We are hiring (again!)

Posted by Patty Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:20:00 GMT

We have two positions open starting soon:

Mountain Bike Mechanic and
Mountain Bike Customer Service and Merchandise Specialist

for details, clicky on the linky below.

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Posted in People, Service | 7 comments

Save the Dates

Posted by PeterD Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:07:00 GMT

A couple of things to mark on your calendar…

The weekend of January 26-27, I am planning to lead a shop ride. Where we go and which day it is will all be based on weather and trail conditions. Perhaps Skeggs. Maybe the Demo. More info to come once we know the weather predictions.

The weekend of March 15-16, there will be a bunch of rides and a party. Probably one of our bigger events of the year. This would be a very bad weekend to take that ski weekend in the mountains – as you will regret missing this.

Posted in Shop | 5 comments

repaired bridge on Chaparral

Posted by PeterD Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:22:00 GMT

(Updated Jan 13) There were reports that one of the bridges on Chaparral Trail in Waterdog was losing its footing due to the rain. It was the one on Chaparral just uphill from the intersection with Ohlone.

Read more...

Posted in Trails | 1 comment

Waterdog Videos

Posted by PeterD Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:08:00 GMT

Here is something to tide you over until the rains stop and the trails dry… Below are a pair of short video clips from the Winter Solstice ride a few weeks back.

First video is us going down the Ohlone Trail (what used to be called French Trail):

Next is us going down the switchbacks on Finch Trail:

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Posted in Trails | 3 comments

Winter weather is coming to a trail near you

Posted by Patty Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:25:00 GMT

This just in:

Special Weather Statement

500 am PST Wed Jan 2 2008

...Rain and wind expected Thursday through Sunday across the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas…

A major change in the weather pattern is expected to take place in the eastern Pacific starting Thursday. Strong zonal flow is expected to bring a series of Pacific storms into the region…with the potential for an extended period of significant rainfall and strong winds.

The first in a series of weather systems will bring moderate to locally heavy rainfall to the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas Thursday afternoon and evening. A second and very powerful storm system is expected to bring heavy rain and strong gusty winds to much of northern and central California Friday into Friday night. Damaging winds gusting to as high as 60 mph are possible…especially along the coast and in the mountains. Due to the strong south to southwest low level flow with this second system…there will likely be significant orographic enhancement of rainfall across south and southwest facing mountain and foothill locations. The potential for very high rainfall rates in the mountains and hills will bring the possibility of flooding or flash flooding.

A third weather system is expected to bring another threat of rain or showers Saturday night into Sunday. At this time…it appears that this system will be colder with less moisture. Snow levels could lower to 2000 to 3000 feet…with snow possible on the Bay area hills.

Preliminary rainfall totals look to be quite impressive for the entire event from Thursday through the weekend. At this time…coastal and valley locations can expect as much as 2 to 4 inches of rain…with mountains receiving between 4 to 8 inches of rain. Local spots in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia mountains could receive in excess of 10 inches of rain by the end of the weekend. Again…all these are preliminary numbers and can be expected to change as new information becomes available.

These strong Pacific storms are also expected to bring a large westerly swell into the coastal waters Friday through Sunday…bringing the potential for high surf conditions across all west facing beaches.

Please stay tuned to the latest National Weather Service forecasts and statements as this weather situation develops.

High Wind Advisory

208 PM PST Wed Jan 2 2008

...High wind watch in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon…

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a high wind watch…which is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.

South to southeast winds will increase Thursday afternoon to 20 to 40 mph with gusts to 55 mph…and will continue through Thursday night. The second…more powerful system will bring even stronger winds to northern and central California. Winds along the coast and valleys will increase early Friday morning to 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph possible. Winds in the hills above 1000 feet could possibly gust to hurricane force…75 mph on Friday. Winds will decrease Friday evening.

A high wind watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph…or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.

