Titus El Guapo Group Ride Saturday is CANCELLED

We regret to inform that we have decided to cancel the SDSF group ride and BBQ on Saturday Feb 27th.

There was a significant rain storm which rolled into the area on Tuesday which dumped 3" of rain in the Santa Cruz mountains. The event planning committee looked at the existing trail conditions today and the weather forecast over the next couple of days calls for an additional 1.5-3" of rain and high winds for Friday continuing into Saturday. We feel that the trail conditions are way too saturated to hold a mountain biking event.

We recognize that planning an outdoor event in February is a gamble with the weather and we rolled the dice and lost.

The great news is that the weather is looking good for Sunday so the Jump Jam at Depot Park is still a go! Also, make sure to come out to the California premier of Women of Dirt on Sunday Feb 28th at 7 pm. For details about the events on Sunday please see the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz home page.

For those planning to attend, we thank you for your support. We hope to present a similar ride and festival in the future - perhaps when the weather is more consistent.

We would like to thank all the volunteers who signed up to help with the BBQ and act as ride leaders and sweeps. You now have your Saturday back!

We would also like to thank Mike and Jason from Titus Bikes for hauling the demo trailer all the way to Santa Cruz. They recognize that planning a winter event in California is dependent on the weather. Titus will still have a booth and their bikes on display at the Jump Jam in Depot Park on Sunday.

Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival Raffle is growing and growing...

The raffle after the Women of Dirt film premier on Feb 28th is gathering steam. We have OVER $15,000 in raffle donations to giveaway. Yes, that's right. We will be giving away over $15,000 of merchandise on Sunday Feb 28th - all for $1/ticket. This does NOT include the ~$4,700 El Guapo that Titus has donated for a separate raffle (we will draw for the bike at the Sea Otter). Most of the proceeds from the film and raffle will go towards an environmental mitigation project at Soquel Demonstration State Forest.

The big ticket items include an Intense 5.5 EVP frame donated by Trailhead Cyclery. A Fox 36 Talas RC2 donated by Fox Racing Shox. A Black Market MOB frame (Chrome) donated by Black Market Bikes.

Thank you to the bike industry, local bike shops and local businesses for your generosity. I would love to call out the following companies and businesses for being above and beyond supporters:

• Titus Bikes
• Trailhead Cyclery in San Jose
• Fox Racing Shox
• Black Market Bikes
• The Spokesman in downtown Santa Cruz
• Luna Sports Gear
• Gamut USA
• Kali Protectives
• CamelBak
• Light and Motion
• Robert Mann
• Giro Sport Design
• Aptos Core Care Chiropractic (Buff),

A special mention to:

• Jamis Bikes
• Epicenter Cycling
• Aptos Bike Station
• Family Cycling Center
• Surfrider Cafe
• Seabright Brewery
• Lola Addictions
• Barry Swenson Builders

Thank you for supporting our event for your support of mountain biking in Santa Cruz County. We hope the membership will consider supporting these companies and local businesses.

Please come out to the film premier on Feb 28th and buy raffle tickets so you can be a part of all this goodness. Tickets can be bought at the best bike shops in the Santa Cruz area. Look for our event poster with the bright "Tickets Sold Here" stickers.

10% off BlkMrkt Products for Delivery at Santa Cruz MTB Festival

Our good friends from BlkMrkt Bikes are offering a 10% off in stock items purchased from their online store for delivery in Santa Cruz at the Jump Jam on Feb 28th. This is a special deal for participants in the Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival.

BlkMrkt will have few bikes to demo at the Jump Jam held at Depot Park and they have also graciously donated a Chrome Mob Frame for the event raffle after the premier of "Awesome Land: Women of Dirt".

Introducing the Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival!

Two-Day Mountain Bike Festival in Santa Cruz Brings Professional Female Mountain Bike Riders Including Lisa Myklak, Emily Johnston, Tammy Donahugh and Kathy Pruitt.

Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz has teamed up with Bones Over Metal to host the California Premier of Awesome Land: Women of Dirt. The event is scheduled to take place on Feb 28, 2010, at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz at 7 pm. This unique film spotlights some of the most talented women on knobby tires and the lifestyles that allow them to ride. Tickets can be purchased at the door or most local bike shops in Santa Cruz.

The film Awesome Land: Women Of Dirt looks through the eyes of the wondrous women that have helped grow the sports of gravity mountain biking, downhill racing, dirt jumping and free riding. Featured riders Lisa Myklak, Emily Johnston, Tammy Donahugh and Kathy Pruitt will be present at the premier, along with the filmmaker Mark Brent. There will be a Q&A session with the guests moderated Karen Kefauver, a freelance sports and travel journalist who authors the cycling column, Spin City for the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

"Our goal is to support local riding groups like MBoSC and cycling non-profits to host regional shows and share the 'awesomeness' the mountain bike has to offer. We want to give back to the community, and we want to do this in a way that the local organizations and promoters get to keep all the funds raised," said film producer Mark Brent.

The film premier is just one event tied to a greater two-day Mountain Bike Festival, sponsored by MBoSC and several others, including Fox Racing Shox, Black Market Racing, Gamut USA, Lights and Motion, Barry Swenson Builder, Trailhead Cycleryand a number of local bike shops including Bike Station Aptos, Epicenter Cycling and The Bicycle Trip.

Pending good weather, events held in conjunction with the premier include an open group ride through the Soquel Demonstration Forest and Demo Day at Bike Station Aptos on Feb. 27, and a Jump Jam with the pro ladies on Feb 28th.

Proceeds from the festivities will go directly toward efforts to rebuild and reopen the SDF parking lot, which has been closed due to environmental issues.

You will be able to get tickets before the show at local bike shops. Details later....