PTB Weds Ride and Sunday Trail Construction Party at Waterdog

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Today's Topics:
1. Trail construction party on Sunday 3/30: NEW Lake Loop Singletrack!
2. Wednesday Rides
3. Prepare your April Fools practical joke now

1. Trail construction party on Sunday 3/30: NEW Lake Loop Singletrack!

YES! The time has come to begin breaking ground on the realignment of the Lake Loop Trail in Waterdog Park. This trail has deteriorated over time to the point now that it is no longer passable in the area behind the lake due to sedimentation of the lake, cattail growth, and willow tree collapse and proliferation. We will begin the process of moving this trail up above the waterline and out of the sensitive riparian habitat on Sunday 3/30.

We will be working with the Belmont Lions club to create a 4' wide multi-use trail that will be suitable for hiking, running, mountain biking, stroller pushing, birdwatching, and other nature-loving activities. This trail will be almost a mile long, nearly flat, and will be the first "easy" singletrack trail in the park. It will be a very fun addition for families with kids and novice mountain bikers who are intimidated by the narrow and technical singletrack that characterizes most of the trail system in Waterdog. We hope to get the loop complete by October for Take-a-Kid Mountain Biking Day. If we get late spring rains and good volunteer turnout this may be an achievable goal!

Our project on Sunday will be to begin digging the trail "bench cut" in the area shown at the tip of the pen in the picture below. We will be working from 9am until about 2pm. Please sign up at http://www.trailworkers.com (click on the link for the March 30 project) so that we have enough tools to outfit our work party and to get detailed instructions on what to wear, what to bring, and where to meet in the morning.

Most of the trail corridor has been cleared of brush and poison oak, by a crew of sturdy volunteers earlier this spring. They had a great time out on the slopes above the lake. Now we are ready for YOU to join in on the fun!

We will also walk out along the trail corridor to take in the view of the dam and the lake. This is going to be one of the most beautiful trails in the park when we are finished!

2. Wednesday Rides

Wednesday Night rides Continue!
Sunset is at 7:23pm. Our Springtime wouldn't be complete without dodging raindrops and getting in rides amid the greening hills. All rides start from the shop: Passion Trail Bikes, 415 Old County Road, Belmont, CA 94002 650-620-9798

The EARLY ride group will go out at at 5:15 PM. This ride might consist of people who have been doing a lot of riding this winter and have some juice in their legs. Note this is not a "fast" ride, but our leader is feeling frisky. Regroups will occur, but maybe only at critical intersections. Expect to cover most of the trails in Waterdog, some maybe even twice.

The REGULAR ride group will go out at 5:30 PM. The ride leader will enforce a social pace through trickery or other devious methods. A good group for people who enjoy talking while climbing and perhaps enjoying a moment at the top to take in the views before getting grins on the descents. Expect several loops of the sweet singletrack that defines Waterdog Park. Frequent regroups and maybe even a sweep rider will help keep the pace manageable for all.

The FBG or Fat Bottomed Girl ride will go out at 5:35 PM. The FBG will have Reba the shop dog on the leash in the lead and will pedal off slowly with or without other riders. Our resident FBG enjoys taking out unfit, unsure, unskilled, or uncompetitive mountain bikers to experience a taste of Waterdog Park singletrack. The FBG ride takes just as long as the other rides but goes half as far, maybe only doing a single short loop. It might even do a loop on the flat paved Bay Trail. It usually involves looking at wildflowers, birds and other silly things like that as an excuse to stop and regroup as often as possible.

If you are habitually late or can't sneak out of work on time, you can try to form a STRAGGLERS ride group that goes out at 5:45 PM. We don't promise a group or a leader for the stragglers; you're kinda on your own for this.

Please bring a blinky light for the back of your bike, and maybe even a white light for the front. We will be returning on paved roads at dusk and you want to be seen by drivers and Belmont's fine Police officers who look out for our health and welfare.

Speaking of which, all Passion Trail Bike rides will obey all traffic laws, stopping at stop signs and red lights; and all park rules, yielding to other trial users and riding as courteously, safely and predictably as possible.

All groups will meet back here at Passion Trail Bikes for the usual story telling & beverage enjoyment. Patty will have stuff for the BBQ along with some carb laden side dish, chips and fatty snacks and EANABS to pair up with the Devil's Canyon Full Boar Scotch Ale. We will probably hang out until 9pm or later, so come on down, even if you can't make the ride!

Visit our website for directions to the shop, etc. www.PassionTrailBikes.com

3. Prepare your April Fools practical joke now

This is just a public service announcement that today is 3/26/08, and April Fools day is next Tuesday. That means if you want to tell us about that great hoax you played on your spouse or co-workers after next week's Wednesday ride, you'll need to plan, prepare and execute your best April Fools Joke. We want some good stories, so get on it! And remember, it's only fun until somebody loses an eye, as Mom said, so play safe.

Happy Trails, the PTB crew
Charles, Patty, Berry, John, Bret, Sterling, Daryl, Daniel, Peter, Reba and Buster

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