Ciclotte Stationary Bike - The Carbon Fiber Penny Farthing Trainer

The Ciclotte, a stationary exercise bike by Luca Schieppati inspired by his Ciclo concept bike that’s currently in permanent residence at the Milan Design Museum, actually makes art out of spin class.

Most stationary bikes aren’t something you’d gladly display in the open, which is why infomercials have long tried to sell us folding versions that slid ever so easily (ha!) under the bed. The Ciclotte, however, is made of steel and carbon- and glass fiber and as far as exercise equipment goes, is gorgeous. The internals ain’t bad, either. It uses an epicycloid transmission system, which is fancy talk for a set of eccentric gears that spin a magnetized main wheel to create resistance.

Yours for just $10,700.

New Orange Rival Flavor From ZYM Kicks In Some Special Ingredients

ZYM will be unveiling their new flavor called Rival at Interbike.

With an Orange flavor, it has a couple of things to set it apart. First, it has no sugar and uses stevia to sweeten it. Second, it uses Rhodiola Rosea, an herb that purportedly boosts energy and reduces fatigue.

“Unlike other similar drink tabs, ZYM RIVAL is the first and only portable, naturally sweetened sports drink,” owner Brian Koff says. “Made from premium ingredients, RIVAL provides athletes with natural energy, fresh legs and enhanced performance. And its light, refreshing orange flavor quenches an athlete’s thirst with a clean finish and no sugary residue.”

RIVAL also contains essential electrolytes to maintain adequate hydration plus added vitamins.

Giro Shoes

Redefining happy feet

In the mid-1980s, when the United States Cycling Federation decided to mandate hard-shell helmet use for all bicycle racing in America, Jim Gentes came up with a better helmet solution, and founded Giro. It is safe to say that Giro helmets have been the benchmark for helmet innovation ever since. And now they’re tackling shoes.

I have to admit I was more than a little excited to receive the invite for Giro’s official shoe launch in Livigno, Italy (home of Hans Rey’s Flow Country trails). I’ve been a harsh critic of cycling shoes for as long as I can remember, but I knew that the team at Giro had been working on the project for more than two years. Having now ridden the fruit of their labor, it’s clear that the folks at Giro are as serious about doing to cycling shoes what they have done with helmets.

Giro’s entry into the mountain bike shoe market comes in the form of their flagship model called Code, which will retail for $280, the Gauge at $200 and a women’s specific model named Sica that also goes for $200. We were able to test the Code over the course of two days in and around Livigno’s Mottolino bike park. While a bike park, where gravity riding is the big draw, may not be the ideal setting to test an XC race/high-performance trail shoe, my initial impressions of Giro’s shoes are still more than a little bit positive.

Giro's new Code shoe. This top-end model is available in three colors: Magnesium/Black (shown), Black, White/Black.

The Giro Code's sole is made from Easton EC90 carbon for maximum power transfer.

To start with, the Code felt like an old friend right out of the box, thanks in part to the Teijin microfiber upper, luxuriously thick, EVA tongue padding and an arch-adjustable footbed. Giro calls this footbed the Supernatural Fit System and it comes complete with three arch “cookies” so that riders can dial in a comfortable amount of arch support. The top layer of the footbed is made of anti-microbial X-Static and helps alleviate funk.

The textured scuff guard on the midsole prevents slipping around on the pedals while trying to clip in and protect the carbon as well.

At the heart (so to speak) of the Code is an Easton EC90 carbon sole plate, which gives the shoe incredible power transfer. What I found most notable in my short hours wearing the Code was that this sole plate seemed to completely dissipate the shock from the park’s braking bumps, roots and small drops. Obviously, a carbon-soled shoe is supposed to do this, and perhaps what I felt was a combination of the footbed and sole plate working in tandem, but this is a feeling I can’t remember experiencing before.

Although I wasn’t scampering up any rocky hike-a-bikes, the Code’s lugs provided easy walking, and a scuff-guard between the heel and cleat helped engage the cleats even when trying to do that in the rough stuff.

We’ll go ahead and reserve our final judgment until we’ve put these babies through some months of hell, but I have a feeling the report with be more of the same.

Giro’s new mountain bike shoes will be available January of 2011 in sizes 39-48 (w/half sizes from 39.5-46.5) for the men’s models and in sizes 36-43 (w/half sizes from 37.5-42.5).

Giro's Gauge shoe.

Giro Sica women's shoe.

Oakley’s newest Short and Jersey

Review: Oakley’s Ballistic Short and Direct Dial Jersey

The Ballistic short and Direct Dial Jersey from Oakley

Oakley has long been known for their over the top engineering and boundary pushing designs in sunglasses. However, they take that same attitude into their mountain bike apparel with the Ballistic Short and Direct Dial jersey. With fabrics and construction specifically meant for aggressive mountain biking, Oakley once again proves why their products are in demand. Read more and see photos after the break. The Ballistic short is meant for the freerider in you. The shorts are made of 98% polyester along with 2% Rayon and have a brushed feel and appearance. With a baggy fit and multiple panel construction, the Ballistic allows for good freedom of movement. The knee length fit, just past the knees for me, didn’t impede my pedaling and offered a little extra protection on the trail. You can dial in the waist using two adjustable velcro tabs on each side, and a silicon gripper around the waist helps keep it in place. Also sewn into the waist is a small key pouch. Two large side pockets have velcro closures to keep the contents from flying out as you bomb down and there is also smaller zippered pocket on the left leg.

The Ballistic short has a nice textured feel and a silicon gripper in the waist.

The Ballistic comes with a removable chamois liner that can be cut from the short after purchase. The liner is made of a mesh material to keep you cool and has a silicon gripper along the waist and on each leg to keep it in place. The chamois itself is 10mm thick and features channeling for comfort.

The liner features silicon grippers on the legs and waist and a multi channeled chamois

For those fun rides featuring plenty of downhill, the Ballistic is a great choice. The fit and style will ensure you at least look the part when rolling up to the trail. Construction is solid with a well thought out paneled design and flat lock seams. The chamois is adequate for the type use this short will receive. It’s not the best for super long days in the saddle on the cross country bike, but that’s not what this short is about. I cut the liner chamois from my pair, mainly so I can wear the Ballistic around town as a regular short. Cost on the Ballistic short is $150, which is definitely the upper limit of shorts these days, but they are versatile and offer plenty of features as well as style.

Moving to the Direct Dial jersey, this again is a piece for the freeriders. The cut is very large and is meant to be worn with or without pads. Since my riding style does not warrant full on pads, the jersey felt a bit large. The 3/4 sleeves come pretty far down and the chest is enormous. It found it worked well for days when I used the lifts to ride more downhill than up.

The Direct Dial jersey is made to be worn with or without pads.

The Direct Dial is unique in that the body features 68% Cocona, an eco-friendly fabric made from coconut shells. It is amazing at wicking away moisture, keeping odor at bay and has a soft feel to it. The other 32% of the body, and the sleeves are made of polyester. The fabric also provides a small amount of sun protection with a UPF rating of 15-24. Another neat feature is the small micro cloth woven into the side for cleaning your sunglasses. The Direct Dial has a drop down tail to keep you fully covered and a high V neck that doesn’t feel constricting.

A small micro fiber cloth is woven into the side so you can clean your optics on the trail.

On the trail the Direct Dial was a bit large, but the 3/4 sleeves offered some protection from branches stretching across the trail. The Cocona fabric really does wonders keeping you dry and relatively odor free. Since I don’t really wear pads when riding, I could see myself sizing down to a small for this, which would give it a more specific fit for my riding style. That said, for those riders that do wear pads, the Direct Dial would be a versatile jersey to have on hand. At $75 retail the Direct Dial again isn’t the cheapest you’ll find, but this is Oakley after all.

Overall I was impressed with both pieces. While maybe not exactly fit for my style of riding, they performed well in the areas they were designed for. Extra features like the micro cloth, key pockets compliment the smart construction and good fabrics. If you are in the market for something a bit different with more style than most, give the Oakley line up a shot.

Oakley's Ballistic short and Direct Dial jersey are great for freeriding.

