Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy Holiday's!

Happy Holiday's from everyone at CyclingCentralVirgina !

Be safe and see you in 2010!



Thursday, December 17, 2009

Trail News Update:

DownTown:
The "Stairway to Heaven" project on the North Bank Trail is now complete!

After fighting off the rains each weekend over the past 2 months, Richmond-MORE was able to put the final touches on the project last weekend.

If you haven't been able to ride this section yet, Nathan Burrell informed us that approximately 450' of rock armoring and crib-wall was installed along the climb corridor to fix the erosion issues of that have crept up over the years from a combination of steep terrain, heavy use, and very sandy soil conditions.

Update on Forest Hill Park Project

This project is being billed as an extensive revamp of the FHP trail system. It will involve removal of a lot of current trail as well as the building of new trail.

This is a City Project and is now fully funded with all involved parties now signed off after a recent comprehensive walk through meeting with Nathan Burrell.

During the revamp, all of the FHP trails will be closed for a time span of approximately 4 months; starting in mid-Jan to late-April.

As always, you help will be needed to make this project happen and finish on time!

Info. will come as it becomes available.

On Other News:
Poor Farm Park has been all the talk lately with the laying of blue markers in the "Flats" that show where Henrico Co. plans to install new ball fields by the Spring 2010.

Some of CCVA members recently attended a Public Meeting about Poor Farm's recent developments. It's being reported that only the land East of the "gravel road" and between the school will be developed at this time and will be cleared to make way for 4 new rectangle fields and some additional parking.

A playground has already been installed in this area. A very promising development to this story is that there will be enough wooded land left around the fields to install a perimeter trail which can link up to the existing trails and Henrico is interested in listening to an idea of installing a "Pump Track" near this area too!

SouthSide:
Pocahontas State Park is under major budget cuts, so night rides at PSP will not being happening until at least early Spring 2010 when the staffing increases. This is yet one more reason to support PSP by purchasing park passes!!!

Friends of PSP announced that currently there are no new plans to expand the mountain bike trails at PSP; but there is some trailcare being done at this time and is being led my Richard Garyantes.

Richard has been planing some reroutes of the Red and Double Red trails that will help increase flow while provide opportunity to added some more technical trail features.

Check the forums for the latest news, schedules, and details for all of the above trailcare.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Hanover Parks Meeting, Action Needed to save Poor Farm trails

On Dec. 14, at 7pm, Hanover Parks is conducting a master plan update meeting at the new Mechanicsville Library, 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place.

This meeting is advertised as Hanover County Resident's opportunity to give their opinions on the plan. So calling all Hanover Resident MTBS.....this is our opportunity to ask them to revisit the idea of tearing down the flats......

If any non-residents have any good ideas on how best to express our views I am happy to listen to any good advice.....
Talk about this on @ the Hanover Parks Poor Farm Meeting thread.

What: Hanover Parks Meeting
When: Monday, Dec. 14th
Time: 7pm
Where: Mechanicsville Library, 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

3rd Annual Pony Pasture Polar Plunge

Back by request ... the 3rd Annual Pony Pasture Polar Plunge is on!

Date: New Years Day (Jan 1st for the fools that are too drunk to remember )
Time: High-Noon ..... SHARP!!!
Meeting place: Boat Ramp in parking lot of Pony Pasture

For latest Info and to get on the Evite, goto the 3rd Annual Pony Pasture Polar Plunge forums thread.


Friday, December 4, 2009

Richmond-MORE Trail Care: Dec. 5th

Greetings Fellow Trail Builders,

Sometimes it seems we just don't get any breaks. We've got work to do and Mother Nature is not cooperating. I don't why she's been angry lately but it's getting old. Maybe we'll get some breaks soon.

This weekend we're going to finish the Maymont Ramp project. There's just a little more to do. Most of the work will involve reclamation but there's some rock armoring that remains to be completed. We need to add about five more feet of rock to the top of the trail. There's a little gully developing at the top and that area needs to be addressed.

We're hoping the weather will cooperate this weekend but it doesn't look good. We're keeping our fingers crossed. We look forward to seeing you there.

Look forward to exciting news coming soon.
_______________________________________________________
In case of rain or unforeseen events, please check for cancellations on our website. Any cancellation notice will be posted by 8:00am on Saturday in our News section. Our website is at: www.richmond-more.org.

