Bike Patrol Training-February 2010

[imnav8r]

I'd like to see if there is enough interest to conduct a National Mountain Bike Patrol training class in February. Currently, we have about 12 active Bike Patrollers and one Trail Ambassador. I'd like to see our group grow further in order to provide our best support for the upcoming 2010 IMBA World Mountain Bike Summit in May.

I know there are a few folks who've indicated interest in the past but have been unable to attend any of the classes held so far. If those folks are still interested, please let me know and we'll schedule a class for February. Or if you would like a chance to give something back to our sport while improving your riding skills and helping others, this is a good opportunity for you.

Requirements to become a member of the NMBP are as follows:
1. Attend a Bike Patrol training class
2. Pass the online exam
3. Posses current First Aid/CPR certification*
4. Pay membership dues with your submitted application
* First Aid/CPR certification not required for Trail Ambassadors

Benefits in becoming a member of the NMBP are as follows:
1. A chance to give something back to our sport
2. Provide assistance, education, and informaton to those riders in need
3. An opportunity to work with land managers to make sure we have great trails to ride
4. Confidence in knowing you are able to provide First Aid/CPR if needed
5. Confidence in knowing you can offer assistance with trailside bike repairs
6. You'll gain a greater understanding of our trail systems and their geographical layout
7 You'll improve your riding skills while you patrol
8. Patrolling gives you an opportunity to ride your bike
9. You get to wear a cool jersey
10. You get to meet and work with some pretty good folks!

We usually have classes on a Saturday with First Aid/CPR training in the morning and Bike Patrol training in the afternoon. We provide lunch and all training materials. The is no cost associated with Bike Patrol training and if you become a Bike Patroller, SORBA will pay for your First Aid/CPR certification. Annual membership dues for Bike Patrollers is $50 and includes your membership into IMBA, SORBA-CSRA, and the NMBP.

By having a class in February, new Patrollers will have a chance to get some experience before the Summit. Otherwise, the next scheduled Bike Patrol training class is planned for July 2010.

Please let me know if you have any questions and feel free to see what the NMBP is all about by visiting our website at www.imba.com/nmbp

Be safe!

[treybo]

John,

I have decided to get back in the mix. I think we have meet but not sure. Bill V and I were the original two NMBP Instructors for SORBA....now that I think of it we were two of the original SORBA CSRA members as well. We went through the IMBA training several years ago. Some time after I fell off the map with SORBA due to a new baby and now I am itching to get back in. Seeing that I was an instructor at one time do I need to go through the Patrol Training to re-join? I know I need to re-up my First Aid/CPR certs and will do that very shortly.

Let me know.

Trey Bowling

[imnav8r]

Thanks for your renewed interest Trey! I don't think there will be any requirement for you to sit through Bike Patrol training, but I will check with the IMBA NMBP coordinator Spencer Powlison to be sure. How long ago were you actively involved with the Bike Patrol?

If you'd like to get back into instructing, let me know. I'd love to have some help! In the meantime, I'll check with Spencer and let you know what I find out.

Charlie Mock can get you squared away with your First Aid/CPR training. I'll let him know he has a new student to expect.

Thanks!

[jamiec]

Hello,
I am a member of the new Cape Fear SORBA chapter in Wilmington, NC and we were hoping to get our own Bike Patrol started. The acting President told me about your possible training, and I'd really like to be a part of it if you decide to have it. Just let me know what I need to do ahead of time and I'd be happy to make the trip down there for the training. Thanks a bunch and hope to see you sometime in February.

Jamie C

[imnav8r]

Nice to hear from you Jamie! That's pretty exciting news to hear that a new SORBA group in North Carolina is interested in also starting a new Bike Patrol group too! That's just plain cool!

So far, I haven't had any interest from folks around here wanting to take the training class in February yet. Maybe after hearing that you are willing to drive here from Wilmington, some may be motivated to participate.

Are there others in your Chapter interested in joining the Bike Patrol? If so, please let me know and I'll either drive over there to conduct the training for you, or you can all carpool over here for it. Either way, we'll get you trained!

In the meantime, I'll check with the Army Corps of Engineers to see what dates the Thurmond Lake Visitor Center conference room is available in February. I'll post the available dates here after I find out.

Just let me know what works best for you and I'll do all I can to help out. Thanks again for your interest!

Be safe!

[jamiec]

So far, I have been the only one that has committed to getting certified and starting the group, but there at least 3-4 others that would be interested in getting certified. I'll need to speak with them and also see if I can't get a general message sent to the whole membership to see if anyone else would be interested in getting certified.

I do feel that availability, transportation, and cost would be an issue as far as getting a big group of people down there for the training class. What would you require to conduct the training here in Wilmington? Group Size, facility, etc. I think we could draw a larger crowd if they didn't have to drive to GA.

I'll start measuring the temperature and you let me know what you need.

Thanks
JamieC

[imnav8r]

Okay Jamie, thanks. All I would ask if you need me to come there is reimbursement for travel expenses (SORBA might cover that for us), maybe lunch, directions to get there, and a suitable classroom. I'll check with the IMBA NMBP coordinator to find out what's reimbursable.

The course is a half day so I could leave early to get there by mid-day for an afternoon class. I'll just need a projector I can connect my laptop to for the DVD and slide presentation. Do you have someone who can provide the First Aid/CPR training?

You may have heard that our SORBA-CSRA Chapter will be hosting the 2010 IMBA World Mountain Bike Summit in May. I've been trying to recruit some new members for our Bike Patrol group in order to provide our best effort at supporting this event.

Last year at this time, we only had one or two Bike Patrollers whose certification had expired. Since then, we've grown our numbers to 12 certified NMBP Bike Patrollers and 1 IMBA Trail Ambassador. And we now have an IMBA NMBP Certified Instructor (me). Not bad for a year's efforts. We also ranked 5th in the nation for most patrol hours logged for 2009! I'm very proud of that achievement!

So one of the things I and another Patroller are working on is getting the word out to other IMBA/SORBA Bike Patrol Chapters to invite them to come to the Summit and provide Bike Patrol support. We'll pair them up with one of our Patrollers since they may not be that familiar with our trail systems and see if we can do our part to make the Summit a big success.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a certified Bike Patroller. I hope you can recruit a few more members to join you in your efforts. Needless to say we are going to be pretty busy between now and May, but I will do all I can to get you started with your Bike Patrol group. Let me know what you find out and I'm sure we can work out something.

I"ll send you a PM to give you my email address so we can correspond that way rather than use the forum.

Be safe!

[mmaier]

John,
I would be interested in the bike patrol training. It sounds like you haven't gotten a great response but I'll check with some guys fom my church (Warren Baptist) who ride and see if some of them would be interested. I'm not sure they frequent this forum.

Mark

[imnav8r]

Okay great! Thanks Mark. I look forward to hearing from you.

[imnav8r]

Here's an update on potential Bike Patrol training for February. I found out today that I can have access to a classroom on Ft Gordon any weekend I need it. That's great news!

I'm also corresponding with a group from Atlanta who needs training for the Bike Patrol. I'm trying to make arrangements for the Atlanta group to come here at the same time as the smaller group from Wilmington, NC so we can have a good size class. Especially if we can add a few folks from around here who'd be interested in joining our group.

All we have left to do is to decide on a date that works for everybody. I'll keep you posted on what is transpiring and hopefully we can conduct a class in the month of February. Please let me know if you are interested in being added to the student roster.

Be safe!

[treybo]

John,

I am abt 75% on the Feb. CPR/First Aid Training that I need. I need a couple more things to fall into place. Count me in for now.

Trey

[imnav8r]

Okay Trey. See you there!