Garmin unveils new Edge 800

Building up some hype just before InterBike, Garmin unveiled the newest edition to their line of G.P.S. enabled cycling computers today, the Edge 800. Smaller than the 705, the 800 has new features like a 2.6″ touch screen color display and Garmin’s BaseCamp route planning software.

Here is Garmin’s quick run down of the Edge 800’s features:

• A simple touchscreen interface and intuitive menus.
• Smaller and sleeker than the Edge 705, yet features a larger 2.6” display
• It tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent.
• It syncs wirelessly with ANT+™ compatible power meters as well as Garmin heart rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors.
• The same streamlined design as Edge 500 but with color display and versatile mapping options
• Garmin’s free BaseCamp software (www.garmin.com/basecamp) lets users plan, preview and download routes as courses to follow.
• Download, analyze and share rides at Garmin Connect™ (http://garminconnect.com), the free-to-join online community
• Displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically, and alerts riders if they’re moving but the timer has not been started.
• Compatible with Garmin’s Custom Maps and optional mapping such as TOPO U.S. 24K, City Navigator or subscription-based BirdsEye Satellite Imagery.
• It lasts up to 15 hours on one charge of rechargeable internal battery.

Consumers will see the Edge 800 on shelves October 8th. MSPR will range from $449.99 for the basics to $649.99 for the Performance and Navigation bundle. Bikerumor.com will have a full review so stay tuned.

Hoy en Monagas

Hoy por la tarde me di una escapadita para ver como esta Monagas. Comienzo por decirles que por favor le digan a todos los que conocen que no corran hasta que seque. Las Tablas da pena, hay trabajo por montones gracias a los desconsiderados que pasan por las areas mojadas y crean los canales con las gomas. Pareceria que no saben lo que hacen, mas bien, no lo saben. No tienen idea de que toma mas tiempo el que seque porque al pasar se compacta la tierra y no percola (drena) normalmente. En adicion, ESO NO SE ARREGLA SOLO. Estoy seguro que los que lo hacen nunca han donado ni un segundo de su tiempo para trabajar en una ruta, porque si lo hubieran hecho saben el trabajo que es.

Picapiedras, Magic Kingdom, La Ceiba y La Caverna estan super resbalosos, solo apto para los que le gusta y saben correr en esas condiciones. Y por favor, bajense en las areas humedas. A Los Boy Scouts ni entre porque me imagino que esta super mojado.

Propongo que planifiquemos un domingo para trabajar en Las Tablas temprano y correr por la tarde. Dejenme saber que opinan.

Single Speed World Championships

Single Speed World Championships 2010 New Zealand

Afroman, Banannas in Pajamas, and Indian Chiefs are only a few of the characters that are sure to gather at this year’s Single Speed World Championships in Rotorua, New Zealand. Coming off of the 2009 SSWC that were held in Durango, CO, SSWC 2010 promises to be one for the ages with over 900 competitors from over 30 countries! To put that in perspective, the previous best was SSWC04 held in Berlin which saw riders from only 17 different countries.

Rotorua is nicknamed the “Spiritual home of mountain biking in New Zealand,” and looks to be a great fit for a mountain bike race on such a grand scale. The actual race will be held on the primo single track of the Whakarewarewa Forest. If you’re not quite sure what SSWC is all about, just image 900 or so mountain bikers, all on single speeds, and most of them in costume. It is a giant part, with a race somewhere in the middle. Oh, and the winner doesn’t get a trophy, they get a tattoo. Rad Ross Schnell and Heather Irminger were the lucky recipients of some fresh ink from last years single speed riot.

How do you get to host the SSWC? You can start by hosting your own single speed championship race, and if all goes well and no one gets arrested then you can show up at the SSWC and plead your case. While at SSWC09, Rotorua Single Speed Society members Vicki Butterworth, and John McCartney laid the groundwork to secure NZ’s place in hosting this years event, with two very successful races already hosted by the RSSS.

The race is to be held on October 23, 2010, now less than 60 days away.

Nic Leary and Mark 'Cabin' Leishman are 2 of the top New Zealanders

BunchRideFinder Website Finds You A Group Ride Anywhere In The World, Sortof

This website, BunchRideFinder.com.au, claims to help you find a group ride in your area. You can choose a road ride, mountainbike ride, or track session on the menu bar and then select which country you are interested in riding. There is also a world map selection that lets you see rides pinpointed allover the world. The only problem with this site is the lack of group rides to choose from. It’s a nicely designed site, pleasant on the eyes and pretty easy to navigate. If you’re interested in putting your group ride on this site, you can click on the ‘add a ride’ button at the top of the screen and submit your regular group ride. Who knows, it could become a sort of “exchange program” for cyclists to find a group ride while away from home.

“Furniture For Urban Locomotion” Two New Bikes From Biomega

The LDN Bike from Biomega, a true "Urban Tool"?

Press Release: Biomega once again combines groundbreaking design with strong urban references and technical features to accommodate modern city lifestyle. The result is two striking city bikes for effective commuting in style, bringing the feel of something unique while moving through the cityscape.

The LDN bike, designed by organic essentialist Ross Lovegrove, and the NYC, designed by Danish design group KiBiSi, both follow the Biomega philosophy of “furniture for urban locomotion”. Classic and honest in their style and function, they meet the specific needs of city dwellers.

A TRUE URBAN TOOL

The LDN amazes with its stunning design by London based Ross Lovegrove. Its frame is made from carbon fiber sheets formed and layered to make a stiff and lightweight one-piece monocoque structure. LDN’s form is derived from a wishbone, linking all the necessary components of the drive steering and drives systems in the most direct and economical way possible. The hole is there to lighten the bike’s mass and to provide a detail from which to hang the bicycle on the wall, thereby saving space in restricted urban interiors. All moving parts of the bicycle are state-of-the-art selections designed to make LDN a true urban tool.

The NYC, by KiBiSi

THE POTENTIAL OF A CLASSIC
The NYC takes its cue from the iconic Biomega bicycle CPH, reinvigorating Biomega’s status as a pioneer of chainless bikes - this time with a smooth, quiet carbon fiber belt drive. The NYC’s sleek and no-nonsense look integrates a front mudguard in the aluminum down tube complimenting its aggressive, yet reliable urban driving properties. The NYC is designed by the three creative forces of Danish design group, KiBiSi, with the ambition to create an honest means of transport with the potential of a classic. Biomega dedicates this ultimate bicycle to the ultimate city - NYC.

The LDN bicycle will be displayed at the SHOWHOW design exhibition in Tent London on September 23rd to 26th 2010, while both LDN and NYC will be presented at the Eurobike and Interbike shows in September 2010. Learn more about Biomega at www.biomega.com

About Biomega
Biomega is a premium urban bicycle brand, alone in its category. Biomega designs and develops bicycles and related accessories. It is committed to creating a paradigm shift in the way society imagines transportation by making ‘furniture for urban locomotion’, developing bicycles so beautiful that they compete directly with cars and imbue our cities with new meaning. Biomega brings social innovation, design thinking and urban lifestyle to the world of bicycles, that start in urban functionality and ends in high design. The brand features collaborations with PUMA and renowned designers such as Marc Newson and Ross Lovegrove. The company, which was founded in 1998, distributes its products in more than 20 countries, and has headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information, please visit www.biomega.com

About Ross Lovegrove
Ross Lovegrove is sometimes called “Captain Organic” for the way his designs build upon the principles of evolution and microbiology; simply put, Lovegrove finds inspiration in the clean, organic lines of nature, and builds on that inspiration in his high-tech designs. A pioneer in industrial design and a founder of Studio X, Lovegrove was presented the world technology award by TIME magazine and CNN in November 2005.

About KiBiSi
Founded by Kilo Design / Lars Holme Larsen, BIG / Bjarke Ingels and Skibsted Ideation / Jens Martin Skibsted, KiBiSi is a Copenhagen based idea-driven industrial design firm. KiBiSi works with culturally leading brands and fortune 1000 companies. Each partner contributes with intelligence and experience from within his specific field providing KiBiSi with cutting edge knowledge and knowhow within the fields of architecture, design, furniture, electronics, transportation, contemporary culture and lifestyle. KiBiSi is committed to making lasting designs that carry strong ideas. For more information, please visit www.kibisi.com.

