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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > July > 01
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Kevin Riley: Go mountain biking
When you tell someone around here you’re going mountain biking, they assume you’re going out of town.
When you tell them, no, you’re going mountain biking in Dayton, you get a funny look.
But it can be done here — and in a big way.
Watch a video where I prove it.
Five Rivers MetroParks has for almost two years been operating a remarkable mountain biking area at Huffman MetroPark. A tour of the trails, which are on more than 100 acres, provides an exhilarating bike ride and showcases the larger regional effort to use natural resources to create an attractive community.
The MetroParks Mountain Biking Area, called MoMBA for short, has 8.3 miles of trails with different degrees of difficulty. It cost about $150,000 to build, and some 60 volunteers helped with the project.
With MetroParks’ Greg Brumitt leading the way, I found myself shooting along narrow trails, splashing through creeks and making hairpin turns as I tried to gain speed to begin a short climb. Brumitt knew I was on a mountain biking trail for the first time, so he shouted advice as we rolled through the sunlight-speckled woods, warning me on tough turns and big bumps that were coming up.
He also had this bit of counsel: focus on where you want to go, not what you want to avoid. If you stare at that big tree, you’ll hit it.
(I didn’t hit any trees, and, while Brumitt doesn’t claim to be a philosopher, he may have developed a useful metaphor for approaching life in general.)
Six different trails offer riders at all skill levels a chance to enjoy MoMBA. Kids are welcome. The easier trails are a good way to start, and the park district has a number of programs for beginners. The more difficult trails, with changing elevations and narrow paths between trees, give riders a chance to test their skills and get a demanding workout.
When you’re on the trails — just minutes from downtown off State Route 4 — you’re surrounded by nature, and you don’t have to make the commitment of a long trip. From start to finish, my ride — which was a little muddy, a lot of fun and a great workout — took just a couple of hours.
MetroParks’ MoMBA also fits into a bigger strategy for Dayton. Recreation opportunities are key to attracting and retaining companies, which are especially interested in drawing young, talented people. MetroParks has been part of efforts to recruit people to Wright-Patterson from other Air Force bases as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission process.
Our region has opportunities around its rivers and other natural resources, and we have already invested in bike trails and preservation of land. Brumitt and others, including MetroParks Executive Director Charlie Shoemaker, want Dayton to have a reputation as one of the Midwest’s best outdoor recreation centers.
So the mountain biking trails, plans for a whitewater area and the new backpacking trail in Germantown and Twin Valley MetroParks are part of building Dayton’s image.
Image-building takes time. But at least one outsider is impressed.
Chris Bernhardt was formerly with the International Mountain Bike Association and now works for a Portland, Oregon-based consulting company that specializes in bike trails. He worked with MetroParks on MoMBA.
“The community’s vision to provide close-in, active recreation is impressive,” he said. “It’s going to pay off in attracting people.” Bernhardt noted that many communities have bike trail systems and mostly along the rivers, as we do. Fewer communities have mountain biking trails.
Dayton’s opportunity is the integration of the two systems — something almost no community has, he said.
On August 14, regional cycling advocates are holding the first Miami Valley Cycling Summit. Brumitt believes that Dayton is moving toward becoming a bike-friendly, more active community. His unscientific way of measuring progress: he sees more bicycle “roof racks” on cars every day.
And he believes Dayton will eventually be seen as a hot spot for outdoor recreation. Our parks, trails, rivers and other outdoor amenities give us a chance to stand out.
“It’s hard to differentiate yourself with a mall,” he said.
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