Simmons Advocates for Quality Mountain Biking Trails throughout the County

Posted on July 20, 2012

by JENNIFER FRAKES | photos by Zeena Gregg Photography

As an avid mountain biker and the president of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA), Rodney Simmons is dedicated to keeping the trails in San Diego County friendly to both riders and the natural environment. “SDMBA is pro-active in advocating for well-engineered trail networks and rerouting trail sections to avoid sensitive habitat areas. We also help with trail design, construction and maintenance – we provide approximately 3,000 hours annually of skilled trail maintenance within San Diego County,” said Rodney.

Rodney, his wife, Cindi, and their two children, Tyler and Brittany, have lived in Rancho Peñasquitos since 1995, when Rodney was transferred to San Diego from Los Angeles. They were initially drawn to Rancho Peñasquitos because of the great reputation of the Poway Unified School District and have since discovered the many other advantages the area offers. “We live in the Peñasquitos Bluffs neighborhood which allows us walking access to the town center stores, and of course for me as a mountain biker, easy access to both Black Mountain Open Space Park and Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve,” related Rodney, who is a senior mechanical engineer for Cymer, Inc. in Rancho Bernardo.

Based on his mountain biking knowledge and his familiarity with the local trails, Rodney suggests several options for riders looking to get out and discover the natural beauty of the region. “For beginners, Peñasquitos Canyon can’t be beat – be sure to stop at the waterfall. A lesser used trail that is worth exploring is the Trans-County Trail that heads east from the stables on the corner of Black Mountain Road and Mercy Road over into Poway and beyond. More experienced riders will be challenged by Miner’s Ridge Loop on Black Mountain,” revealed Rodney.

For those interested in the SDMBA, both novices and experienced riders, Rodney encourages a visit to the website, www.sdmba.com. According to Rodney, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. “We host skills clinics, camping trips and rides. Our signature event is the Archipelago ride. The course links the ‘islands’ of open space [in our region] for a 43-mile ride that is 99% dirt,” said Rodney.