Suspension Rebuild Benefit for MBOSC

Our good friends at Epicenter Cycling at the foot of Nisene Marks is the newest bike shop in the Santa Cruz area. They have generously offered a suspension rebuild program which will benefit MBOSC for the month of January 2010.

Here is a summary of the program:

* $70 for fork rebuild, $40 for the rear shock

* $10 of each rebuild will be donated to MBOSC

* Oil is included in the rebuilt but parts are extra (seals, etc...).

* Card carrying members of MBOSC get a 10% discount on parts

Epicenter Cycling

8035 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003

(831) 662-8100

Suspension is an important part of the modern mountain biking experience. Improperly tuned and maintained suspension system could lead to high expenses later on. At the very least it could make your riding sub-optimal and at it's worse it could be dangerous.

Make it your New Years' resolution to let Epicenter Cycling maintain your fork and help benefit local mountain bike advocacy. Please call 831-662-8100 to book your suspension rebuild appointment.

IBIS has officially moved to Santa Cruz

Another iconic bike company has relocated to Santa Cruz. I got an email newsletter from Ibis Cycles in which they mention their move to Santa Cruz (from nearby Scotts Valley). Ibis is located in the old Wrigley building on Delaware Avenue. They are close to the trails.

Here is the tidbit that I saw on their newsletter.

We've Moved!
Eagle eyed readers who noticed we mentioned Santa Cruz as our home city in the first paragraph. That wasn't a typo, part of the reason that there isn't a ton of news to report right now is that we've been moving and that has been taking a lot of our energy. Our new top secret location (top secret unless you look at our contact page) is only a block from the beach and a few feet away from an amazing network of mountain bike trails. We couldn't be happier with our new location. Other bonuses include many good restaurants nearby, a couple of wineries and a brewery (the last two for after work only of course).
We would like to welcome our friends at Ibis to the city of Santa Cruz!

Cloud Nine Design

I had a great visit and conversation with John Caletti and Cloud Nine Design custom bikes at his very clean shop. Cloud Nine is Santa Cruz's newest independent frame builder and they make steel frames which include cyclocross, road, mountain and 29er frames. Cloud Nine bikes have been featured in the 24 hour race at Laguna Seca in June and at the Hand Made Bike show in Santa Jose earlier this spring. John and his wife Cory are active in the local cycling community and they recently became supporters of mbosc.

A couple of weeks ago I rode my friends 29" single speed at De Laveaga and I really enjoyed the experience. I've been very interested to try a 29 er for an extended time and the Calettis had offered to loan me Cory's 29 er for a couple of weeks. I paid a visit to Cloud Nine to pick up the bike. Buckethead (one of my favorite artists) was playing on the speakers and provided a great soundtrack to his small but very clean and organized shop. He is passionate about cycling and advocacy and he is meticulous in the detail at which he constructs the bikes. We had a great conversation about all things bike, Buckethead and the riding potential of the Coast Dairies properties. I'll be taking this bike for a spin this afternoon:


Santa Cruz is lucky to have a lot of great custom frame builders which include Rock Lobster, Hunter Cycles and Calfee Design (which has a bamboo and hemp mountain bike). If you are interested in a new hand build steel hardtail frame then consider supporting some of the crafts people who build frames in Santa Cruz county. These frames are race proven and tested in the wild and wooly local trails of Santa Cruz.

Late Sea Otter report

Yea I know the Otter was last week but I've been busy... First of all, here are the pix.

I had a fun filled Sea Otter this year. Camping, schmoozing, working the booth and volunteering for the dual slalom course on Thursday and Friday (but not Saturday!). Surprisingly, this is the first year in 8 that I have not raced or even entertained the idea of racing. I guess those days are over for now.

The booth was a lot of fun and was a great vehicle to build awareness about MBoSC/MORCA/ROMP/VO-cal and issues in Santa Cruz County. We had a great view of the DS course and the kids in the air. It was a great place to call home base.

During the heavy rains, a river was running through the booth and we were pinned down under the EZ-up without beer. Fortunately, someone bartered a big Fox raincoat (a popular item during the rain) for some beer that I would retrieve. I ducted taped the bottom of the coat to construct a makeshift set of chaps. Not only was I waterproof but I looked like something that rode out of a German industrial fetish movie. I rode my bike and bob trailer up to camp in comfort to get beer for everyone!

