The Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) is the largest nonprofit mountain biking organization in the Southeast. Our members work with land managers in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee to create trails and trail systems for mountain bikers and other users to enjoy. Through advocacy, education, and recreational opportunities, SORBA carries out its mission to promote land access, trail preservation, and new trail development in order to enhance mountain bike touring, racing, fun, and fellowship for all mountain bicyclists in the southeastern United States.
We have partnered with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and now represent over 4,000 members who help steward miles and miles of great trails in a seven-state area. The best riding in the Southeast is found on trails maintained by our volunteers. Our members love singletrack, rocks, roots, and logs, and we employ IMBA's trailbuilding practices to ensure that our trails are sustainable and challenging.
IMBA-SORBA relies on our wonderful members to carry out our mission. Our volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to advocate for trail access, build trails, and maintain trails. IMBA-SORBA volunteers take pride in their work, and it shows in the trails that they build. Our digital news magazine, the Fat Tire Times, showcases member involvement, advocacy issues, trail information and much more. Join IMBA-SORBA today!
Stephen Mullins Joins IMBA Trail Solutions
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Stephen Mullins of SORBA Pro Trails joins IMBA Trail
Solutions as a Trails Specialist. Stephen will build trails in the Southeast,
as well as travel the country to further his knowledge of the art and science
of building sustainable trails. Stephen’s first assignment is Phase 1 of the
Uwharrie Ride Center on the Wood Run Mountain Bike Trail in the Uwharrie
National Forest, located in North Carolina’s piedmont region.
Join Us at the IMBA-SORBA Spring Festival and Board Meeting!
Thursday, 14 January 2010
All are invited to join the IMBA-SORBA Regional Leadership Advisory
Committee (RLAC), Board of Directors, staff, and the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care
Crew for a weekend of learning, digging, riding, and fun at the Nantahala
Outdoor Center March 19-21, 2010.
Join your friends, and immerse yourself in the beauty of Western
North Carolina’s Nantahala River gorge while learning about advocacy and trail
building from the Southeast’s most experienced advocates and the Trail Care
Crew. Put your trail-building know-how to work at a hands-on workshop at the
Tsali trail system. But, don't forget to bring your bike, because we'll have rides on Saturday and Sunday. Have a seat, relax and catch your breath on Saturday night at the TCC Club Care presentation and swag party.
IMBA-SORBA convened its board meeting at the Elachee Science and Nature Center on Saturday, November 21 for a full day of business, workshops, socializing, and, of course, bike riding. Tom Sauret, IMBA-SORBA Executive Director, and Bob Grieco, President, co-chaired the meeting, which was attended by chapter leaders, staff, and several members.
On the business side, IMBA-SORBA granted provisional chapter status to Cape Fear SORBA, a dedicated group of mountain bikers based in Wilmington, North Carolina. The newest IMBA-SORBA chapter will enjoy the benefits of chapter status, except that they will not have voting powers until they achieve full chapter status, possibly at the next board meeting in March 2010. The chapter will spend the next few months growing their membership, creating by-laws, electing their officers, and growing their relationships with local land managers. Join IMBA-SORBA in offering a warm welcome to our newest chapter!
The 2009 Executive Board was re-elected to serve in 2010. The following officers will serve in their current capacities: Bob Grieco, President, Darryl Glascock, Vice President, Angela Allen, Treasurer, and , Secretary. Our board graces us with sound leadership, and I urge you to show your appreciation to them for volunteering their time and guidance to make mountain biking better for us all.
In an effort to make chapters stronger and more vital, the Board voted to change the minimum number of members required for a new chapter. Instead of 15 members, new chapters will have to recruit 50 members before receiving chapter status. Experience has taught us that the more members a chapter has, the more stable and effective the chapter, so this change puts our chapters in a better position to further IMBA-SORBA’s mission.
The Legendary Snake Creek Gap Time Trial Series Returns for Its Sixth Season
Friday, 04 December 2009
The Sixth Annual Snake Creek Gap Time Trial series takes place on the first Saturday of January, February and March 2010. The grand finale on March 6, 2010 will end the series with an awards party and features thousands of dollars of prizes, donated by race sponsors and given away to riders and volunteers. Medals will be awarded to the top three riders in each category. Also, prize money totaling $3,900.00 will be given to the top five male and female riders in the money class. The awards ceremony also includes great food and beverages.
