Posts tagged Valmont Bike Park

Valmont City Park overview
The 40-acre Valmont Bike Park is part of the 132-acre, largely undeveloped, Valmont City Park (VCP). The park property was purchased in the mid-nineties and an original concept plan for VCP was approved by Boulder City Council and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in 1998. An updated park concept plan was adopted in 2006 to better reflect the current recreational needs and interests of the community. The final concept plan for VCP was approved in July 2008, and will be implemented in three phases. In Phase 1, the city is developing 45 acres on the north side of Valmont Road. This phase includes the 40-acre bike park and will also feature improvements to the existing dog park and development of a disc golf course. Future phases of the park will be developed as public and private funding become available.

Valmont Bike Park history

The vision for a state-of-the-art bike park at VCP arose from a multi-year effort by Boulder’s mountain bicycling community. Led by the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (BMA), a local, non-profit advocacy group, cyclists became actively engaged in city council meetings and during public participation sessions on the park’s development.

Once a bike park was adopted as part of the 2008 VCP development plan, the Parks and Recreation Department forged partnerships with BMA and the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) to share in the planning and design of the park. BMA also agreed to help with fundraising and long-term stewardship of the bike facility and formed a partnership with the PLAY Boulder Parks Foundation as a mechanism to receive donations. To date, BMA and the cycling community have helped the city raise close to $500,000 in non-tax funding from donations, sponsorships and grants. Over $100,000 was from individual and small business donations, and two grants have been received from the State of Colorado’s “Great Outdoors Colorado” program, totaling $245,000. The remainder was from other grants, foundations and sponsorships.

A major ground breaking ceremony was held in October 2009, and the bike park’s development was soon underway. Starting in the summer of 2009, more than 220,000 cubic yards of soil have been delivered to the site and shaped into the terrain of the new park.

Projected cost of the park

The projected total cost of the specific bike park amenities to date is $1,256,277. Of the total cost, 35% has been funded with grants, donations and sponsorships. The remaining 65% was funded by sales and property taxes allocated to park development. The balance of funds collected from fundraising efforts will be used for the park’s maintenance.

Valmont Bike Park Features and Amenities
Valmont Bike Park (VBP) is a 40-acre, natural-surface cycling facility designed to offer terrain, trails, features and structures for several off-road cycling styles/disciplines.
VBP features an underlying “skill progression” design to serve all ages, abilities and riding styles. This design will allow riders to improve their riding skills as they work their way up to advanced-level slopestyle, dirt jump and cyclo-cross elements throughout the park.

VBP is designed for both public day-to-day recreational use and as a venue for special events and races, including world-class events such as UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) cyclo-cross events.

A list of bike park amenities, features and elements by type of cycling experience follows and can be seen on the enclosed map:
Bike Park amenities and improvements being completed in Phase 1:
Four miles of new bike trails;
More than two dozen terrain park features;
Cyclo-cross features, such as a sand pit and staircases;
Beginner-friendly skills loop and pump park;
Premier dual slalom with start gate;
Beginner to expert slopestyle courses;
A permanent race and event podium;
Historic renovation of the Platt Farm House (in the park plaza);
Irrigation, landscaping and erosion controls;
Planting more than 250 trees, 340 shrubs and native grasses;
Two large parking lots on the west and south sides;
A new restroom facility (in the park plaza);
Development of trail maintenance standards and protocols;
Development of comprehensive safety and information signs;
Right-of-way improvements along Valmont Road;
A new 10′ wide multi-use access path along Valmont Road;
A new children’s play area with mini trike track.

Family Cycling and Cross Country Trails:
Easier (Green Circle) trails = about 2 miles;
More difficult (Blue Square) trails = about 2 miles
Skillz Loop: beginner dirt loop with log and rock rides, bridges and learning features;
Tot Track: paved loop for small riders on tricycles or run bikes;
Tot Park: a children’s playground for non-bike recreation and play.