Tech Article: How Rockshox Motion Control Works

I took a little tour of Rockshox’s Colorado Springs, CO, facility yesterday and had Sander Rigney, RS’s product manager, run through their Motion Control compression damping system for me. If you recall, we posted a tech article on how Fox Racing Shox’s Terralogic works recently, and it’s really cool to see how different companies use completely different mechanisms to accomplish a similar end result (and by similar, I’m not comparing performance, just the fact that all suspension brands want damping, etc.).

The parts above are what make up the Motion Control for their XC oriented forks. Motion Control DH is a little different and we didn’t take a look at that on this visit (update will come if we can get photos of that system, but I’ll explain how and why these versions are mainly for XC use versus DH).

For XC / Trail / All Mountain type riding, you have two options depending on how much you wanna spend on your fork: Motion Control and Blackbox Motion Control. Technically, you also have XX Motion Control, but it is essentially the same as Motion Control without the adjustable compression damping. Again, this is explained better in a sec.

Jump past the break to see how they work to control the compression…

Unlike many other suspension forks, Rockshox’s Motion Control mostly eschews shim stacks in favor of simple ports.

Shown directly above is Motion Control’s compression damping port fully open (left) and closed (right). They’re fuzzy because we used a very linty rag to wipe the oil off before we photographed them, they don’t look like that normally. So, when you turn the blue compression knob at the top of the right fork leg, you’re changing the size of the oil flow port. The more you close it, the more restricted the oil flow is and the slower your compression damping becomes. Simple, right?

With Blackbox Motion Control, you get Dual Flow compression damping. Shown on the right, this means you get a slightly differently shaped valve cover (the bronze piece) that lets oil flow through multiple ports. Why? Because there is a small shim stack behind the ports to control high speed compression damping (for when you drop off something or hit something really hard). The multiple ports let the oil flow through the shim stack evenly rather then coming at it all from one side. During slow speed compression the oil simply flows around the shim stack…it only comes into play on large hits.

The silver part is the shim stack.

So, the big difference between BBMC and MC is the secondary compression damping via the shim stack. That, and a titanium compression tube versus a thermoplastic one. These tubes are what control the lockout blowoff in conjunction with the Floodgate:

The other feature that’s built into the the Motion Control assembly is Floodgate, which is what sets the blowoff threshhold when the fork is locked out. And that’s where that technically named piece called “the poker” comes into play.

When you have the fork locked out, that essentially means the compression oil ports are closed, so no oil can flow and the fork can’t move. Well, in the real world, the fork should still move slightly to allow it to track well. The ti or plastic compression tubes will compress slightly even when the fork is locked, allowing several millimeters of travel. When you hit something really big while locked out, the tube will compress enough for the poker to, literally, poke the compression valve cover out, as shown above. This fully opens the oil flow for one hit, allowing the fork to soak up the hit, then a spring pushes it closed again (shown below).

Turning the Floodgate knob sets how much the tube will compress before it pokes the valve cover out. It only moves about 3mm total, which tells you how little the compression tube actually compresses to do its job.

With the XX Motion Control, you get the thermoplastic compression tube and the hydraulic remote that either fully opens or fully closes the ports. So, you don’t have any compression adjustment externally.

That said, the XLoc has a Floodgate control knob on it, and if you dial it all the way open, it provides something similar to a platform with good suspension motion, but it still won’t be quite as plush as when the lockout is turned off.

Esta es la persona que trabajo el trail de Toro Verde!!!

Bike Clinic Featuring Marla Streb And Hosted By Team LUNA Chix Raises Money For Breast Cancer

This past weekend the Tahoe area Team LUNA Chix hosted a women’s mountain biking clinic with former World Champion mountain biker Marla Streb. All proceeds from the cost of the clinic went to the Breast Cancer Fund, a charity supported by LUNA bar and all of the LUNA Chix teams. Click ‘more’ for more info and the press release.

Press Release: TRUCKEE, CA- The Tahoe LUNA Chix, a women’s mountain biking and cycling group, hosted a Women’s Only Downhill Mountain Biking Clinic with former national and world champion Marla Streb from 10 am to 5 pm on Aug 21 at Northstar- at- Tahoe.

This was a great opportunity for beginners and intermediate riders to take their skills to the next level in a supportive environment.

The clinic, which filled up at 12 women, included personal instruction, lunch, LUNA Sport clothing giveaway, park lift ticket and a goody bag. Cost of the clinic was $150 per person, with all proceeds donated directly to the Breast Cancer Fund. For more information on the LUNA Chix, go to www.teamlunachix.com.

For more about the Breast Cancer Fund mission, please visit www.breastcancerfund.org.

The riders were delighted with their gifts, especially the LUNA Sport tops. Inspired by the LUNA Chix Pros and local teams like the Tahoe group, LUNA Sport is devoted to creating superior go-to riding and athletic apparel just for women.
See www.lunasportgear.com

Update Corrida Familiar

Gracias a todos y todas que se dieron cita para la corrida. La pasameos super bien. Pronto el video de la corrida en el link de Vimeo. Hay una propuesta sobre la mesa de hacer esta corrida el primer domingo de cada mes, dejenos saber sus comentarios.

Corrida Familiar en Los Pinchos

Este domingo 22 de agosto, a las 8:30am todos los caminos conducen a Los Pinchos para una corrida familiar. Traigan a su pareja, a sus hijos, al gato, pero lo importante es que vayan con ganas de correr. No olviden llevar mucha agua que se pone caliente. Y como siempre, Georgie nos estara esperando con los Pinchos para reponer la energia.

El Night Ride fue Espectacular!

Como lo imaginabamos, una noche clara de nubes, un trail seco (aunque llovio el dia antes) y muchas ganas de correr. Ese fue el resultado para los que fueron a la corrida. Saludos a Mario que corrio de noche en el monte por primera vez, a ver si esto anima a que a Pucutu se le vaya el miedo.

Volvemos la semana que viene, pendiente al blog para el destino.

Night Ride en Los Pinchos!!!

Hoy entre 6:00 y 6:30 nos vamos a encontrar en Los Pinchos para un Night Ride. Pon a cargar tus luces y animate.

Levi Leipheimer, Rebecca Rusch Win Leadville Trail 100, Set New Course Records


With Lance Armstrong dropping out of contention earlier in the week, Levi Leipheimer left the competition in the dust to set a new course record at the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race. He finished in 6h 16m 37s, besting Armstrong’s time last year by 12 minutes. Photo above by TrekBen of Leipheimer rolling up to the finish line. Armstrong was quick to congratulate with, of course, a Tweet.

For the women, Rebecca Rusch followed suit by setting a new course record of 7h 47m.

IMBA's Mike Van Abel Participates in Shaping Obama's 'America’s Great Outdoors' Initiative

For Immediate Release 4-29-10
Mark Eller
IMBA Communications Director
markeller@imba.com
303-545-9011 ext. 115

IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel joined President Obama for the signing of the "America’s Great Outdoors" initiative at a conference in Washington, DC on April 16. Van Abel and about 200 other executives were invited to participate in discussions led by the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). According to a presidential memorandum, the program aims to bring citizens from all over the United States together to, "... develop new partnerships and innovative programs to protect and restore our outdoors legacy."

"President Obama gave an inspiring speech at the announcement ceremony," said Van Abel. "His enthusiasm was palpable, and I'm sure his team of advisors will agree that the work that IMBA and its affiliated clubs have done for more than two decades -- including building hundreds of sustainable trails on public lands for the benefit of all -- is a perfect match for the conservation and stewardship goals of this initiative."

The America’s Great Outdoors memorandum states that non-profit organizations like IMBA will play a vital role. It states: "We must look to the private sector and nonprofit organizations, as well as towns, cities, and States, and the people who live and work in them, to identify the places that mean the most to Americans, and leverage the support of the Federal Government to help these community-driven efforts to succeed. Through these partnerships, we will work to connect these outdoor spaces to each other, and to reconnect Americans to them."

