We have two biking related projects at Black Butte - a bicycle repair and loaner resource center and our new six-person "railbike".

As part of our commitment to promoting and using alternatives to automobile-based transportation, we are developing a Bicycle Resource Center at Black Butte. This includes a stable of "loaner" bicycles available for the use of visitors to our site as well as basic bike repair facilities. Our goal is to let visitors enjoy the unique features of this sensitive ecological area without depending on cars. Popular bike trips from our site include: College of the Siskiyous, downtown Weed, the trailhead for climbing Black Butte, Mt. Shasta lava beds, various railroad photo locations, Summit Lake and various "back roads" in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest just to the east of us - as well as the nearby south Weed truckstop area (where you can put your bike on a "STAGE" county transit bus and go to Yreka, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta City, and other locations).

Many of our bikes have been donated to us. Others have been salvaged at the Black Butte Dump or from thrift stores in Weed and Mt. Shasta. They have then been rebuilt and tuned up at our site. The bikes and repair facilities are located in our newly reconditioned barn/tool shop. This project has been inspired and facilitated by some of the key founders and members of the "Bike Church" down in Santa Cruz (www.santacruzhub.org/bikechurch/bc_main.htm). We hope to continue and expand our relationship with the Bike Church in future years.

photo courtesy of Jet Set John

In November, 2007 we acquired a "one of a kind" six-person rail bicycle through a donation from the Western Pacific Rail Museum in Portola, California. The bike was built in the early 1990s by Mark Norstad and friends. After several years of occasional use, he donated it to the museum in Portola. As far as we know, this is the only operable rail bike of its size in existence. In 2008 we plan on restoring and upgrading the bike in preparation for its return to active use. Eventually we hope to organize excursions in cooperation with area shortline or regional railroads and possibly join in on "speeder" tours (if they will have us!). The railbike will also be available for rent to outside groups.