Who is RVA MORE?

RVA MORE, also known Richmond-MORE, was founded in the fall of 2005 as the first chapter of MORE (Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), a mountain bike club headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area.

The impetus for the club came from Mike Dart, a local Richmond mountain biker, who admired what the parent club was doing in the Washington area and saw a pressing need for the same type of organization in Richmond. Richmond had had various mountain bike clubs or organizations over the years but the lack of commitment and focus had caused these clubs to be short lived. Mike felt that MORE had the experience and organization needed to start a MORE chapter in the Richmond area that would not only succeed but thrive. Scott Scudamore, at that time the president of MORE, agreed.

The first meeting of the club was held at 3Sports, a local bike shop, in Richmond  during the month of October. Scott Scudamore attended the first meeting and officers were elected. Vince Carman was elected President, Mike Dart was elected vice-president, and Wayne Goodman was elected Secretary. Jay deBellonia was elected Treasurer.

Since the club was founded, RVA MORE has had a major impact on the Richmond mountain bike scene. Shortly after the club was founded, we built the North Trail and received our first award for our service to the Richmond mountain bike community. More recently, Richmond was named by Trail Runner magazine as one of the top seven trail running towns in the nation. RVA MORE was recognized by Sportsbackers as having made a significant contribution in securing that recognition.

Today, the club remains firmly entrenched in the Richmond mountain bike community and continues to grow and evolve, serving the needs of Richmond’s diverse trail community.

 

What is the purpose of RVA MORE?

RVA MORE is more than just a mountain biking club. Our primary focus in the Richmond area is to support the trails. We do this by developing and promoting:

1. Trail Acess

2. Trail Maintenance

3. Opening up New Dialog

4. Promoting Responsible Riding

But we are a mountain bike club. So once we get done with supporting the trails, we ride the trails ! Our club provides for:

1. Organized rides

2. Camping/Day trips

3. Opportunity to Connect with other Riders

 

As a Member, do I have to volunteer a certain number of hours each year?

Each year RVA MORE members put in over 1000 volunteer hours to maintain and improve our local trails as part of the annual trailwork series. Trail work helps sustain trails for ALL users, and shows land managers that mountain bikers are willing to contribute to local trail systems.

In addition to working on existing trails, RVA MORE continues to work on opening new trails for all Richmond area mountain bikers.

We ask that each member contributes one day per year to trail work.

 

How can I learn about Trail Building?

Many club members have participated in classes to learn how to build sustainable, environmentally friendly trails. We offer different opportunities to learn the skills. Perhaps the best way is to come out to a trail work day (Saturday mornings from November to April).

 

What do you do with all the Funds you Generate from Memberships and Donations?

The majority of RVA MORE’s funding comes from donations. We get donations from our members, our member’s employers (through matching gift programs), local organizations and local businesses. Since we are an all volunteer organization, the majority of our funds are used to build and maintain trails. Funds are used to purchase and rent power equipment, tools and lumber.

 

Who does RVA MORE Partner with to Further their Mission?

RVA MORE helps support advocacy efforts that protect access to local trails. Members work with local land managers, civic groups, government, and park officials to ensure that we’ll all have places to ride. RVA MORE also strives to maintain strong relationships with local neighborhood groups and civic associations. As cities grow, so do their usage patterns within public spaces. Members can take part in relationship building with other user groups to ensure workable policies for all parties involved.

 

 

As a Member, what can I do to make sure our trails will always be accessible?

One way to ensure continued access to local trails is if all riders learn and follow some basic guidelines for responsible riding. RVA MORE supports the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) rules of the trail, and educates local riders about the need to ride responsibly and obey local regulations. This includes abiding by trail closures during wet weather when trails are most vulnerable to damage, and sharing the trail with other users such as hikers, runners, walkers and equestrians.