This week's Topics:

1. Wednesday Wrides: Quick and dirty, time change next week
2. MROSD Ward 7 Open Space election challenger; signatures needed
3. Last week's hill climb results
4. Mere Mortals Beginner Ride Tues August 12, 6pm time updated
5. sf Urban Riders: new group in the City
6. Female Friday: August 22
7. Giant for Women clinics at Northstar
8. Ridge Trail Cruz Sept 20
9. Cyclocross Season


1. Wednesday Wrides: Quick and dirty, time change next week

Sunset is at 8:09pm this Wednesday 08/06/08.

Next week, sunset is at 8:02 so we will be moving the rides back 15 minutes to give us enough time to enjoy the trails before dark. Please make an effort to be ready to launch; the waning days of summer are bringing on the post-work ride scramble.

Please remember to put a light on your handlebar and have a blinky ready for the ride back to the shop! CA vehicle code requires it. Don't get caught out on the streets in the dark!

Note: The new Weekly Wride page is updated weekly on Tuesdays for the next day's Weekly Wednesday Wride. For all the details, please refer to this webpage. If your questions aren't answered there, you can also email us for info at info@passiontrailbikes.com.

Specials this week: Quick and dirty, time change next week.

This week Charles and Berry are out on vacation, and Patty is fighting a cold, so we are playing it by ear. We may not be able to provide many ride leaders and may just hand out maps. The goal this week is to launch quickly and get a good ride in before dark, which is starting to come fast these days. There will be the usual variety of rides 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 BIG BIKES ridegroup will go out at 6:10pm.next week TBD

The EARLY ride group will go out at 6:15 PM. next week 6:00

The RIDICULOUS ride group will go out at 6:20 PM. next week 6:05

The REGULAR ride group will go out at 6:30 PM. next week 6:15

The FBG or Fat Bottomed Girl ride will go out at approximately 6:20 PM. next week 6:05

The WHITE sOCKS ride group will go out at the same time as the FBG ride 6:20 PM. next week 6:05

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. next week 6:30

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!

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2. MROSD Ward 7 Open Space election challenger; signatures needed

We received word that a candidate from San Carlos has taken out papers to challenge the incumbent for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. His name is Nicholas Pegueros and he has a website up at http://www.votenick.org If you live in Ward 7, which includes parts of Redwood City, San Carlos and much of the northern San Mateo coast, including Half Moon Bay, we urge you to contact Nick using the form on his site and offer to sign his candidacy papers so he can appear on the ballot. Nick appears to be in favor of recreation on open space lands, including mountain biking and dogs. We like the dogs part.

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3. Last week's hill climb results

We are told the climb started at the parking lot at the end of Carlmont and went up Upper Creek and Finch Trails, ending at the "No Parking" sign above the last switchback under the bay trees.

Here's the results, according to Daniel. The protest period has closed so if you don't like your time, try again next month!

Place	Who	Time	Behind Winner	Behind Previous Rider
1	Krishna Dole	0:06:28	0:00:00	0:00:00
2	Daniel Ferreira	0:06:37	0:00:09	0:00:09
3	Tom Rice	0:07:02	0:00:34	0:00:25
4	Brian Newman	0:07:13	0:00:45	0:00:11
5	Rafael Rius	0:07:40	0:01:12	0:00:27
6	John "Tevas Boy" Rayner	0:07:57	0:01:29	0:00:17
7	Derek Loh	0:08:06	0:01:38	0:00:09
8	Green Helmet Boy	0:08:33	0:02:05	0:00:27
9	Gold Blur LT	0:08:47	0:02:19	0:00:14
10	Giant XTC	0:08:51	0:02:23	0:00:04

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4. Mere Mortals Beginner Ride August 12 6pm time updated

Ride Level: Beginner only. If you are an advanced rider, please email to help.
What: Absolute beginner ride and lunch!
When: Tue Aug 12 6pm – 8pm
Where: Baylands Park, Palo Alto, San Antonio Rd and Terminal Rd.
Ride Leader: Anne aka Stripes, stripes@tigerlair.com or 408 718 8027
Description: Do you feel uncomfortable on a mountain bike, but what to learn how to have a good time on it? This is the ride for you. We'll focus on the the absolute basics:
- Shifting
- Braking
- Body movements
- Pedaling

Check out the Mere Mortals Calendar for updates.

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5. SF Urban Riders: new group in the City


Exciting news!

San Francisco has a new advocacy organization that has formed to promote the development of dirt trails and bike parks in the City of San Francisco. They have been working quietly behind the scenes for about 4 months now and just launched their website.

http://www.sfurbanriders.org

Please click the above link, go there, and check it out. It is awesome. These people have really pulled together to work constructively towards getting what they really want from land managers who really don't have any interest. I predict that this group will grow, thrive, work hard, and eventually succeed. Patty also posted a thread on MTBR if you want to discuss on the NorCal Forum.

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6. Female Friday: August 22

This month the Ladies' night is Friday August 22. See our blog post for details on what happened last month. Save the date. Tell your girlfriends!

Girls riding, boys cooking. We like it!

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7. Giant for Women clinic and retreat at Northstar

Are you a woman in need a little R n’ R? How about a weekend of road or mountain biking (your pick!) with some of the best instructors in the world? And then quite a bit of retreat-ing, breathing the fresh air and seeing the sights of the Northstar at Tahoe resort?

It’s a women’s only weekend away, with women who love to ride! You’ll wake up to morning yoga, then spend the day learning and riding, with plenty of time to see the sights of Lake Tahoe.

Join Giant for Women and first class athletes from mountain biking champion Tara Llanes to road Olympian Mari Holden for a two day weekend of skills sessions, great riding, friendship, and relaxation.

The 2008 Ride and Retreat is open to beginners and intermediate riders.
Retreat dates: From Friday August 22nd (arrivals and check in from 4pm) to Sunday August 24th (departures at 4pm)
Cost for two nights’ lodging, food, instruction, bike rental, group activities, and lift tickets is $400.
To register, contact us at hello@giantforwomen.com for further details and information.

Participants are able to use their own bikes or demo 2009 Giant for Women models.

You can download the Giant For Women Retreat Flyer here.

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8. Ridge Trail Cruz Sept 20

The third annual Ridge Trail Cruz, a super fun ride and hike to benefit the multi-use Bay Area Ridge Trail, will be coming up on September 20th.

Riders can join the "Cruz a thon" and raise funds for each mile they ride to benefit the Ridge Trail. We hope to gather a group of customers for this fun and supported event up on Skyline.

For more info, and to register, please visit the Ridge Trail website.

Mountain Bike Rides: Two bike rides are offered. Both are challenging and have a mix of fire roads and singletrack riding. Please choose your ride based on your conditioning, experience, and skill level. Arrive 9:15 a.m.

Intermediate ~15 miles/~1500 feet of climbing. Out-and-back route with moderately technical section of trail (possible to skip)

Advanced ~18 miles/~2500 feet of climbing. Loop route with long 1300 foot climb and challenging techinical sections

Bonus loop for bikers: Available to both bike rides, this loop continues along the Ridge Trail and loops through nearby preserves, adding ~10 miles and ~1000 feet of climbing. You do not need to sign up for this, but may decide the day of the Cruz to continue.

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9. Cyclocross Season

Sterling wanted me to let you know that the Cyclocross Season is almost upon us. The NCNCA has the 08-09 Calendar of races up on Google Calendar. Check it out! Racing starts in September, even though we know there's almost no chance that there will be a traditional mud surface to race on.

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