Slopestyle (SS):
Small SS Trails (beginner course): 960 linear feet – 18 features
Medium SS Trails (intermediate course): 860 linear feet – 8 features
Large/Extra Large SS Trails (advanced course): 1250 linear feet – 17 features

Additional Trail Features and Rideable Elements:
Log Rides: 5
Elevated Bridges: 9
Large Terrain Park Features: 2
Terrain Park Fabricated Lips: 8
Flat Wall Rides: 2
Curved Wall Rides: 3
Rock Rides: 21
Rock Causeways: 3
Various Rock Armoring: 1280 square feet
20 Foot Wide Pedestrian/Vehicular Ditch Bridges: 3

Dual Slalom Course:
Designed and constructed by the Alpine Bike Parks – whose staff are world champions.
Permanent, World Cup start gate and timing systems for practice and competition use.

Dirt Jumps (DJ):
Extra Small and Small DJ Trails (beginner): 570 linear feet
Medium DJ Trails (intermediate): 300 linear feet
Large DJ Trails (advanced): 334 linear feet

Pump Parks:
Mesa-Top Pump Park: 4,800 square feet of terrain
Creekside Pump Park: 3,000 square feet of terrain

Cyclo-cross (CX) Amenities:
Designed and constructed by Alpine Bike Park staff who are U.S. national champions.
“5280 Run Up”: The largest, and one of the only, permanent CX staircases in North America, and the only CX staircase at one mile above sea level.
“The Belgian Steps”: A smaller version of the permanent race staircase
“The Sand Box”: A sandpit for CX racing, complete with race-grade, large grain sand.
Six permanent CX barriers available on site for practice and competition use.

Special Event Amenities:
Park Plaza with cycling inspired artwork, grass plaza and restrooms.
Permanent winners’ podium with backdrop.
200-meter start/finish road for cyclo-cross and cross country events.
Telecommunications lines under start/finish roads.
RV hookups for event staff and vendors.
Areas designed for spectators to view key race features.

Irrigation:
Advanced, water-conservation irrigation system for dirt jump and bike feature erosion control as well as landscaping grasses and trees.

Valmont Bike Park Opportunities
Valmont Bike Park management is actively seeking partners and volunteers to participate in ongoing programming, stewardship and maintenance of this unique facility. Below is a brief list of options and opportunities for individuals, teams, businesses, event promoters and the bike industry to be involved with Valmont Bike Park and the most unique cycling experience on Earth.

Park Support:
Individual, business and team donations
Sponsors and park partners
Map advertisers/sponsors

Volunteer Options:
Bike Hosts and Park Ambassadors
Trail maintenance and work days

Bike Park Programs, Events and Group Permits:
Programming options announced in June
Applications for special events will be available in June
Group permits and scheduling opportunities will be available starting in June

For more information about these opportunities, visit www.ValmontBikePark.org or contact Mike Eubank at mikeeubank@me.com.

Valmont Bike Park FAQs
When will the park open?

Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 9 a.m.
What are the park hours once it opens?

The park will be open daily from sunrise to sunset. The park may be closed occasionally due to special events, for maintenance or weather/trail conditions. Closures will be posted at the park and on www.ValmontBikePark.org
Will there be a fee to use the bike park?

Individual use of the park is FREE–there is no charge for admission. A fee will be assessed for groups, rentals, events and commercial uses.
How can I donate to and support Valmont Bike Park?

Donations can be made at www.ValmontBikePark.org The Parks and Recreation Department will offer a $10 voluntary annual pass to support the cost of the park’s staff and maintenance.
How was the park funded?

The projected total cost of the specific bike park amenities to date is $1,256,277. Of the total cost, 35% was raised with grants, donations and sponsorships. The remaining 65% was funded by sales and property taxes.
Can I rent Valmont Bike Park for a special event, group ride or private class?

Programming opportunities will be available at Valmont Bike Park. RFP and applications for programs and events are available. Group permits and scheduling will be available in June. For more information, visit www.ValmontBikePark.org or contact Mike Eubank at mikeeubank@me.com.
Can I rent a bike or helmet at the park?

Bike and helmet rentals will NOT be available at the park, but bike shops that offer rentals will be posted at www.ValmontBikePark.org.
Do I have to wear a helmet? Pads?