Timing Fits Well With New IMBA Program

The timing for the White House announcement fits well with a major new IMBA program, the Public Lands Initiative (PLI). Announced last week, the PLI has inspired broad participation from the bike and outdoor industry and with IMBA's individual members. It brings substantial new resources to guide on-the-ground efforts, with the goal of enhancing mountain bike opportunities for everyone to enjoy.

"We will make the most of this confluence of ideas and energy," said Van Abel. "The IMBA network is devoted to the conservation and stewardship of our public lands, as well as reconnecting kids and their families with nature through a healthy, low-impact activity." Van Abel stated, "Leadership from the White House can only help as IMBA continues its efforts to assist federal agencies in improving their understanding of mountain biking. Land managers still struggle at times to formulate bike-friendly management practices, but there are many encouraging signs coming from Washington, including IMBA's recently renewed partnership agreement with the National Parks Service.

Mountain Biking Key to Achieving Youth Participation

Increased youth participation in outdoor stewardship and recreation is a key goal of the America’s Great Outdoors initiative. According to a recently released study by the Outdoor Industry Association, the Special Report on Youth, mountain biking holds great appeal to young people and helps get them involved in a range of healthy activities.

The study cites mountain biking on off-road surfaces as one of the top five activities that frequently attracts young people to play actively outdoors. It notes that while overall youth (ages 6 to 17) participation in outdoor activities has dropped by 16.7 percent in the last three years, mountain biking is a bright spot, with a 17.4-percent increase between 2007 and 2008.

The report also states that access to suitable cycling facilities is one of the key factors in encouraging youth to lead healthy lifestyles. "This is an important moment for IMBA and its clubs," said Van Abel. "Few organizations can match our success with delivering great trail experiences. I expect that the momentum that the White House has provided will push us to new heights."

Asociación Puertorriqueña de Ecociclismo de Montaña (APEMI)
Iguanas del Corredor Ecológico del Noreste
Sierra Club
Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña

PARA PUBLICAR INMEDIATAMENTE

14 de abril de 2010

Contactos:
∙ Rodney González, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Ecociclismo de Montaña (APEMI), 787-810-6319
∙ Kristy Dómenech Miller, Asociación Puertorriqueña de Ecociclismo de Montaña (APEMI), 787-205-2248, kristyjdm@gmail.com
∙ María Elena Vargas, Iguanas del Corredor Ecológico, 939-640-1735
∙ Orlando L. Negrón, Sierra Club, 787-568-4748
∙ José Colón, Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, 939-244-4869

CONTINÚAN NEGOCIACIONES PARA FRENAR TALA DE ÁRBOLES

Representantes de la Asociación Puertorriqueña de Ecociclismo de Montaña (APEMI), las Iguanas del Corredor Ecológico, la Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (SOPI) y el Sierra Club han unido esfuerzos para buscar alternativas que eviten la tala de árboles adicionales en el bosque La Sebastiana del parque nacional Julio Enrique Monagas.

Varios representantes de estas organizaciones, junto al Lic. Mario Oronoz, se reunieron con un arquitecto de los ecuestres, el Sr. Billy Collazo, en la tarde de ayer para presentarle una ruta alterna que evite la utilización de un camino todo terreno que se comenzó a construir indebidamente para los Juegos Ecuestres de los Centroamericanos 2010. La Sra. Melba Figueroa, una de las organizadoras de los Juegos Ecuestres, solicitó al Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) autorización para talar 22 árboles, pero durante los trabajos iniciales de construcción se derribaron a máquina unos 127 árboles, entre ellos unas ocho especies de árboles nativos e introducidos.

La propuesta presentada por las organizaciones ambientales y ciclísticas contempla que los ecuestres utilicen como ruta todo terreno uno de los caminos anchos ya existentes en el parque en vez de la ruta que comenzaron a construir en el bosque. El Sr. Billy Collazo, indicó que necesitan 800 metros adicionales para el evento a celebrarse en los Juegos Ecuestres y que el camino propuesto por dichas organizaciones tiene potencial.

Los representantes de APEMI recalcaron que, por diversas razones ecológicas y de seguridad, se han mantenido firmes en que no se debe utilizar el bosque de los "Boy Scouts" para montar a caballo y que no se debe talar ningún bosque adicional
para el evento ecuestre ni para ningún otro evento. "La alternativa que le estamos dando se trata de utilizar un camino ancho ya existente sin tener que talar más árboles. Este camino alterno se presta para ser compartido entre ciclistas, peatones y ecuestres pues el campo de visibilidad es mayor y no interseca ninguna vereda existente", declaró Kristy Dómenech de APEMI. "Será importante rotular esa vía en particular para educar a los distintos usuarios sobre las reglas a seguirse en las secciones compartidas", añadió.

El Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) paralizó las labores de construcción del nuevo camino "todo terreno" de los ecuestres y al presente se encuentra evaluando el caso para establecer una multa de $500 o más y la siembra de tres árboles de al menos seis pies de altura por cada árbol derribado.

Ocho razones para NO utilizar nueva ruta ecuestre
en el bosque de los "Boy Scouts"

1) Para no afectar el corazón del bosque – Monagas es una joya, pues le da a los ciudadanos en general la capacidad de adentrarse en un bosque en plena zona metro. Los usuarios principales del bosque no son ecuestres, sino trotadores, niños escuchas, ciclistas, espeleólogos, ornitólogos, senderistas, arbolistas y otros usuarios que vienen a vivir la experiencia de adentrarse en un bosque, y alejarse de la ciudad y de la intervención del ser humano. Estos visitantes sólo necesitan veredas angostas, que se transitan en fila india, y no caminos de 10 pies de ancho adornados con flores introducidas, como se pretende con el nuevo camino ecuestre.

2) Cuestiones de seguridad – El bosque denso de los "Boy Scouts" no se presta para que haya uso compartido entre ecuestres, caminantes y ciclistas. La vegetación circundante es tanta, que el campo de visibilidad es mínimo. Además, en los "Boy Scouts" ya existían caminos angostos para bicicletas y peatones que intersecan los caminos anchos que los ecuestres pretenden usar. No podemos tener caballos, bicicletas y grupos de caminantes chocando en estas intersecciones o encontrándose de repente en los caminos anchos porque la tupidez del bosque evita que se vean a tiempo.

3) Los caballos causan mayor deterioro, sedimentación y erosión a los caminos que otros usuarios – Según diversos estudios científicos que comparan el impacto a veredas y caminos por distintos usuarios, los caballos provocan al menos cuatro veces más impacto al suelo que los ciclistas y caminantes. En un estudio llevado a cabo por el Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, se encontró que el tránsito de caballos resultó en una sedimentación estadísticamente mucho más significativa que los otros usuarios comparados. Por ejemplo, 250 paseos a caballo causaron mayor impacto que 1000 paseos en llama.

4) La vegetación no se regenerará en el área impactada – Si el camino "todo terreno" para caballos se utiliza de manera permanente, no se podrá mitigar el daño causado en el
mismo. Debido al impacto físico que un caballo provoca en el suelo, no podrá crecer vegetación nueva en un camino utilizado por caballos de manera regular. Perderemos un total de al menos 800 metros de largo x 10 pies de ancho de bosque.

5) Problemas de drenaje en el sector escogido - El sector "Boy Scouts" está situado en una de las partes más bajas del parque Julio Enrique Monagas, por lo que todas las aguas (escorrentías) que bajan de las montañas llegan a él. Es común con lluvias fuertes o seguidas que los "Boy Scouts" se inunden. Aún si no se utilizan los caminos cuando están inundados, montar a caballo en partes que estén aunque sea un poco húmedas causará graves problemas de erosión.

6) El área impactada es hábitat de la boa puertorriqueña, especie en peligro de extinción – Previo a toda acción de deforestación en lugares donde habiten especies en peligro de extinción, se requiere evidenciar comunicación de consulta bajo el Endangered Species Act con el U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service y además se requiere tener por escrito el Protocolo para la especies en peligro de extinción, en caso de que la especie en peligro aparezca durante la deforestación. El protocolo del Servicio federal de Pesca y Vida Silvestre (USFWS, por sus siglas en inglés) exige que haya un biólogo presente en todo momento, mientras las actividades de deforestación ocurran. Dicho biólogo tiene que tener una autorización del USFWS para trabajar con la especie en peligro. Estas previsiones no se tomaron durante los trabajos de construcción, por lo que desconocemos el impacto que la construcción a máquina del camino haya tenido o pueda tener hacia la boa puertorriqueña.

