Summer Passion Trail Bikes News! Issue #2

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This week's Topics:

1. IMBA-California needs your help fighting Wilderness expansion in Henry Coe
2. Dirty Dog guys are creative -- new Reaper Skull DH stem
3. July Downieville trip: a few spots available, and details
4. Skeggs early ride July 4th: fog-tacky singletrack
5. Tour de Fat benefits Bay Area Ridge Trail
6. Wednesday Wride: themeless
7. Female Friday Fandango July 11th
8. Reminder: Closed Friday July 4th




1. IMBA-California needs your help fighting Wilderness Bill that could close trails in Henry Coe State Park
We put this first because it is really important. We need your help contacting your State representatives in Sacramento to explain that additional Wilderness designations as suggested by AB2923 would close trails to mountain biking.

IMBA California Policy Advisor Tom Ward has testified in front of the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee, and many members expressed their support for mountain biking - but they still passed the bill out of committee. Unless they hear from the mountain bike community, the bill will keep moving and suggest massive closures at three important parks.

There are many ways to protect these important places without banning the existing use of mountain bicycling. Cyclists need to rally and make sure their assembly member hears from our constituency.

Please Take Action!

Click on the link above to get details on this bill and a link to IMBA's simple online comment form that takes only seconds to complete! Tell the governor and your state senator and representative you support land protection that allows bicycling to continue. If you'd like to do more you could write your own personalized letter. To see the letter we wrote, go here, or check out other letters and commentary on MTBR for ideas on what to say to save the singletrack!

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2. Dirty Dog guys are creative -- new Reaper Skull DH stem
The folks at DirtyDogMTB have done it again! Passion has stocked those amazing looking rotors since we opened our doors. You know, the ones w/ the skulls, dragons, geckos, or many other patterns designed into the structure. After a limited launch last year on the Reaper Skull Stem, they shaved an additional 10% of the weight & have gone into full production this year. This bad boy is a forged and CNC'd 6061 aluminum stem that will make your bike stand out! Passion has them in stock so you can be the first kid on your block with this fear-inducing high-flying stem.

If you haven't seen the DirtyDogMTB rotors, take a look in our showcase. This grass roots company started making these rotors 3 years ago that add a little something extra to your bike. Your bike allows you to have a great time, so why not return the favor? The rotors are made from the same material, thickness, hardness as your typical Hayes or Avid rotor. But by laser cutting, DirtyDogMTB adds detail that has never been designed into a brake rotor. They work exactly like standard stock rotors, but they personalize your trusty steed. We ride them, and if you would like to as well, then come on by, we have a great selection.

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3. July Downieville trip: a few spots still available, and details

Our summer calendar is filling up. The first of two weekends we have reserved at the Riverside Inn in Downieville is just a few weeks away, July 19-21 Come join us as we sample some awesome Sierra singletrack, assisted by some elevation gaining shuttles provided by Yuba Expeditions. The main group will be heading up early Saturday AM, riding DH Saturday, doing an EPIC ride Sunday, and something easier on Monday, coming home Monday night. Trust us, a three day weekend with Monday off is AWESOME. Options include adjusting your schedule with a room added on Friday or Monday night.

The weekend will 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. Also providing breakfast and sandwich makin's.

To secure a spot we require a $100 deposit to claim your space for the weekend. Send Patty an email at patty@passiontrailbikes.com to let her know of your intentions. Depending on which options you choose, (shared vs. private room, 2 vs. 3 nights) the trip costs between $195 and $475 per person for the entire weekend with meals, lodging, and shuttles included. Note that we can accommodate non-riding partners, vegetarian food, and other special needs.

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4. Skeggs early ride July 4th: fog-tacky singletrack

Our handy mechanic Daryl is making the most of a day off on the Fourth of July. With a bit of arm twisting, he's agreed to ride his bike in the company of a few friends up at El Corte de Madera on Friday, starting at 9am and getting done by 1:00pm. If you'd like to join the fun, check out his route and who's crashing the ride by visiting this thread on MTBR.

