IMBA Vist to Pennsylvania...

[Subscription Guy]

IMBA is looking into Army Corps of Engineer sites for the Trail Care Crew to visit in 2004. Below is a list of Army Corps sites in PA that they would like to learn more about.

-Shenango River Lake(PA Ohio Border)
-Woodcock Creek Lake(same as shenago)
-Union City Dam(west of Erie)
-Tionesta Lake(western pa, north of clarion)
-Mahoning Creek Lake(Western PA)

Do you know anything about these areas - whether there are any mountain bike trails that are used on regular basis, clubs that ride or do maintenance there, etc? If so, pass the info to me and I'll get it into IMBA's hands.

Thanks,

[American_Lesion]

It so happens I am very familiar with Woodcock Creek Lake, Union City Dam, and Tionesta Dam. For starters, Woodcock is situated outside of Meadville, PA.and is part of the French Creek-Allegheny drainage...close to Sagertown (the hometown of Sharon Stone...yeeegch). The area has mild hills, and the small bastion of woodss there is surrounded by farms. Emig's Bike Shop of meadville is the closest shop, and I believe they have club rides. I'm not sure how they'd view me...15 years ago I road-raced on one of their competitors' teams (Wilderness Ski & Bike -- now out of business).

Tionesta Dam is located in Forest County...VERY rural...no fastfood, no bike shops, and the smallest population (and second smallest square mileage) in Pennsylvania. I used to fish and hunt there as a kid, and my father is the former State Police Commander for the county. Mom still works as a librarian at the Tionesta Library. The terrain is VERY hilly, and there are tick Hemlock-Beech forests surrounding the lake. I know of no clubs currently involved in this area, but the Allegheny Valley Trail Authority (based out of venango County) may be of some assistance. I'll get their number and post it for you, as well as Emig's of meadville).

The nearest shop to Tionesta would be in Franklin (Country pedalers) i have had nothing but bad luck with these folks, but they may have some info on clubs that I don't know about in the Forest County region. There is a bike shop in nearby Clarion run by a youngish kid. he is a good egg. I'll try and get the name of his shop and provide a number. He may have info on clubs in the area (Clarion University is now my Alma Mater and there are plenty of student-cyclists)


Union City Dam, situated between Titusville (Eastern Crawford County) and the City of Erie off of Route 8, is part of the French Creek -Allegheny drainage. There are numerous bike clubs in Erie, but I don't know if they are active in this area 9which is about 25 miles south of the city). Union City is economically depressed and has no bike shops (nor does Titusville....I went to the Pitt campus there).

As for trails in the region? Yes. Are they legal? Yes. Are they administered by the DER or State Park Services or Army Corps of Engineers ...not particularly. Trails are multi-use and under developed.
This region is VERY rural. Trail management and construction would be a real boon to the area. I'll do a little research and get back to you, o-tay?

Talk at ya in a bit.

[Subscription Guy]

If you could do more research and post more info, that would rock.:)

[American_Lesion]

Yeah, I'll make contact with the Allegheny Valley Trail Authority tomorrow, as well as bike shops close to the Tionesta, Union City, and Woodcock areas. I live within a 45 minute drive to all these areas, and if it takes a little footwork, I have excuses (outside of bike business) to be there (there is business that I have been putting off in Erie, mom works in Tionesta, and there is a VA Clinic in Meadville--so it wouldn't be too much out of the way to drop in on the Army Corps of Engineers offices in the area). Also, a good friend of mine worked at the Tionesta Dam for years (he's a school teacher now) and should be able to provide lots of information. I assure you I don't mind doing this in the slightest. I have volunteered my time at Drake Well State Park...I ride there, too, but I didn't feel I was fulfilling my responsibilities on the responsible-cyclist-access front. This kind of gives me a chance to take part in something that impacts us all a riders. Like I said before, the riding potential of these particular areas is greatly under-developed and unrealized. I'd LOVE to see some managed trails in the region. Maybe that would motivate me to get off my a$$ a little more (I'm getting soft in the middle and spend far to much of my time medicated). I'll gather what info I can and give you the phone numbers for the contacts at the shops, offices, and clubs I dealt with (is that okay?). Jen will give me a hand with this, and I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[American_Lesion]

Here's another trail network in the area...

http://eagle.clarion.edu/~grads/avta/Twomile.html

[American_Lesion]

One and a half hours later:

Over 30 club members and cycling shops have been e-mailed asking for information.

Tomorrow, I'll call the Woodcock and Tionesta Army Engineers Offices and five remaining bike shops...two in Erie, one in Clarion, one in Linesville, and one in Meadville (there were no e-mail addresses for these posted online ...that I could find anyhow).

Hopefully we'll get some results. I was even polite...a stretch for me. Individuals whom I have a cruddy relationship with were e-mailed by the girlfriend.


I'll let you know when I know more.

[American_Lesion]

I'm starting to compile a little information....its going slower than I thought. It seems I came down with a case of the flu. Maybe there is a God and he's pissed at me for making fun of Jerry Falwell. Anyhow, when more stuff rolls in, I'll get it all together and drop a line.

[American_Lesion]

Sorry for the delay...freakin' influenza! I have some names...folks that, as it turns out, only live a block or two away from me that MAY have the info we speak. Also, I will be badgering Army Corps of Engineers folks at Tionesta when I'm feeling top notch again. Get this...I have been so sick that I only have ridden once in the past week ( a daring foray into a blizzard...heh heh) and I have been DRIVING MY CAR ( I feel horrible about the whole thing). Hopefully I will have more info soon. I don't want to have a fac-to-face with these folks until me (and the ol' lady) gets better.

[American_Lesion]

Hey, Subscription Dude,

Okay, I finally spoke with Fritz Brown, who was formerly employed at the Tionesta Dam by the Army Corps of Enginners. He now is a teacher and works with the criminally-minded and otherwise troubled youth...this comes into play later.

As it turns out, there are NO mountain bike trails to speak of at Tionesta Dam. There probably are some renegade trails--but nothing that is maintained with any frequency or official approval.

Fritz still has close ties with the folks at the damn, and he expressed an interest in putting these lil' buggers to work on sanctioned & approved trail projects. I am not sure if that would be appropriate by IMBA...but if you need to get ahold of him, his number is 814-589-5258. I do have his permission to give you that...but please, any freaks out there that feel like messin' with Fritz please keep in mind that he's a veteran as well, and has worked as a probation officer...he owns guns (not like me)...and has a low tolerance for foolishness! But really, he's expressed an interest in the construction of trails, he has the connections and is a person that makes things happen. He's not a cyclist, but is certainly bike-friendly.

I hope this helps out. Let me know.

Fanks.

[Subscription Guy]

Thanks for the info. I think IMBA has since decided to schedule some sort of stop in State College for their PR trip, but the info you provided is quite valuable for me and the other IMBA state reps. We need to build our contact database. So thanks again.

[hophead]

even i had flu one time and was bed ridden since a few days
then the docotr sugested that i have tamiflu
i had to take a course of 5 days of the drug and it really worked very well for me
i found more information on the drug at http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s3353-s-TAMIFLU.aspx
Hey spambot, why don't you take a tamiflu and jam it up your ass sideways.

[DirtRagArt]

Hey spambot, why don't you take a tamiflu and jam it up your ass sideways.

I deleted that post. In the future, don't hesitate to report spam (after berating the spammer, of course). Click the little red and white triangle with an "!" icon, and I'll get the message with a link in my email.