7) La destrucción de un bosque para un evento deportivo sienta un mal precedente para nuestra isla – A los organizadores de los Juegos Olímpicos se les requiere que utilicen estándares "verdes" y sostenibles en las Olimpiadas. Los juegos Olímpicos de Sidney Australia 2000, Los de Beijing, China del 2008, los de Vancouver, Canadá 2010 fueron declarados Juegos Verdes. Los organizadores tomaron las debidas precauciones para minimizar el impacto sobre el medio ambiente. En China, por ejemplo, gran parte de Beijing y sus fábricas cerraron operaciones antes y durante las Olimpiadas para hacer que el aire fuera más "respirable" para los atletas y visitantes. Otras medidas verdes que se tomaron fueron la utilización de autobuses de hidrógeno, gas natural y eléctricos, energía solar, edificios amigables con el medio ambiente y la siembra de más árboles. El derribar cientos de árboles en un parque nacional puertorriqueño para construir una ruta "todo terreno" para caballos definitivamente NO es una práctica verde.

8) Con la ruta nueva para caballos se está desplazando a los usuarios principales del bosque – El bosque de los Boy Scouts ya contaba con una vereda angosta de apenas un pie a dos pies de ancho por donde transitaban ciclistas y peatones. La nueva ruta para la cual se derribaron los árboles a máquina destruyó gran parte de la ruta de ciclistas y peatones, principales usuarios del parque. El grupo ecuestre constituye una élite en la isla.
Un por ciento muy reducido de la población cuenta con los recursos económicos para
poseer caballos de competencia, mientras que el senderismo, trotar, el ciclismo, avistamiento de aves y otras actividades en contacto con la naturaleza tienen una participación mucho mayor de la población en general. La ruta zigzagueante para ciclistas y peatones ahora no se puede recorrer en su totalidad, pues muchas de las secciones han sido destruidas con la construcción del nuevo camino ancho de los ecuestres. ###

IMBA Renews Partnership with U.S. National Parks Service

Please read the Press Release below and think that we could have been part of this with Monagas as the recipient.


PRESS RELEASE: IMBA has renewed its partnership agreement with the National Park Service (NPS), as announced during the National Bike Summit (March 9-11) in Washington, DC. The previous IMBA/NPS agreement, in place from 2005 to 2010, yielded countless hours of volunteerism, enhanced opportunities for youth involvement and new shared-use trails that seamlessly blend with the character of our nation’s parks. The renewed IMBA/NPS partnership will be in place until 2015 and establishes a formal framework for building on existing projects and seeking new opportunities to enhance mountain biking in some of America’s treasured national parks.

“Bicycling helps draw new visitors, especially younger people, and gives them fun, memorable experiences in the national parks,” said Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service. “IMBA has shown through hard work and cooperative attitudes that they share our passion for protecting and enjoying our nation’s parks, and that they share our desire to cultivate that passion in a new generation.”

“The partnership we formally established with the NPS in 2005 has exceeded our expectations,” said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. “At first there was some uncertainty about mountain biking in national parks, but each success we have created through this partnership has improved the next. Today, IMBA staff meet regularly with NPS officials in Washington and at park units around the nation to consider opportunities for the next round of shared-use trails.”

Partnership Delivers Successful Youth Events

Childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate, and some reports indicate that, on average, children are plugged into electronic media for more than 40 hours per week. The IMBA/NPS partnership is helping counteract this disturbing trend by restoring children’s exposure to the natural environment. For the sixth edition of IMBA’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, a partnership between IMBA, Trips for Kids, and the National Park Service created 20 opportunities throughout the country for kids to experience nature on a bike and learn about their local parks.

IMBA and the NPS successfully teamed with Trips For Kids, a nonprofit organization that has been helping disadvantaged youth discover mountain biking since 1988. Five Trips for Kids chapters — Marin, Rio Grande, Southern Arizona, Metro D.C. and Twin Cities — each hosted a series of four rides during the fall of 2009 and into 2010. Trips For Kids riders learned about their local park with park rangers and completed several service projects. With administrative assistance from the Mississippi River Fund, the NPS granted $10,000 to support the series of events at five different locations.

California’s Trips for Kids Marin celebrated Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day with 19 participants from several Bay Area schools taking to the trails at Tennessee Valley Park. Interpretive Rangers educated participants about the park’s history and evolution, as well the native flora/fauna, the natural coastal environments and wetland habitats. During following events, participants helped with a habitat restoration project at Golden Gate National Recreation Area and went riding with a volunteer from the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The volunteer taught participants how to use designated trails to travel to the Tennessee Valley Park, where their first ride was held.

In the nation’s capital, the Metro D.C. chapter of Trips for Kids hosted an equally jubilant series of events. The IMBA Trail Care Crew helped kick off the festivities with a two-hour ride at Prince William Forest Park. Throughout the rest of October and early November, the Metro D.C. chapter organized three additional rides at the park, along with a trail ride and community service project where participants cleared the Laurel Loop trail of debris and leaves.

The remaining three Trips for Kids chapters, based out of Tucson, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, all held successful rides on Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, and are looking forward to completing their remaining rides in 2010.
Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Visits Dozens of Parks

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew has been on the road for more than a decade, with two teams of trail experts that travel year-round throughout North America and beyond, leading trailwork sessions, meeting with land managers and working with IMBA-affiliated clubs and members to improve mountain biking opportunities. The Crews have visited national parks dozens of times in recent years, creating an impressive track record of success. Park Service sites they have visited include:

* Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
* Big Bend National Park
* Cuyahoga Valley National Park
* Fort Dupont Park
* Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
* Saguaro National Park
* Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
* Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
* Homestead National Monument of America
* Mammoth Cave National Park
* Hawaii’i Volcanoes National Park
* Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
* Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
* Golden Gate National Recreation Area
* Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
* Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
* Glen Canyon National Recreation Are
* New River Gorge National River
* Point Reyes National Seashore
* Petroglyph National Monument

Scroll to the bottom of this release for more information about the successes that the Subaru/IMBA Crews have racked up during NPS visits.
IMBA Trail Solutions Assists With Major Trail Projects

As IMBA’s professional trailbuilding service, Trail Solutions excels at careful and diligent planning and collaboration to create trail systems that provide high-quality experiences for diverse visitors, minimize environmental impact and user conflict, and require less maintenance over time. IMBA’s staff is experienced with trail master planning, risk management planning, community collaboration, GPS/GIS mapping and more. Trail Solutions is currently working on several long-term projects with the NPS to ensure high-quality user experiences and the preservation of natural resource for generations to come.

