By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - Good mountain bike trails are made, not born. This weekend, at the best mountain bike trails in the area, people can learn how to build and maintain them, then take a free ride courtesy of the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

"For eight years, volunteers have developed, built and maintained 15 miles of trails in Hueston Woods" State Park, trail builder and Oxford bike shop owner Bob "Biker Bob" Feldman said.

Feldman and other volunteers with the Hueston Woods Trail Crew have spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars on the trails, he said. They were voted best in the area last year by Cincinnati magazine.

This weekend's events include an evening slide show about IMBA, a full-day IMBA trail-building school and a group ride. All events are free.

IMBA and Subaru of America Inc. are national sponsors of the trail-building school. Their two teams of experts travel North America year-round, leading the schools, meeting with government officials and land managers, and working with affiliated groups to improve mountain biking opportunities.

Since the program began in 1997, IMBA and Subaru have led trail projects in 50 states and 15 foreign countries.

From 7 to 9 p.m. today, "Around the World with IMBA," a slide show about riding and travel adventures in the United States, Italy, Wales, Australia and beyond, will be presented at Bio-Wheels, 3307 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, 861-BIKE.

On Saturday from 9 a.m to 4 p.m., IMBA will hold its trail-building school at Hueston Woods State Park north of Oxford.

The school includes three hours of classroom instruction followed by hands-on time in the field. For more information, call 523-1316.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, a group mountain bike ride will take place at Caesar Creek State Park, weather permitting. Bicyclists meet at the campground, 8370 E. Ohio 73, Waynesville; 897-3055.

For more information and to register for the IMBA Trailbuilding School, contact Jonathan Walters at jonathanwalters@cinci.rr.com.

E-mail annag1129@cs.com