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5. Tour de Fat benefits Bay Area Ridge Trail July 19th

Tour De Fat
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2008
Location: Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Description:
Take a break from riding or hiking the Ridge Trail and come over to Golden Gate Park for a Ballyhoo of Bikes and Beer.... the Tour de Fat is back! Bigger and Better!

Benefiting two great non-profit organizations, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the Tour de Fat is a celebration of all things bicycle, Sponsored by the good folk over at New Belgium Brewing Company. The day starts with bike parade through the park and the surrounding neighborhoods (costumes all but required!), followed by free bike valet parking, exhibits about both benefiting organizations, all kinds of bikes to ride, food for sale, live music and other entertainment.

This is a free event, but all sales benefit The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. For more information, visit Tour de Fat 2008

Volunteers Needed! This great day takes a lot of hands to make it happen. Email volunteer@ridgetrail.org to sign up!

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6. Wednesday Wride: No theme

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 8:31pm this Wednesday 07/02/08.

Special this week: No theme. Charles nixed Patty's idea for a time trial in lycra until it's been tested and a stop watch has been procured. Stay tuned. In the meantime, it's just another ride in the park.

Come on over and enjoy a social ride on 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 EARLY rides group will go out at 6:15 PM.

The REGULAR rides 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 "my ankle might be better and I might ride dirt."

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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7. Female Friday Fandango July 11th

We think this month the food might have a Curry flavor. Not sure. What we are sure about is that we all had such a good time being girly last month that we are doing it again. This month we are going to offer a range of beginner-oriented rides just for women. Please send your sweetie down to ride and hang out with the Passion girls!

Here's what Janet wrote about the all-female First Friday Fiesta in June:

Who would have guessed there were so many women with a passion for mountain biking?

Eighteen women riders (and three un-riders) responded to Patty's call including J.C., Kim, Winnie, Tammy, Mary, Susan, Lisa, Sheri, Doods, Christine, Jill, Mei, Sherri, Sam, Heather, Elizabeth, Cindy, Emilie, Holly and Janet. It was a bittersweet moment for me to see everyone roll off together for the trails. So sad that I could not join due to injury, but so proud to see such a large community of "strong and beautiful" women mountain bikers out in force.

After the group headed out I drove to get Emilie, another un-rider due to injury. Emilie broke her collarbone at the 24 Hours of Adrenalin on the fast Skyline Rd descent. She finally had surgery to pin it properly together and now that she was anxious to get out for some fun. When we returned to Passion Trails, un-rider Holly was already there. So we sampled guacamole, squeezed limes for the margaritas and chatted until the troops returned.

Then the riders came rolling in. Most dirty, some bloody, some changed into street clothes--one even into the cutest little girlie skirt. Are you surprised these women know how to party? We ate, we drank, we talked, we laughed, we bonded. Everything for a good slumber party except nail polish, curlers and sleeping bags.

We tried on the latest clothing at the shop and commented on which we loved, what didn't work so well and what we'd like to see in the shop in the future. Patty says Charles appreciates a little customer feedback on women's clothing since he doesn't wear it himself. At least we don't think he does. We also brought in our "gently used" bike clothing to donate to girls in the NorCal MTB league.

The best part of the party was the support from the men. Jay cooked like a fiend for hours and Charles delivered his special recipe margaritas. What a treat to have the guys wait on us! Almost everyone stayed for the party and when I left at nearly 10:30 the shop was still hopping.

Thank you Patty, Charles and Jay for hosting us in the can't-miss party of year.

-Janet

So there you have a sense of last month's Girls' night at the bike shop. Make sure you don't miss out this month! Please remember to bring two X chromosomes per participant!

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8. Closed for July 4th: Going Riding

Reminder: we are taking Friday, July 4th off to ride and eat somewhere other than at Waterdog/the bike shop. Daryl and a few more of us will be riding at Skeggs. For those without a BBQ to attend, there may be a no-host burger meal at Alices, sortof on a "make a date in the parking lot basis." We will be back on Saturday.

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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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