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Four-day ride in Idaho aimed at keeping area open to mountain bikes

Published July 7, 2015

KETCHUM, Idaho (BRAIN) — A group of bicycle advocates will mountain bike in central Idaho for four days starting Wednesday as part of a campaign to have an area declared a national monument — rather than a national wilderness area, which would close it to mountain biking.

The event is being organized by IMBA, with representatives from the Sierra Club and the Outdoor Alliance participating. Executives from bike brands including Niner Bikes and Bell Helmets also are participating. 

Idaho's U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and Sen. James Risch are pushing for a wilderness designation for the Boulder-White Clouds lands.

But proponents of the national monument alternative said cycling has an economic impact of $33 million annually in the area, which would be jeopardized by the wilderness designation.

The Wood River Bicycle Coalition, a local IMBA chapter, has been closely involved in shaping the national monument proposal.

"Mountain bikers want to see the area protected as a monument, so we organized this ride in the Boulder-White Clouds to promote that option," said Aaron Clark, IMBAs conservation manager. "Unfortunately, we find ourselves having to fight a bill that would close important bike trails, with fewer protections for the landscape than could be achieved through a monument. Mountain biking is vital to both the local economy and the recreation scene for residents—our goal is to protect current bike access."

Among the participants in the ride are Chris Sugai, the president of Niner bikes, and Jessica Klodnicki, the general manager and executive vice president of Bell Helmets.

"Our industry thrives on cycling participation and a big component of driving participation is having places to ride. When classic mountain bike areas like Sun Valley and the Boulder–White Clouds are threatened, it prompts preservation," Klodnicki said.

You can follow the ride at facebook.com/IMBAonFB and #BWCmonument.

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