*FCC FACEBOOK WEEKLY WRAP-UP* *(An anti-social media compendium for our non-Facebook members)*
*COMMENT OPEN FOR TANANA STATE FOREST*The Tanana Valley State Forest offers many opportunities for cyclists, winter and summer, so please comment if you use the state forest. We have more info on state forestry roads here: www.fairbankscycleclub.org/resources/tanana-valley-state-forest-roads/
Shared from Fairbanks Trail Users Open Group Recreation and access are two relevant aspects for trail users of the Tanana Valley State Forest. Please comment if you use these lands, such as the Rosie Creek area of the state forest.
Shared from Alaska Department of Natural Resources Dec 8 The Alaska Division of Forestry 🌲🌳🌲🌳 is revising the 20-year-old Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan and we want to hear from you about any possible changes. The plan guides management for the 1.8+ million-acre Forest that stretches from Tok to Fairbanks.
DOF will be hosting 2 virtual scoping meetings via WebEx next week on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. A teleconference line is also available for those who want to call in. Meeting details are available at dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/pubnotfrm.htm. There will be an opportunity for public questions during both meetings.
Scoping issues the agency is seeking input on include but are not limited to: • Access • Recommended additions to the Tanana Valley State Forest. • Updated forest inventory • Silvicultural treatments • Forest health and climate change • Wildlife habitat management • Recreation • Research uses
More information on the #TananaValleyStateForest and the 2001 Forest Management Plan is available at forestry.alaska.gov/stateforests.htm
The public may also submit written comments to dnr.for.tvsfrevision@alaska.gov. Written comments must be received by no later than 5 p.m. Monday, January 3, 2021. Comments should be sent by mail or email to the Alaska Division of Forestry, 550 W. 7th Ave. Suite 1450, Anchorage, AK 99501.
Once completed, the draft Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan will be available for public review and comment.
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*RIDE A BIKE, WIN A BIKE*The League of American Bicyclists is offering you a chance at winning a new bike!
Shared from League of American Bicyclists Want to win a brand-new bike on Christmas Day? 🎁 All you have to do is ride your bike in December! Every time you ride and log it in, you’ll be entered to win and help us reach 1,500,000 miles in our #DriveLessBikeMore mission.
Register at www.drivelessbikemore.com and log a ride. That’s it. Happy riding! 🥳
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*LEAVE NO TRACE BIKEPACKING #3*Principle #3 of Leave No Trace Bikepacking (which applies to any outdoor activity).
Shared from Bikepacking Roots
Dispose of Waste Properly 🍌Pack it in, pack it out. Pack out all food waste, toilet paper, hygiene products, and wrappers. 💩When restroom facilities are not available, deposit solid human waste in catholes 6-8” deep, dug at least 200 feet from water sources and trails. Pack out toilet paper. Cover and disguise your cat hole.
💦Urinate 200’ away from camp and water sources and out of sight of other trail users. 🐕Bag and pack out dog waste. Alternatively, move dog waste far away from trails and water sources, and bury it in a 6-8″ hole.
🍬Leave the environment better than you find it and pick up trail trash.
www.bikepackingroots.org/positiveimpact.html
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*HUNTING BY BIKE*This short video by Alaskan Bjørn Olson highlights using bikes for hunting in controlled use areas. This video appears to be off the Denali Highway. To find out more about controlled use areas in Alaska see: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=conservationareas.controlleduse
Shared from BIKEPACKING.com
Our friend Bjørn Olson put together a short video about “Control Use” game management areas and subsistence hunting by bike. Watch it here…
bikepacking.com/news/control-use-hunting-bike/
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*EVENT CHALLENGES, RAISES FUNDS FOR TRAILS*Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge is an event designed to inspire people to stay active in winter. You can cycle or a variety of other activities. For every racer that participates, $10 will be donated to Alaska Trails PLUS racers can donate additional funds to support the development of The Alaska Long Trail. (If you opt out of swag, this will opt you out of the shirt and hat but an additional $25 will be donated to the Alaska Trails.)
www.raawc.com/
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*TOUR DIVIDE ON A HAND BIKE*An inspiring story!
Shared from BIKEPACKING.com
2,450 miles, 25 days, and 1 adaptive hand bike. Accomplished athlete and all-around badass Quinn Brett became the first adaptive cyclist to complete the Tour Divide this past June. Watch a lovely video documenting her ride, alongside an excellent photo gallery and more about the trip…
bikepacking.com/plog/quinn-brett-tour-divide/
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*BIKE-SPECIFIC LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLE #1*Here’s a bike-specific Leave No Trace principle. This is aimed at bikepacking, but it’s good for any bike outing.
Shared from Bikepacking Roots
Leave No Trace Principle no 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare
✔️Know before you go — ride bike-legal trails, be aware of seasonal closures, directional trails, and permits or fees for parks and parking. Bikes are never allowed on trails in Wilderness Areas (ridden, pushed, or carried).
✔️Know where you are, where you’re going, and if evacuation routes exist. Carry a downloaded GPS file, have maps saved for offline use, or carry paper maps (and have backup means of navigation in case of navigational failure). If riding solo, tell someone where you’re headed.
✔️Plan for the unplanned! Carry repair items, light, water treatment, first-aid, ample water capacity, shelter, and layers to keep you warm and dry in unanticipated conditions.
✔️Following wet weather or winter/spring, check with local trail organizations or bike shops for current trail conditions. Know what happens to the surface if rain occurs while you’re riding — some routes become impassable when wet or will be damaged by riding when wet.
✔️When planning a route, especially for newer bikepackers (regardless of cycling experience) plan to ride significantly less mileage than you would unloaded.
✔️If riding an e-bike, know what trails they are legal on — do not ride trails closed to e-bikes. If riding non-motorized trails, assume e-bikes are prohibited until you learn otherwise.
✔️Wear a helmet. It could save your life and reduce the need for search and rescue.
©Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org
www.bikepackingroots.org/positiveimpact.html
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*WEEKLY FATBIKE RIDES OFFERED*As you plan your week, remember that there are a few weekly free guided fatbike rides being offered. Beaver Sports has a low-key, no-drop ride on Thursdays (starting at 5pm). Goldstream Sports has two A-rides, one on Tuesdays (starting at 7pm) and one on Saturdays (starting at 8am). The A-rides are for people who want to go hard and probably get their butt kicked! Call either store for more details.
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*POSITIVE IMPACT BIKEPACKING*Bikepacking Roots is promoting an idea called “Positive Impact Bikepacking.” A lot of these principles can be applied to other types of cycling, too.
Shared from Bikepacking Roots
Bikepackers are a relatively new user group, and interest and participation in bikepacking is growing rapidly. Positive Impact Bikepacking is a set of practices that can be applied in addition to the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. These practices will enhance bikepackers’ connections to landscapes and communities. Positive Impact Bikepacking will lead to stewardship and a constructive user group identity with land users, land managers, and communities through which we ride. Go to our website to see the full layout of the practices.
www.bikepackingroots.org/positiveimpact.html
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*NON-FATBIKE WINTER RIDING*Fatbikes are all the rage for winter biking, but not everyone wants or needs a fatbike. For riding the roads or plowed bike paths, you don’t need one, but you probably need some winter-specific tires. And you’ll need some lights, if you don’t have some. Check with one of our local cycle shops for advice.
Shared from Momentum Mag
Do you even stud those tires, bro? 🚴🎄 A guide to bicycle snow tires and other winter cycling gear
momentummag.com/a-guide-to-bicycle-snow-tires-and-other-winter-cycling-gear/
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