A passion for cycling also means a lot of hard work.
Fifty members of the North Okanagan Cycling Society recently put in 286-man hours into the Cosens Creek trail system at Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.
“The intermittent sunshine made the chilly rain, snow and wind easier to endure while the trails were cleared of fallen logs, brushed, raked and trimmed during the event organized by Brian Hamel, trail maintenance director,” said Darcy Trevelyan, a director.
The first leg of the first mountain bike trail ever officially sanctioned by B.C. Parks in the North Okanagan was cut in.
“It is a green trail called Gingerly and it was designed and applied for by Peter Dorey of Olympia Cycle and Ski,” said Trevelyan.
“Once completed, it will take cyclists off Cosens Bay Road and the main multi-use trail on their way into the forest trails from the Cosens Bay parking lot.”
A kiosk was installed at the bottom of Crosstown Traffic upon which the Cosens Creek trail map will soon be posted.
“It will create a nice place to relax and enjoy the views after a hard ride before the climb back to Cosens Bay parking lot or up the switchbacks to red gate,” said Trevelyan.
Jason Richter, of Brandt Tractor, provided a mini-excavator that was used to bring an old dirt jump up to acceptable standards and to start building a small pumptrack at the Twista-South Park Junction.
The next NOCS trail maintenance day will be in May at Ellison Provincial Park with a focus on installing trail signage.
“Stay tuned to okcycling.com for further details,” said Trevelyan.
There will also be Tuesday Nite Toonie Rides at Ellison Park at 6:30 p.m. starting May 3.
