Passion Spring News #6

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Today's Topics:

1. Lost and Found at the shop
2. Night Owl shop hours until 9:30pm with Wednesday Rides 4/23
3. Road Trips Planning Party This Thursday 4/24
4. ROMP Swap Meet Sunday 4/27
5. MTBR-Sponsored Trailwork Party at Soquel Forest Sunday 4/27
6. Save the Date: Ales & Trails Saturday 6/28



1. Lost and Found at the shop

People sometimes leave things at the shop. Usually its a fleece jacket or windbreaker, and usually we can figure out who it belongs to. Right now we have two items in the lost and found bin, we'd like to reconnect with their rightful owners. A brown leather or pigskin coat, and a gray and green helmet. Call Patty if you think you're the owner. 650-620-9798

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2. Night Owl shop hours until 9:30pm with Wednesday Rides 4/23

Below this you will find the usual Wednesday Ride details, but FIRST we wanted to let you know TWO THINGS.
1. Even if you don't join the ride, the shop is basically open until really late. Like, 9:30 or 10:00pm! So if you want to shop, or drop off or pick up a repair, we will be here LATE on Wednesday nights, although there's a strong possibility there will be a frothy cold pint o' beverage on the counter. Yes, you can have one too. Please bear with us if you have to go into the lounge to find the help. Yes, you can have some chips too.
2. Next week we bump later, and will start all rides 30 minutes later than this week, except the FBG ride which will go out first at 6:00pm.

The Early Ride at the intersection of Elevator and Chaparral Trails in Waterdog Park

Sunset is at 7:48pm this Wednesday 4/23/08. The trails are in SWEET condition right now, so come on down and enjoy the twisty narrow singletrack that makes Waterdog famous. 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 5:45 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 6:00 PM. The ride leader will enforce a social pace through trickery or other devious methods. The regular ride is 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 6:05 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 trail riding. The FBG ride goes half as far as the regular ride, maybe only doing a single short loop. It might even do a loop on the flat paved Bay Trail, or go up and practice skills playing around the area next to the dirt jumps. 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 6:15 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 shortly before dark (about 8:15pm) 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 hang out until about 9:30 or 10pm, so come on down, even if you can't make the ride! Passion Parties are better with YOU in the mix!

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

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3. Road Trips Planning Party This Thursday 7:30pm 4/24

Last year we had a great time with a small group that gathered to plan some summer road trips. This year we'd like to welcome anyone who would like to coordinate with like-minded folks to hook up for some road trips to distant riding destinations. We can also plan some multi-sport trips including hiking, rafting, kids and campsites, or fly fishing for example.

Group road trips are a great way for people to meet and develop lasting friendships and memories you will treasure for a lifetime. We encourage you to come down to the shop at 7:30pm this Thursday, with ideas and your personal calendar in hand. Also, bring pictures or movies on CD or DVD (we will have the projector and laptop going so we can do slide shows), maps and guidebooks, magazine articles, or whatever resources you can find. We will provide pizza, salad, drinks and the usual hospitality you'll find in the customer lounge.

Our role will not be to plan or manage your road trips, but to help you obtain the info, connections, and resources needed to have a great time. We will have info on road trips we know are being planned now, as well as a few handouts and checklists you can use to help your planning process.

Desination ideas include but aren't limited to: Moab, Utah; Whistler, British Columbia; Oakridge, Oregon; Lake Tahoe, California; Mendocino, California; Kernville, California; Downieville, California; Durango, Colorado; Crested Butte, Colorado; and MORE.

South Yuba Trail IMBA Epic Road Trip, May, 2002

Please RSVP for this event by emailing Patty at patty@passiontrailbikes.com. RSVPs are required by 2pm 4/24 so we have the right amount of pizza, silly!

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4. ROMP Swap Meet Sunday 4/27

Each year ROMP hosts a swap meet. The swap meet is a fund-raiser for ROMP and a place where cyclists can purchase road and mountain bike parts, tools, frames, complete bikes, clothing and accessories. Per-person admission charge is minimal (about $2). The meet is held behind the Cupertino Bike Shop, 10493 S. De Anza Blvd. (two blocks south of Stevens Creek Blvd.). Call 408-255-2217 for prices on swap spaces. Volunteers are needed from 7.00am to 4.00pm. Contact Linda at swap@romp.org if you are able to volunteer for this event. Volunteers get in free and get lots of love too. If you volunteer, you'll get to hang out with Charles, who has been helping out every year since about 1996. So jump on the volunteer bandwagon and make it a swap meet party!

Donations of items for ROMP to sell at the Swap Meet are also welcome. Now's a good time to clear out your garage and help ROMP. Contact Linda at swap@romp.org if you just want to clear out your garage the easy way and have any donations to give to ROMP for sale at the Swap Meet.

You can have your own swap meet table by contacting Cupertino Bikes 408 255-2217 or www.cupertinobikes.com. ROMP makes their money on the # of swap meet tables sold, so you help them while making some dough yourself. What a deal!

Charles checkin' out the wares at the ROMP swap meet

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5. MTBR-Sponsored Trailwork Party at Soquel Forest Sunday 4/27

This weekend the crew at MTBR has stepped up to sponsor trailwork at Soquel Forest. This will be an all-day affair for at least two dozen hardworking volunteers, meeting at the CDF station on Soquel San Jose Road at 8:30am, carpooling in 4WD vehicles to enter via the administrative gate, doing a bunch of needed trail maintenance on Ridge and Braille, and then stopping for a picnic around 2:30pm. We will then hang out for good eats and rehydration for a couple hours before heading back out the way we came.

Passion Trail Bikes will be heading down with tools, gloves and a keg. MTBR is bringing pint glasses for all volunteers. The BBQ and volunteer appreciation party will be held down at Badger Springs, the gorgeous picnic area at the very bottom of Hihn's Mill Road.

Check out MRBR's NorCal Forum for lots of fun community commentary.

If you can come join the trailwork, PLEASE sign up at trailworkers.com.

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6. Save the Date: Ales & Trails Marin Saturday 6/28

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The fifth annual Ales & Trails is a fundraiser for the International Mountain Bicycling Association's California efforts and initiatives. Enjoy guided rides and clinics for all levels of riders. A skills progression course, bike demos and tune-ups, silent auction, fantastic BBQ and endless Beer, live music, pro rider skills demo, hefty swag bags for all attendees, and much, much more. Don't miss it! Passion Trail Bikes will be there sponsoring the registration booth, throwing down some swag for the silent auction, and enjoying the great vibe.
Visit http://www.AlesandTrails.net for more information.

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

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