Photo: Jeff Barber

The Riveter indoor bike park opens soon near Asheville, NC

A new indoor bike park is set to open in Mills River, North Carolina, just outside of Asheville on February 8. The Riveter will be part climbing gym, and part all-weather bike park. The whole facility will total 40,000 square feet, planted on a 10-acre farm.

The bike park will total almost half of the square footage, and will feature dirt jumps and slopestyle lines and a cross-country track, which is different than most bike parks, all crafted from dirt and sheltered from the rain under a massive canopy.

The opening on Feb. 8 will have a DJ’d yoga session, and professional riders and climbers will be offering skills clinics. On Feb. 10, the Riveter will officially open seven days a week, according to Blue Ridge Now. Day passes will cost $25 and a monthly membership will be $75 to just the bike park or climbing gym, or $100 a month for both. For more information, see the Riveter website.

IMBA hands out third round of Trail Accelerator grants

IMBA awarded its third round of Trail Accelerator grants to eight different recipients across the US. The awards totaled $91,000 and will be matched with local funding as well to put almost $200,000 into mountain bike communities.

“At IMBA, we know that nothing transforms a community like close-to-home trails and nothing advances trail projects more quickly than a professional plan. We’re grateful for the support IMBA has received to increase our Trail Accelerator grant funding and look forward to working closely with these eight locations for months and years to come,” said Dave Wiens, IMBA Executive Director in a statement. “Nearly every project will benefit National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) teams and youth riding programs, which will lead to happier, healthier and more prosperous communities with more life-long riders.”

The Trail Accelerator grant is a competitive offering for communities that need support to realize their potential. Awardees will provide matching funds and receive professional planning and consultation services from IMBA Trail Solutions.

This round’s recipients include:

$5,000 to Page, Arizona for the Chains Trail Loop

$10,000 to Prescott, Arizona for Flow Trail Development Project

$15,000 to Escondido, California for Daley Ranch Trail System

$,8000 to Taos, New Mexico for Talpa Traverse Trail System

$10,000 to Ely, Nevada for Garnet Hill Trail System

$8,000 to Farmington, Utah for the Farm Bike Park

$10,000 to Berkely Springs, West Virginia for Capacon State Park MTB Trail Plan

$25,000 to Morgantown, West Virginia for the West Virginia University Sustainable Trails Initiative

To read more, visit the IMBA website.

Ladies AllRide / Girls AllRide begins programming for girl mountain bikers in Bend, Oregon

The popular Ladies AllRide program launched Girls AllRide about two years ago as a way to extend access on bikes to younger girls. Now they have expanded their programming in Bend, Oregon. Girls from ages 9-16 years old can attend the programs that are mountain bike focused and also keep a fun, educational atmosphere.

“We are excited to help the younger generation create community through sport. Additionally, sports like mountain biking can teach them so much about themselves. We will help them realize attitude is a choice, we will teach them to be patient and kind to themselves through the process of learning, and we will emphasize the importance of supporting other girls through their journey,” says Lindsey Richter, Founder and Director of Inspiration for Ladies AllRide.

For more information, visit the Ladies AllRide website.

Specialized Rime shoes are made for big-mountain days

Photo: Specialized

Last week Specialized dropped the new Rime, a shoe that can handle hiking and biking on big mountain days where both might be necessary. The Rime is a clipless shoe with a rugged sole and a two-bolt cleat pattern to work with most clipless mountain bike pedals. The Rime will be available at two price points: a lace-up version for $110 and a Boa version for $160.

Team moves, continued…

Rebecca Rusch is now riding for Liv/ Giant

A few weeks ago we found out that Rebecca Rusch would be leaving Niner, although she hadn’t announced who she would be riding for next. The mountain biker, hall of famer, and Emmy award winner will be riding for Liv and Giant. They announced a “multi-year partnership” and Rusch will be repping the two brands (Liv is Giant’s sister brand) at races, events, and on Rusch’s two-wheeled missions.

Andreau Lacondeguy lands on Commencal

Wildman Andreu Lacondeguy left YT Industries after a very long partnership. Early on, folks were speculating that he would join his brother aboard Commencal and that’s exactly what happened. Lacondeguy will now be sending it aboard the Andorran brand, which is also heavily invested in freeride. Lacondeguy joins Kyle Strait and DJ Brandt aboard Commencal aluminum frames for 2020 and beyond.