'Chill' mountain bike park almost ready to ride

Volunteers still needed to get track ready

By Scott Aust, Journal staff | Wednesday, May 14, 2008

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Volunteers and a professional trails designer have been working hard this week to prepare Rapid City's first mountain bike dirt-jump park in a tree shrouded area near the western slope of Cowboy Hill.

When completed late next week, the 25,000-square-foot park will feature jumps, log rides and pump tracks for beginner and longtime mountain bike enthusiasts to enjoy.

"It's going to be phenomenal. I'm really shooting for it being one of the best in the country. We're on our way to it," park designer Ben Blitch of Asheville, N.C., said.

Blitch owns B4 Consulting and Construction and specializes in building bike jump parks. He has built about a half-dozen similarly sized parks, and 12 to 20 smaller-scale projects, throughout the country over the past 14 or 15 years.

Blitch was hired by the Black Hills Mountain Bike Association in conjunction with the city of Rapid City.

Jerry Cole, city parks and recreation director, said the mountain bike association raised funds privately to pay for the project and did not use city funds. Volunteers are providing time and equipment to build it on city property.

"It's a city facility being built by volunteers," Cole said. "It's a very, very exciting project. When it's done, I have a feeling that this will probably be the nicest dirt jump park in the lower 48."

The park uses natural, nonmanufactured elements such as dirt and logs. Blitch said there won't be the major elevated structures like in the Pacific Northwest, where trails can be elevated up to 18 feet off the ground using ladder bridges.

"It takes a whole different set of logistical challenges for something like that, but this is pretty chill," he said.

Rapid City's bike park will include a number of log rides, jumps and pump tracks, which are primarily low-risk, high-skill features Blitch specializes in and enjoys building.

"Pump tracks are a very beginner-friendly introduction to enhanced riding and advanced mountain biking. It's a really good way for a beginner to progress their skills just by pedaling their bicycle," Blitch said. "It creates an entire body movement. The phrase I like to use is it teaches you to create a choreography with your bike. You learn to dance with it a little bit."

Blitch said log rides help people balance, focus and stay in a line. Using chain saws, the logs can be manipulated into different shapes with varying angles and joints.

"They can also be elevated off the ground. The most advanced log ride at the park is elevated 3 feet," he said.

The bike park will link to the M Hill (Cowboy Hill) trail system and to the city's bike path and greenway system.

"It's going to be a great community-based area for people to meet and collect before going on a trail ride, and it's going to be easily accessible for kids after school using the great Rapid City greenway system to hang out in a safe environment," Blitch said.

If you go

What: Mountain bike park grand opening

When: Friday, May 23, the second day of the Fat Tire Festival. The festival runs May 22-26 in Founders Park and other Rapid City locations. For more, visit www.bhfattirefestival.com.

Who: Park designer Ben Blitch has contracted with Jeff Lenosky, a professional rider for Giant Bicycles, to perform a demo ride in the park as part of the opening.

How to help: Volunteers are needed to work on the park. People interested in putting in some "sweat equity" should show up ready to work and prepared to sign a liability waiver between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day through next week. Wait at the construction fence until someone comes for you.

For more: Black Hills Mountain Bike Association at www.bhmba.org

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com.