Passion Trail Bikes, 2 years in the making

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Wrides
BBQ at the shop
Sunset times
Halloween party
Urban rides
Lights
Good stuff for cheap
Trailwork
Feedback
$10 Coupon
24 months!

Wrides
We have just enough light left in the darkening month of October to do a few more short rides after work before the hammer drops on daylight saving time. This week the Wednesday wride will wroll at the awkward time of 5:30. Do try to make it; the weather has been wonderful! We have only one start time, but it's likely we will split the group according to pace and sensibilities. If you are late you can chase down the group, or do your own ride and still join us for the lounge party. Please remember your blinkie lights. Red tail lights are required nowadays, and a headlight of some sort is recommended so when we hit pavement in the twilight the Belmont PD is cool with us being on the road, mixed up in traffic on the way back.

BBQ at the shop
Speaking of lounge partiy... the libations and post-ride reyhdration gatherings are going to improve a couple notches now that we have a BBQ. We managed to set aside some of the extra beef that Patrick had marinating after the ROMP picnic, and we're gonna thaw it out and grill it up, so COME ON DOWN for some great eats while we enjoy a fabulous Ohlone summer evening.

Sunset times
Sunset this week is at 6:51, on 10/10 it's 6:41, on 10/17 it's setting at 6:31, and on 10/14, it's at 6:21. Halloween, on 10/31, the sun dips below the sweet Pacific at 6:13. The next Sunday you move the hands on your clock back an hour and on Wednesday November 7, the night will blanket us shortly after 5:06pm. Ouch.

Halloween party
Rumors abound around here, and one of the true ones lately is that we will have an amazing party just before the time change, costumes optional. We're planning a Singles Mingles and Spouses Spectacular Spookfest on 10/31. Bring a sense of humor, we will provide face paint and some great lighting so you can look your worst and meet somebody new and amazing. We have awesome customers and friends! Guaranteed you'll have something in common.

Urban rides
Jay says darkness won't stop him, and he wants to get some folks together for some evening urban assaults to work on technical skills and act like kids. Isn't that what having a bike is all about? Being 12 again? Riding down stairs? Jumping off curbs? Oh YEAH! Urban rides are likely to hit spots in Belmont, Stanford, San Francisco, and maybe even your neighborhood!

Lights
It's time to dust off your lights, put them on the charger and run them through a few cycles to check your battery's health. Put the clamp back on your handlebar, check your cords for wear and tear, turn on the lamp and time how long it takes for your light to go dark when you have it on the brightest setting. Run it nearly all the way down, then charge it fully. Repeat. Time again. If things are looking dim, or the run times aren't what they should be, check this email next week to see which NiteRiders will be going on sale. We can also send your battery back for some new cells if it needs it. Please make sure you use the clamp to test the lamp. Don't put a hot lamp on wooden furniture, a stack of magazines, a carpet, or any other flammable surface. Did I tell you about the time I nearly set my purse on fire?

Good stuff for cheap!
Speaking of sales, you can get some really good deals here on some merchandise that's up on the sale rack. Prices are 25% or more off the original retail price on some great products. You can save $32 on a sm. Specialized full face Deviant helmet, $25 on a sm. or med. Bell X-Ray helmet, $15 off on Specialized Fortress gloves (full finger with knuckle protection and great for fall riding), which we have in all sizes, and more. We have an assortment of shorts, jerseys, windbreakers and other clothes on the sale rack too, so come check it out.

Trailwork
Besides several days devoted to maintaining the existing trail system, we have a really great project in the works for Waterdog this winter. Surely you've looked at the map and noticed the trail that goes "around" the lake? But you've never ridden it, why is that? Well, it's because it floods in the winter, and has become so hopelessly overgrown by willows, you can't even find it in the summer. This winter we are proud to be sponsoring a series of projects to realign the Lake Loop Trail. The goal is to move the trail up above the waterline and to establish a year round, "easy" trail that is appropriate for beginner riders and families who want to walk around the lake. This will also move people out of the sensitive riparian zone. Waterdog has so many great technical trails, but no inviting route for novices other than the fireroad. This trail should end up being about a mile long and relatively level, with some nice views of the lake. We are planning on a 4-foot wide tread so that navigating around the contours should be a fairly simple and inviting ride for less experienced riders. Next week we should have the fall dates nailed down, so stay tuned for details on how to get involved.

Feedback
We've been sending out these emails on an almost-weekly basis for over a year now, and it would be great to hear some feedback from you. Do you read them? Does your email program dump them in your junk mailbox? Is the content useful, informative, timely, and entertaining? Does the format work for you? What could we do to make our communications with you better? Anything else you want to tell us about your experiences at the shop? Let us know how we are doing, and we will send you a $10 coupon, good for any in-stock item in the store.

24 months!
Did you know that today we paid rent for the 24th time? We've had this space for two years now. For a bit of Passion history, check out some of the older postings on our website; it's pretty amazing to us, and maybe to you too.

Thanks for being a great Passion Trail Bikes customer!

Patty, Charles, Bret, Sterling, John, Berry, Peter, Reba, and Buster