PROJEKT ROAM: Dig It

Mar 21, 2012 at 10:59
by Projekt Roam  
Camaraderie. Dust. Sweat. Exertion. Chatter and laughter. Embellished tales. But a few descriptives actively depicting a trail day in any biking community...

Trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

As for ours, warmth emanates from the sun's beams, making it easy for our trail crew to forget we are supposed to be in the clutches of winter. The steady, but offbeat pitter patter of various tools resounds through the air as each individual in our group, from youth to adult, lends a hand to help improve the quality of the local trails.

Trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

Glancing over my shoulder, the antics of our five year old, self-appointed "foreman" brings an ear splitting grin to my face. I better make sure that my McLeod is doing more work than my vocal cords, lol.

Trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

As I hack away at the hard packed soil, wisps of conversation reach my ears. One of the boys was speaking about how he tries to get one of his siblings outside into the sunshine and away from the TV and video games. Even though I consider my experience in the mountain bike industry as still being in its infancy, hearing such a mature train of thought from the youngster tugs at my heart strings a little. It allows hope to flourish with the promise that the youth of this generation will follow in the footsteps of those that push the boundaries to make our sport what it is.

Enjoying the bounty of a trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

At times, to say the least, we are but a product of our environment, and it is impressive to witness how parents are involving their children in the mountain biking community, teaching them to respect and give back. The age old adage comes to mind "actions speak louder than words".

Enjoying the bounty of a trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

Throughout the mountain biking scene, I see so many leading by example, showing that hard work can be fun as well as rewarding. And of course, that when the tools are put away at the day, the sweetest reward comes from making fresh tracks on groomed trail.

Enjoying the bounty of a trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

With these parting thoughts, what more can I say but encourage everyone to get out there, appreciate nature and the beauty of your local trails.

Enjoying the bounty of a trail work day at Los Olivos Dirt Club in California. For more info please visit www.projektroam.com

The more care and finesse you put in, the more fun and everlasting the trail will be, as well as the companionship between friends, and communities will grow...


Projekt Roam was founded by Colt and Jessee Maule in 2010. It has been our mission to travel North America in search of places that celebrate the unparalleled beauty and freedom of not only the bike, but the terrain we ride as well. Many thanks to all of those who came out and helped during the Trail Day at The Dirt Club in Los Olivos, CA. Stay tuned for Chasing Gravity: S2 EP1 and see some of the trails these hard working individuals helped to sculpt and buff out.

Projekt Roam 2012 sponsors. Check out more www.projektroam.com

Words: Jessee Maule Photos: Colt Maule

www.projektroam.com
www.gravityrideguide.com
www.facebook.com/projektroam

Author Info:
projektroam avatar

Member since Oct 29, 2010
15 articles

30 Comments
  • 16 0
 fantastic! i'm just waiting for my 3 yr old baby girl to grow up a little more so that we could go out and build trails also..
  • 10 1
 awesome i have a 2 year old son and i cant wait to put him on a little mountain bike so he can ride with me and trail buildiing would be another great way to involve him in the sport
  • 33 2
 what if he doesn't like it? would you keep him?
  • 5 0
 @pafreerider and smileyboy have you guys tried the strider balance bike? I bought my kid one on his first birthday, he rips on it, hes gotton so good at it that we just got him a micro mini for his 2nd bday, hes got the balance part down just trying to figure out the pedals...but he loves to be on his bike and in the next couple months he will be the 2 yr old cruisin the local track and trails on his bike..

Balance bikes are incredible, he will never have training wheels!
  • 28 0
 @yeahbro - yes you keep him, but if he chooses to be a road cyclist, that's when you leave him.
  • 4 0
 @ridenflow how old was he when he was able to reach the ground from the seat of the balance bike? i bought my son one when he turned one and he loves to be on it but i have to push him around on it because he cant reach the ground with his feet. hes 16 months old now and still cant reach the ground im wondering if i can put a smaller seat on it or something.
  • 2 0
 He could reach at a year, but about 15-16 months till he was pushin it around, hes tall though..im sure you could by a smaller seat for it...uni seats make a really small profile seat...i bought one for his micro mini from danscomp because its still a wee bit tall for him..good luck man, take him to a vacant parking lot, tennis court, etc, and use your bike as a strider, he will pick up on it really fast...
  • 4 0
 +1 for balance bikes and avoiding training wheels. Sucks for cornering and kids learn bad habits. What helped get my son off training wheels was chucking on the old roller blades and me skating just behind, holding onto the seat post. Once we did that, it only took a few sessions before he was weaned off. Another year or two and he'll be big enough for a Kona Stinky 24 Big Grin
  • 5 0
 Or just rip the cranks off any bike & it becomes a balance bike. Slap them back on & they ride away because they are already used to how that bike handles. Thats what i've done with 2 boys and planning on doing with 3rd. It may be that i'm a cheapass but it also saves you from buying another bike that they will quickly outgrow.
  • 9 0
 Trail building looks so fun, never done it before myself, but I would love to try, must be so rewarding at the end of day and trying it out.
  • 5 0
 Good trail need more than one day to grow up Big Grin
trying your own jump is so fantastic you cant emagine. Smile
  • 5 0
 Where did you build yours, don't think my dad would be happy returning from work and finding a mammoth jump in the back garden, haha
  • 2 0
 Haha Big Grin sure wont be.
I live in a small village in the middle of nowhere Big Grin in the forest around me is place for building Smile
  • 2 0
 Haha, he is one of the coolest little kids ever! He is the little guy sendin' it in the 5th photo down :-)
  • 1 0
 Colt and Jessie it was so great to have you guys visit the Dirt Club! Thanks for all the hard trail work you put in and the ideas. Look forward to seeing you again. Everyone had a great time during your stay and on that trail build day for sure! Look at all those smiles on the kids faces! Thanks again!

For those of you who want info on the 1200 Acre Private MTB Riding Area that IS the Dirt Club please visit www.ridesb.com and soon www.thedirtclub.com! Our next event is the Santa Ynez Valley Classic on April 28th with the GPM DH that will use the course pictured in this post and will pay $500 to the fastest man and woman regardless of category! www.ridesb.com!
  • 4 1
 Look at the kid in the 2nd photo just chillin whikle everyone else is diggin haha Razz
  • 2 0
 Thought so to, then figured he must be the foreman Big Grin Talk about choosing career path early Razz
  • 2 0
 THIS is the most legit thing i have seen in a while! everywhere should be like this
  • 2 0
 really cool is there gona be a video ??
  • 2 0
 We will be releasing our first episode of 'Chasing Gravity' Season II, in a few weeks featuring some riding on this trail.
  • 2 0
 Well done. I tip my hat to all trail builders everywhere.
  • 2 1
 Building trails for an eagle project, 2 birds with one stone.
  • 1 0
 Love to see all the kids involved!
  • 2 0
 really cool project!
  • 1 0
 awsome guys cant wait to see you this summer.
  • 1 0
 Thx Jared, we are looking forward to a visit as well!
  • 1 0
 As Cam McCaul says, the only way to build jumps is with child labour.
  • 1 0
 Too bad if you build on my local trails you get fined :/
  • 1 0
 nice!!
  • 1 1
 in chinese,it called 从娃娃抓起







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