Shimano has announced its Trail Born Fund to increase and sustain mountain bike trails and trail access around the globe. According to Shimano, the fund will deliver what it says is an "unprecedented level of industry support" and has pledged to donate $10 million over the next 10 years, which will "support and facilitate worldwide trail projects and trail advocacy organizations."
The Trail Born Fund initially will focus on selected areas in North America, Europe, and Oceania and aims to further expand across these regions into 2025. By 2026, the Trail Born Fund aims to support mountain bike riding worldwide, with support in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.
Shimano says it will work closely with trusted partners and aims to ensure "significant and sustainable gains" are made locally and globally, supporting the dedication and passion of mountain biking trail builders everywhere.
The hard work, dedication and expense involved in building and maintaining MTB trails is staggering. Shimano quotes the typical cost to be between $10,000 to $45,000 per mile. This figure seems crazy, but factors in everything from permits and impact studies to tools, materials, and labor. However, Shimano says it believes the return on investment is "priceless" and that "supporting trail building and trail advocacy helps protect and expand trail access." That of course means more places for all of us to ride with and more opportunities for new riders and children and secures an exciting future for the sport we all love.
As the world's biggest mountain bike component manufacturer, Shimano is no stranger to supporting trail advocacy and trail-building efforts through the years. It founded the IMBA Dig In program which provides grant opportunities for MTB projects. Shimano's new Trail Born Fund will become its biggest and join similar programs from some of the world's best mountain bike brands.
Specialized has donated funds to trail builders via their Soil Searching program and the US brand raised funds last year with the limited edition Specialized Soil Searching Levo e-MTB competition. Shimano's biggest rival, SRAM, has its SRAM Cycling Fund and claims to invest around $1 million a year in projects supporting mountain biking. Trek has the Trek Foundation and Santa Cruz has made trail-building donations of $500,000.
How will Trail Born work
Shimano says support will be earmarked for legal and sustainable trails, and funds will be allocated only after a thorough review of the advocacy organizations and proposed projects. Shimano adds that it will also help promote these chosen projects, telling the stories of the people and places behind these critical efforts. They also aim to assist individual projects find additional funding from other sources such as private donations and government grant programs.
Information on selected trail organizations and how future trail schemes can get involved with the Trail Born Fund will be shared after the initial launch and information can be found at Shimano.com.