Posted in Trails | no comments

Christmas/New Years Hours

Posted by Patty Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:14:00 GMT

Normally, we are closed on Mondays. This Monday, Dec 24th, Charles and Patty will be at the shop for a few hours to assist with last-minute shopping and pickup of lay-aways. You can find us here from 10am to about 1pm. Then we are going to do a short FBG ride with Reba at Waterdog. You can call to see if we are here. On Tuesday, December 25th the shop will be closed. Enjoy your day, hopefully you can get a ride in too! On Sunday 12/30, we will be doing trailwork in Waterdog in the morning, then be open at noon. We will be closed Monday 12/31, and Tuesday 1/1/08. Check out our community calendar for more trail events. Make sure you save March 15th & 16th for our big Bike Demo Days to come test-ride some great new bikes.

Posted in Passion | no comments

Passion Solstice Soiree and Naughty ride

Posted by Patty Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:44:00 GMT

On Friday, December 21, beginning around 7pm, we will be celebrating the celestial transition known as Winter Solstice. On the Solstice, the Earth’s axial tilt lines up with the sun’s rays and brings the northern hemisphere the shortest day and longest night.

To mark the occasion, we will be honoring two creatures whose names grace the peak latitudes marked by annual sinuous solar movements on Earth’s surface.

First we will consume some of the world’s most delicious goat cheese, produced from Alpine goats Capra hircus grazing in the lovely town of Pescadero, to recognize this time of year when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

Next we will make our way through a ruddy pile of Half Moon Bay’s delicious Dungeness crab, Cancer magister to mark our longing for the warm days of summer, when the sun is over the Tropic of Cancer.

Of course, we will have to have some wine, and some rum, and some candles as a nice warm source of light. And Jay will be bringing cheesecake for dessert.

We will also need YOU to help us celebrate properly. So please join us!

Weather appears to be favorable for a Naughty ride at 1:00pm launching from the Passion lot to head up to Waterdog.

Friday Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Patchy dense fog in the morning. Highs in the lower to mid 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

If conditions are a bit moist, you are most welcome to come to our little gathering with a bit of mud under your eye.

To help us when we do our shopping at the wharf over in that coastal hamlet, please RSVP to this evite by 8am Friday so we can buy the right amount of sweet crustaceans for evening consumption.

Posted in Passion | 7 comments

September Build of the Month - Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper Carbon Hardtail

Posted by PeterD Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:42:00 GMT

Yes, you are reading the scale correctly!

This bike was built for adventure race use. The growing sport of Adventure Racing combines several different outdoor challenges into one full day, or longer, event. A competitor needs to arrive geared up for known events like mountain bike racing and rock climbing, and then be prepared to have a couple surprise events like kayaking or orienteering thrown in to round out the race.

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Posted in BOTM | 3 comments

Giant Training - Part 2

Posted by PeterD Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:48:00 GMT

A piece of good advice I once heard was that you should avoid debating about religion and politics, as people hold strong feelings on these that they rarely will change. I think that Mountain Bike Suspension design could be a third area to add to the list.

That being said, here is the second part of Berry’s report from the Giant Training he and John went to a few weeks back. This will be on various suspension designs…

The most interesting part of the talk was given by Andrew Justaitis (sp?), which contained a lot of basic and useful info on all the various kinds of rear suspension designs, how they work and their characteristics, both good & bad. He called it a Suspension Rating Report Card, giving ratings for Activity, Efficiency and Independence; how well the rear suspension works separately from the rear brake, whether they influence each other or not. Below is his Report Card, which I found very informative. He went to great lengths to be fair and neutral and didn’t bad mouth any other brand or design type.

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Posted in Bikes | 1 comment

Giant Training - Part 1

Posted by PeterD Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:16:00 GMT

John and Berry went to Santa Cruz a few weeks back to attend the Giant Maestro Suspension training event. Here is what Berry had to say about the event:

They had sales and tech info in the morning, the lunch & dirt demo in the PM at DeLaveaga Park, where they had Anthems (3 1/2” Race bike), Trance Xs (5” trail bike), and Reign Xs (6.7” freeride bike) available to ride. I rode a Trance X and a Reign X. Loved the Trance X, the rear suspension truly worked very well; if it had had a Vanilla RLC on it, would have tried to take it home. It weighed 26lbs.

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Posted in Bikes | no comments