Female Friday Returns to Passion Trail Bikes

This week’s news and info on March 31, 2009:

1. The return of Female Friday is 4/3/09; 6pm Rides, 8pm Social
2. Wednesday Wrides 6:00pm with Hill Climb ITT
3. Volunteers Needed for Trail Building at Waterdog Saturday 4/4
4. Wildflowers!
3. Fresh New Knobs – You Might Need Some


1. The Return of Female Friday is 4/3/09; 6pm Rides, 8pm Social

As most of you know, we do weekly co-ed group rides from our shop on Wednesday nights (see below). These rides are open to all and are fun, with a wide range of abilities showing up for rides that vary from hammerfest pain parades to the “regular ride” to the sedate FBG ride. Typically the male to female ratio is somewhere around 80:20. We have learned that for many women, trying out a male dominated sport can be intimidating and not as fun as advertised. Not only are there physical differences in strength and aerobic capacity, but there are also psychological differences in learning and risk taking and for some reason men aren’t always the greatest at helping women get started in mountain biking.

So in response to the feedback we’ve gotten, we started offering Female Friday last year. Once a month between April and October, we host a women-ONLY ride and social gathering. The rides are led by women. This allows us to gather and create a very supportive atmosphere for everyone. The food is prepared and served by men. This allows us to rest, eat, drink and chat without having kitchen duties. We enjoy the gender-role reversal quite a bit!

Women staging for the Female Friday ride in 2008

The rides include a quick-paced ride for the long-legged and fit, regular rides that are social but move along, and then a slower set that usually split into strong beginner/slow intermediate paced ride, and a coached and supportive ride for complete beginners. We will gather around 5:45 and be ready to ride at 6:00pm, with rides taking off in waves between 6:00 and 6:15.

Please note that we do not allow men on the rides or in the lounge afterwards, other than those that are doing the food (by invitation only). This is not a dating event, this is a women-only event. If you are male and would like to have your female friend or spouse try out mountain biking, this is a way to let her go and do it without you and yet still be supported. There are real benefits to this so please don’t take offense. Note co-ed rides and social hour is offered every Wednesday.

After the ride we will return to the shop for food, drink, and social hour. This month Jay will be our executive chef, and the post-ride menu includes grilled salmon with some tasty side dishes, as well as chocolate fondue for dessert. Charles is readying the bar to provide an assortment of thirst-quenching and conversation-starting beverages. If you would like to take on executive chef duties or assist as a sous chef for one of the upcoming months, please contact Patty with your interest.

If you are a woman and would like to participate by joining or leading a ride, please RSVP so we can plan the evening. Should be a great time! Call Patty at 650-620-9798 or email her at patty@passiontrailbikes.com with your interest or any questions you might have.

Jay toasts some pine nuts to dress up the pasta on Female Friday in 2008

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2. Wednesday Wrides 6:00pm with Hill Climb ITT

Sunset is at 7:31pm this Wednesday 04/01/09. Twilight ends and darkness falls right around 8:15pm. Next week the Regular Ride launches at 6:00pm

This week we are offering up a chance for riders to test their climbing mettle on one of the toughest challenges around: The Berry/Brooks Hill Climb Individual Time Trial, posted by Krishna on MTBR. Riders will have a chance to hone their skills on the various trail features on the way up, and then try to put it all together with a stop watch at the end.

Reminder: P. L. E. A. S. E. . . . P. U. T. . . . L. I. G. H. T. S. . . . O. N ! ! ! !

Please remember to put a light on your handlebar and have a blinky ready for the ride back to the shop! CA vehicle code requires it. Also, a reminder that we need to be super conscientious about stopping at stop signs and lights, yielding to pedestrians, and operating our bikes predictably and responsibly while on the roads and trails. While we are not the only cyclists out there we are certainly the easiest place to lodge complaints. Let’s be good neighbors out there.

For all the details about what makes each group unique, please refer to this webpage. If your questions aren’t answered there, you can also email us for info at info@passiontrailbikes.com.

All rides start pedaling from the shop: Passion Trail Bikes, <a href=”http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101952870932189321594.0004482fd861c3bf1522e&ll=37.526286,-122.28133&spn=0.005505,0.009034&t= h&z=17&iwloc=0004482fdaf2792258781”>415 Old County Road, Belmont, CA 94002 650-620-9798

Riders queuing up for the launch of the Wednesday Wride

The EARLY ride will go out at 5:45 PM.
The REGULAR ride will go out at 6:00 PM.
The HILL CLIMB ride will go out at 6:00 PM>
The WHITE SOCKS ride will go out at 6:05 PM.
The FBG or Fat Bottomed Girl ride will go out at 6:05 PM.
The STRAGGLERS ride goes out at 6:15 PM.
For future planning, we have the upcoming start times each week for the REGULAR ride posted on our Community Calendar

Note we may not have leaders for each ride but usually someone knows their way around. All groups will meet back here at Passion Trail Bikes right around dark for the usual story telling & beverage enjoyment. We will have stuff for the BBQ along with some carbo laden side dish, chips and fatty snacks and EANABS to pair up with the <a href=”http://www.devilscanyonbrewery.com/”>Devil’s Canyon Brewery’s Full Boar Scotch Ale, Silicon Blonde Ale, and Little Devil Root Beer. We will hang out until about 10pm, so come on down, even if you can’t make the ride! Passion Parties are better with YOU in the mix!

Riders enjoying one of Waterdog’s great trails

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3. Volunteers Needed for Trail Building at Waterdog Saturday 4/4

Volunteers making the first cut during tread construction on the Lake Loop Trail

We are in full swing pushing forward on the Lake Loop Trail realignment project at Waterdog Lake. Our next workday is Saturday April 4th, and we will be digging and putting in some new trail. Our workday will start at 9:00am and go until about 1:30pm. We will be working on extending tread construction around the lake. The project will involve moving a lot of dirt, some rocks, and building one or more retaining walls depending on turnout.

WE NEED YOU! Please volunteer a few hours to help build this great new trail!

To get involved and get details on the meeting location, please send Patty an email at patty@passiontrailbikes.com and let her know you can pitch in. She will get back to you with more information on the workday. RSVPs are important so she has enough crew leaders, coffee, bagels and tools to go around. Thanks so much!

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4. Wildflowers!

Check out this photo essay for some great wildflower photography at Henry Coe State Park.

Wildflowers are bursting out in the grasslands. Now is the time to get out of the woods and seek some sunny locales for great springtime views. Bring sunscreen!

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5. Fresh New Knobs – You Might Need Some

With the onset of warm weather we are going to be transitioning from tacky traction on moist trails to sudden skidding as the surface of the earth dries up and lets go of all those little pebbles and small rocks encased in the hard packed crust. Check out your tires and make sure you have some good edges on your knobs. If not, come on in and check out the many different tires we have available in the shop, and ask for some expert advice on what to run as spring advances.

You can pull off slightly worn tires and set them aside until October. Put on fresh knobs and enjoy some better traction. No need to lose control and break your collarbone like that guy we gave our triangle bandage to at Fort Ord yesterday. Just saying. We want you to have all spring and summer to enjoy your bike.

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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