Passion Spring News #8

(Mailing List Information, including unsubscription instructions are located at the end of this message)

Today's Topics:

1. Coolest team silver
2. Test Bikes, rentals, and visiting friends
3. Wednesday rides get hydration upgrade
4. Last Soquel Forest trailwork day this season, Corral Trail Saturday 5/10
5. Woodward Skills Progression Park in Fresno opens 5/10
6. Access4Bikes Mtn Bike Film Festival, San Rafael 5/18



1. Coolest team silver

Every now and then our hardworking head mechanic John takes a weekend off. Last weekend he and customers Ryan, Kevin, and Josh headed out to Cool, California for the Coolest 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race Against Cancer. They came back with bikes coated in a fine red dust that looks like this, and silver medals. They completed 20 laps of the course!

back to table of contents


2. Test Bikes, Rentals, Visiting Friends

One of our many Test Bikes available for you to ride

Speaking of dust coated bikes.... John was racing one of our Test Bikes at Cool - an S-Works Stumpjumper in Carbon. We have the best Test Bikes anywhere in the Bay Area, and when they are not being used by customers to actually test ride prior to purchasing a new bike, we make them available for rent. $75 for one day, $50 per day for two or more days. All Test Bikes are fitted to the rider, including suspension set-up. This week we have some customers who have friends in town visiting on vacation, and they will be renting two of our Test Bikes for an afternoon up at Skeggs. Keep us in mind when you want to have a whole lot of high-quality fun riding a high-end bike, but don't blame us if you want to buy one!

Bikes available for Test Rides and Rentals:

Specialized Pitch, Enduro, S-works Stumpjumper, Safire
Giant Trance, Trance X, Reign, Reign X, STP
Maverick ML-8
Santa Cruz Blur LT

Email Daniel at daniel@passiontrailbikes.com if you would like to set up a Test Ride on one of these fine bikes.


back to table of contents


3. Wednesday rides get hydration upgrade

Hey, we got a third tap going in the customer Lounge! You will find the small kegerator next to the food counter has been replumbed with all new hoses and now pours Devil's Canyon Brewery's "Deadicated Amber Ale." We discovered this tasty brew at Beer Friday and found it to be quite drinkable and a great addition to the rehydration offerings post-ride. We'd love to get your feedback on this new flavor, so come on down and have a taste.

Beers on Tap in the Customer Lounge at Passion Trail Bikes

Sunset is at 8:01pm this Wednesday 5/7/08. 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 6:15 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 6:30 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. Extra large groups will split up to reduce the repetition of saying "Howdy, howdy, howdy" when we pass other trail users.

Big Bike Ride this week. Jay has a new big bike, so he wants you to bring your 40# big bike and go big, donchaknow. Big Bike Ride will go off with the regular ride.

The FBG or Fat Bottomed Girl ride will go out at 6:10 PM. Usually Patty, our resident Fat Bottomed Girl, leads the ride. Sometimes the ride leader is Charles, the Flabby Bellyed Guy. No matter who takes responsibility for this most relaxed outing, you can be assured that we enjoy taking out unfit, unsure, unskilled, or uncompetitive mountain bikers to experience a taste of trail riding. Our mantra is Equal Fun for Everyone! The FBG ride goes about half as far as the regular ride, maybe only doing a single short loop. More than just a pleasant pedal in the woods, the FGB ride usually involves coaching, tips, tricks, and laughter. It may also feature a chance to practice skills playing around the area next to the dirt jumps. The FBG ride will get back either a little early or at the same time as the other rides, so we all get to socialize together once we are off the bikes.

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 6:45 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 shortly before dark (about 8:25pm) for the usual story telling & beverage enjoyment. We 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 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

Reminder: Even if you don't join the ride, the shop is basically open until really late. Like, 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.

back to table of contents


4. Last Soquel Forest trailwork day this season, Corral Trail Saturday 5/10

Soquel Forest is looking pretty sweet right now, so this is your last chance this year to put in a little sweat equity on the trails. This Saturday we will be working on Corral Trail, fixing up the last of the needed drainage and brushing maintenance, plus putting some effort into improving the technical trail features that dot the side of this fun strip of dirt through the woods. For info on the details, contact Scott Robinson of the Stewards of Soquel Forest at ownthetrail@gmail.com . To sign up and volunteer, visit this page and click on the May 10th project date: http://trailworkers.com/soquel_forest_.cfm

Travis "Sugar Shorts" testing one of the log drops in Soquel Forest

back to table of contents


5. Woodward Skills Progression Park in Fresno opens 5/10

If you think Fresno is just another Central Valley farming community, you may be surprised to learn that it's now on your list of places to go for a fun day trip. This weekend is the grand opening of the Woodward Mountain Bike Skills Progression Park in Fresno. This park was designed by former IMBA Trail Care Crew members Nat and Rachael Lopes of Berkeley, and we are most impressed.

Woodward features a series of more than 40 tabletop jumps in a row, and the longest continuous elevated north-shore style trail (over 1/4 mile long) anywhere. All the different features of the park are designed so that you can find something appropriate for your current level of riding skill, practice, and progress to the next level. It's a great place for families, friends and buddies to go and have a great time. $5 for parking, and only two and a half hours away.

Check it out! http://www.woodwardmtbpark.com

back to table of contents


6. Access4Bikes Mtn Bike Film Festival, San Rafael 5/18

2nd Annual Mountain Bike Film Festival and Party
A fundraiser for Access4Bikes

WHO: Access4Bikes (A4B) and the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin (BTC Marin)

WHAT: Mountain Bike Film Festival and Party featuring Marin Premiers of THE WAY BOBBY SEES IT and SEASONS!

Join Access4Bikes and the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin at the San Rafael Community Center on Sunday, May 18, for an exciting night of food, beer/wine/beverages, live music by Red Paint and entertainment provided by independent filmmakers and bike enthusiasts. The evening will feature the Marin premieres of THE WAY BOBBY SEES IT and SEASONS.

THE WAY BOBBY SEES IT is a gripping documentary about Bobby McMullen, a blind mountain bike racer on a mission to race the Downieville Downhill, the most difficult downhill mountain bike course in the country. SEASONS is the highly anticipated third film from The Collective, a consortium of the best mountain bike filmmakers in the world. Several short films will also be screened including Trial and Error, Stronger Than Dirt and others.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Access4Bikes, a Marin County IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) affiliate organization that is working to establish equitable access for bikes on the public trails of Marin. Access4Bikes and IMBA are working with California State Parks and the Marin County Open Space District to expand Marin’s trail network for mountain bikers.

The event is made possible with the support of Caesar’s Cyclery, Marin Bikes, WTB (Wilderness Trail Bikes) and a host of Marin County bike shops and businesses..

WHEN: Sunday, May 18, 2008

DOORS OPEN: 5 pm (happy hour and dinner)

SHOWTIME: 6:30 pm – 9 pm

LOCATION: San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael, CA 94960

COST: $25 – Includes dinner, local beer/ wine/beverages, music and movies

PHONE: 415- 272-2756

EMAIL: access4bikes@gmail.com

WEB SITE: www.access4bikes.com

back to table of contents


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

Distribution list for the customers of Passion Trail Bikes in Belmont, California

Subscribe to Passion Customer List: