Help Build Trails 5 Bucks at a Time - Win a $10,000 Bike

Sep 22, 2016
by Ibis Cycles  
To help maintain the existing Lakes Basin trail network as well as propose six miles of new singletrack while employing local residents, this fall Ibis Cycles and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship will be launching another 5 Bucks a Foot campaign. Over the years, the 5 Bucks a Foot campaign has raised more than $200,000 in funds that have built and maintained all the amazing trails in the Lost Sierra region of Northern California.

Running between September 1st and October 15th, the Grand Prize of this season's 5 Bucks a Foot campaign will be an Ibis of the winner's choice worth $10,000. In homage to the hunt for gold that originally created many of the trails in the Lakes Basin, this one-of-a-kind Ibis will be custom painted matte black and gold. The bike will also be equipped with a full SRAM Eagle 1x12 group in gold and black plated finish, Fox suspension and dropper post, black and gold Industry Nine wheels and tires, grips and a saddle from WTB. For every foot of trail purchased, an entry to win the bike is put into the drawing basket.

5 Bucks a Foot Sierra Buttes images

The legend of the Lakes Basin began in the early 1850s when Thomas Robertson Stoddard claimed he stumbled upon a lake whose shores were glimmering with gold nuggets. His alleged story spread like wildfire, and by the following spring, thousands of prospectors searched for this elusive lake of gold. They found the lake, now known as Gold Lake, but the nuggets laying in plain sight never panned out. There were calls for Stoddard's head after discovering his story was bunk, but by then the raconteur and his gold were long gone.

Although plenty of gold was eventually found in the Lakes Basin, the lasting legacy today is a network of rugged prospecting trails that connects nearly 30 emerald blue alpine lakes. Those that ride the Lakes Basin know it's some of the most challenging, rewarding and stunningly beautiful terrain in all the Sierra Nevada. Measured by those who ride it in “dog miles” - the Basin is so rocky and technical that every mile ridden feels like seven. Although the going can be slow and arduous sometimes, the views are worth all the effort to reach trails like Mount Elwell, recently ranked as the third best mountain bike trail in the world by Dirt Magazine.


Ibis has been a long-time partner of the Stewardship, and the funds raised from a previous Ibis 5 Bucks a Foot campaign built Mills Peak Trail. Part of the proceeds from this year's 5 Bucks a Foot will also go to helping fund two new proposed sections of singletrack on Mills Peak that are currently in the planning stages.


One section is proposed to connect the top of Mills Peak Trail with the Round Lake Trailhead off Gold Lake Highway, creating five new miles of singletrack. The other section of trail in planning is the much-anticipated bypass of the fire road midway down the singletrack descent. This new section of singletrack will be three miles in length. If approved by the U.S. Forest Service, Beckwourth Ranger District, riders will be able to pedal 16 miles of singletrack from Round Lake Trailhead all the way to Graeagle, taking Mills Peak Trail to a whole new level.

If there is any place the Stewardship can show off its rock work artistry, it's in the Lakes Basin. In fact, virtually all of the trails in the Lakes Basin have been maintained and improved by the Stewardship, using sustainable rock armoring techniques, rock-lined drainages and elevated rock bridges over marsh areas to ensure that non-motorized recreation has as little impact on habitat as possible.

Sierra Buttes basin

Show your support for one of the most magical regions in all the Sierra Nevada by purchasing as many feet of trail as you can. The payoff is world class recreation while helping employ local residents to keep our mountain communities thriving. And for one lucky winner, a brand new custom Ibis worth $10,000.

Purchase feet of trail here, and learn more here.

Sierra County mountain biking trails


MENTIONS: @ibiscycles



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ibiscycles avatar

Member since Nov 15, 2011
94 articles

37 Comments
  • 29 3
 I guess this brings a whole new meaning for a five-dollar-foot long! Nice! You guys will get a couple of my five bucks!
  • 22 1
 Officially spent the last $15 of my school loans on trail. NO RAGRETS!
  • 13 11
 Should've spent that $15 on an English tutor! Lol bro, at least it wasn't regerts!
  • 8 0
 @skidrumr: That's part of the joke dude...
  • 2 1
 @OFF2theGYM: Ahh, seeing it in ink on a mulleteer makes it all come together.. my mistake, if I commented on every grammatical and spelling error on this site my hands would cramp, thought I'd hit on the obvious for the skimmers out there. Hey, it's the weekend, and Saturday's and Sunday's are for riding bike's!
  • 14 2
 I bought some tickets! Even thought i prob wont win but im always willing to support the trails even though ill probably never be able to go there! but can we do one for Canada ? lol Ibis Ibis Ibis. enjoy the trails everyone!
  • 10 0
 Thanks! I will enjoy those trail feet (fairly local for me and for Ibis) and I would return the favor for a Canadian company who did this - Love me some Norco and Rocky Mountain bikes!
  • 2 10
flag wanleggedwinston (Sep 22, 2016 at 11:37) (Below Threshold)
 @sospeedy: Canada doesn't need this, get it on some countries developing the MTB way of life
  • 2 0
 The SBTS organization has done so much for mountain biking in the Sierra. The riding experience is like Disneyland with baby heads and no fall zones mixed in for fun. World class REAL mountain biking that eats bikes and riders alike. Heaven...
  • 5 0
 Bureaucracy sure makes trail building expensive, 5 dollars only gets a foot of trail?
  • 2 2
 @Kitejumping, it isn't simply bureaucracy. It comes down to averages. Some areas along a trail route take relatively little work and therefore little cost, where other areas might take 4 to 5 times as long for the same length of trail. Fuel, transport, materials, tools, equipment, and training all cost money even if you are using volunteers for the labour. Many of these larger centres employ builders for new projects or large maintenance projects so there is the added cost of labour.
  • 3 2
 @Sparket: Yeah, all that plus the environmental impact studies, flagged trail impact reviews, land manager walk throughs / approvals.... Bureaucracy.... Luckily with the sport taking off the money is there.
  • 5 0
 Are those gold spokes I see?
  • 2 0
 I wish one of these competitions would reach out to the uk, our trails need it more than ever !!!
  • 2 1
 Contact a local trail network, get a sponsor and voila.
  • 2 0
 Is the competition open to people worldwide?
  • 1 0
 I never understand why people ALWAYS ask this. The info links are in the article. EVERY contest has a link to rules showing eligibility.

Is it a lack of knowing where to look for the contest rules? Is it sheer laziness? Is it some level of entitlement where people feel they should just get someone else to put in the effort?

"Anyone internationally can donate. If you win, we will ship the bike to your home."
  • 1 0
 @darkmuncan: I understand the sentiment, but I did in fact click through to the competition page. I clearly didn't look hard enough. Thanks though.
  • 3 0
 That bike is very gold
  • 2 0
 Why not donate? Seems like a win win situation.
  • 1 0
 Where do we buy tickets and is there anywhere we can see how many tickets have already been bought?
  • 1 0
 $10,000 of your US dollars is like 450000 of our dollarydoo's so I am pumped.
  • 1 0
 I hope frenchies can play....

I m happy to contribute but happiest if i win Smile
  • 3 1
 Donate for the cause!
  • 1 0
 Needs gold lettering on tires.
  • 1 0
 Support trails!!!
  • 2 5
 But $5 isn't free though
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