Highlights from Trail Solutions projects at national parks include:

Fort Dupont Park (District of Columbia, 2005-07)

* Prepared trail assessment and recommendations for Fort Circle hiker-biker and other attached trails
* Prince William Forest Park (Virginia, 2007 and ‘09)
* Designed a 2,600-foot connector trail (2007)
* Led NPS staff on tour of other sustainable trails in DC metro-area, including Rosaryville
* Led NPS staff, SCA crew and volunteers on build of relocation (2009)

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado, 2009)

* Examined the East Shore Trail with land managers from RMNP and USFS, along with officials from Granby, Winter Park, Grand Lake and Headwaters Trail Alliance
* Provided close to 110 hours of donated professional trail layout services, funded by IMBA’s Trailbuilding Fund
* Assessed 11 miles of middle and northern segments of the East Shore Trail, including adjacent links
* Flagged 12 miles of trail options for NPS to choose from for reroutes of the East Shore Trail
* Reroutes will move existing trail away from osprey nests, moose habitat, will mitigate shoreline/stream crossing erosion and minimize damage to riparian areas

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia, 2009)

* Hosted Trailbuilding School and walking assessment for Virginia Tech Recreation Ecology class

New River Gorge National River (West Virginia, 2001, ‘09, ‘10)

* Hosted Trailbuilding School in conjunction with Trail Care Crew visit (2001)
* Hosted Trailbuilding School in conjunction with Trail Care Crew visit (2009)
* Currently developing trails plan for a 20-mile stacked loop system (2009-2010)
* Trail Care Crew visit planned for May 2010

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Georgia, 2008-10)

* Built 4-mile trail in cooperation with Long Cane Trails and the IMBA-affiliates Southern Off Road Bicycling Association
* Organizing an IMBA Trail Ambassador program

Big Bend National Park (Texas, 2006, ‘08, ‘09)

* Presented to park officials, including trail specialists, park archeologist, the superintendent and other interested staff
* Donated more than 100 hours for trail assessment
* Designed a potential trail system, including shared-use loops totaling 12 miles

Additional Information on Select Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Visits to NPS Sites

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio, 2006)

* Consulted with staff on a pending trail management plan
* 250 volunteers attended IMBA’s Trailbuilding School
* 2,150 volunteer hours of work
* 1,500 feet of new trail constructed
* 3 bridges built

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (Mississippi, 2006)

* 60 volunteers attended IMBA’s Trailbuilding School
* 272 volunteer hours contributed
* 1,100 feet of trail built
* 4,500 feet of trail designed

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (Pennsylvania, 2007)

* 50 volunteers attended IMBA’s Trailbuilding School
* Rerouted 250 feet of trail
* Built and designed 500 feet of trail
* Constructed multiple rock drainages

Big Bend National Park (Texas, 2008)

* Worked collaboratively with NPS Trail Crew
* 250 hours of trailwork contributed
* Provided layout and construction training to NPS staff

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (California, 2009)

* 40 volunteers attended IMBA’s Trailbuilding School
* 48 hours of trailwork donated
* 1,000 feet of trail assessed and maintained

Point Reyes National Seashore (California, 2009)

* 45 volunteers attended IMBA’s Trailbuilding School
* 120 hours of volunteer trailwork donated
* 5,280 feet of trail evaluated and maintained

‘Escandaloso’ corte de árboles en el Parque Monagas


Video: Vecinos denuncian tala de árboles


Por Gerardo E. Alvarado León / galvarado@elnuevodia.com

Aun cuando el permiso original contemplaba el corte de sólo 22 árboles, más de un centenar fueron derribados en el Parque Julio Enrique Monagas, en Bayamón, como parte de la preparación del área para la celebración de los deportes ecuestres de los Juegos Centroamericanos.

El escenario podría empeorar, toda vez que la parte peticionaria pidió una emienda al Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) para cortar todavía más árboles.

Así lo informó ayer el director de la región de San Juan del DRNA, Héctor Sánchez, quien describió lo ocurrido en el parque como “algo escandaloso”.

Explicó que el permiso original concedido por el DRNA concebía el corte y remoción de 22 árboles de las especies cafeillo y tulipán africano sólo en la pista donde se celebrarán los deportes ecuestres durante los Juegos. Como mitigación se sembrarían 44 árboles.

“El permiso no otorga autorización para tocar el bosque y la pista queda bien distante del bosque”, dijo Sánchez, quien identificó a la peticionaria del permiso como Melba Figueroa.

El Nuevo Día supo que Figueroa es la presidenta del comité organizador de los deportes ecuestres en los Juegos.

“Presentaron una enmienda para cortar árboles adicionales a los 22 del permiso original. Eso todavía se está evaluando”, sostuvo Sánchez.

En entrevista separada, el secretario del DRNA, Daniel Galán Kercadó, advirtió que si los árboles cortados excedieron la cantidad permitida, la parte peticionaria podría ser multada.

Por su parte, Carlos Grovas, presidente de la Federación Puertorriqueña de Deportes Ecuestres, alegó que los trabajos que se realizan en el Parque tienen los permisos, pero no pudo precisar cuántos árboles serían cortados.

“Desconozco cuántos se cortarán. De haber discrepancias se enmendarán. Ahora se está haciendo un plan de mitigación, como se hace en todo tipo de construcción”, manifestó.

Grovas detalló que las obras en el Parque consisten de una pista de “cross country” para deportes ecuestres.

El DRNA ordenó la paralización de los trabajos en el Parque hasta tanto concluya su pesquisa sobre lo ocurrido.

Manifestación pacífica

Lejos del proceso burocrático, usuarios del Parque llegaron hasta donde fueron cortados los árboles para manifestarse y protestar pacíficamente.

Kristy Domenech, de la Asociación Puertorriqueña de Ecociclismo de Montaña, denunció que entre los árboles cortados hay molinillo y palmas de corozo, que no estaban incluidos en el permiso original del DRNA.

Agregó que esta área es hábitat de la boa puertorriqueña, especie en peligro de extinción, y criticó que no hubo un biólogo forestal presente cuando se llevó a cabo el corte de árboles.

“Queremos preservar el bosque (La Sebastiana) como está. Este es un pulmón natural en el área metro y es para el disfrute de todos. Además de cortar los árboles, aquí removieron terreno”, dijo, por su parte, José Juncos, propietario de la tienda Ciclo Mundo.

Los manifestantes identificaron a la compañía Planet Contractors, Inc. como responsable del corte de árboles.

Empero, el ingeniero Ángel Rosario, presidente de la firma, aseguró que los trabajos que realiza en el Parque no están relacionados a estos hechos.

“Estoy haciendo una reconstrucción de las pistas de competencia y en los establos, y la construcción de un área de cuarentena para los caballos. Íbamos a cortar árboles, pero el proyecto sufrió unos cambios considerables y esos árboles no se tuvieron que cortar”, acotó Rosario.

Por su parte, el alcalde de Bayamón, Ramón Luis Rivera, manifestó que “ese trabajo no lo está haciendo el municipio. Hay una máquina del municipio colaborando con otros trabajos del DRNA. Aparentemente, la persona del DRNA se fue por un área que no era y se ordenó la salida de la máquina del municipio. La confusión sale porque la máquina que estaba trabajando allí limpiando fue la que utilizaron para limpiar el trillo. El operador de la máquina sólo siguió las instrucciones del Comité de los Centroamericanos”, sentenció el alcalde.

Denuncian corte de árboles en el Parque Monagas

Por Gerardo E. Alvarado León / galvarado@elnuevodia.com

Usuarios del Parque Julio Enrique Monagas, en Bayamón, denunciaron esta tarde el corte de más de 100 árboles en el lugar.

Los manifestantes, en su mayoría ciclistas de montaña, alegaron que el corte responde a la preparación del área para la celebración de los deportes ecuestres de los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe Mayagüez 2010.

Kristy Domenech, de la Asociación Puertorriqueña de Ecociclismo de Montaña, indicó que sólo podían ser cortados 22 árboles de las especies tulipán africano y cafetillo.

"Pero hemos visto palmas de corozo y molinillos en el piso", dijo Domenech.

La ciclista denunció, además, que el área donde se cortaron los árboles es hábitat de la boa puertorriqueña, especie en peligro de extinción, y que cuando se llevaron a cabo los trabajos no estuvo presente un biólogo forestal.

"Para remover los árboles hay que hacer un inventario y un plan de mitigación. Eso no pasó aquí", sostuvo, por su parte, el abogado Carlos Rosado, quien también visita el Parque como ciclista.

En entrevista separada, el secretario del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA), Daniel Galán Kercadó, indicó que su agencia está investigando si -en efecto- se cortaron más árboles que los contemplados en el permiso original.

De hallarse que fue cierto, advirtió, la parte peticionaria podría ser multada.

Sea Otter Classic - Full Event Lineup, Something for Everyone

Now in its 20th year, the Sea Otter Classic will distinguish itself from its humble beginnings in 1991 with an activities roster designed to keep in step with trends and engage everyone. In addition to a bursting schedule of competitive events and time-tested highlights like the SRAM Mountain Bike Ride Zone and shows featuring stunts and trials, new activities ranging from an all-girls mountain bike day camp, yoga with Ryan Leech, Ride With a Pro program, and a genuine Gran Fondo will answer to the vast range of participant interests.

