating, which can leave a rider wet and at risk for hypothermia later when the pace lets up.

According to Smith, cold weather cyclists need “a thinner, synthetic base layer, an insulating, wicking mid-layer, and an outer, weatherproof shell” for the torso, and tights and either shorts or cycling pants for the legs, depending on the temperature. Similar layering with socks can also be done, and it is important to have winter cycling shoes that fit properly. If the shoes are too tight, this can reduce the insulating properties of socks and can impair circulation, leading to colder feet.

Also, since there’s less daylight during the winter months, it’s good to have proper lighting for your bike if there’s any chance of being out around or after dusk, or if it’s a particularly cloudy day. State law requires lights at nighttime on bicycles in both Ohio and West Virginia. Smith recommends flashing red LED taillights and at least 600-800 lumens of light in the front for safe nighttime travel.

Other considerations include riding with someone else for safety and assistance (or at least letting someone know where you’re going), being able to do basic mechanical repairs during a ride, taking routes with bail-out options should the need arise, and carrying a cell phone in case of emergencies. As well, it’s good to plan for somewhat shorter rides in the winter, since cold weather biking generally requires more exertion.

With the proper equipment, clothing and mindset, it is possible to have excellent winter bicycling experiences. In addition to the benefits of the exercise biking provides, the often austere beauty of the Mid-Ohio Valley during this time of year more than repays the effort needed to safely and comfortably get out and ride. Personally, by following these tips and having the right gear and clothing, I’ve been able to ride more this winter than ever before, and staying warm has not been an issue for me. I hope to see you on the trail.

The post Winter Bicycling appeared first on Clutch MOV.

Odds are you’ve seen them—probably with increasing regularity over the past several years—automobiles with fat-tired mountain bicycles attached to them. While they’re not uncommon sights on the area’s major highways such as Interstate 77 or U.S. Routes 50 and 7, they’re also frequently seen moving through the Mid-Ohio Valley’s cities and towns, sometimes toward the north of Marietta on Greene Street as it changes into OH SR 26, and sometimes in the general direction of east of Parkersburg. Questions might arise in the mind of an observer of these bicycles in transit, such as: where do they go, and once there, what do they do?

As it turns out, there’s a story in that.

The Mid-Ohio Valley sits at one of the major crossroads of Appalachian America, Interstate 77 and US 50. But the X that these highways make on the map also marks the spot of a true regional treasure, one hewn from the land with not only over two decades’ worth of tough physical labor, but also from countless hours of thoughtful planning and relationship building with the region’s public land managers.

All told, there are over 100 miles of singletrack trails (more on that in a minute) open to mountain bikers across Wood and Ritchie Counties in West Virginia, and Washington County in Ohio. These trails exist on greenspaces owned by local, county, state, and federal governments and sometimes by private landowners who’ve granted public access to the trails on their properties. The variety, quality and extent of these trails attract not only a growing number of locals, but also visitors from surprisingly far afield to experience their potential for fitness and recreation, as well as to enter the competitive events regularly hosted on these trail systems.

And these trail systems all have one thing in common—they have been built or maintained or both over the last 20 years by a local nonprofit known as the River Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA).

According to the Outdoor Industry Foundation’s 2013 Outdoor Participation Report, 42.3 million Americans bicycled that year, making it the third most popular outdoor activity by participation rate and the second favorite activity by frequency of participation, at 2.7 billion total bicycle rides. An important segment of these were by mountain bikers, made possible in no small part by the growing number of natural surface trails built nationwide according to standards developed by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) for constructing sustainable “singletrack” trails.

Sustainable singletrack is built using the natural contours of the land and basic design principles concerning steepness and water drainage. These guidelines produce narrow (18-36 inches), earthen trails with gradual inclines that, aside from regular maintenance, last a very long time with a minimum of trail damage from erosion.

The River Valley Mountain Bike Association was an early adopter of these trail-building standards, and right around 1990 began the process of gaining access to public lands to build such trails, and to act as their stewards through regular maintenance. What began at Wood County’s Mountwood Park, has now grown to include trail construction and maintenance agreements with North Bend State Park in Ritchie County, the Wayne National Forest’s Marietta unit, the city of Marietta’s trail network and the trails in Parkersburg’s Johnson T. Janes city park.

In fact, there is such an abundance of trail riding opportunities in the Mid-Ohio Valley that this has led to the emergence of a growing mountain biking community, complete with annual events such as the Challenge At Mountwood, North Bend’s Race Around the Bend and The Wayne Ultra. These races are part of larger statewide series, and pull in hundreds of racers to the area yearly. RVMBA also holds kids’ skills clinics and hosts its annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on the Marietta Trail Network.

That bicycling is thriving here is further attested to by the fact that several bike shops operate in the MOV. Two in particular, the Marietta Adventure Company and Parkersburg Bicycle, both contribute considerably to the efforts of RVMBA, and are de facto gathering places for local mountain bikers.

Over time, all of this has led to a wider awareness of these trail systems, and this region has evolved into a genuine mountain biking tourism stopover for travelers from outside the area. People come to the MOV to ride mountain bikes not only because of the total trail mileage here, but also because with nearly 25 years of trail design and construction experience behind them, the strong-backed work crews of RVMBA have become quite good at building them.

These trails are almost endlessly fun to bicycle as they weave their way through the MOV’s beautiful natural scenery, dominated by the majesty of the eastern hardwood forests. Their layouts, which make wonderfully accessible the region’s undulating and rocky terrain, beg to be ridden again and again.

Additionally, amenities such as excellent signage, available maps and a growing online presence, coupled with the area’s hospitality industry, make it is easy to see why the MOV’s star is rising as an adventure tourism destination.

But to get an even better feel for the value RVMBA has added to our region, consider recent IMBA average per-foot trail construction cost estimates for the type of terrain found locally. At $3 to $5 per foot of trail in time, labor and materials (approximately $15,000-$26,000 per mile), it is an understatement to say that what has been done here entirely with volunteer labor is impressive. With the support of local land managers, the trails in the MOV continue to be built by RVMBA at a steady rate, and more are opened every year.

Which all sounds well and good if a person is into mountain biking, but if the truth were told, most people are not. Beyond economic impact, how do the efforts of RVMBA really benefit the lives of those who do not bicycle off road?

Photo by: Drew Smithberger

Consider that beyond the asphalt, the greenspaces of the MOV are living classrooms for studying the seasons, plants and animals, geology and the relics of our region’s history. As most who have spent time in our parks and woodlands would likely agree, being in the peaceful setting of the forest is an effective balm for many of the stresses of daily life. It’s a place where cares tend to dissolve and the immediacy of one’s surroundings takes precedence. The trails of the MOV are also its largest physical fitness facility, and the act of biking or hiking along these trails is good for the body and mind.

And therein lies the rub. Although these trails are built by a relatively small group of highly-dedicated mountain-biking enthusiasts, they are ideal for hikers and trail runners, too. Anyone with the ability, will and a decent pair of shoes can take advantage of what they have to offer. The trails of our parks and public lands are, in a sense, for everyone and it is this simple fact that makes what RVMBA does so important for the Mid-Ohio Valley as a whole.

The River Valley Mountain Bike Association is a diverse group of motivated, yet almost impossibly-easy-to-get-along-with people. They work hard to encourage anyone with an interest in mountain biking or supporting the MOV’s trails to join their organization. Annual memberships are $15 for individuals, $20 for families, $5 for youth, and it’s as easy as going to their website (rvmba.com) and signing up.

The post The RVMBA and the World Beyond the Asphalt appeared first on Clutch MOV.