2026 Strategic & Operational Plan

I. MISSION & VISION

Mission: OCMTBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational association dedicated to creating, enhancing, and preserving great trail experiences for mountain bikers in Orange County. We foster a bicycle-friendly community through cycling awareness, safety advocacy, and the promotion of bicycling for fun, fitness, and transportation. OCMTBA seeks to preserve, protect, and promote mountain bike access and diverse riding opportunities on public and private lands in Southern California through education, communication and unified action.

2026 Executive Summary: OCMTBA enters 2026 with a clear focus on protecting and expanding trail access by expanding local riding infrastructure and strengthening community stewardship.

II. ADVOCACY & ACCESS (2026 Focus)

We advocate for the retention of existing trails and the expansion of natural surface riding facilities through direct partnerships with land managers.

●      Gateway Preserve (Irvine): Support the opening of this 630-acre park by providing volunteer labor to help complete 9–13 miles of natural surface trails and a dedicated bike skills area within the year.

●      Pump Track Development: Pursue specialized facilities in Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo by investing in professional track designs to move projects toward construction.

●      IRC Docent & Guide Program: Increase guided access to managed properties by recruiting and training eight MTB-specific docents by Q4 completed.

●      Craig Park: Work with OC Parks to establish an "Adopt-a-Trail" maintenance concept to ensure sustainable, high-quality access.

III. TRAILWORK & STEWARDSHIP

We provide the specialized tools, qualified labor, and expert leadership necessary to maintain the integrity of Orange County’s trail systems.

●      CA State Parks Trail Assistance Volunteers (TAVs): Increase the number of approved TAV leads by three by Q4 to expand the frequency of sanctioned maintenance sessions.

●      Tool & Fleet Management: Directly support the riding community by providing necessary trail tools, specialized bikes, and transportation for field work.

●      Volunteer Pipeline: Utilize social media and direct club outreach to convert riders into stewards, showcasing the skills and impact of trail work events.

IV. COMMUNITY EVENTS & ENGAGEMENT

OCMTBA will serve as the central hub for the mountain bike community, fostering connections between riders, shops, and land managers.

●      Unified Calendar: Establish and promote a centralized schedule of activities hosted by clubs, industry partners, and shops to increase participation across all skill levels.

●      Local Sponsorships: Selectively sponsor local events to build brand awareness and establish organizational support within the cycling ecosystem.

V. FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

We maintain fiscal transparency while diversifying revenue to ensure long-term advocacy power.

●      Revenue Growth:

○      Micro-Donations: Promote Trail.Care to automate rider micro donations via Strava.

○      Membership: Implement a “member-only” perk (e.g, early access to a specific event, discount at a shop, sock and/or jersey giveaway) to convert 10% of current newsletter subscribers into paid members within the year.

○      Dedicated Funding: Aggressively pursue grants and corporate sponsorships specifically earmarked for trail building and maintenance, or sponsor-defined .

●      Leadership & Staffing:

○      Acknowledge the evergreen positions expired December 2025 - President and Treasurer.

○      Empower key staff leadership, including the Director of TrailWork and Director of Marketing.

○      Actively recruit new volunteers for board positions expiring December 2026 (vice president, executive director, and secretary), in addition to needs as they develop.

VI. IMPACT MEASUREMENT

We will track our success through the following 2026 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

●      Project Completion: Support infrastructure phase and volunteer mobilization to reflect 2026 construction start of Gateway Preserve trails and completion of pump track designs for Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo.

●      Stewardship: Total trail work hours performed and number of new Irvine Ranch Conservancy Trail Guides and State Park TAV leads.

●      Growth: Net increase in paid members and total donations received.

Engagement:Event attendance and social media cross-pollination metrics