ASPEN — Twenty-some years after mountain biking took the Roaring Fork Valley by storm, its disciples finally have a voice to look out for their interests.

A group of riders this week announced the formation of the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association. The organization will be an advocate to make sure riders retain access to trails as the valley changes and grows. It also will work with public land managers to make sure there is trail development to meet growing demands.

The traditional lack of unity has probably harmed the interests of mountain biking in the past and definitely could hurt them in the future, said Kirk Hinderberger, another of the founders.

“Creating one unified voice will be valuable,” he said.

Other founders include Charlie Eckert, Mike Pritchard and Len Zanni. There is no fee to join. They encourage any mountain bike rider from Aspen to Glenwood Springs to join by checking out their website, www.rfmba.org.

So far there are about 100 members. They hope to have 1,000 by the end of the year.

New trails will be sought At a meeting this week, the founders stressed they don’t want to promote industrial tourism or create an über-bike group that runs roughshod over other users of trails and public lands.

“We’re not interested in turning this into the mountain biking capital of the world,” Beyer said.

The association’s mission statement says it wants to “create and sustain the best possible mountain bike trail system and experience from Glenwood Springs to Aspen and connecting areas.”