Clubs and Organizations

Local

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h3 class="mediumHeading">Asheville Bicycle Racing Club< (ABRC)/h3>

Founded in 1984, ABRC is a premier Southeastern regional racing club. If you're also into competitive road riding, this is the place to go.
http://www.abrc.net/

Blue Ridge Bicycle Club (BRBC)

BRBC works to promote bicycling in the Asheville and Western NC area. They hold group rides and have great information on road cycling in the region. For more information, visit their web site or contact them directly.

BRBC
Box 309
Asheville, NC  28802
828.875.4586
http://www.blueridgebicycleclub.org/

Pisgah Area SORBA (PAS)

This chapter of SORBA (the Southeastern Off-road Bicycle Association) offers a great group for group rides, trail work, and advocacy. This is THE organization for mountain bikers in the Pisgah area.
http://www.pisgahareasorba.org/

National Mountain Bike Patrol (NMBP)

The National Mountain Bike Patrol (NMBP) is a program of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, or IMBA. Its goal is to maintain and promote trail opportunities for the sport of mountain biking through the formation and support of local mountain bike patrol groups.

Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association (SABA)

Primary sponsors and stewards of the fantastic Jackrabbit Mountain trail system. They also promote road cycling primarily in the southwest corner of WNC.
http://sabacycling.com/

National

IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association)

IMBA works to keep trails open for mountain bikers by encouraging responsible riding and supporting volunteer trailwork. Membership is highly recommended if you value the sport of Mountain Biking. Join, and you'll get numerous goodies in the mail, also. For more information, visit IMBA's web site.

IMBA promotes the following widely accepted "Rules of the Trail" for helping in its goal of preserving mountain bike trail access:

  1. Ride on open trails only. If a trail is posted with a "no bikes" sign, don't ride it.
  2. Control your bicycle. This is particularly important when you meet hikers, horseback riders, or other cyclists on the trail. Good balance and proper braking are essential mountain biking skills.
  3. Always yield the trail. The steps are simple: slow down, establish communication with the people you meet, and pass safely. Yielding doesn't always mean stopping and dismounting, though sometimes that's the best idea, particularly when passing horses.
  4. Never scare animals. It doesn't matter if it's a horse, fox, cow, deer, elk, or mountain lion - give all animals plenty of room and try not to startle them.
  5. Leave no trace. All trail users affect the trailbed and the natural environment. Your goal should be to minimize your impact. Staying on the trail and not skidding are two easy steps. Staying off severely rutted or muddy trails is another.
  6. Plan ahead. Carry everything you need for a good ride: a spare tube and a pump, a rain jacket, basic tools. Know where you're riding. Wear a helmet.

Taken from the IMBA Member Handbook. Join IMBA, and receive this great handbook packed with this and other useful information.

By following these few simple rules, we can help make mountain bikers a respected and viable member of the outdoor community.