While Shawn Murray of Downers Grove loves mountain bike racing, there may be one thing he likes better.

Helping to build a great mountain bike trail.

Mountain bike racing in the Chicago area is unusual in that many of those who race also volunteer in some capacity. Murray is a member of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers – a.k.a. CAMBr — and he has donated many hours to help build three miles of new trails in Willow Springs – the site of the 2015 Palos Meltdown, which took place over the weekend.

Murray paused when asked if a good race beats building a good trail.

“I don’t know … if I get out there and the trails are nice and fast, that puts a smile on my face, whether I come in third or first of 10th or whatever,” he said.

Murray, who turned 24 on Sunday, graduated from Downers Grove South and soon pursued his passion for racing. He started working at Performance Bicycle in Lombard where he is known as the “Spin Doctor Mechanic.”

“I have a huge passion for this,” he said. “I started out doing trail work and got my hands dirty. We have a lot of pride in building and maintaining trails. It’s great to open up a trail for others and have them enjoy the hard work you put in. A lot of times, a group does its work, eats lunch and rides that trail.”

Murray joined forces with Joe LoPresti of Lisle and Plainfield’s Nick Judge in another big project – re-vamping the Plainfield Bike Club, which opened in 2008.

CAMBr Executive Director Jerry Stoekigt told CAMBr members earlier this year that the Plainfield park would be shut down if someone didn’t step up and maintain it.

In March, the trio went to work.

“I told them that if they didn’t have a core group there, it would have to close,” Stoekigt said. “It was starting to sag. It needed a kick in the pants. A bunch of great guys stepped up and went gangbusters and the place is in better shape than it’s ever been in.”

Murray, who said he was at the Plainfield facility for its grand opening, explained what the group is doing.

“It was a neat place,” he said. “We took the keys from them and revamped all of it. We cleared the weeds. We improved the jumps. We are putting in a berm. We made the place presentable and rideable again. We’re really stoked to have it fun again. People see the progress we’re making and want to be a part of it.”

Vorva is a freelance reporter.

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