Buy your own riding area

[safiri]

A bit late to the conversation but I will add my $0.02.

My observations as a local mountain biker:
- I am very aware of the damage a few MTB's can do on a wet trail or by going off trail. That is the reason the local MTB riding areas are closed after rains so as to dry.
- Trail design has come a long way in 20 years. Several organizations hold workshops on how to build a trail so as to be sustainable. Part of it is human (go back to Luke's post) and part of it is geography / hydrodynamics (designing trails so as to not become streams when it rains).
- I am amazed at the length of trail that can be put into a small footprint.
Example 1: 16 miles at Shawnee Mission Park. I did each trail once in each direction.
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/408026319
Example 2: 15 miles at Swope. I rode a few of the trails in each direction, but mostly in just one direction.
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/404434467
You can use Google Earth to figure out how many acres are involved.


This may be a case where fewer people, buying less land, works better. Easier to be held accountable, to be a good neighbor (no motocross at midnight, no crossing property lines, etc.).

As to ownership setup, there are lots of options to explore: partnership, LLC, etc. You want a way for someone to be able to exit but the other owners have right-of-first-refusal (they get to either buy the share at FMV or approve the buyer). Limited liability would probably point to a LLC, but if a partnership then you would be suing yourself for what you did on your own property (undivided interest so you don't own 2 acres out of 25, you own 8% of 25 acres)

As to taxes ... not sure what the USDA / FSA rules are, but timber is a form of agriculture. Harvest a few trees each year.

[Hank Moody]

I belong to Binders which is just west of Lawrence, KS in Big Springs. It is about 1 hour drive from my house in Shawnee. They have a nice set-up with motocross track, nice oval for beginners, and trails (6 miles???). Forward Motion usually has a race here once a year. The cost is dependent on if you want a family and it is around $300 - $400 annually to be considered a volunteer which gives you the privilege to ride.

[katbeanz]

Troy, Marty said he's ridden Eagle Ranch near Collins, challenging single track, several hundred acres, and no quads allowed. He knows the owner, summer is horse trails but motos welcome when nags aren't there. PM him on ADV for details, username Redburn.
That should be ~1.5 hrs from south side metro.

[troy]

Troy, Marty said he's ridden Eagle Ranch near Collins, challenging single track, several hundred acres, and no quads allowed. He knows the owner, summer is horse trails but motos welcome when nags aren't there. PM him on ADV for details, username Redburn.
That should be ~1.5 hrs from south side metro.

I do need to get down there to ride. RustyJug is our inside connection at Eagle Ranch, and I heard a rumor they might stop allowing motorcycles in there.....RJ?

[DirtyOldMan]

I too am late to this meeting but would absolutely be interested in joining/helping start a riding club of some kind.

Eagle Ranch is closed to open riding at this time, I talked to Jerry in Oct. while down there with my church group. He said he had blocked off a new horses only trail and some inconsiderate morons (my words not his) repeatedly ran around his barricades. A real shame, it was a great place to ride. He's going to allow the Hillbilly GP to hold their race in Dec. and Forward Motion to do theirs in March though.

[Stu]

Big Springs is an example of a close riding area that works. They have a 2 page liability release and a 4 page rules agreement. Motorcycles only. Closed about 1 1/2 weeks for member hunting. 1 weekend is a work weekend for everyone (ride when done). About 80 members but of that you will see only about 3 to 18 out there per weekend and I am the only one out there during the week usually. Problems are:
1) members that don't pay attention to the rules,
2) neighbors that dislike the activity and
a) complain at county meetings trying to get it shut down,
b) point out the the county any time they see noxious weeds on the property making us kill them, etc.
We have been to planning commission meetings and county land use meetings in order to preserve what we have. I think that would go with it. We work with other groups that are threatened with activity shut down by neighbors and this includes a church group that has an annual event. Think of it as politics: someone is always threatening what you have with what they want so you have to guard against that and work to keep what you have. Compromise usually is not possible. Legal restraints do work so if the county approves activities for one group annually they have to approve it for all groups with legal activities.
On point one you have to make it clear that you will call the sheriff if anyone violates the rules, that you will press criminal charges and that the violator, as a member, agrees to pay all legal costs. That usually gets people to pay attention.
Members do respond to calls for trail maintenance and they also will chip in a bit extra when needed. We gave money to buy steel culverts to bridge the two creek crossings. This cuts down on erosion and prevents mud bogs with buried bikes. We do not have a lot of erosion since the trails are groomed with a plow behind an ATV.

It can be done but it is a lot of work for everyone. Understand that you do more than just show up and ride.

Stu

[troy]

...and some inconsiderate morons (my words not his) repeatedly ran around his barricades...

...members that don't pay attention to the rules...

We truly are our own worst enemy. If I were to find a land-owner willing to lease his wooded draws to me for motorcycle single-track, I'd be tempted to lease it for myself then only invite a few trusted riding buddies.

We have been to planning commission meetings and county land use meetings in order to preserve what we have. I think that would go with it...

I was at Letko just last week when Perry was heading out the door to attend another meeting to protect Big Springs. I'm willing to work for the privilege to ride, but honestly, I don't think I have what it takes to put up with the constant BS.

[Stu]

Troy,

Putting up with constant BS, as you say, is just a part of life. Perry Keegan knows what to do. You just pass the BS back.

Stu