Interbike, the largest bicycle trade event in North America, planned a volunteer service project to help build new singletrack trails just before the inaugural Fall Cyclofest festival on October 19, 2016. The new trails will be carved at the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC), in Charlotte, NC, which is one of the most popular off-road public trail systems in the Charlotte area.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to launch our new event than by gathering volunteers from the bicycle industry and local organizations to help expand the more than 30 miles of trails that are used by local Charlotte residents at no charge every day,” said Pat Hus, VP of Interbike. “This will be a great opportunity to make positive change within the local cycling community, and we hope anyone that’s willing to lend a hand will come out.”
The Tarheel Trailblazers, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with IMBA and SORBA, will spearhead the efforts, lending tools to get the project off the ground along with the USNWC. The event is sponsored by Interbike, PeopleForBikes and Recover Brands.
“We’re very grateful that Interbike took the initiative to try and gather the bike industry troops here in Charlotte to expand upon the trail system,” said Jeff Wise, CEO of the USNWC. “With so many individual cyclists, groups and associations like the Tarheel Trailblazers using the facility on a regular basis, I am confident that all parties involved will use these trails for many years to come.”
Volunteers will be able to enjoy a beer at the completion of the day at the Pump House Biergarten overlooking the whitewater channels. As many as 100 volunteers are expected to turn out for the Fall Cyclofest Service Project this year.
Additional details can be found at the Cyclofest website.
Photo courtesy of Emerald Expositions, Cyclofest
