2025 is here and with it comes new faces, new initiatives and new projects. We’re sad to see some of our board members step down and excited at the prospect of bringing on new ones. For the first time, EMBA is holding the annual member survey, which is now live. We hope you take a few minutes to give us your feedback and share your vision of our world class trail network. Edmonton is hosting the 2027 World Triathlon Multisport Championships and with it comes a lot of work to prep the trails for this televised international event. There’s a lot happening this year and we’re happy that you’re a part of it!
The EMBA Executive
In this Edition
Dirt Relations screening with the City of Edmonton
December trail days: the work never stops!
EMBA receives a very generous donation from North Sun Ultra
Our first annual member survey
Save the date: The AGM is Saturday, March 22
Bike Park update
Improve your riding in 2025 with a professional bike fit
Dirt Relations screening with the City of Edmonton
Our own Matt Edwards organized a virtual screening of the film Dirt Relations with key staff from the City of Edmonton in late November. The film was very well received by the city and gave us the opportunity to form some new relationships. EMBA is keen to have a trail plan with the city that considers the environment and the people who use the trails. The film did a great job of showing the connection that we have to the land.
You can learn more about the Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program here. Although the film is not available on Youtube, we hope to offer a screening to members in the near future.
December trail days: the work never stops!
Although most of our trail work is done during the riding season, we completed two trail days in December adding old tires to decking in the valley to improve traction. Special shout out to Hardcore Bikes, Mud, Sweat and Gears, Revolution Cycle and MEC for the tires.
EMBA receives a very generous donation from North Sun Ultra
By Gavin Radzick
North Sun Ultra was created in 2020 to host a 50km ultra distance trail run through the river valley. Race organizers Laura Swain and Hadley Mann and their executive are part of the Wild Rose Runners trail group, currently at 200 members.
The North Sun Ultra operates as a nonprofit and in 2024 they donated $2,500 to EMBA to support trail work. Since the run started in 2020, North Sun has donated $4,735 to us!
I got to sit down with Laura and talk about their ultra and the shared interests of trail runners and cyclists. In my opinion, years ago us mountain bikers took the attitude of “us vs. them”. Thankfully, I think that attitude is changing – whether you are riding a bike, running or walking your dog, we all want to enjoy our trail network.
After our meeting, Hadley joined us on a trail night in October and had a blast. North Sun is interested in continuing to work with EMBA, which I think is a fantastic opportunity. If you look at the success of the Fort Saskatchewan Trail Alliance (FSTA), they include all trail users – not just mountain bikers. It gives them a lot more clout and influence with the city.
Their 2025 ultra marathon will be held on Saturday, June 14 at Emily Murphy Park. If you could show your support and volunteer, it goes a long way toward building our relationship. You can learn more about the race here and send them an email to info@northsunrunning.ca to volunteer.
Thank you to North Sun for your generous donation and support!
Your input matters: EMBA's 2025 Member Survey
We’re excited to announce that our very first annual member survey is up! Your input matters and a survey is a great way to understand what’s important to YOU and what should be our priorities. CLICK HERE to complete the survey and make sure to attend the March AGM to see the results!
Our AGM is Saturday, March 22 - Call for Board Members
Mark your calendar - this year our AGM will be on Saturday, March 22. We’re currently working on a time and location and we’ll send out an email with that soon. We are now accepting nominations for our board. In order to be nominated to the board you must be a member of EMBA for 2024-25 and be nominated by another active member. Send your nominations to trails@edmmtnbike.ca Please include "Nomination for..." in the subject line of the email. In the body of the email please include the name and contact of the nominated individual in addition to who the nominating member is (that's you).
A communication will be sent out outlining the number of directors that EMBA will carry for 2025.
Thank you to Blindman Brewing
Blindman Brewing has been the official supplier of “volunbeers” to EMBA for the past few years and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank them for their support. When you’re on your next beer run, make sure you choose Blindman Brewing and show them some support back!