This year’s event, which takes place April 15-18, marks Sea Otter’s tireless efforts to offer activities to the growing spectrum of participants. From bike demos, rides with pros, road and mountain bike tours and more, Sea Otter really is a massive event with something for everyone…even the little tykes. There’s a full roster of kid’s events, and festival entrance is free to kids 12 and under with the accompaniment of an adult.

The Sea Otter Classic expo has approximately 300 companies participating in the expo area. Make sure to cruise through the lakebed for a chance to get your hands on all the latest in aftermarket goodies as well as demo rides on the newest bikes.

Full descriptions of new and ongoing events and things to do after the break…

Debuting for Sea Otter’s 20th Anniversary Celebration

Little Bellas Day Camp
The Little Bellas, a popular, all-girls mountain biking program run by pro sisters, Lea and Sabra Davison, will bring their successful camp West, from its native Vermont, to the Sea Otter Classic. This all-girls camp will be an adventure in mountain biking designed to get girls hooked on the sport and engaged in Sea Otter. The camp will focus on improving skills and having fun. The camp is a great opportunity for girls looking to try out mountain biking, as well as for those who are ready for the next level of challenge. Camp members will also have a full-access pass to the Sea Otter event, with the ability to meet and learn from mountain biking’s biggest names.

Yoga at the Sea Otter Classic with Ryan Leech
Whether you’re racing, watching, working, exhibiting, or performing, the goal of this class is to charge you up so you’re feeling amazing for the day ahead—loose body, primed muscles, and a clean and clear mind. Nothing too serious, just yoga!

Ride With a Pro
So many demo bikes, so little time. This year at the Sea Otter Classic, not only are you encouraged to take one of the many great demo bicycles out for a spin you can now ride one with your favorite professional mountain or road bike rider. The available schedule details the ride program and the professional cyclist which will lead each ride.

All scheduled rides meet in front of the SRAM booth inside the Sea Otter Expo.

Specialized Gran Fondo, presented by Bicycling Magazine
Gran Fondo, or “Great Endurance” in Italian is a mass-participation riding event that is sweeping Italy and soon to become widely popular in America. In France they are known as “cyclosportives.” A Gran Fondo is a cycling event - not a race - and welcomes riders of all capabilities.

The 2010 Sea Otter Classic will offer three distances to challenge all skill levels. Each participant will receive full support throughout the ride as well as a bag of goodies upon the completion of the ride.

The Specialized Gran Fondo, presented by Bicycling Magazine will take place Saturday, April 17, 2010

Back By Popular Demand

SRAM Mountain Bike Ride Zone
Assembled by the good folks at College Cyclery, the SRAM Mountain Bike Ride Zone has all that you need to test a new bike; bumps, berms, jumps and more all for the price of a signed waiver. Open to all ages, the course is available 9 am through 5 pm each event day.

Bike Demos
Join nearly 50,000 bicycle enthusiasts and members of the media for the unparalleled opportunity to see and demo the latest bicycles and accessories on a number of different professionally designed courses, or ride around the Sea Otter Classic and check out the equipment on some of the best riding trails and roads in the country.

To demo a bike, all you need to bring with you: (1) a valid driver’s license, (2) a bicycle helmet, (3) your own pedals if you want to ride something other than platform pedals, and (4) your signature on the Sea Otter Classic liability waiver.

Mountain Bike Tour, presented by Mountain Bike Magazine
Enjoy trails of the BLM Fort Ord Public Lands! The 10-mile and 20-mile loops are both a combination of singletrack and fire road trails. Enjoy a fantastic post-race lunch and the Sea Otter Festival after your ride. There will be one rest stop that serves both distance - for those in need of a mid-ride energy boost. The rest stop will be stocked with CLIF bars, Clif Shots, Cytomax and bananas.

The Mountain Bike Tour, presented by Mountain Bike Magazine will take place Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 9:30 am.

Festival Shows

The Kenda Mike Steidley Professional Mountain Bike Stunt Show Presented By Haro Bicycles
Mike Steidley, multi-time US National Champion and one of the most prolific athletes in the USA, brings his Stunt Show to Sea Otter! Steidley has appeared in more than 23 different countries as well as on the Vans Warped Tour and VW Major Motion Picture Tour with his Mountain Bike Stunt Show. Steidley’s show features an extreme, action-packed presentation of what is possible on a mountain bike followed by an autograph session that often includes free posters, samples, and give-a-ways!

Ryan Leech Trials Demo Shows
Ryan has performed thousands of trials shows all over the world and will be sharing his skills with the public throughout the festival. While chatting to the audience on his wireless mic, he jumps and balances his bike on a custom-built course, demonstrating a variety of skills and techniques that he’s developed throughout his career. Leech has been a pro for more than a decade during which he has appeared in more than 25 feature video segments such as The Collective and Kranked series. www.ryanleech.com

We can hardly believe that anyone could be bored at the Sea Otter Classic and to prove it, the full schedule of events – both competitive and non-competitive – are available online at www.seaotterclassic.com

Futuristic Hubless Bicycle Design

Designer John Villarreal, from Wisconsin, has come up with this futuristic concept bicycle. Intended to offer a peak into the future, as advances in material technology and manufacturing techniques allow the creation of structures that would currently be impossible, this bike was created by paring away everything non-essential to its function. The hubless wheels appear to turn on bearings running around a modified rim, with unspecified futuristic materials allowing the designer to impart enough stiffness without excessive weight. I don’t think that the big wheel makers will be looking to this as the next big thing but, of course, anything is possible in the future! The integrated handlebar, brakes and lights add to the sleek, futuristic appearance which won’t be to everybody’s tastes. Maybe if Michael Knight is looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to KITT he could speak to John Villarreal.

Sea Otter Classic Greener Than Ever with Solar Powered Beer Trailers, Etc.

Sierra Nevada's Solar Powered Beer Cooler

PRESS RELEASE: Each of the past several years, the Sea Otter Classic has substantially subtracted from its carbon footprint by ratcheting up efforts to make the event more sustainable. Incentives to reduce waste, preferred parking for carpoolers and hybrid or other alternative fuel vehicles, and a recycling program in a league of its own are the bedrock of Sea Otter’s sustainable initiatives. Partnerships with companies that live by their sustainable words, like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Clif Bar & Co., Pedro’s, and Toyota, have strengthened and expanded Sea Otter’s “green” mission and new this year, if you like beer, then you’ll want to sample some brew at Sierra Nevada’s Solar Draft Trailer.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has developed a refrigerated beer trailer unlike any other 17′ trailer - this one is actually powered by solar energy. When it arrives at Sea Otter, it will have 15 photovoltaic panels that transfer solar energy to 14 batteries. Energy is converted from direct current (DC) into the more easy-to-use alternate current (AC) electricity, and then powers a compressor, which keeps the trailer at 36 degrees Fahrenheit and your beers cold.

“The idea is that, when we do an event that is three or four days long, like the Sea Otter Classic, we can pretty much set up in an open field and operate completely on solar power for the duration of the event,” said Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Eric Silverman.

2010 also marks Sierra Nevada’s third year as Sea Otter’s “Official Recycling Sponsor.” While recycling may be a small step, it is an important one. Since Day 1, Sierra Nevada’s expressed goal for the Sea Otter Classic has been to make recycling easy. The success of the program has earned Sea Otter “best in its class” praise for event recycling from Monterey County.

Sierra Nevada has pioneered many innovations to conserve resources and focus on sustainable business practices. The solar-powered beer trailer and recycling program are distinct ways of extending the company’s environmental commitment to the events that they sponsor.

Clif Bar Strengthens Measures to Inspire Healthy Living

Clif Bar & Co. set new trends in sport nutrition years ago by ambitiously replacing commercial ingredients with organic ingredients in every available instance of their expansive product range. Unwilling to rest on the satisfaction of improving a person’s nutritional wellbeing, Clif Bar took aggressive measures to improve the planet’s wellbeing too by launching programs like the Wrapper Brigade and the 2 Mile Challenge to inspire people to engage in a healthier, more conscientious lifestyle.

