Downeast Cyclists Club Quarterly Meeting Recap — March 24, 2026
Downeast Cyclists Club Quarterly Meeting Recap — March 24, 2026
The Downeast Cyclists held their quarterly membership meeting on Tuesday, March 24th at Bicycle Gallery in Jacksonville, with President Cathy Russell presiding over a packed agenda covering everything from a refreshed website to exciting progress on the Big Branch Bike Park.
New Faces, New Platform
The club's leadership team — Cathy Russell (President), Steve (Vice President), Van (Treasurer), Diane (Secretary), and Bruce (At-Large Officer) — kicked off the evening with an overview of recent administrative updates. High on the list was the club's newly redesigned website, which features a simplified membership registration and renewal process. Members were encouraged to explore the new platform and provide feedback. One point of clarification addressed during the meeting: membership expiration follows an anniversary date cycle rather than a calendar year, so renewal reminders will be rolling out accordingly as members' dates approach. A fresh batch of business cards has also been printed for distribution — pick some up and spread the word.
Rides: More Variety, More Leaders
Ride programming generated lively discussion. Members voiced interest in expanding the variety of outings on offer, including gravel, road, mountain biking, and structured pace groups. A key priority for the coming quarter is re-establishing a B Group and potentially launching a C Group — with a firm emphasis on riders staying true to each ride's posted description so everyone has a safe and appropriate experience.
Tuesday and Thursday evening routes are currently being reworked due to ongoing base access challenges, so stay tuned for updates there.
The club is also actively seeking new ride leaders. A proposed "Ride Leader Mentor" program would pair experienced leaders with members looking to step up, helping grow the pool of volunteers and increase how often group rides go out.
On the social side, the club introduced an exciting new concept: Ride & Refresh — casual rides originating and concluding at downtown Jacksonville establishments. Think morning coffee rides along the greenway, rotating with evening outings for dinner and drinks. Details are still coming together, but expect announcements soon.
Big Branch Bike Park: Progress in Motion
One of the most anticipated updates of the evening centered on Big Branch Bike Park. Representatives from Trail Dynamics are scheduled to visit on March 26th to reassess the completion of Phase 2. The county is also aware of a large tree that came down on the Phase 2 trail and will be consulting with the Trail Dynamics team on removal options.
The waterline construction that forced a partial closure remains a work in progress, but there's an encouraging development: county Parks & Recreation official Todd has expressed openness to installing trail crossing markings that would allow the blue and green loop trails to follow their original routes, while keeping the remainder of the jeep road closed temporarily to allow grass regrowth needed for erosion control.
Construction on the final two miles of trail and bridgework is also moving forward, with cleanup of construction impacts ongoing.
Looking Ahead
President Russell closed the meeting by setting an optimistic tone for the quarter ahead — more rides, more riders, and a bike park moving closer to full operation. Members with questions, ride ideas, or interest in leading are encouraged to reach out to any board member.
The next quarterly meeting date will be announced via the club website and email list. See you on the trails!