Bike Park Project Highlights
The Edmonton Bike Park is a key part of our long-term vision for a vibrant and inclusive trail network in the North Saskatchewan River Valley. Located in Queen Elizabeth Park, east of the Walterdale Bridge, the bike park will feature flow trails, a skills area, a pump track, and a jump park designed to accommodate riders of all ages and abilities.
Current Status
Funding: We’ve secured $407,000 in funding from the City’s RPFIP (River Valley Partnership and Infrastructure Fund). Additionally, we’ve applied for the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant of $613,000, with a decision now expected by the end of February (This was originally expected at the end of December). While we’ve made significant progress toward the $1.235 million goal, we still welcome donations to help cover the public portion of funding and ensure we’re fully prepared to move forward.
HRA Approval: The Historical Resources Act (HRA) process, required because the bike park is located in the River Valley, has been completed. As part of the process, we were required to contact all Indigenous groups in Alberta to notify them about the project and invite feedback or concerns. We’re pleased to report that the HRA approval has been returned clear and approved.
IRO Engagement: We’ve engaged with the Indigenous Relations Office (IRO) as part of this process, and initial feedback has been received, with more expected in the coming weeks.
Design Progress: The concept design has now advanced into the detailed design phase. With this progress, we’re still on track to break ground this spring!
Planning for the Future:
In addition to construction costs, we’re actively planning for yearly maintenance and long-term replacement cycles to ensure the bike park remains a high-quality and sustainable facility for years to come. This includes vegetation trimming, trail upkeep, and structural replacements as needed. We’re currently looking for funding partners to help cover these operational costs and support the ongoing care of the park.
Next Steps
The next few months will be crucial for the success of the bike park. Our focus includes:
Finalizing the IRO engagement process and incorporating additional feedback.
Completing the detailed design to ensure the bike park meets the needs of all users.
Securing funding partners to support both construction and ongoing maintenance needs.
Encouraging community donations to strengthen both the initial build and long-term sustainability.
Preparing for Council approval of the development permit this spring.
How You Can Help
This project is a community-driven effort, and your support makes all the difference. Here’s how you can contribute:
Donate: Every dollar helps us reach our funding goal and secure the long-term success of the bike park.
Stay Informed: Once the bike park is fully funded, visit our website for ways to sign up as a volunteer and help us maintain and grow this amazing community resource.
Advocate: Share updates about the project with friends and family, and let your City Councillor know you support the Edmonton Bike Park!
Looking Ahead
The bike park is just the beginning. Once built, it will serve as a hub for expanding trail signage, improving maintenance, and implementing EMBA’s long-term vision for a world-class trail network. With your continued enthusiasm and support, we can make Edmonton a destination for mountain bikers and trail users alike.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s make 2025 a breakthrough year for mountain biking in Edmonton!
If you have questions or want to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@edmbikepark.ca or visit edmbikepark.ca
– The Edmonton Bike Park Team
Improve your riding in 2025 with a professional bike fit
by Gavin Radzick
In the last edition, I wrote about the benefits of professional coaching and how it can improve your riding experience. Recently, I had a professional bike fit and wanted to share my experience with you. I was having a few problems with my gravel bike and my fat bike – mostly saddle numbness and a numb left hand. The saddle on my Salsa Beargrease was getting old and I also wanted to take this opportunity to see if I should switch saddles.
Cody Osborne of Flexion Bike Fit https://www.flexionbikefit.com/ started his business in late 2019 when he received his certification from Dave Howells at BikeFit Canada and Ryan Draper from Cycling 101. Since then, he has performed almost 1,200 bike fits and will soon be a Level 3 fitter through the International Bike Fitters Institution (IBFI). He has also helped BikeFit Canada develop their training program for other fitters.
