Winter Passion Trail Bikes News # 7

This week’s news and info on February 13, 2009:

1.Santa Cruz Innovators in Bicycle Design tonight Friday 2/13
2.Tour of California Monday 2/16
3.MTBR sponsored trailwork at Soquel Forest Saturday 2/21
4.Save the date: Our 3rd Anniversary & Spring Demo Days March 7-8
5.National Parks comments last call


1. Santa Cruz Innovators in Bicycle Design tonight Friday 2/13

We just found this on the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz list, and don’t know if it’s sold out:

Please join SCD+IC for this party and panel discussion on the innovations of bike design. The ticket price of $25 ($15 for students) includes two drinks served by the Santa Cruz Roller Derby Girls. If you plan to attend, please buy your tickets online because they will likely sell out before Friday.

Also, if you haven’t already, please visit the Museum of Art & History downtown to see the Exhibition. It’s in the atrium so it’s free and open to the public. The participating bike manufacturers have some of the latest and greatest bikes on display as well as some really nice old classics.


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2. Tour of California Monday 2/16

So there’s been a whole lot of chatter at the shop about watching the racers as they climb Tunitas and Skyline Blvd on Monday morning. It appears that many of our customers are planning on meeting in Woodside at various locations to ride up and find a viewing spot ahead of the peloton. Driving is probably completely out of the question, but who knows?

Some people are planning on ringing their cowbells at the KOM banner on Tunitas, others have the climb from Tunitas to Swett Road pegged as a good spot.

Visit the official website of the Amgen Tour of California to look at the info on the stage, what times riders are expected where, and other fun facts about the racers and the competition. There is also a facebook page with info on the finish in Santa Cruz.

Tuesday, the race continues with the third stage starting from San Jose at noon. Visit the San Jose Cycling Classic website for info on their other races and cycling events this weekend, which include a downtown criterium and a KOM hill climb.

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3. MTBR sponsored trailwork at Soquel Forest Saturday 2/21

Looks like this will be THE date to do trailwork if you can only pick one. MTBR will be sponsoring the day, and if you know one thing about the good folks on the NorCal forum, you’ll know there will be great company, kick-butt work accomplishments, fabulous creativity on trail improvements, and food and refreshments following.

Don’t miss out. The project will target the lower portion of the Ridge Trail and Sawpit, and may include the use of BOB trailers to tow tools into the work area and speed the process along. Please sign up on the Trailworkers.com page so you will get any announcements about the workday details and reserve a spot on the crew.

Also, as an added incentive, all volunteers who put in three days over the course of the trailwork season will get to participate in a special appreciation event in the spring that will include free shuttles to session the trails, something that is simply not normally available to the public.

So check out the chatter on the NorCal thread and don’t forget to sign up to volunteer.

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4. Save the date: Our 3rd Anniversary & Spring Demo Days March 7-8

We are expecting over 40 different demo bikes to be available for test rides on the weekend of March 7 & 8. Please save the dates and stay tuned for a complete bike model and size list next week, when we will begin taking reservations.

Last fall, we sold out of spots to ride certain sizes and models due to a high level of interest. So when you get our next email in about 5 days, be ready to respond and secure a test ride on your next bike!

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5. National Parks comments last call

IMBA is working hard to help our Federal government modify rules related to allowing bicycling on existing trails in National Parks. But IMBA cannot be successful without the participation of thousands of individual mountain bikers commenting on a proposed rule change. The deadline for comments is February 18th. IMBA is hoping that at least 10,000 mountain bikers will write in support! Please add your voice!

IMBA has produced a short YouTube video you can watch here:

You can use IMBA’s handy online form to submit your comments to the National Park Service regarding the proposed rule change for converting trails to multi-use.

Visit IMBA’s website for more info on the rule change.

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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, Peter, Reba and Buster