Summer Passion Trail Bikes News! Issue #1

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This week's Topics:

1. Seven Summertime trail safety tips
2. Downieville breakfast earns over $300 for SBTS
3. More summer D'Ville trips: Reservations still available
4. Ales & Trails benefit for IMBA-California in Marin 6/28
5. Wednesday Wride: Big Bikes and Big Boys @ 6pm
6. Closed for July 4th: Going Riding




1. Seven Summertime trail safety tips
Welcome to the first newsletter for summer 2008! To help you have a great summer of sun-filled riding, here are a few tips related to the season to help you stay safe out on the trails.

1. Run good tires for the conditions. Summer conditions can include hardpack, dusty hardpack, loose rocks, gravel, and "chunder" which in this context means loose rocks and gravel mixed up with powdery dust, silt, and sand. You aren't likely to encounter much in the way of slimy, muddy conditions, except maybe when crossing a creek or if you travel up to the Sierras and ride through snow melt. You'll want tires with good solid knobs with firm edges to grip. If you've worn down your tires over the last year, you will skid more and have a harder time cornering and reducing speed. We've had several riders come in to replace their tires after a hard crash in the last two weeks.

2. Carry enough water on your ride, and something with electrolytes in it, such as CLIF shots, Powerbar endurance drink mix, Camelbak elixer tabs, Sportlegs or other. You ride longer, and sweat more, losing salts. If you only replace the water you can end up with cramps and brain fade in the heat. Have enough sense to rest in the shade if you start to overheat. Be extremely conservative taking friends out who don't exersize much. Summer is a great time to introduce people to mountain biking, but if their body is not adapted to heat they will overheat much quicker than you will. Go early, or late. Avoid midday rides with beginners.

3. Be prepared for a bad injury far from the trailhead. In the summer, you ride further, ride faster, take more chances, and generally put yourself "out there" at risk both for something to go wrong, and something to go wrong in a really unfortunate place. Imagine what you would do if you broke your arm way out in the middle of nowhere. How do you get out? How do you wait for help? How does help find you? Sterling carries a space blanket in his pack. A windbreaker is also good idea. It's 5pm and you're shocky. Do you have something to put on as the sun sets? Patty recommends a few tablets of prescription pain meds such as vicoden (your doctor can prescribe these if you ask), to help you deal with pain and self-extract to a trailhead. Other items to help you cope with a remote injury situation: First aid kit, matches, flashlight, duct tape, bandana, and leatherman.

4. If you ride alone, let somebody know where you are going, and when you will be back. Park in lots provided by the park instead of on city streets or roads near the trail. Parking lots are patrolled in the evening, and a car left in the dark is a clue to the ranger that something might be wrong. Leave a note if you do a spontaneous ride; you can put it face down on your seat. And carry your cellphone, with a good charge in the battery.

5. Carry a map, and a compass if you are directionally challenged. One of the nice things about a map is that you can use it in case of emergency to mark where the victim is, and carry it out to the trailhead. It eliminates confusion about where to send help, which is common when someone is in a panic. Most cell phones also have GPS data they can send if you call 911. So call from where the victim is if you can get a signal.

6. Stay on marked trails. MROSD recently sent out a notice to their volunteers to remind people that marijuana plantations are often found in remote areas, and they are usually guarded by armed growers. Stay out of trouble by not snooping around.

7. Wear leg and arm guards and a full face helmet if you are really taking chances. Shoulder and hip pads are also available. If you go to Northstar for lift-assisted gravity runs, this goes without saying. But armor is good for places like Skeggs, Demo, Anadell, Downieville, and Tahoe too. And it's a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER for stitches, or to your dentist for repairs to your grimmace.

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2. Downieville breakfast earns over $300 for SBTS
Despite a sprained ankle, Patty went up to Downieville for the MTBR summer kick-off. She put on a pancake breakfast for the crowd with the tip jar in the middle of the table and earned over $300 in donations for the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. For a great photo essay recapping the weekend, definitely visit the D'ville thread on MTBR.

We will be targeting some of the SBTS Trail Daze events this summer for another chance or three to get up there and put some work into the trails we love. If you are interested in volunteering for trailwork in Downieville or elsewhere, please send Patty an email at patty@passiontrailbikes.com.

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3. More summer D'Ville trips: Make your reservations now

We are starting to populate our summer calendar and we have two weekends reserved at the Riverside Inn in Downieville, along with a bunch of seats reserved on the Yuba Expeditions shuttle for two(2) three-day weekends in Downieville. The first weekend is Friday through Monday, July 19-21. The second one is right after Labor day, so plan your two-week long getaway and join us in September, from Friday 9/5 to Tuesday 9/8.

The weekends are going to be fun, casual, and supported with logistics and meals. Given that most of the dining establishments are iffy these days in terms of actually being open, Patty will be doing a bunch of cooking, and serving several meals on the deck overlooking the Downie River.

Because we have paid for the reservations at the Inn, we require deposit for the weekend to reserve your spot. Send Patty an email at patty@passiontrailbikes.com to let her know of your intentions. Make sure Patty knows how to reach you and which weekend you are interested in. We are putting together the total price for the various options, so if you need details we will have them by tomorrow.

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4. Ales & Trails benefit for IMBA-California in Marin 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. It's the easiest way to support mountain biking in Northern California! 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 and to get tickets. Please pre-register and get your tickets in advance, as the event size is limited. Don't miss out!

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5. Wednesday Wride: Big Bikes and Big Boys @ 6pm

Note: The new Weekly ride page will be updated weekly on Tuesdays for the next day's Weekly Wednesday Ride. For the long-winded version of the Wride Write-up, with all the important details, please refer to this page on our website. If your questions aren't answered there, you can also email us for info at info@passiontrailbikes.com.

Sunset is at 8:35pm this Wednesday 06/25/08.

Special this week: Big Bikes and Big Boys at 6pm. Scott is bringing his big bike and body armor. He will be leading a group of gravity junkies up to Carlmont to play on dirt jumps, leaving the shop at 6:00pm. To avoid sweating through all that impact resistance, he will be driving up to the Big Boys' playground, so if you want in on the fun, COME ON DOWN!

If you are more into singletrack than double jumps, come on down and enjoy the twisty narrow singletrack that makes Waterdog famous. All rides start pedaling from the shop: Passion Trail Bikes, 415 Old County Road, Belmont, CA 94002 650-620-9798

The BIG BIKE ride will drive up to Carlmont, departing at 6:00 PM.

The EARLY ride group will go out at at 6:15 PM.

The REGULAR ride group will go out at 6:30 PM.

The FBG or Fat Bottomed Girl ride will go out at 6:10 PM. This week Patty sez "don't be late, and we are doing skills drills in the neighborhood."

For those that can't sneak out of work on time, or are habitually late, we will be offering a STRAGGLERS ride group that goes out at 6:45 PM.

Please bring a blinky light for the back of your bike, and a white handlebar light for the front.

All groups will meet back here at Passion Trail Bikes shortly before dark (about 8:45pm) 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 Brewery offerings. 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!

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.

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6. Closed for July 4th: Going Riding

Just in case you won't be up in the Sierras, we thought we'd let you know we are taking Friday, July 4th off to ride and eat somewhere other than at Waterdog/the bike shop. Maybe we will ride at Skeggs, Demo, Wilder, Coe, Anadell, Tamarancho, or somewhere else. We're not sure. We will let you know next tuesday, and if you've got suggestions, let us know!.

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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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