Clif Bar will still take all brands of energy bar wrappers (that’s right, ALL of them) at their booth, number 227, to later be converted into useful objects like tote bags and purses. In partnership with Terracycle, Clif Bar’s Wrapper Brigade wrapper-recycling program is now in its third year.

Since 2007, the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge has been challenging people to fight global warming by walking or riding bikes for trips that are two miles or less. Take the challenge www.2milechallenge.com where you can start from scratch by designing the perfect bike or join a team and connect with a nationwide network of peers who are doing their part to fight global warming.

In addition to options for the public to reduce their carbon footprint, each year every Clif employee “walks the talk” by riding bikes to and from the venue each day.

“Eight miles traveled by car puts roughly 8 lbs of CO2 in the atmosphere,” said Clif Bar’s Peter Berridge. “Between Luna (they ride too) and Clif Bar staff, we’re 10 - 13 people on any day at Sea Otter so you might say, we’re sparing 160 - 208 lbs (round trip) of carbon emissions each day. That adds up to 640 - 832 for the full event.”

16 lbs of carbon spared daily by each Clif/Luna crew member may not sound like much but every little measure taken in a given day and week adds up.

“Simply choosing to ride your bike instead of drive your car once or twice a week can make a big difference in your carbon footprint on the planet,” continued Berridge. “This sort of thinking is at the heart of Clif Bar’s 2 Mile Challenge and that’s partly why Clif Bar has always believed it is important to ‘walk the talk’ here at the Sea Otter. As outdoor enthusiasts, we’ve all got a duty to help protect the places where we play; the planet’s overall health is part of that equation. As bicyclists, every one of us is well-equipped to do the right thing.”

Clean Bikes With a Clear Conscience at the Pedro’s Bike Wash

Pedro’s, the bicycle care brand from Massachusetts with a strong environmental ethos, is back for a fifth year as a partner to the Sea Otter Classic’s sustainability initiatives. Pedro’s will offer all participants free bike care during the event at a special clean-and-lube station. The station will feature the company’s high performance and biodegradable care products including Green Fizz bike wash, Pro J degreaser and GO! chain lube.

“We’re committed to keeping all the bikes at Sea Otter rolling. We just don’t think you need to poison the planet to do it. That’s why our focus is on effective bike care done responsibly” commented Pedro’s CEO Christopher Zigmont.

Preferential treatment for hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles

2010 marks the fourth year in which anyone arriving at Sea Otter in a hybrid vehicle or other alternative fuel vehicle will be directed to premier reserved parking. Carpools of four or more people per vehicle will also gain access. The reserved parking area is hosted by Toyota.
Sea Otter’s evolution as a sustainable event has emerged as a model against which other events in the Monterey Bay area get measured. By partnering with companies that share Sea Otter’s compassion for the environment and healthy living, Sea Otter shows by example that sustainability is a process made greater by the sum of its parts.

Porque esto mismo no lo hemos promovido para Monagas? Hay que organizarse si queremos tener un "trail network" de clase mundial. esta a nuestro alcance, solo debemos enfocar nuestros esfuerzos y recursos en un objetivo en comun.

IMBA Coming to Tsali for Trail Maintenance Classes, Work

IMBA is coming to Tsali, NC, Mar. 19-21, and you’re invited to join in the special events. Chris and Leslie Kehmeier of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew are teaming up with SORBA and the Nantahala Outdoor Center for a weekend dedicated to improving local trails and having fun.

The weekend offers participants the opportunity to learn about maintaining trail in the classroom and on the Tsali Trail. Share your experiences in mountain bike advocacy and learn about exciting mountain bike projects in the Southeast. Then, ride and enjoy the spectacular trails of western North Carolina.

Registration fees include cover admission to IMBA Trail Care Crew events, lunch and dinner on Saturday, group rides, on-site transportation and the Saturday night social.

Check out the details below and come join in the fun…

Friday
5:00 – 7:00 PM Registration
8:00 PM SORBA Executive Board and IMBA – SORBA Staff meeting

Saturday
On Saturday morning there are two activity tracks for participants: Track One is for all attendees. Track Two is for SORBA Board members and IMBA Regional Leadership Advisory Committee members (RLAC) only.

Breakfast at River’s Edge, on your own.

Track One:
9:00 - 11:30 AM IMBA Trail Care Crew Presentation, Klienrath Hall
11:30 AM Lunch
12:30 AM Transportation to Tsali for TCC afternoon on trail class
1:00 PM on site IMBA TCC Trail Class
4:00 PM Transportation to NOC
4:30 PM Bike Ride at NOC

Track Two
8:30 AM SORBA Board of Directors meeting with IMBA RLAC, location TBA
11:30 AM Lunch
12:30 PM Transportation to Tsali
1:00 PM On-site with IMBA TCC
4:00 PM Transportation to NOC
4:30 PM Bike Ride at NOC

Everyone
6:30 – 7:30 PM Dinner
8:00 PM TCC Club Care Presentation and party

You can register online and get more info here.

Sunday
Breakfast on your own at the River’s Edge.
8:00 - 9:00 AM SORBA Board meeting
9:00 AM Group rides at Tsali or Jack Rabbit Mountain

Team Sky Bus Totally Pimp, XZibit Would be Proud

Team Sky sent us a link to their team bus photos, and it’s one sweet ride. Here’s the blurb:

Dave Brailsford, Sky Team Principal, employed designers who had formerly worked with F1 teams Honda and Benetton to ‘Pimp-My-Ride’ the traditional team bus concept. They completely gutted two brand-new Volvo 9700s and started from scratch. Their vision: to ensure everything in the bus makes the riders’ recovery time off the bike as relaxed as possible.

Nine leather seats, each with their own Sky+ (a UK TiVo-style service) box and space to stow the team-issue iPhone and Macbook Pro, can tilt and swivel a hundred different ways in the main cabin. They even feature (electronic!) retractable calf support. A full multimedia set-up, projector and screen are available for team talks, and there’s a mood-lighting system developed with the team psychiatrist to enhance the riders’ focus. At the back, meanwhile, there’s a meeting room that doubles as a massage area, as well as the all-important showers, with specially lowered floors so that even Bradley doesn’t have to stoop to wash the road dust from his hair.

Frankly, it all verges on the over-the-top – a cross between the A-Team van and a James Bond car stuffed with secret contraptions – but nine track golds at the Beijing Olympics are testament to the efficacy of Brailsford’s all-encompassing approach. Scarily, Team Sky even has a manager officially titled ‘Head of Marginal Gains’. And, what with the teams’ undercard seeming to gel so well at the Tour Down Under, it may not only be the bus that’ll be making an impression this season.

If they’d only known Apple’s probably dropping some hot new MB Pros this year with waayyy faster chips…oh, wait, they have a massive budget. That chair looks more comfortable than anything in my house, perhaps including my bed.

Altogether, it took 9000 man hours - approximately four months - of blood, sweat and toil to get the machines kitted out.

SRAM Takes X-Dome MTB Cassette Down to 9-Speeds, Will Road Groups Follow Suit?

Taking the X-Dome technology from its XX component line, SRAM has debuted the XG999 9-speed cassette.

Set to release in mid-March, the XG999 is very light at 175g for the 11-32… a full 100g from their PG-990 cassette and about 50g lighter than a comparable Shimano XTR cassette. Like the XX model, all but the largest and smallest cog are milled from a single piece of billet steel, forming a dome shape. The large cog is a replaceable press-fit aluminum gear, and the smallest keeps it real with steel.

Because it’s mostly steel, SRAM claims it’ll be more durable, too, making it the obvious choice for all us weight weenies that are still on 9-speed bikes (ie. most of us). Well, obvious if you can plunk down $300 and don’t need the extra range that a 34-tooth cog would provide.

Bikeradar quoted SRAM’s U.S. road products manager Mike Zellman as saying “our best technologies consistently find their way across our product platforms.” And that March release date comes just before Sea Otter, where SRAM is known to launch most of their new goodies for the year, so our hunch is we’ll see something like this on the road side before too long. Funny, just the other day we were just wondering how they were going to improve RED now that Force is so similar…