Brad
Granny Gear
Posts:25
Registered Users
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| 03/16/2008 5:28 PM |
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Hey all, I realize that this site is getting less traffic now, but wanted to get the word out. Hope Proctor and I (Brad Oakley) are members of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Mayor's Bicycle Task Force. Although we represent all cyclists in the Lexington/Fayette County area, our focus is primarily representing the mountain biking community. As most people know, Lexington has very limited MTB opportunities, with the 2-3 miles of trail at Veteran's Park being the only trails that possibly qualify as a mountain bike trail.
The GOOD news is that there is money (a significant amount!) in the LFUCG budget earmarked for MTB trails. Hope and I are currently gathering information on public lands available for a MTB trail system and identifying the appropriate person within Parks & Recreation to work with as far as gaining access and potentially creating a new trail system. Although Hope and I are committed to improving MTBing in Fayette County through the Task Force, we will undoubtedly need the support of every MTBer in the Fayette County area throughout the process of (hopefully) establishing new trails in Fayette County. If we were to gain access to property for a new trail system, we will need countless dedicated individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and effort for the betterment of all current and future MTBers in Fayette County.
To that end, if you are interested in forming an organized MTB community in Fayette County, please shoot me an e-mail with your contact information. While I cannot guarantee a new trail system, now is the time to act if you want to be a part of the MTB "generation" here in Fayette County that could potentially get it done-
the money is there and we have a mayor that is supportive of the
cycling community. Please contact me at kboakley at jacksonkelly dot com if you are interested. At this point, Hope and I just want to gauge interest level. Once we have an e-mail list, we can get into further details and schedule a meeting.
Please pass this information along to any mountain bikers you know that may be interested. In the near future, I will also place sign-up lists at the local shops (with their cooperation).
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Jason
Granny Gear
Posts:32
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| 03/16/2008 11:00 PM |
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Way to go Brad!
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fasterdulin
Big Ring
Posts:107
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| 03/17/2008 10:32 AM |
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Brad - awesome work. I will get a larger list of mountain bikers together and send it your way immediately. In the short term, here's some additional information that might help you out.
After the Lexington Bike Summit, we worked on getting a Lexington KyMBA chapter started and tried to follow up with some of the leads we had in LFCUG. The two guys I defaulted to for some of the planning are Mitchell Kersting and Roscoe Klausing - Mitchell is the captain of the UK cycling team and Roscoe is an alleycat/mtb racer that owns a landscape construction company in town. They would be good contacts to start - their emails are below.
mekers3@yahoo.com
roscoeklausing@gmail.com
We also had really positive feedback from the Director of Parks & Rec, Kimra Cole (her son is heavy into mountain biking) and we recently spent some time with Keith Lovan from Lex Public Works. He indicated that they are hoping to get moving on some new mtb trail projects later this summer and I believe he or some of his staff are going to attend the IMBA Trail Care Crew visit in Frankfort in May. The TCC visit would be a great opportunity to start building up the network of Lex-area mountain bikers and an even better opportunity to start making contacts with other officials.
Another thing to consider, while we've been making some good connections with the gov't folks in Lexington, the larger issue seems to be lack of good public open spaces that can support a decent trail system. To that end, there is legislation moving from the KY Senate to the House right now that would allow private landowners to open their properties to the public for recreation and not be held liable for injury. It's SB 196 and it got sent to the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee on Friday afternoon.
Here's the link to membership http://www.lrc.ky.gov/committee/standing/TD&E(H)/members.htm
We'll keep spreading the word and trying to get more of the groups involved - but if you need anything else in the short term, please post the requests here. It will reach a lot of cyclists in a very short amount of time.
thanks again.
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Boonerider
Granny Gear
Posts:38
Registered Users
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| 03/17/2008 6:31 PM |
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Great news Brad. If I can help out let me know.
Jim Crouch |
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Brad
Granny Gear
Posts:25
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| 03/17/2008 7:34 PM |
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Thanks, Jim. The Task Force has only met twice, the first meeting was just a meet and greet. Things will definitely start moving more this summer and fall. I'm planning on riding with you, Gonzo, and Billy this weekend.
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Boonerider
Granny Gear
Posts:38
Registered Users
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| 03/22/2008 2:01 PM |
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| Hey Brad, ended up just doing the trainer. The weather was crap. Next weekend is looking good so far. Hopefully we can get together and ride then. |
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FireBallKY
Big Ring
Posts:119
Registered Users
Lexington, KY USA
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| 03/25/2008 8:34 PM |
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WOW!!! This sounds awesome. I've been really excited for a couple of years about the prospect of gaining some trails in the Lexington area. If the group is legit (means business) then count me in. In the past, others have shown interest but nobody truly followed through. My time is limited but given proper notice I can be available for work and/or meetings.
Yes, I'm back and in full effect so get your chamois out of a wad, Gonzo. LOL
HIYA BRAD!!!! |
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I'm not fat. That's a fuel tank for the love machine!!! |
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Boonerider
Granny Gear
Posts:38
Registered Users
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| 03/25/2008 9:39 PM |
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Dang Fireball how ya been? It's been a long time.
Jim Crouch |
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FireBallKY
Big Ring
Posts:119
Registered Users
Lexington, KY USA
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| 03/26/2008 8:18 PM |
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Yes sir, Jim my boy, it sure has been a long time. How the heck have you been? Still rubbin' elbows with Gonzie? hehe
Still got the horsey blues, huh? Maybe one day, mtb'ers will win out. Nice to know you're still around. Take care!!! |
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I'm not fat. That's a fuel tank for the love machine!!! |
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Boonerider
Granny Gear
Posts:38
Registered Users
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| 03/26/2008 9:57 PM |
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Yeah me and Gonzo ride pretty much every weekend that it's not pouring rain. Mostly road until the trails dry out some. I've been great, 3 little ones since we last talked. Congrats on the wedded bliss.
