With the 1983 launch of DEORE XT M700 - the world’s first MTB-specific component group - Shimano helped give life to the emerging sport of mountain biking. From the beginning, Shimano recognized that this growing discipline was different from anything the cycling world had seen before. And that meant delivering the right gear necessary to help evolve and enhance this new and exciting form of two-wheeled adventure.
In the ensuing decades, Shimano’s commitment to progressive product development and precision engineering of discipline-specific components has consistently set the standard for performance, durability, comfort, and control.
During this time, Shimano also quickly realized that unlike road riding, where the required terrain exists by default, mountain biking requires collective collaboration to create and maintain unique and desirable places to ride. Indeed, the roots of mountain biking are trails and without a strong root system the proverbial tree comes crashing down. Again Shimano has done much to help bolster the sport, supporting countless trail advocacy and trail building efforts through the years. Because just like you, we’re riders, too.
Now we’re taking things a step further with the launch of the Shimano Trail Born Fund, our new initiative aimed at helping increase and sustain mountain bike trails and trail access around the world. This unprecedented level of industry support comes in the form of a groundbreaking $10 million mountain bike trail advocacy campaign.
Over the next 10 years, Shimano will donate $10 million to “boots on the ground” trail projects and trail advocacy organizations. Then we’ll work closely with these partners to ensure truly meaningful and sustainable gains both on a local and global scale. No greenwashing here. Just good old fashioned hard work with dedicated and passionate people.
At initial roll out, the program will focus on select areas in North America, European, and Oceania and will further expand across these regions in 2025. By 2026, Trail Born aims to effect change across the mountain bike riding world, with the addition of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. In all cases, 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 will also help promote these chosen projects, telling the stories of the people and places behind these critical efforts. We’ll also aid in the identification and acquisition of additional funding from other sources such as private donations and government grant programs.
More information on selected trail organization and how future organizations can get involved with the Trail Born Fund will be shared after the initial launch of program.
So why does all this matter to you, the mountain bike rider? Simple. Building and maintaining great trails is expensive. Really expensive. Cost typically ranges from $10,000 to $45,000 per mile, which includes everything from permitting and impact studies to tools, materials, and labor.
But the return on investment is priceless. Supporting trail building and trail advocacy helps protect and expand trail access. And that means more places for you to ride—and more opportunities for new riders, like our kids, to discover this amazing sport—just like Shimano first did way back in 1983.