The race series is hosted every year by the Northwest Georgia chapter of IMBA-SORBA. This epic mountain bike race takes riders through 34 miles of the Pinhoti Trail System. Riders start out at Dry Creek near Subligna, Georgia for the 34-mile option. There is a shorter option of 17 miles starting at Snake Creek Gap in Villanow, Georgia. The riders first goal is to finish in Dalton, Ga., and their second is to do the ride in the shortest possible time. A new cumulative score category has been added to this year’s event. If you ride all three races, you can qualify for the lowest average time for the three events. However, you must ride all three races in the same distance category. If you’ve ever been on the Pinhoti Trail, you will appreciate the challenges the riders face.
Paulding Weather May Be Cooling, but Not Trail Development
Friday, 04 December 2009
The bridge constructed by Eagle Scout Jesse Priest
Paulding SORBA welcomed a diverse group on Nov. 14 to the Grand Opening of the
first of three trail loops at Mt. Tabor Park. Both young and old mountain
bikers showed up for a chance to ride the newly-constructed trails, and the
event coincided with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visit where IMBA
(International Mountain Biking Association) had dispatched Kelly and Collins
Bishop to assess the trails being built by Paulding SORBA. Walt Bready, Tails
Education Specialist for the state of Georgia, was also present for the ribbon
cutting. Paulding Commission Chairman David Austin and Executive Assistant Pat
Tibbitts, Parks & Recreation Director Michael Justus, Lee Ann Shaffer of the
Paulding Chamber of Commerce and Mark Cleveland of Hiram's Jim-n-Nick's
Restaurant, a generous supporter of Paulding SORBA, were also present at the
event.
New Mountain Bike and Hiking Trails Coming to Augusta, Georgia
Monday, 16 November 2009
The Army Corp of Engineers at Lake Thurmond has approved the building of a 9 mile extension of the Bartram Trail. The extension will connect the existing Petersburg Trail Head to Columbia County’s Wildwood Park. SORBA-CSRA Chapter is currently discussing with Columbia County officials about building a connector trail from the Wildwood Trail Head for the Bartram Trail to Washington Road at the entrance to Keg Creek Trail. Both of these trails are expected to be complete by early next year.
Once the existing Bartram is connected to the Keg Creek Trail, Augusta will have another epic ride to compete with the FATS trail system. Riding all 6 loops at FATS (one way) is approximately 35 miles. The new Bartram / Keg Creek Trail ride will be considered a lollipop ride consisting of approximately 45 miles and only riding across paved road and riding about 1/8th of a mile of gravel road. The lollipop ride will start at Lake Thurmond West Dam Recreational Area, go past Lake Springs Trail (a 3 mile loop off of Bartram Trail), Petersburg Trail Head, Wildwood Park, to the Keg Creek loop and back to West Dam Recreational Area.
The existing Bartram Trail is a flat, easy flowing single-track. The new addition will have more dips similar to FATS, but will not have as much elevation difference. Keg Creek trail is the most technical of the lollipop. It has numerous creek crossing and twisty single-track. The combination of these trails will offer a unique riding experience.
Home 
IMBA-SORBA convened its board meeting at the Elachee Science and Nature Center on Saturday, November 21 for a full day of business, workshops, socializing, and, of course, bike riding. Tom Sauret, IMBA-SORBA Executive Director, and Bob Grieco, President, co-chaired the meeting, which was attended by chapter leaders, staff, and several members.
The Sixth Annual Snake Creek Gap Time Trial series takes place on the first Saturday of January, February and March 2010. The grand finale on March 6, 2010 will end the series with an awards party and features thousands of dollars of prizes, donated by race sponsors and given away to riders and volunteers. Medals will be awarded to the top three riders in each category. Also, prize money totaling $3,900.00 will be given to the top five male and female riders in the money class. The awards ceremony also includes great food and beverages.
The Army Corp of Engineers at Lake Thurmond has approved the building of a 9 mile extension of the Bartram Trail. The extension will connect the existing Petersburg Trail Head to Columbia County’s Wildwood Park. SORBA-CSRA Chapter is currently discussing with Columbia County officials about building a connector trail from the Wildwood Trail Head for the Bartram Trail to Washington Road at the entrance to Keg Creek Trail. Both of these trails are expected to be complete by early next year.
