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Archive for December, 1969
Gaining Ground: Urban Mountain Biking
© Beth Puliti
Last week, members of the Western Michigan Mountain Biking Association (WMMBA) moved dirt in an effort to eventually transform a former Little League park into an urban mountain biking spot in Grand Rapids.
A professional trail builder from the International Mountain Bike Association flew in to donate a week of his services to WMMBA. With his help, and the help of the local mountain bike community, the park will open this spring.
I think this is a great idea. What better way to keep a community thriving than to fulfill its need for urban recreation? I rode at one of the better known urban MTB success stories last year. While visiting friends in Pittsburgh, Pa., we made our way to Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park in Cleveland, Ohio–and rode for hours. Inside an old warehouse. In the middle of the city. In the dead of winter. It was surreal and spectacular.
Urban mountain bike parks are springing up in cities across the country–from New York City to Seattle. Is a mountain bike park being planned in your city? Or does one already exist? Let others know how to get involved or where to ride by commenting below.
Gaining Ground: Urban Mountain Biking originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 13:38:44.
Outerbike 2010 Dates Announced
© Beth Puliti
If you haven’t worked in the cycling industry or for a bike shop, you’ve likely never been able to try out all the new bike models coming out the following year. Well, that’s about to change.
Western Spirit mountain bike tours recently announced a consumer outdoor demo event called Outerbike that’s scheduled to take place from September 30 through October 3, 2010. Here’s the best part: The event is taking place in Moab, Utah! What could be better than riding your dream bike on world famous mountain bike trails?
For $150, you can ride mountain and road bikes from Cannondale, Fox, Ibis, Kona, Marin, Maverick, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Santa Cruz, Specialized, Trek, Turner and Yeti. The new suspension from Fox is also available to test out. Trailhead lunches, shuttles and discounted admission to parties and film screenings are included in the registration fee as well.
I’ve been to Interbike’s Outdoor Demo before (a similar trade-only event) and had a heck of a time riding West Coast singletrack on bikes I could only dream of owning. I have a feeling you’d love it too.
To sign up, visit www.outerbike.com or call 800-845-2453.
Outerbike 2010 Dates Announced originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 11:45:11.
What’s in Your Backyard?
© Beth Puliti
This time of year I tend to stick closer to home when I go out for a ride. Maybe the wintry weather triggers a hibernation-like response. Maybe it’s because there aren’t that many events or races going on to make me want to travel. Maybe I’m just lazy.
Whatever the reason, I’ve fallen in love all over again with the trails right around the corner from my house. The local state park is convenient enough to ride to on my mountain bike, hit the dirt for an hour or so, then ride the road back home. And recently I did just that–I pedaled to the park, spun and slid across the crunchy snow-covered singletrack and even found a new (well, new to me) trail.
Do you have a trail system or park you call your own? What gem are you lucky enough to have in your backyard?
What’s in Your Backyard? originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 16:03:13.
Save the Date - 2010 Race for Tara
As an editor for a magazine, I interview lots of people for stories. But when an assignment had me chasing down former professional mountain bike racer Tara Llanes, I could hardly suppress my shaking fingers when I dialed her digits.
I admire Llanes as a world-class competitor and even more for her never-give-up attitude after a serious mountain bike accident left her unable to do what she loves most: ride her mountain bike. Llanes’ fast-moving racing career came to a standstill when she crashed with such force she became paralyzed from the waist down.
Each year, an event called the Race for Tara is held to raise funds for Llanes’ mounting medical costs. Next year’s Race for Tara will be held on October 2-3, at the Northstar Resort at Tahoe, in Truckee, CA.
Beginner, intermediate and expert mountain bikers are all invited. Your $35 donation will benefit spinal cord research and help other athletes with spinal cord injury.
Save the Date - 2010 Race for Tara originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 15:28:39.
Licensed to Ride: Mountain Biker Requests Special Plate
©Brett Magnuson of Magnuson Design
Want a mountain bike-themed license plate? I know I do. And so does Boise, Idaho, resident and mountain biker Geoff Baker–only he’s doing something about it. Baker recently started a campaign to develop a license plate that would promote mountain biking in his home state.
Drivers in Idaho pay an extra yearly fee to display one of approximately 70 specialty license plates on their vehicle. Part of this money goes to supporting the organization or cause.
Baker sees an opportunity for mountain bikers to show their support for the sport–and help fund trails–by purchasing a specialty plate. Money raised through mountain bike-themed license plates will go to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to build and maintain trails for all users. Sounds like a great way to raise awareness and funds for a sport we love, but of course it’s no easy task.
The expected cost of getting the plate approved is between $3,000 and $10,000, according to the Idaho Department of Transportation. Barker has contributed $500 so far. Visit his blog or Facebook group for updated information and ways to donate.
Would you pay for a picture of a biker on your bumper?
Licensed to Ride: Mountain Biker Requests Special Plate originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 22:49:40.
A League of Our Own
© Justin Kline
Like most high schools, the one I attended didn’t offer a mountain bike racing team. In fact, I had already graduated from high school and college before I worked up the guts to compete.
Maybe my love for two wheels would have started sooner if the state I grew up in joined the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) like Colorado just did. The newly formed Colorado Mountain Bike Racing League will serve as the regional governing body, and high school mountain biking teams are expected across the state of Colorado by 2015.
Then again, maybe a high school mountain bike team wouldn’t have been my thing. I’m not so sure “national standards” and “best practices” are terms synonymous with my definition of mountain biking. They are, however, terms being used in the promotion of the latest league.
If your high school offered a mountain bike team, would you have joined? Or would “trying out for the team” turn you off to the sport?
A League of Our Own originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 18:53:27.
What Would You Do For a $5,500 Mountain Bike?
© Beth Puliti
Want a new mountain bike? Who doesn’t! How about a free one? Yes, please! Well, you (and I) are in luck. Titus Cycles, Inc. is giving one away. There’s just one catch–you need to ink yourself with a “Titus for Life” tattoo to win.
OK, I’m out. I don’t think branding my body for advertising’s sake is reason enough for my first tattoo. But there are others out there who may feel differently. So, if you’re still interested in the contest, here are some quick and dirty rules:
- Upload your tattoo design or select a design from the gallery in Titus’ Facebook page.
- Say where you will place the tattoo if you are selected as the winner.
- Fill out the “fulfillment capture form.”
The person who gets the most votes wins a Titus FTM Carbon valued at $5,500–and a free tattoo.
Click here for the official rules.
What Would You Do For a $5,500 Mountain Bike? originally appeared on About.com Mountain Biking on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 13:27:36.