2023 In Review
Major 2023 Trail Work Projects
Middle Run Pump Track - 4/17/23
The berms of the pump track had eroded and overgrown enough that it was in danger of no longer being rideable, so Trail Spinners secured materials from New Castle County and rebuild the track so that it could continue to be enjoyed. We’re continuing to try to get a closer parking lot and eyeing future expansion.
Our 2023 Club President Robbie Downward personally spent 3 solid days out in that field keeping this project on track.
Middle Run Tunnel Bridge - 7/3/23
An inspection of the bridge near the tunnel between Middle Run and WCCSP showed that the pilings of this bridge had finally rotted away. The old bridge was constructed in the early days of Trail Spinner involvement with Middle Run, and was actually made of fence planks donated to the club by the Fair Hill park management. Prior to that bridge, trail users had to walk or ride on the shoulder of Paper Mill Road for a short section before re-entering the Lenape trail. Roughy 25 years later, the new bridge is MUCH safer with handrails and width that matches the other bridges in the park. Hopefully, this bridge will last us through to 2048!
A huge thanks to Bob Tober for coming over from his usual turf in Fair Hill to lead this project.
Lenape Drainage and Rollers - 8/1/23
The heavily-trafficked section of the Lenape Trail just down the hill from the Middle Run Day-Use parking lot had been suffering from drainage problems for many years, and no amount of shovel work seemed to fix it so we brought in the equipment and fixed it for good. The new rollers and drainage channels keep the water flowing away from the trail instead of pooling into ever-widening mud puddles while also adding a bit of fun to an otherwise bland section of trail.
Credit for this one goes to Lauri Webber (yes, THAT Lauri of Velo Amis / Grape Crusher fame) and her son Jeff, who is a professional trail builder.
Group Rides and Events
Fair Hill Night Rides
Trail Spinners was able to secure an agreement with Fair Hill N.R.M.A for legal night riding on Tuesday nights through the winter months as long as we covered riders under our own insurance (that is why it was only open to members). The rides were either mountain bike or gravel depending on trail conditions, but the snowless 2023 winter allowed rides to happen almost every week during the dark months.
The program went so well that we got permission to do it again for 2024, so renew your membership and charge up your lights if you want in on the fun! Join the Trail Spinners Strava Group for ride information posts.
Huge props to Bill Spry for spearheading this effort and leading many of the rides personally.
Financials
Where did your membership money go to in 2023? The club’s biggest expense is insurance for operating the power equipment and being able to sponsor events. We’re currently looking for ways of reducing that cost since the mowers, excavator and other power equipment are indispensable for some projects. The second biggest expense is fuel and maintenance on the equipment itself. We have a fleet of trimmers and an aging brush mower that we will be replacing soon that are critical to keeping the trails open in the summer months. Finally, our last category is administrative costs such as web hosting for the site you’re currently reading, the signs we put up to promote the club and costs for things like our volunteer hour tracking tools.
All members of the Board and club are volunteers and do not receive financial compensation. All club dues are used to further the Trailspinners' trail building/advocacy goals.
2023 Expenses by Category
2023 Income & Expenses
| IMBA Membership Income | 2023 Expenses | Net Income |
|---|---|---|
| $9,598.00 | $7,773.35 | $1,824.65 |
2023 net income will be going to offset the cost of the new brush mower we’re planning to purchase in 2024 to keep those field trails open
Who led Trail Spinners in 2023?
Trail Spinners is led by a group of mountain bikers just like you. You might see some of these faces out on the trails, or pass them swinging a trimmer or draining a puddle, so stop and say hi! This group also attends public workshops, friends group meetings, and planning sessions with all the local land managers, making sure that cycling is represented and advocated for. We thank everyone on the 2023 board for their service
Robbie Downward (2023 President), Caleb Meredith, Nick Hepler, Mark Loch, Tom Kappelmeier, Brandon Mulrooney, Chris Shaw, Curtis Miller and Ken Cox