LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Many enthusiasts cross state lines to find mountain bike trails, but fortunately for Nebraskans, mountains arent a requirement.
There are two mountain bike trails in the Lincoln area, one at Branched Oak State Recreational Area and one at Wilderness Park, that provide a path to ride close to home.
Avid riders Roxzanne and Ryan Feagan first met on a trip for mountain biking enthusiasts to Moab, Utah, in 2002.
Since then, from teaching mountain biking classes to running the Psycowpath mountain bike racing series in Nebraska, the Feagans have pedaled hard to build interest in the sport.
The couple has also played a significant role in improving and maintaining the mountain bike trails in the area.
The focus on destination building of trails has completely changed, Roxzanne Feagan told the Lincoln Journal Star. Building trails closer to home, where people can access and ride within riding distance or driving distance, is a huge part of the movement.
Feagan is a past president of Trails Have Our Respect, a trail-maintaining organization now led by Todd Saylor.
Saylor said that Trails Have Our Respect, better known as THOR, is focused on design, build, maintenance and education.
On a day-to-day basis, we mostly do maintenance, Saylor said. We dont own any of the trails, so its all assistance and its in conjunction with the owners.
While volunteers offer their time to work on the trails, THOR has equipment they use in general upkeep. Mowers, weed eaters and old-fashioned elbow grease make the trails what they are.
A lot of it is keeping the trails open and accessible, Saylor said. Were focused on mountain bikers, but everyone is open to using the trails. Anybody who is a hiker, dog walker or bird watcher, its open. We have a large trail-running community, too.
The 70 miles of trail that THOR helps maintain in Nebraska keep volunteers busy. Saylor said in many cases, people take an hour after their workday ends to work on the trails.
Trail leaders are in charge of overseeing the needs at individual courses and then allocating resources to keep them in shape.
Trails for mountain biking differ from regular biking trails in several ways. For the most part, theyre dirt-based. Recreational trails for running and biking in Lincoln are largely hard-surfaced.
Mountain bike trails are also surrounded by natural grasses and as a result are more secluded. That can create a lot of work for those overseeing maintenance of the trails.