The beer was a huge hit (thanks, Charlie!). I shared it with volunteers, TWW campers, fellow advocates, bike industry types and people interested in our booth. Beer wise, the Dirt Rag and IMBA booths were well taken care of. Local frame builder Craig Calfee of Calfee Design was in the booth beside IMBA and I set him up some of Seabright's Oatmeal Stout. We had a conversation about local issues and he gave me some great contacts. His carbon bikes are gorgeous works of art and he was showing his new bamboo and hemp hard tail mountain bike. What a novel idea! If you get lost in the woods then you can eat and smoke your frame until you get rescued.

Thanks to Peter and the MORCA folks. You supplied the EZ-up, table, table cloth and chairs and most of the personnel. We only brought the beer - the fuel of mountain bike advocacy. A big thanks to Charlie Meehan of Seabright Brewery for all the great beer. There are a lot more riders in Northern California who are aware Blur, Oatmeal Stout and the ubiquitous "Kenny". I'd also like to thank Daryl and Rich for doing booth duty and all of the Dual Slalom volunteers. Thanks to all for helping out.

So many good memories. The IMBA summit, kids in the air, long legged chix, late night scotch, corrupting young minds with South Park on the video iPod, Buell's fire dance, meeting and getting to know old and new friends at camp Wrong Way and the summit...

Whew, I'm glad it's over. I can't wait until next year...

FOX RELEASES LATEST "FREE THE TRAIL" T-SHIRT

Fox Racing Shox has been an excellent supporter of MBOSC. Their first "Free The Trail" campaign directly benefited MBOSC during the Nisene Marks lawsuit. We have also been working with IMBA California to help us open more legal single track in our local State Parks. Please support this program by buying a T-shirt. Please support IMBA California by becoming an IMBA member.

You can buy the new Free the Trail T-shirt at http://www.myfoxracingshox.com/fox_shirts.htm


Watsonville, CA – November 9, 2006 – FOX Racing Shox is proud to release their latest Free The Trail T-shirt. All proceeds from the sale of Free The Trail T-shirts will go to support the IMBA California office. "IMBA CA is turning heads and getting trails built and keeping others open," said IMBA's California Director Tom Ward. "But don't be fooled - there are many anti-bike activists working to kick us off or block new trails. FOX Racing Shox is helping IMBA CA raise awareness and resources to fight for our access."

FOX Racing Shox commissioned renowned Bay Area artist Steve Smith to illustrate the newest T-shirt. The artwork features an idyllic mountain bike scene, behind bars and locked up, hence Free The Trail. "We had such great fundraising success with the first Free The Trail T-shirt, we knew we had to keep Free The Trail alive and continue its success," stated Elayna Caldwell, Marketing Manager at FOX. "Whether you live in California, go on vacation here or hate it because it is full of fruits and nuts, the fact is that there are more mountain bikers in California than anywhere else and what happens here is generally a bellwether for actions across the nation, and that is why FOX supports advocacy, because we like to ride fun, legal trails," stated Caldwell.

You can get a new Free The Trail T-shirt of your own and help support California's IMBA office, just go to www.foxracingshox.com and go to the online store. Shirts are $15.00 and both men's and women's versions are available, they are American Apparel shirts, made in the USA of 100% cotton. Get one for yourself and help support Mountain Biking in the great state of California.

Since 1974 FOX Racing Shox has designed and manufactured the finest suspension products for Motorcycles, Mountain Bikes, ATV\'s and Snowmobiles. World Headquarters are in Santa Cruz County, CA with its Off-Road Division in Santee, CA. FOX Racing Shox distributes its products in more than 40 countries.

Yukon study about the Market Potential for MTB Tourism

I've been pretty excited about the potential for developing mtb tourism for Santa Cruz county. I believe that tourism is the best framework in order to open more trails and create more volunteer participation in advocacy and trail work. I believe that mountain bike tourism has the potential to develop more economic activity for the local bike industry and the tourism economy of Santa Cruz.

The other day I did a Google search to find information on the demographics of people who would engage in mountain bike tourism. I hit a gold mine when I found this document from the Yukon Tourism and Culture resource center:

Exploring the Market Potential for Yukon Mountain Bike Tourism (PDF 51 pages, 5.05MB)

(NOTE: printing this document pegged my printer at work for about 45 minutes due to the white on black section boxes)

This is a recent document (March 2005) and it's quite comprehensive. Even if you aren't interested in developing a tourist destination, this is a good overview of the demographics of mountain bikers.

