Our Mission:

To enhance trail experiences through people, tools, and advocacy.

Who We are

rvaMORE is a diverse group of trail enthusiasts with a passion for Advocating for access to great trails in the Richmond Region. We are mountain bikers, runners, boaters, hikers and nature lovers with a commitment to our parks and to all those who find enjoyment there. Our work is supported through membership, donations, corporate sponsorship, and volunteer efforts.

Supporting rvaMORE can happen in many ways. First, by advocating for our mission to enhance trail experiences by speaking to trail users about sustainable trails. 

rvaMORE advocates for sustainable trails in three ways:

  • Ecologically, by using known techniques that keep silt and run-off out of our waterways.
  • Building economically sustainable trails that hold up over time and need little maintenance.
  • Socially sustainable trail design built with “users-first design” to reduce conflict and keep access open.

The rvaMORE team has a primary focus on:

Leadership
rvaMORE helps support advocacy efforts that protect access to local trails. Our members work with local land managers, civic groups, government, and park officials to ensure that we’ll all have places to ride and enjoy the outdoors. rvaMORE 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.

Access
Working with the City of Richmond’s James River Park Trail Crew, each year rvaMORE members volunteer over 1000 hours to maintain and improve local trails as part of the annual trail work series. Trail work helps sustain trails for ALL users, and shows land managers that trail users are willing to contribute to local trail systems. In addition to working on maintaining and enhancing our existing trails, rvaMORE is actively developing new trails for all Richmond area mountain bikers.

Promoting Responsible Riding
One way to ensure continued access to local trails is if all riders learn and follow some basic guidelines for responsible riding. rvaMORE supports the International Mountain Bicycling 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.

Our work includes:

  •     Organizing rides
  •     Maintaining and developing trail systems
  •     Providing funding for trails projects
  •     Conducting educational programs for adults and children
  •     Promoting inclusion of mountain biking in parks
  •     Working with localities to promote and protect cyclists rights

What is the purpose of rvaMORE?

We’re more than just a mountain biking club. Our primary focus in the Richmond area is to support the trails.
We do this by:

  • Promoting trail access
  • Maintaining and developing trail systems
  • Providing funding for trails projects
  • Conducting educational programs for adults and children
  • Opening up new dialogue
  • 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:

  • Organized rides
  • Camping/Day trips
  • Opportunity to Connect with other Riders
  • Fun socials

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

Each year rvaMORE members put in over 1000 volunteer hours to maintain and improve our local trails as part of the annual trail work 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, rvaMORE continues to work on opening new trails for all Richmond area mountain bikers. We ask that each member contributes at least one day per year to trail work.

How can I learn about trail building?

rvaMORE offers 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). You will have the opportunity to meet members of rvaMORE and other trail related groups, and get first hand exposure to the techniques used throughout our unique trail system.

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

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

Who does rvaMORE Partner with to Further their Mission?

rvaMORE 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. rvaMORE also strives to maintain strong relationships with local neighborhood groups and civic associations.

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. rvaMORE 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.

History

rvaMORE, 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. In 2013 Richmond-MORE became a chapter of IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) and on 2014 was rebranded as rvaMORE.

The impetus for the club came from Michael 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. Prior to that, Richmond had had various mountain bike trail clubs throughout the years, and while there were significant accomplishments along the way, the organizations were short lived. Michael 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, Michael Dart was elected vice-president, and Wayne Goodman was elected Secretary. Jay deBellonia was elected Treasurer.

Since that first meeting, rvaMORE has had a major impact on the Richmond mountain bike scene. Shortly after the club was founded, the North BankTrail was built and the club received an award of 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. rvaMORE was recognized by Sports Backers 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. rva MORE has been cited as integral part to Richmond trails being recognized as “Best Urban Trail in Virginia” by the BikeWalk Virginia Governor’s Award.

rvaMORE ByLaws