The Fayette Tribune, Oak Hill, W.Va.

Local News

Related Photos

  • Casey Gioeli, left, of Fayetteville, and Carlos Plumley of Oak Hill, took advantage of Wednesday’s sunny weather for a ride along Jon Dragan Road to Thurmond. The two are members of the New River Bicycle Union, which recently joined the International Mountain Biking Association. F. Brian Ferguson

    riders
February 11, 2013

NRBU joins mountain biking organization

New River Bicycle Union (NRBU) recently joined forces with the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). The local body is a non-profit that was organized by area cyclists in 2010 as a social and volunteer organization designed to encourage bicyclists of all abilities and interests, including mountain, rails-to-trails and road cycling in the New River Gorge region, to get out and ride.

Since its inception, NRBU has hosted summertime weekly road and trail rides and begun work with the National Park Service to develop a public/private partnership. Because the board of directors consists entirely volunteers, NRBU made the decision to link up with the IMBA.

IMBA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great mountain biking experiences.

“Our board of directors felt that joining IMBA was a perfect fit,” said Casey Gioeli, NRBU president. “IMBA was instrumental in the design of the NPS Arrowhead stack loop trail system and we thought that their knowledge would only serve to create a stronger organization and relationship with the National Park Service.”

While it is true that NRBU’s relationship with IMBA stresses the mountain biking aspect, NRBU has a broad range of objectives for the local organization. During the coming year NRBU plans to offer several classes in order to develop mountain and road riding skills, resume the weekly summertime mountain and road club rides, work with the town of Fayetteville to develop the skills park in Fayetteville, and develop off-road races. According to board member Luke Hrabosky, NRBU is most excited about a six-hour relay race that will be held on the Arrowhead trail system on May 12.

“This is the perfect opportunity for local riders, including families, to form teams and enjoy the beauty that our area has to offer,” says Hrabosky.

New River Bicycle Union is currently recruiting new members. Members of NRBU automatically become IMBA members and local IMBA members have the opportunity to become NRBU members at no additional cost. While a “Return of the Sun” celebration late last month at Fayetteville’s Secret Sandwich Society was both a social and membership drive success, Gioeli emphasizes that there is strength in numbers.

“The larger our organization is, the more we can do to reach out to the community at large to encourage increased physical activity through bicycling,” she said.

Anyone interested in becoming a member can do so through www.imba.com, Marathon Bikes or New River Bicycles, both in Fayetteville, or by contacting NRBU through its Facebook page.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • Wood graduates from military training courses

    Army National Guard Pfc. David A. Wood Jr. has graduated from One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo., which included basic military training and advanced individual training (AIT).

    May 18, 2013

  • 1A1 congrats .jpg Class of 2013 honored at WVU Tech

    West Virginia University Institute of Technology honored the Class of 2013 during the 114th commencement on campus this past Saturday.

    May 15, 2013 4 Photos

  • Commission works on getting facility up and running

    Now that the new downtown amphitheater is up, the City of Oak Hill is taking steps to get it running.
    At a council meeting on Monday night, members considered and eventually passed a rental contract for those who want to make use of the facility.

    May 15, 2013

  • Former Mount Hope man invites city government to engage in sports tourism

    A former Mount Hope resident says the town and the region are ripe to develop a sports tourism industry, given the potential of a unique stadium and gymnasiums at the YMCA building and the former Mount Hope High School.

    May 15, 2013

  • Judge rejects settlement, dismisses negligence claims in alleged school rape

    A federal judge has rejected a $65,000 settlement offer in a case involving the alleged rape of a young girl at the former Mount Hope High School, while at the same time throwing out negligence claims against one of the teachers originally listed in the suit.

    May 15, 2013

  • Nearly 300 graduate at New River CTC

    New River Community and Technical College as well as its nearly 300 graduates proved Samuel Johnson’s assertion that “Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance” during the college’s 10th commencement exercises Saturday at the Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton.

    May 15, 2013

  • 7A2 may group.jpg Garden club holds tree planting ceremony

    Woodland Oaks Garden Club met on May Day along the White Oak Rail Trail at the Depot for a tree planting ceremony honoring Brenda Moore, West Virginia State Garden Club President.

    May 15, 2013 2 Photos

  • Farmers Market open

    The Fayette County Farmers Market is open each Saturday in Fayetteville from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. The market is located in the parking lot of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at the entrance to Fayetteville. The market will be held every Saturday at that location through November.

    May 15, 2013

  • SALS to sponsor summer food program

    The Southern Appalachian Labor School announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program at the SALS Community Center in Beards Fork, Montgomery City Pool and the Historic Oak Hill School. In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

    May 15, 2013

  • Page-Kincaid recognizes Grant’s 30 years of service

    Mary Grant, the bookkeeper/cashier at the Page-Kincaid PSD for 30 years, retired in early April. Mary started with the PSD in 1983 as the cashier, working with the PSD’s former bookkeeper Dorothy Jeffers. Upon the retirement of Dorothy Jeffers, Mary assumed the duties of bookkeeper and office manager in 2008. Mary also possessed a Class I water operator license and served in a back-up capacity to Bart Jackson.

    May 15, 2013