Here are the details:
Where: Meet at the corner of Hampton St. and Kansas Ave. behind Maymont, just above the ramp
When: Saturday, December 5th - 9:00am to 4:00PM
Bring: Water, work gloves, and sturdy shoes, and a small snack

Tacky Light Tour 2009

RABA's Tacky Light Tour =
When: Dec. 9th @ 6:30.
Where: Meet behind the Westhampton Theatre (5706 Grove Ave, Richmond, VA 23226) at Grove and Libbie Avenues.
What: A 25ml trip that snakes in and around Richmond to view some of Richmond's best Christmas light displays.

Ride will be followed up with a social @ Palani Drive Restaurant.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dressing for Cold Weather

A new discussion on the forums is about dressing appropriately for cool & cold weather riding.

Here's one tip that was shared with me a few years back by Mike Dart, AKA: Dartman.

When dressing in layers, A good rule-of-thumb I to really limit the need to strip them back off during your outing. The main idea is to wear only enough so that you are borderline cool/cold when standing idle outdoors. Almost uncomfortable. This way once you start moving and generating heat, you'll warm up and any extra heat will be allowed to escape the same way the cool air got to you in the beginning.


So whether you need or want to share advice, head over to the Dressing for Cold Weather thread !

Friday, November 6, 2009

Carvin'sCoveDay Walnut Creek/O-Hill Trip, Nov. 7

When: Nov. 7th
Meet-up Time: 9am
Meet-up place: Wawa on Rt 250 (W. Broad) & 288.
Leaving Wawa 9:15ish.

New Trip: Walnut Creek & O-Hill

Carvin's Cove day trip, Saturday Nov 7th.

When: Nov. 7th
Meet-up Time: 7am
Meet-up place: Wawa on Rt 250 (W. Broad) & 288.
Leaving Wawa 7:15ish.

Carvin's Cove Map

Carvins Cover is just outside Roanoke and seems to be about 180mls from Ric, taking 64 & 81.

Carvin'sCove
Forums Thread



State Park Hunting Closure List '09

For your safety, please remember that during Hunting days, no other users will be allowed into the park(s).

Douthat State Park
Nov. 9-12
Nov. 16-19.

Pocahontas State Park
December 7th - 8th
December 17th - 19th

York River State Park
Nov. 9th & 10th ( this coming Mon.& Tues)
Dec. 7th & 8th (also a Monday & Tuesday)



Thursday, October 1, 2009

Rosaryville State Park, Md Day Trip, Oct. 31

Rosaryville State Park Day Trip.

Rosaryville State park is in Upper Marlboro, Md, about 30 mins drive up Rt301 once inside Maryland.

The trail is approx 11 mls in length with tons of flow and speed.

Park Fees: $5.00 per car (out of state), $4.00 (Md residents)

Where: Rosaryville State Park
When: Sat, Oct. 31
Time: Leaving @ 7am, so please arrive early if you plan to eat first
Time to meet at trail: 9 am
Meet: at Cracker Barrel in Ashland off Rt54.

Forums Thread:


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

SRAM 10SPD Chain Recall Sept.9, 09

Sram recalls bicycle chains with connectors that can crack
September 8, 2009 | 3:30 pm
About 24,000 Sram 10-Speed bicycle chains with PowerLock connector links are being recalled by Sram, a Chicago bicycle parts maker, because the connectors are brittle and can crack, allowing the chain to separate from the bicycle and causing the rider to fall.

Four incidents have been reported, including one in the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. No injuries have been reported, the agency said.

The recall involves Sram PowerLock connector links, which are sold individually, on 10-speed bicycle chains and as original equipment on some bicycles. The recalled PowerLock connector links are identified by a date code of M or N located on the side of the PowerLock connector link. Ten-speed SRAM chains that were equipped with recalled PowerLock connector links include the following chain model numbers: PC-1030, PC-1050, PC-1070, PC-1090 and PC-1090R.

The recalled chains also were installed on some Guru, Surly, Salsa, BMC, Serotta, Seven and Ridley brand bicycles. The individual PowerLock connectors and bike chains with these connectors were sold from January through August 2009. Bicycles with affected chains were sold from April 2009 through August 2009.

The items were manufactured in Portugal and sold at specialty bicycle stores nationwide. PowerLock connector links were sold separately for about $5 or as part of 10-speed chains for between $35 and $85.

The commission said consumers should immediately stop using the recalled PowerLock connectors, chains and bicycles with these connectors and contact their Sram retailer for replacement.

For additional information, contact Sram at (800) 346-2928 or visit the firm’s website.

Thread Here.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

CCVA / Friends of Pocahontas State Park

CCVA along with Friends of Pocahontas are coordinating a Ride, BBQ, and Swap Meet for the Fall 2009.

