Brian Betsworth sent me a heads-up of a new cycling organization in town. The Toronto Off Road Bicycling Association (TORBA) was founded just under a year ago with the aim to benefit off road riders by taking care of Toronto's many unofficial dirt trails, and to engage with authorities to help legitimize cycling off road. As Brian explains,

"Mountain biking" is nothing new to Toronto, nor are sweet trails; but it's only lately that the topic has become an issue to land managers and conservationists; and a source of concern and debate for riders and builders. Many people believe the forests are public space, free to all, and so building sweet trail and riding wherever and however they feel is the way to go; to the authorities trying to manage those spaces, it's their land, their responsibility, and the issues become all about liability, environmental impact, and sustainability. Oh, and recreation. So TORBA has waded into that river of debate, and aims to build bridges, and shift perceptions, while maintaining, preserving, and creating new off road cycling opportunities in Toronto.

TORBA and Umbra will host a launch event at Umbra's Concept Store, 165 John Street, on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008, from 7 pm till 11 pm.

Read the entire press release on their site. For more information, please contact brian.betsworth@toronto-offroad.org or www.toronto-offroad.org