RANGELEY – The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in Rangeley Thursday through Sunday, July 28 to 31, to talk trails, teach people proper trailbuilding technique and spend time digging in the dirt. The visit is one of 70 stops on the 2004 schedule. Everyone is invited to attend the weekend’s events.

The program includes two full-time, professional teams of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading trailbuilding schools, meeting with government officials and land managers and working with IMBA-affiliated groups to improve mountain biking opportunities. Crews have led more than 1,000 trail projects since the program debuted in 1997.

The crews teach “sustainable” trailbuilding, which means building trails that last a long time and require minimal maintenance. It helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment and enhances visitor enjoyment.

Most crew visits last four days, allowing time to assess local trails, host an evening event at a bike shop, conduct a two-day trailbuilding school and ride with the locals.

Coming to Rangeley are crew leaders Chris Bernhardt and Jill Van Winkle. Before working at IMBA, both were active with their local trails community in Hood River, Ore.

All are welcome. For more information and to register for the school, contact John Field at Seasonal Cycles, 864-2100 or [email protected]. For more information on the crews, visit www.imba.com.