From Cody’s perspective, there are 2 ways to approach a bike fit:
Bone length and joint angle – this is a biomechanical approach and is ‘neutral’ to the rider
Rider’s unique situation/needs and sizing – this uses a proprioceptive approach which considers your body’s ability to sense movement, action and location. This approach is ‘accommodative’
Cody uses both approaches – in the photos of me on my fat bike, you’ll see the angle of my thigh and shin bone with the before and after. I was experiencing saddle sores and numbness and this was mostly due to my seat being too high. He also considers what you ride, what types of trails and conditions you ride in and any special injuries or issues. Like any mountain biker worth their salt, I have a litany of shoulder issues from past injuries.
The Frankenbike: Fit First, Buy Second
Cody has a ‘frankenbike’, which can mimic the dimensions and angles of any bike. For example, he can replicate a Santa Cruz Bronson or a Yeti SB130 for you to try out before you buy.
Cody believes that ideally, you ‘Fit first and buy second’. His service includes:
Discussing brands, price and your likes/dislikes. A dozen Size M bikes will all fit and feel different. Although you can make some changes to a bike fit, you can’t change Stack or Reach. After a session on the Frakenbike, you and Cody will work down to 3-4 bikes that will probably work best for you
After you buy the bike, Cody puts you and your new rig up on the trainer to determine any changes to saddle height and position, cleat position (if you run SPD’s), handlebar width and stem length and rise
When MTB fitting, there are 2 protocols:
Feet – Seat – Hands – Back to feet
Bike’s performance: Tire pressure, sag and suspension settings
His sizing service lowers your risk that you buy a ‘bad’ bike that doesn’t work for you, based on fit and feel. You can essentially ‘try out’ all kinds of different brands from different shops, without having to actually try them. Who are we kidding - riding an all-mountain rig around the parking lot doesn’t tell you much. The service saves you time narrowing down what will work best and Cody is brand agnostic – you can try out a Specialized, Trek, Norco or Transition.
So how did my bike fit go?
One of other neat things about the frakenbike is the ability to quickly switch saddles. Similar to an optometrist who asks you, “Is this better, or worse?”, Cody can instantly switch saddles for you to compare. We started off with my current saddle, a WTB Volt. We then moved to a few other shapes and brands, including a 3D printed model.
I really like the house-brand Cervelo saddle on my gravel bike, which is a Prologo design. Cody chose an MTB version of that saddle and as soon as I sat on it, I said, “Oh my god!”. We obviously had a winner.
My winner was a NinetyK YES saddle, which apparently is popular with bike fitting clients. I’ve been out on 2.5 hour rides with zero issues. It’s so comfy, I may consider switching the saddles on my Rocky Mountains as well! Of course, the point is not the saddle itself – what works for me might not work for you. The ability to try out a vast array of saddles and choose one that works for you is a big plus.
Buying a new saddle is a real leap of faith – I was considering a $300 heat-molded seat that might – or might not – work. To me, this process alone is worth the cost of the bike fit.
So how did I end up doing? By lowering my saddle height and a few other changes, my numbness woes are a thing of the past. We all love riding our bikes and when you have a bike that fits you, you’ll love it even more.
For the month of February and March, use the discount code EMBA15 to get 15% off your bike fit with Flexion. Check out Cody’s services at https://www.flexionbikefit.com/
Thanks Cody!
February 2025 Updates from EMBA
Support Edmonton's Single-Track Trails, Get Discounts on Gear! EMBA members can enjoy discounts and special incentives at a growing number of local retailers. Check out our list of participating stores below and be sure to show your support!
Don't have a membership yet? Get one today:
EMBA Membership Perks
Members get 10% (or more) off regular priced items at these amazing stores! Head on over to these incredible bike shops, show them some love, and take advantage of this incredible deal!
*Certain exclusions and limitations apply. Contact any of these stores for full details. Certain stores may offer other discounts.
Don't have a membership yet? Get one today:
Check out the EMBA Merch Shop! can enjoy wearing the swag and support EMBA as we continuing efforts to advocate as well as maintain single track trails. Plus the merch is pretty cool. Thank you for your support!
Comments