Construction Updates and Work Days

[klainet]

This forum will keep you posted on the status of construction at the Griffin Bike Park and notify you of upcoming work days.

Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griffinbikeparkIN and visit our website: www.griffinbikepark.com where you can sign up for our mailing list!

Address to the park is 10700 Bono Rd.; Terre Haute, IN 47802

[klainet]

Currently we have a 1-mile beginner "kids" loop in the Basic Training Skills Area. This was our first new "test" trail and it turned out great! The "big kids" portion of this trail is a nice 6/10's of a mile that will get your heart pumping! If you are on Strava have fun getting King of the Mountain!


In addition, there are approximately 4-5 miles of existing trails ranging from old access roads to horse trails to previously "illegal" single-track. We have rehabbed about half of these trails and they are fast and fun! Some uphills, downhills with a good share of roots.


On top of the existing trails, we have constructed approximately 2 miles of new trails connecting the existing trails and creating loops around the lake. Some are fast and flow, some are a bit technical. One portion even has a nice natural bit of pump to it.


We are in the process of finishing a section of the "Lake Loop" which has some amazing views of Stryker Lake on the Southeast end. We are VERY CLOSE to tying this into the existing trail, and then we will move on to expanding the "Perimeter Loop" from the park entrance North and East to the existing trail. This section is pin-flagged and ready to dig. We have at least 4 miles of trails "initially" flagged that will come next.

[klainet]

Saturday, Aug 1st is a big day for us! In the morning, ISU will be bringing 100 students out to help clear trails. Then, in the afternoon, the 181st Air National Guard Reserve Unit will be making a site visit. The 181st is ready to mobilize their soldiers and equipment to get the LZ area whipped into shape! Amazing! AND... Nat Lopes, our Bike Park Developer with Hilride will be in town from Saturday Aug 1 - Wednesday Aug 5th! He will be onsite every day. Come out and meet the crew!

[bboehman]

Thanks for all your efforts!!  This is amazing and ISU is a great place as well!  My only wish is this was here during my time there 20 years ago, maybe some of the weekends would have been more productive !  Can't wait to come back for a visit to campus and of course hit a trail or two!!

[klainet]

What a great Saturday! Not only was our Bike Park Developer, Nat Lopes there from California, but in the morning we had 64 ISU students show up on a Turner bus to help us at the park! We were able to clear a lot of trail and build a little bit of new stuff! Then in the afternoon the 181st showed up in their military bus to see the project and discuss how they are going to help us get our infrastructure installed! Amazing day! Then we had a great group ride.

Nat and Friends members will be at the park all day today (Sunday), Monday, Tuesday, and most of Wednesday! Come check out the park and meet some of the crew. We will have a group ride at 6:00 pm Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Wednesday's ride will be around 3 pm. 

[klainet]

Come help us finish the Southeast portion of the Lake Loop trail and tie it into the existing trail! Also going to work on polishing and completing the NEW Perimeter Trail from the Entrance going North and East around the Basic Training Skills area to tie into the existing trail.


Saturday, Aug. 22 starting at 8 am. We will work until 4 pm and provide lunch to volunteers!


Here is a link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/411609169050059/


Contact me with any questions! klaine@griffinbikepark.com


Hope to see some new faces!

[klainet]

Wow! We have quite a bit of progress since last post! On Monday, 8/17/2015, over 100 ISU students came out to work for Donaghy Day! THANK YOU ISU!! This past Saturday, over 30 folks showed up to help us build new trail.


The NEW Northwest (Beginner) Perimeter Trail is punched through to the existing trail! This new section is getting rave reviews, so come check it out and help ride it in. Once inside the park, go through the gates (on your bike), the trailhead is on the left where the two gravel drives merge before splitting again.


AND!!! A group of avid riders has cut in the majority of the MEGAPUMP trail!!! That's right... M-E-G-A-P-U-M-P!!! Up and Down 20-30 feet! You have got to come check this out!! On the other side of Stryker Lake, in the Southern part of the Lakes Operating Area.

Finally, this coming Saturday, 8/29/15, Terre Haute is having their annual Downtown Block Party, with even more fun then before. The Griffin Bike Park will have our booth setup from 1pm - 4pm and will be hosting a Bike Rally, Bike Inspections, and Obstacle Course. Come meet the FRIENDS and learn more!!

[klainet]

The trails are riding in great! Hope you have had a chance to get out and ride.