What: SRB (swap, ride & bbq)
Where: Pocahontas State Park@ Shelter 2
When: Nov 15th
Time: Ride: 10:00am, BBQ & SWAP: 1pm ish...
Why: Because it's time to meet, greet, ride, swap parts, and enjoy life!

Bring yourself, your bike, bike parts, and some sort of Potluck dish or drink to share with everyone.

Talk about it in this thread: Cycling Swap Meet, Ride, and Potluck BBQ.

Disclaimer: The ride portion of this day is being coordinated in terms of meeting and start times.
People taking part in the ride do so on their own accord and assume all responsibilities that come with mountain biking & within their ability.

Please come prepared: Helmet, working bike, water, etc.



Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Stampede on Horseshoe Mountain, mountain bike race and beer/music festival: August 22



Another event up at Devils Backbone Brewery on August 22 will start with a new Mountain Bike Race starting at 9am. For those that attended the Devils Backbone Challenge will recognize some of the course BUT there are new additions and new course up on Horseshoe Mountain!

Full Details and Registration at www.HorseshoeMountainTrails.com

But that is just the start of the day! At HIGH NOON, the Brew Ridge Trail Music Festival will kick off with Devils Backbone, Starr Hill, Blue Mountain and South St Breweries serving some of the finest brews around! Bands will be filling the air from NOON til 8pm!

Talk about the event here!


Saturday, July 18, 2009

18 Hours Scout's Honor Race, August 15-16th, 2009


For 2009, the "18 Hours Scout's Honor" race is being put on by Richmond's ASR so that race owner Ed Jones can have a chance to race it finally. Billed as the "Friendliest 18 Hour Event Around" with an emphasized the importance of the rider experience, "...every rider is of equal importance!".

When:August 15-16, 2009
Where: Camp Brady Sanders


Helpful Links:
~ 18 Hrs Scout's Honor Thread.
~ 18 Hrs Scout's Honor (Find a Team Post)
~ Register Here.
~ Richmond-ASR

Monday, July 13, 2009

Virginia's Summer Heat & Humidity

We've had it good all spring and so far this summer, but Va's humidity is finally starting to creep in which can make riding a bike a whole lot more difficult!

70* can feel like 80, 80* like 90* & so on, but it's more than feeling hot, it's loosing your ability to keep cool through sweating. When it gets humid out, sweat no longer evaporates efficiently which leaves you feeling hot and threatens you with the possibly overheating.

A few tips for exercising in the heat & humidity.
~ Try to exercise before 10am and after 6pm during the summer.
~ Hydrate approximately an hour before the activity, every 15 minutes during the exercise. ,
~ Where light fabrics that dry fast & not cotton.
** Hydration can take day or two, so the best way to stay hydrated is to drink 8 -10 16oz glasses of water per day.
** Avoid over consuming caffeine, sugar and alcoholic drinks can increase fluid loss.

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion - dizziness, weakness, nausea, cramping and vomiting - stop the activity, find some shade and drink water immediately. If symptoms continue, seek medical assistance at once.

For more detailed information, SEE Hydration.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Trek Demo Days

Trek will be having 3 demo days this upcoming weekend.

Starting on Friday (19th) and going through Sunday (21st) around Virginia.

Link to Trek Demo Day: Trek Demo Days Page.

Friday:
What: Blacksburg Demo - East Coasters
When: Fri. Jun 19th, 2009 @ 2:00 pm—6:00 pm
Where: Pandapas Pond, Pandapas Pond Rec Area, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Saturday:
What: Shenadoah Bicycle Company Demo
When: Sat. Jun 20th, 2009 @ 10:00 am—3:00 pm
Where: Massanutten Western Slope Resort, Happy Valley Road, Keezletown, VA 22832

Sunday:
What: Bike Beat will be holding a Trek Demo day. at
Where: New Quarter Park, Williamsburg, VA
When: Sun. Jun 21st, 2009 @ 9:00 am—2:00 pm

Come join me and the gang from Bike Beat for a day of fun in the sun. I will have the latest bikes from Trek and Gary Fisher for you to try out and take a spin on.

Directions: New Quarter Park
Talk about it here: CCVA Thread
Or call Bike Beat for more info: 757-229-0096

Thursday, May 28, 2009

EVMA Spring Fling Bike Festival is May 30th, 2009

The EVMA Spring Fling Bike Festival is May 30th, 2009 from 9:00 am to
4:00 pm. at New Quarter Park in Williamsburg, Virginia.

A swap meet - bring items to sell or swap.
A Raffle and silent auction to benefit the Meredith Nicolls Health Fund.

