Winter Passion Trail Bikes eNewsletter #10

This week’s news and info on March 10, 2009:

1. Demo Weekend Recap
2. Return of Weekly Wednesday Wrides 5:30pm
3. Waterdog Lake Loop Realignment Project
4. National Bike Summit


1. Demo Weekend Recap

Ok, so this is just the quick version, and more will follow. I just want to say thanks to Specialized, Maverick, Giant, and Ibis for supplying us with a ton, actually closer to two tons, of really fine demo bikes last weekend. I also want to thank John at X-Fusion Shox for supplying us with beer, and Fox Clothing for bringing shade, cool clothes, and some other really nice gear. Thanks to our neighbors for being so tolerant of our just plain taking over the local parking and a couple driveways, and to the weather gods for, well, you just had to be here.

Mostly though, I want to thank all of you that showed up, rode some bikes, spent a few bucks on sale stuff, rubbed elbows in the lounge, and celebrated our third anniversary in the best way possible, getting lots of other folks stoked on bikes and riding. There we too many ear to ear grins and muddy shins to count, but a couple can be found in this MTBR thread, and even more in some embedded links. —Charles

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2. Return of Weekly Wednesday Wrides 3/11 5:30pm

So here we have it, an unglamorous kick off to the Wednesday Wride Season. After this past weekend’s festive demo event, this one will seem rather anticlimactic, but we all need to celebrate some beautiful weather and a favorable time change by sampling some local dirt. This week we will gather at Passion prepared to launch at 5:30, for a ride up to Waterdog Park, enjoy a loop or two, and then head back down to the shop for storytelling and elbow bending. Our favorite chef is out of town this week, so adjust your food expectations accordingly. I thought we might do a pot luck, instead of Patty’s famous BBQ, but one customer outright said all the guys would bring nothing but chips. Of course, I see nothing wrong with that, but she said it in a most snarky tone, so there may be more to this than I realize.

Regardless, come around 5:00 or so, and ride around 5:30. We’ll break up into groups of varying distance, speed, and mileage goals, and have a great time. Then we’ll return to the shop, and might eat some fatty snacks, or some particular woman’s casserole, or maybe even head over to Ausiellos Tavern for a real cardiac arrest. You’re call, if you’re here.

Riders enjoying one of Waterdog’s great trails

For a refresher on the various rides we usually have, check out our Wednesday Wrides webpage for info. To increase the fun and games, this year we are going to make a special effort to invite and welcome any youth riders who want to join us. Both the FBG and White Socks rides are appropriate for less experienced riders. For kids who gots mad skillz already, there are always adults who enjoy a loop or two through the Carlmont dirt jumps and are usually willing to trade pointers with those who knows.

Also a quick reminder that along with Wednesday Wrides, we are open late on Wednesday nights so you can shop, drop off a bike for service or pick it up. Usually we are here until about 10:00pm.

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3. Waterdog Lake Loop Realignment Project

Join us in pushing forward on the realignment of the Lake Loop Trail in Waterdog Park on Sunday. This time we will work on brushing out the trail corridor on the north side of the lake as well as some new tread construction. It is important to clear the brush before birds decide to build nests in the area so that they can choose locations that won’t be disturbed to create their summer homes. Patty and Kevin have been working on clearing some of the worst of the poison oak however a few patches remain. There is a mix of thin shaded brush under the oaks, and dense chaparral that needs to be cleared.

If you would like to give a hand with building the new lake loop alignment on sunday, send Patty an email at patty@passiontrailbikes.com So she can get a headcount for tools, bagels, and coffee. Volunteers will be meeting at the gate at the bittom of the Lake Fireroad, at the corner of Lake Rd. and Lyall Way at 9:00 am and will work until about 1:00 pm.

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4. National Bike Summit

Most likely, as you are reading this, Patty will be on a plane to Washington, DC for the National Bike Summit. This will be her second trip to our nation’s capital as a representative of the greater mountain biking community in the Bay Area and Northern California.

It’s likely that as part of the IMBA-California delegation she will visit the offices of Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein as well as Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo. IMBA’s efforts to secure funding and mountain bike favorable policies for our National Parks, USFS and BLM lands rely in part on activism and support from ordinary citizens explaining their interests to their elected officials in Washington. On Wednesday Patty will be attending a number of different educational workshops hosted by the Summit. Thursday will be spent visiting congressional offices.

For more information on the National Bike Summit visit the League of American Bicyclists website for details. If you have interest in getting more involved as a citizen in helping shape your government, consider becoming an IMBA member and possibly taking your turn next year as a bicycle advocate in the halls of Congress.

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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