Part 1 discusses the history and global demographics of mountain biking. Part 2 talks about the economic impact of various mountain bike related events. Part 3 has case studies of existing mtb destinations and some lesson learned for aspiring destinations. Part 4 and 5 discusses the assets of the Yukon Territories and outlines a strategy for how they can capitalize on the mountain bike tourism market.

When you look at the geographic and logistical challenges facing the Yukon to implement this plan, it seem much easier for Santa Cruz to develop and market itself as a mountain bike destination.

Call for volunteers: Wilder Ranch Path Clean up

Wilder Ranch Path Clean up Day
A Call for Volunteers!
Saturday, March 11, 2006 9am start
Meet at Shaffer Road & Wilder Path entrance

Help cut back overgrown vegetation that is narrowing the path and sweep the path clean of debris. Join the bike community in this first monthly clean up event hosted by the Santa Cruz Bicycle Industry Coalition.

Besides improving Wilder path you'll be provided with drinks, snacks, powerbars, and be eligible for prizes from Giro, FOX Racing Shox, and Santa Cruz Bicycles! Also support from Aptos Bike Trail, Another Bike Shop and Family Cycling Center as well as all the local Bicycle Industry Coalition members. Help improve a path which kids, families and individuals use for exercise and transportation to Wilder.

Clean up equipment will be provided but if you have some, bring work gloves (bike gloves will do). Contact Piet to sign up: piet@ecoact.org or 423-9569 ext. 127. Volunteers welcomed to show up without signing up.

"Hypnosis" movie premiere at the Rio

The Santa Cruz premier of "Hypnosis: Visual Intensity" will be at the Rio Theater Friday February 10th, 8:00 p.m. This showing is sponsored by FOX Racing Shox.

Hypnosis is a unique documentary style portrayal of downhill and mountain cross racing in 2005, allowing the viewer a glimpse into the thoughts and emotions of the sports best riders.

Admission is $5 and there will be a raffle with awesome prizes. All Proceeds will go to the Northern California Mountain Bicycling Association (NorCAMBA).

NorCAMBA is dedicated to maintaining and increasing trail access for Northern California mountain bicyclists by unifying and leveraging the resources of existing grassroots organizations and promoting the development of new organizations. NorCAMBA encourages and supports sustainable trail construction and maintenance, environmentally and socially responsible riding, and land stewardship.

MBOSC is a proud member of NorCAMBA.

Come out and see a wicked film while supporting local trail advocacy efforts!

Just the facts

Friday February 10th, 8:00 p.m.

Rio Theater
1205 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 - 2107
(831) 423-8209

Specialized Shindig: Announcing IMBA California

Specialized held a party at it's Morgan Hill headquarters to welcome the East and West IMBA trail care crews who will be leading trail work at Henry Coe this weekend. Specialized provided beer, pizza, T-shirts and water bottles. It was a good opportunity to meet and socialize with local advocates.

Ariadne Delon Scott - Specialized's advocacy director, gave a brief presentation on the history of the companies advocacy efforts. Did you know that there is a forest in Japan named after Specialized? Now you do. Ariadne made a stunning announcement that Specialized is underwriting IMBA California with it's first full time staffer Tom Ward.

Tom was the manager of recreation for California State Parks but retired last year. He is an avid mountian bikers and has been a champion of mountain bike access and advocacy efforts. He was in government for over 30 years and is in a great position to navigate though the bureacratic red tape which prevents access to public lands for mountain bikers. Among his projects will be working with the US Forest Service to allow mountain bikes in California wilderness areas.

Ariadne presented Tom with a new 2006 S-works Stumpjumper FSR. Tom was genuinely surprised. I took a nice close look at this bike and it's a really sweet ride. Specialized knows how to take care of thier boy.

Mountain biking and IMBA started in California. This state also has the most IMBA members, excellent riding, the best weather and lots of bike companies. We also have a lot of land access issues. It's great to have IMBA representation for California and I'm looking forward to working with Tom to open more trails in Santa Cruz county.

This is a very good development for mountain biking in California.