The City of Boulder highly recommends wearing helmets and protective gear when riding in the park.
Will there be a concession stand? Or vending machines?

Plans call for food and drink concessions at the park during peak hours. There is also a seasonal drinking fountain in the park plaza
Does the bike park have restrooms?
Yes, there are year-round restrooms available in the park’s plaza.
How old do you have to be to use the bike course?
There is no age requirement to participate at the park, but minors 12 years old and younger should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Who should I call if I get injured at the park?

Please call 911 for all emergencies, or contact park staff or a bike host to make the call. There will be no onsite medical assistance.
Can I run on the trails or do I have to be on a bike?

The park is designed specifically for bike use – and walking or running on the trails is discouraged.
Can I bring my dog to the park? On the trails?

Dogs are welcome at the nearby dog park, located on the northeast corner of Valmont City Park – but should not be brought to the Valmont Bike Park or on any of its trails for safety reasons.
Can I ride my bike to the park?

Yes, the park is easily accessible by bike using Boulder’s network of multi-purpose trails and bike lanes. The City of Boulder has a route-finding website, www.GoBikeBoulder.Net, that will help you find the safest and fastest route to Valmont Bike Park. There are bike racks located by the restrooms and on the south side by the storage building.
Is it safe to ride the bike park’s jumps and features?

Cyclists ride the park at their own risk. Off-road cycling is inherently dangerous. All riders must take personal responsibility for their own safety and actions at the park. Please obey all park signs and do not attempt features that are beyond your skill level.

Glossary and Terms
Mountain Biking is a sport which consists of riding bikes on natural surfaces, often over rough terrain. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability, comfort and performance in rough terrain. The vast majority of mountain biking falls into recreational XC or cross country riding. This individual sport requires endurance, core strength and balance, bike handling skills, and self-reliance. XC type mountain biking generally requires a smaller range of skills but a higher level of fitness than other types of mountain biking. Advanced riders pursue steep technical descents and, in the case of freeriding, downhilling, and dirt jumping, aerial maneuvers off of specially constructed jumps and ramps.
Cyclo-cross (CX, cyclo-X or “cross”) is a form of cycling (and racing) typically involving pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to dismount, carrying the bike to navigate the obstruction before remounting. Like cross country running, cyclo-cross season is predominantly a fall and winter sport (the international or “World Cup” season is September–January). Races consist of many laps of a short (1.5–2 mile) course featuring varied terrain and surfaces. The sport is very popular in Boulder County where over 50% of the Colorado registered racers live in or near Boulder. The sport is popular in traditional road cycling countries such as Belgium, France and Netherlands. In 2012 and 2013 the World Cup will be hosted by Louisville, KY.

Dual slalom is a form of one-on-one mountain bike racing consisting of two riders racing two almost identical, side-by-side tracks down a slope. The courses are usually short—with one run lasting about 30 seconds. The course features exciting, technical jumps and turns. Each rider’s time is measured, then they switch tracks for another run, with the rider earning the lowest combined time moving on and the slower rider eliminated.

Freeride and Slopestyle is the discipline that encompasses everything from downhill racing without the clock to jumping, riding “North Shore” style (elevated trails made of interconnecting bridges and logs), and generally riding trails and/or stunts that require more skill and aggressive techniques than cross country riding. “Slopestyle” type riding is an increasingly popular genre that combines big-air freeride with BMX style tricks. Courses include jumps, large drops, quarter-pipes and other wooden obstacles. There are always multiple lines through a course and riders choose lines that highlight their particular abilities and skills.

Dirt Jumping (DJ) is the practice of riding bikes over shaped mounds of dirt or soil and becoming airborne. The idea is that after riding over the “take off” the rider will become airborne, and aim to land on the “landing.” Dirt jumping can be done on almost any bike but bikes specifically designed for dirt jumping are generally smaller and more maneuverable hardtails (no rear suspension) so that tricks are easier to complete.

Pump Track is a series of dirt bumps and berms designed to be ridden on sheer momentum and body movement (hence, the pumping), alleviating the need to pedal. Pump tracks are seen as a good introduction to mountain biking for kids or anyone who wants to improve their bike handling skills.

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