Hello my name is Andy. I have been an avid mountain biker for about 15 years now. The one reoccurring event that I have witnessed time over is the amazing people who love mountain biking just as much as I do. You get a great level of comfort every time a stranger show up to a trail head with others riders. The welcome feeling you get when the excited riders want to share those special trails with someone new and enjoy the mountain bike experience. These first hand experiences are what compelled me to pursue trail advocacy today.

In The summer of 2007 my wife Amber and I met a few of the key people involved in creating The Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association. It started with an exchange of phone numbers and email addresses at the Raccoon Rally a local mountain bike festival in New York. What I didn’t realize was what a pivotal experience that would be for club and myself.

The months that followed started with many group rides. After these great rides together we would often talk about how great these trails were and where the next adventure would take us. We all however felt compelled to organize and create a voice for Mountain bikers in the area. Already being a member of the International Mountain bike Association (IMBA) I felt an urge to push for trail advocacy to protect and steward the trails we love to ride so much.

In February of 2008 an Allegheny National Forest meeting was being held to discuss recreational uses. Seven members of this club showed up to represent the Mountain bike community which desperately needed a voice. We also thought it would be a great opportunity to meet the land managers to discuss our concern for the trails we dearly love. What I was unaware is what a great journey this would turn out to be.

At present time we have formed working relationships with the local land managers as well as a very highly successful leadership group in Warren. We have given our support and expertise with mountain biking to assist in various projects going on right now. The relationships are still very young but we plan to nurture trust and trail stewardship to the next level.

Thanks is due to all the land managers and The leadership group who see the value in mountain biking as major component of recreation in the Allegheny National Forest and surrounding state and local lands.

I share the vision of what mountain biking can become in this area with the help of those who love the thrill of two knobby tires rolling through the dirt. I feel honored to be a part of the Northern Allegheny Mountain Bike Association and the great people who define and represent what mountain biking is. I feel confident we will make this a reality in the near future.

Respectfully

Andy G