DURANGOBIKE COMPANY

A little bit about Durango….

• Durango proper is 6512’• About 30 minutes North of Durango there are

(3) 14,000’ peaks-Mt. Eolus, Windom, & Sunlight

• Population of Durango Proper is 15k, county adds another 10K

• Approx 68” of snowfall• 300+ days of sunshine• Tourism and Agriculture

A little bit about location of trails…

• 20 miles north-across the street from ski resort at approx. 9000’ is the Nordic Center

• Approx. 260” of snowfall• Over 2,000 miles of mountain bike trails in the

area• 90 miles are right out our front door of our

factory

2014 Awards for Durango• TripAdvisor named Durango Mountain Resort the "Top Value Ski Spot" in North America • Family Travel Magazine - Top Family Friendly Resort • Liftopia names Durango Top 3 Most Livable Ski Towns• Los Angeles Times - Where Skiing is Still Affordable • Skiing Magazine - Ski "Dream" Town • Sunset Magazine - Great Snowy Getaway • USA Today - Durango Best Cycling Town• Sunset Magazine - Best Places to Live (Runner-up: Best Place to be Finally Free) • Liftopia – The West’s Top 3 Most Livable Ski Towns • True West Magazine - Top 10 True Western Town in 2014• Fox News - Top 10 Sleigh Rides in North America• National Geographic names Durango Top 10 Emerging Ski Towns• 10Best and USA TODAY's Readers' Choice contest - San Juan Skyway Best Motorcycle

Trip • The Active Times -- Most Scenic US Bike Trails – Animas River • Family Travel Magazine Names Durango Mountain Resort Top Family Friendly Resort• 10Best Readers' Choice/USA TODAY -- Best U.S. Cycling Town #8 town • National Tour Association Distinguished Dozens -- NTA Favorite Scenic Railroad Gold

Winner

Durango Nordic Center Has 20km of ski trails groomed every day for both classic and skate skiing and separate snowshoe trails. Day pass $15/Year Pass $100

Map of The Center-Red is dedicated Fat Bike, All other trails open to Fat Biking

Rules For Fat Biking on Trails • Please, if our parking lot is muddy and you get mud on your tires, do your best to clean

the tires in a snowbank before you ride on our trails and track mud all over them. • You need to purchase either a day trail pass or a season pass to the Nordic Center.• Please do not ride in soft conditions. If you leave a rut, deeper than one inch it’s too soft.

So please do not come on powder days. And on warm spring days please do not ride in the afternoon.

• We only allow genuine fat bikes, no mountain bikes; tires must be 3.5” or bigger.• Yield to all other users when riding. Skiers don’t have brakes but you do!• Ride on the firmest part of the track. (If you can picture where the tracks are on our

snowcat, that is often the firmest part!)• Do not ride on or in the classic tracks. (the two parallel lines grooved into the snow)• Leave room for skiers to pass (don’t ride side-by-side with all of your buddies blocking the

full trail).• Allow the track time to set up after grooming and before riding.• Be an ambassador for the sport: stay polite, educate other riders, discourage bad

behavior and follow the rules.• If you are not sure if today is a good day to ride, please call 970 385 2114 and ask about

current conditions.

Howelsen Hill Etiquette• Tickets required• Bikes yield to all other users• Ride on the most firm part of the track• Leave Room for skiers to pass• Do NOT ride in classic track• Stay to the right side of the trail around

corners, look for oncoming traffic• Allow track time to set up after grooming• Purpose build fat bikes only• Spread the word, Be an ambassador

How We Got Started• Brainstorming in the summer, sending out

emails introducing ourselves• Helen Low, NC Manager has been there for 15+

years – river guide in summer out of pocket most of the time

• Interviewed riders to see what they wanted but we weren’t committed to any specific outcome

• Contacted other Nordic Centers, Snowmobile outfits, kept the conversation going, talked to our young riders

National Forest Map

What We Heard From Some People• “You Fat Bikers are like warm Cow pies…you

never go away and you keep showing up…”• We don’t have the right equipment….• Forest Service doesn’t allow uphill traffic…• Too much climbing to get to the good stuff….• Forest Service doesn’t allow bikes in the

winter….• Bikers don’t want to pay for trail access• Bikers don’t want to pay for shuttles…..

Continued….• Too crowded…not enough room….• Trash Trails….• Nordic Center trails get boring…

Things to Initially Consider….• Who are you catering to? Demand? Who will pay• Snow conditions/weather? How much fresh

snow, how much melt? Season starts/ends• What equipment do you have “easy” access to?• What labor can you apply to it, “easily”?• What are the skills of your riders?• What are feasible costs?• Terrain challenges? Where does sun shine?• Bike Rentals? Why Not?• Age…anyone hard of hearing??

Why what we did worked so well?• Buy In from Upper Management, Land

Management, Nordic Management, Land Owners, Community Support, Media Support

• Small Scale– Watch Demand– Watch New Entries into Center– Respond to trail needs easily– No Bike rentals– Easy Exit strategy if it doesn’t work or we don’t

have enough support

Continued….• Existing groomed trails is 20km. We had lots of

open space and lots of options• We didn’t create problems before they

occurred…no what if’s…only safety of rider and machine

• Had an inclusive mentality rather than exclusive• Coincides with the mission of the Non-Profit

Nordic Center – “...as part of our mission to introduce Durango youth to the healthy, active outdoor lifestyle of Nordic skiing”

• Attracts all skill levels

Community Support -Front Page

Building…• For the technical stuff, our “Thrill Seekers”– Get an experienced backcountry

skier/snowboarder that bikes..– They know the fall lines– They have the guts to try the technical descents– They know how to pack out, where to pack it out– Watch where the trees shed and where they

protect (danger zones)– Look for natural berms– Before you put in too much labor, ride it!

More on Building….• Machine Maintained…– The beauty of the machine…EASY, In Place Already– One section is incredibly rocky referred to as the

“Rock Garden” with creek crossing …seasonal timing

– Natural lines, where can we keep trees?– Where can machine safely navigate -4’ with skis– How difficult is trail by keeping existing terrain?– Excellent in connecting points

Trail Entry/Exit Point

Got Signage??? $12.00!!www.inter-mtn.com

More Examples from Inter-mtn.com

Putting it in Perspective!!

Slave labor is one of the best tools we have! They had a blast and it cost us Pizza and Hot Cocoa!

Orange Flags were placed on Right Side only before snow fell

We widened trail and cleaned up for rider safety after first big storm

Closing Points….• Weather…did I mention weather?• 45 degrees this week!• Make trails that can adapt to changes• Be flexible for events…close trails for races

either Nordic or Fat Bike• Have an opportunity for riders to “call-in” for

conditions• Initially go small and easy, learn what works

and what doesn’t…staff, equipment, skill level

Future of Trail Building?

www.timbersled.com

…..The End?