This week's Topics:

1. Wednesday Wrides: Launch time changes and PsychoCross schooling with Daniel
2. Female Friday is this week! Sept 12th, 5:45pm
3. Sunday morning Church of the Bicycle ride Sept 14th 9:00am
4. Should you replace your helmet?


1. Wednesday Wrides: Launch time changes and PsychoCross schooling with Daniel

Sunset is at 7:24pm this Wednesday 09/10/08. Twilight ends and darkness falls between 7:50 and 8:20. Launch times have changed!

This week Daniel wants to ride PsychoCross again, and he says he will even do some coaching for those who want it, stuff like run-ups, barriers, etc. so you can practice your mad skilz. Bring your lightweight bike with or without drop bars, and hop into the Ridiculous ride, now with 'cross training!

P. L. E. A. S. E. . . . P. U. T. . . . L. I. G. H. T. S. . . . O. N ! ! ! !

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! REALLY! DARK BY 8:30!!! Also, a reminder that we need to be super conscientious about stopping at stop signs and lights, yielding to pedestrians, and operating our bikes predictably and responsibly while on the roads. Belmont PD was kind enough to let us know about a complaint from a motorist a couple weeks ago, and while we are not the only cyclists out there we are certainly the biggest groups and the easiest place to lodge complaints. Let's be safe and kind out there.

For all the details about what makes each group unique, please refer to this webpage. If your questions aren't answered there, you can also email us for info at info@passiontrailbikes.com.

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 EARLY ride will go out at 5:45 PM.
The FBG or Fat Bottomed Girl ride will go out at 5:50 PM.
The WHITE SOCKS ride will go out at 5:50 PM.
The RIDICULOUS ride will go out at 5:58 PM. This week with CROSS!
The REGULAR ride will go out at 6:00 PM.
The STRAGGLERS ride goes out at 6:15 PM.

All groups will meet back here at Passion Trail Bikes right around dark for the usual story telling & beverage enjoyment. We will have stuff for the BBQ along with some carbo laden side dish, chips and fatty snacks and EANABS to pair up with the Devil's Canyon Brewery's Full Boar Scotch Ale, Silicon Blonde Ale, and Backpack Babe Root Beer. 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. Female Friday is this week! Sept 12th, 5:45pm

This month Travis and a handful of handsome guys are helping with food and desserts for Female Friday! We are still debating menu options, but Travis is angling for "High Class White Trash" cookin' which sounds intriguing to say the least. Check the comments on our blog for updates. Charles has posted some great pictures of last month's Female Friday on Flickr. OMG the captions are funny! Come on down, September 12th, 5:45pm . . . and tell your girlfriends!!

Michael and Rich slaving over chopping blocks while Jay preps the lounge for August's Female Friday

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3. Sunday morning Church of the Bicycle ride Sept 14th, 9:00am

This Sunday we will have a group ride meeting at the shop at 9:00am, with a pedals turning launch time of 9:30am, to participate in dirt worship at Waterdog Park. Hopefully it will not involve too much soil sampling while prostrate in prayer. Meet the heathens, pagans, humanists, atheists, wayward Christians, Jews, Buddhists and others who can’t do pews on a Sunday morning at 9:00am at the shop for a ride until noon. Lunch is yet to be determined but may involve BBQ, take out, or dine in at the lounge.

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4. Should you replace your helmet?

This article is brought to you by Daniel and Patty, who enjoy making fun of Sterlings' FOURTH new helmet in the last year.

Many people don’t realize that most modern day bicycle helmets are made to withstand one impact. ONE. If you ram your head into a tree, back your car over your gear bag or take a good hit to the noggin on a ride, chances are your helmet has been demoted from high-tech safety device to not much more than a Styrofoam brain bucket. Manufacturers and product safety boards recommend replacing helmets after any significant impact, even if the helmet is still in one piece.

Here are some general guidelines:
. . . Did you crash and hit your helmet on the ground? Replace!
. . . Did you drop it hard enough to crack the foam? Replace.
. . . Is it made out of leather? Replace.
. . . Is it from the 1970's? Replace.
. . . Is the outside just foam or cloth instead of plastic? Replace.
. . . Does it lack a CPSC, ASTM or Snell sticker? Replace.
. . . Can you not adjust it to fit correctly? Replace!!
. . . Did you leave it on the hot black rear deck of your car and now the plastic has delaminated? Replace.
. . . Does it smell bad or does your sweat give you acne? Replace (or wash)!
. . . Do you hate it? Replace.

If you are prone to crashing on your head, we recommend a full-face helmet. Cheaper than a new front tooth. If you have a kid that tends to treat equipment casually, we recommend the newer "skate" style helmets with a tougher plastic exterior and fewer vents to give the internal foam impact protection from kid-events like dropping it on the ground. Most of the other more "typical" helmet models we carry in the store offer a rear tensioning system to keep the helmet stable on your head. They also have either upward or forward facing vents that have been designed to direct airflow to help dissipate heat.

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To contact us, email us at info@passiontrailbikes.com, or call the shop at 650-620-9798.
Happy Trails, the PTB crew
Charles, Patty, Berry, John, Bret, Sterling, Daryl, Daniel, Peter, Reba and Buster