We have another big work day coming up on Saturday, September 26th! GE Aviation will be bringing their folks out to work the morning session from 8-Noon. We will also be working all afternoon, usually till 4 pm or so, then we get some rides in! Come join us! Morning, Afternoon, or both! Or just an hour or two anytime, we will take all the help we can get! We will feed you if you stay through lunch, so let me know if you plan on being there so I can plan for lunch. klaine@griffinbikepark.com


And bring your bikes!! Come ride with the Friends and check out these trails!

[klainet]

Tomorrow, Saturday September 26th is our big work day! Come out and join some of the folks from GE Aviation and help us build more trails and improve the MEGAPUMP!!! We will be there from 8 am - 4 pm so come anytime or all day! And bring your bikes for sure.


If anyone from the Indy area is interested in making a day of it and needs a ride, let me know.

[Hyperious]

Next work day is October 24th.
Breaking ground on new trail in on the Northern Perimeter. Lots of corridor clearing and pin flagging to get done.
Ge Aviation  and Illiana Multisport will be out. Come join us.
Remember Bring your bikes to ride after,

[klainet]

Don't forget our next big work day coming up this Saturday, October 24th!! We are starting construction on a NEW TRAIL in the Intermediate section of the park. Due to colder temps and sunrise, we will be starting this Saturday at 9 am instead of 8 am. Illiana Multisport will be making their presence know volunteering this Saturday, so come join in on the fun! We can use the help!!

[klainet]

We had 100 volunteers at our work day on Saturday! Wow! A big shout-out to Illiana Multisport, Rose-Hulman University, and the Girl Scouts. We were able to get half of the 1st "inner loop" in the Beginner Area (Forward Operating Area) cut in on Saturday. We tied it into the main trail so riders can make a loop out of it and not have to ride in and out. We added a little over 1/2 mile by best guess. Once we get some riders on it we will confirm on Strava.

This section of trail utilizes one of the tallest peaks in the park, along with the longest downhill section (and up-hill!) It is located North of the Kid's Loop and is accessed off of the Perimeter Trail that goes North and East from the Entrance. Once you have turned East on the Perimeter trail and made the last climb up the ridge before turning left to go to the Main Trail, you can now turn RIGHT on the ridge and head up the hill to the top of the peak before descending down adjacent to the kids area. The trail goes all the way to the bottom, then turns and climbs back up.

Once we complete this trail, there will be 3 drops off the peak to the South, known as the "Drop-Zone Proving Grounds". The trail will then wind its way around the kids area and eventually come back up the peak, down the NORTH side on a huge bench-cut section, and tie back into the perimeter trail just before it meets up with the Main Trail at the Easement. This trail will be a work-out and a BLAST with those drops. Come help us next time as we continue to add to it!!

[klainet]

Next Work Day is SET!! GE Aviation will be hosting a work day on Saturday, November 14th from 8 am - 4 pm. Here is a link to the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/700087336759416/

Come join us!!!

[klainet]

We had a GREAT work day on the 14th. We dug in the first section of NEW Perimeter trail in the Northern Operating Area, which will have the intermediate trails. The Perimeter trail is technically designed to be Beginner, but it will open up all of the Intermediate loops and lines, which we are all excited for!! This section of Perimeter Trail will be the Longest section of trail to punch through and we can use all the help we can get!! Come help us on the NEXT WORK DAY!!


Our Bike Park Developer will be in town Dec. 9 - Dec. 11. Feel free to come join in anytime. We have an "official" work day scheduled for Saturday, December 12th. There will also be an additional Work Day with those who prefer, on Sunday, December 13th.


Here is a link to our Facebook Event for Dec. 12th: https://www.facebook.com/events/586606114820056/


Come meet Nat Lopes and RIDE with the Friends group each evening!!

[klainet]

Wow!! what an AWESOME week we had with Nat Lopes from Hilride in town! And to top it off, we had 51 folks out, contributing 227 hours on Saturday, December 12th for our big work day! The weather was perfect and we were able to make some significant progress on the Perimeter Loop up in the Northern Operating Area (Intermediate Section). This trail is shaping up to be SICK!! Come check it out and help ride in the portion that is complete!


Just to throw it out there... Since our inception, we have had a total of 596 individual volunteers and 8,749 hours!!!! Thanks to YOU we have had a HUGE turnout from the public to support YOUR bike park! And we are just getting started!! 2016 is going to be epic for us as we are so close to constructing the Dual Slalom, the Dirt Jumps, the Pump Track, and some Riding Features. Please stay informed and involved!


Our next scheduled work day is Saturday, January 23rd, which again will coincide with Hilride's monthly site visit. We will be onsite from Thursday, January 21st - Sunday, January 24th so come out anytime you can! Let's make 2016 an even bigger volunteer year in preparation for our Grand Opening in October!!


Go Friends!!