Tire changing contest, sponsored by All About Bikes, Chesapeake, VA
Bunny hop contest, sponsored by Conte's of Williamsburg, VA
Jumping contest, sponsored by Conte's of Newport News, VA
Scavenger hunt for kids, sponsored by East Coast Bicycles, Norfolk, VA

The Schedule of Events is as follows:
9:00 am to 12:00 am – Group rides for all level of riders for men and women.
12:00 am to 1:00 pm – Lunch. EVMA will be providing lunch. Donations accepted.
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Special Events

9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Trek Women Specific Design Demo rides.
9:00 am to 4:00 pm – Fuji Bikes comfort bicycle demo rides.

Note to bicycle shops: If you would like to be a part of this event,
you can set up a tent with product to sell or demo. We are also
looking for shops to sponsor fun events (we have a list!). If you are
interested in participating, see flyer for contact details.

Directions to New Quarter Park
Talk about it here.


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Forest Hill Park Lake Maintenance.

What: Forest Hill Park Lake Dredging.
Where: Forest Hill Park, Richmond, Va
When: Spring/Summer 2009

The City of Richmond has worked with the Contractor to develop plans to minimize the mess that may occur from the project of restoring the Forest Hill Park Lake back to it's formal self.

The $1.7 million restoration project over the next six months began in early May and is expected to take approximately 6 months.

Tthe City is sensitive to limiting the impact on our neighborhood streets and the park itself during the project.

Dredging and restoration work at the park will begin on weekdays around 7:00 a.m. and will end approximately 5:00 p.m.
Saturday work will not occur unless the project falls behind schedule and no work is scheduled for Sunday's.

Spring and summer programs are still scheduled to occur in the park!
Park Events:
~ Every Saturday, Farmers Market will re-open near Shelter #2 on Saturday, May 2.
~ Music in the Park will again continue on selected summer Sunday evenings.

What's Off-limits?
Easy, just look for the orange fencing roping off the area around the lake.

** This does have an affect on how the trails are accessed and is you are wanting to use trail know that a reroute plan is in effect.
Please don't tear down the fences! This has happened twice already and the city has already approached the local mountain bike club to help spread the word to keep out of this area.



Friday, May 8, 2009

Ric-MORE Booth Volunteers Needed.

Richmond MORE will be represented at the RiverRoc event on the 15th and 16th.

We're asking members/volunteers to come out for one hour and work the booth.

Hours:
6:00PM to 9:30PM Friday
9:00AM to 4:00PM Saturday.

It'll be a lot of fun & the booth will have an interactive bike blender.

This event is to raise money and to get the public aware of the advocacy work we do.
Funds go directly to the club for bridges materials and to buy tools.

You can contact Greg Rollins, VP RA-MORE via PM on the CCVA. Just follow the link Below, contact information is in first post.

Talk about it here...

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

2009 Cap2Cap bike ride



Register by April 15th and save $10!

To make your Cap2Cap experience one you will never forget, we're rolling out some new features this year:

More distance options of 100, 50, and 25 miles leaving from a NEW STARTING LOCATION at Rocketts Landing in Richmond and Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg.

Also offering a special 15 mile family course, completely on the Virginia Capital Trail, available from Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg.

A mass start for each distance, complete with lead vehicles and police escorts the first couple of miles.

A delicious lunch at the finish lines with refreshments throughout the route (no more mid-ride lunch, save it for the PARTY after the ride.)

A post-ride celebration at Rocketts Landing in Richmond.

Visit for start times, fees, mail in registration, and other ride details.

Not only will you be treated to beautiful scenery and gently rolling terrain, we hope to pamper you with delicious and well-stocked rest stops, a big lunch waiting at the end of the ride and the friendliest volunteers around.

And most importantly, by participating, you will be helping the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation pursue their mission to make the Virginia Capital Trail a world class destination all Virginians will be proud of. Whether you are an avid cyclist or you've not been on a bike since your Huffy spider bike with the banana seat and footlong sissy bar, join us for an unforgettable experience.

The Virginia Capital Trail is an ambitious project connecting over 50 miles, five jurisdictions and two Virginia capitals. Currently, eight miles are complete and heavily in use in James City County, with seven more nearing completion in Charles City County. The project is scheduled for completion by 2013. The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is the principal advocate, raising funds for enhancements such as interpretive and way-finding signage, bike/pedestrian accommodations, and trailhead amenities including benches, bike racks, and shade structures. The Foundation also actively promotes the trail through numerous initiatives to draw visitors and their tourism dollars from outside the region and Virginia's borders. We also partner with V-DOT on construction and alignment issues, working to make the Virginia Capital Trail the best it can be.

Help us achieve our goals, to the vast benefit of future trail users, by making a tax-deductible contribution when you register. You'll receive our e-newsletter with updates, issues, and ways to get involved in trail efforts!