Gonzo is working on the horse issues. I kinda let em run me off for a few years but i'm back and ready for thr next round. Talk to you soon.
Maybe we can get a group ride together sometime this summer. |
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chuck_clark
Big Ring
Posts:345
Registered Users
Louisville
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| 03/27/2008 12:19 AM |
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Posted By Boonerider on 03/26/2008 9:57 PM
Maybe we can get a group ride together sometime this summer. Just make sure if you are camping with Fireball to get earplugs. Two pillows over your head won't dampen the snoring noise.
Love ya F-Ball. 8^)
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Rod
Little Ring
Posts:83
Registered Users
Morehead
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| 03/27/2008 1:30 PM |
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Posted By chuck_clark on 03/27/2008 12:19 AM
Posted By Boonerider on 03/26/2008 9:57 PM
Maybe we can get a group ride together sometime this summer. Just make sure if you are camping with Fireball to get earplugs. Two pillows over your head won't dampen the snoring noise. Love ya F-Ball. 8^)
A group rides sounds like a great idea. I always enjoy meeting other people that are obsessed with this sport. OH yea if we camp I plan on setting my tent at least 200 feet from fireball's. |
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Brad
Granny Gear
Posts:25
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| 03/27/2008 2:47 PM |
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Fireball:
As with any association of individuals, there will be a core of group of people who do a majority of the work for the betterment of all. Whether the group is ultimately successful at "getting things done" is solely up to the group. As long as there are people willing to put forth the effort, I think you will see some results in the not-so-distant future.
Obviously, I want to be a member of the Lexington chapter. By virtue of Hope and I being members of the Mayor's Task Force as well, the Lexington chapter will have a direct line of communication with the Mayor and LFUCG. The Task Force has goals it would like see accomplished regardless of whether a Lexington chapter is formed and is ultimately successful. However, the more people we have interested and the more organized we are, I think the goals will be accomplished a lot sooner. The bottom line is that if we want more trails in Fayette Co., we need to have citizens supporting what the Task Force is asking the Mayor and LFUCG to do and be willing to commit for the long-term.
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FireBallKY
Big Ring
Posts:119
Registered Users
Lexington, KY USA
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| 03/27/2008 4:42 PM |
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Posted By Rod on 03/27/2008 1:30 PM
Posted By chuck_clark on 03/27/2008 12:19 AM
Posted By Boonerider on 03/26/2008 9:57 PM
Maybe we can get a group ride together sometime this summer. Just make sure if you are camping with Fireball to get earplugs. Two pillows over your head won't dampen the snoring noise. Love ya F-Ball. 8^) A group rides sounds like a great idea. I always enjoy meeting other people that are obsessed with this sport. OH yea if we camp I plan on setting my tent at least 200 feet from fireball's.
I'll say it before Chuckles does...that won't be far enough. LOL
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I'm not fat. That's a fuel tank for the love machine!!! |
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Rod
Little Ring
Posts:83
Registered Users
Morehead
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| 03/27/2008 4:55 PM |
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Posted By FireBallKY on 03/27/2008 4:42 PM
Posted By Rod on 03/27/2008 1:30 PM
Posted By chuck_clark on 03/27/2008 12:19 AM
Posted By Boonerider on 03/26/2008 9:57 PM
Maybe we can get a group ride together sometime this summer. Just make sure if you are camping with Fireball to get earplugs. Two pillows over your head won't dampen the snoring noise. Love ya F-Ball. 8^) A group rides sounds like a great idea. I always enjoy meeting other people that are obsessed with this sport. OH yea if we camp I plan on setting my tent at least 200 feet from fireball's. I'll say it before Chuckles does...that won't be far enough. LOL
On a more serious note make sure to give us feedback Brad so I'll be able to come out and help. If I get my huge paper done I'll drive down from Morehead to help whenever you need me. I have no idea what to do, but I'm willing to help. |
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FireBallKY
Big Ring
Posts:119
Registered Users
Lexington, KY USA
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| 03/27/2008 5:31 PM |
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OOPS!!! My post is under the dotted line.
Posted By Brad on 03/27/2008 2:47 PM
Fireball:
As with any association of individuals, there will be a core of group of people who do a majority of the work for the betterment of all. Whether the group is ultimately successful at "getting things done" is solely up to the group. As long as there are people willing to put forth the effort, I think you will see some results in the not-so-distant future.
Obviously, I want to be a member of the Lexington chapter. By virtue of Hope and I being members of the Mayor's Task Force as well, the Lexington chapter will have a direct line of communication with the Mayor and LFUCG. The Task Force has goals it would like see accomplished regardless of whether a Lexington chapter is formed and is ultimately successful. However, the more people we have interested and the more organized we are, I think the goals will be accomplished a lot sooner. The bottom line is that if we want more trails in Fayette Co., we need to have citizens supporting what the Task Force is asking the Mayor and LFUCG to do and be willing to commit for the long-term.
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I totally agree with what you said about the core group. It just seems that that core eventually dwindled away as well. I'm not throwing a dark cloud over us...just making a statement concerning past attemps. Keep us posted.
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I'm not fat. That's a fuel tank for the love machine!!! |
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