Online registration open now! Check: www.virginiacapitaltrail.org/html/events.html

Talk about it here: Cap2Cap Ride

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Bicycle Gearing

People often talking about how hard or easy it is to pedal their bike, but really don't understand how all the gearing works.

While the cyclists most interested in gearing tend to be single speed or fixed gear riders, everyone should know that not all cranksets and rear cassettes (the pieces of your bike that actually create all the gear inches / ratios) are created equal.

Let's defined a few terms that you will need to know.
1) Chain ring: The ring(s) that are attached to the cranks. Bikes will have from 1(single), 2 (double), or 3 (triple) chain rings.
2) Cassette, Freewheel, Cog: All terms used to describe the gearing rings used on the rear wheel. Each is similar, but different.
~ A cog is single ring, that usually attaches to the rear wheel and does not have a ratcheting mechanism. Without ratcheting, your pedals will constantly turn even if you try to coast, and use of this system is called riding "Fixed gear."
~ A Freewheel is a cog mounted on a ratcheting mechanism, which allows you to coast when you stop pedaling.
~ A cassette is a cluster of cogs mounted to a freewheel, offering you the ability to switch between gears. (cassettes can range from 2 -10 gears)

There are two terms used in gearing, Gear Ratio and Gear Inches.
Ratios take into account the direct relationship between your chainrings & the rear cogs; while Gear inched is similar, it also takes into account the size of the wheels/tires that you are using too.

It may sound complicated, but it really isn't.

With so many wheels sizes being used these days, Gear Inches is the most accurate way to make sure you are gearing all your bike alike.

For the sake of time and ease, we'll just cover a Single Speed / fixed gear ratio and inches.

~ Gear Ratio = Chainring size / rear cog size.
~ Gear Inches = (Chainring size / Rear cog) * wheelsize in inches

Here are a few examples:
A 43 tooth chainring and a 20 tooth cog being used on a bike with 29" wheels would look like this:
~ Gear Ratio = 43/20 = 2:51 ratio.
~ Gear Inches = (43/20)*29 = 49.4 gear inches.

So what's the difference?
Let's say you feel comfortable pedaling your current bike that is using a 32t chainring, 16t cog, and 26" wheels; but now you bought a new bike and want to have the same gearing.
If you do the math on your current bike:

~ Gear Ratio = 32/16 = 2:1 ratio.
~ Gear Inches = (32/16)*26 = 52 gear inches.

But what if your new bike has 29" wheels?
If you use the 2:1 "Gear Ratio", You'll find that it's not the same pedal stroke. In fact it'll be much, much harder.

Using a 29" wheel and 32t/16t = 58 gear inches!
So now all you need to do is change a few values until you locate a Gear Inches for the new bike that is similar to your old bike.
In this case, using a 32t chainring, 18t cog, & a 29" gives you a gear ratio of 51.5 gear inches, which is very close to your old bike.
For fun, you can do a few options +/- to fine tune your choice.
( 32/17 )*29 = 54.6")
( 32/18 )*29 = 51.5")
( 32/19 )*29 = 48.8")

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Richmond-MORE & Westview on the James create MOU.

RA MORE / Westview Cooperation

A verbal MOU agreement has been reached between the property owners/land managers of Westview On the James and Richmond-MORE for trail development on their land.

Notable facts:
~ Ed Jones, AKA "Cycle'sEd" fantastic trail building at Camp Brady was the reason Westview approached the club about such a co-op.

~ Greg Rollins and Steve Hodson are the duo working on behalf of Richmond-MORE to develop this plan with Westview, as well as design and develop the trails on the land.

~This project has been in the works for approximately 1.5 yrs and still has much more work to come.

~ Opportunities for Richmond-MORE members as well as the general public to get involved will be coming up in the future.

In the up coming month the club will be taking a property survey of the property, so Stay Tuned!

Last minute info and chat about this topic: Ra-MORE/Westview Trail MOU.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Devils Backbone Challenge Postponed!

DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME,
The Devil's Backbone Challenge has been postponed until May 23rd.

Day & Time of Original Event:
March 26 - 1.30pm

Postponed Until"
Day: May 23, 2009
TIME: TBA

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

4200 Acre Easement Vote in Frederisksburg, April 15th, 2009.

A couple of years ago the city of Fredericksburg placed over 4200 acres of land that skirts both sides of the Rappahannockand the Rappidan rivers and other tributaries into a conservation easement. The land goes upstream from town about 30 miles. It is not a continuous stretch of land but it's close.

The land is currently governed only by local and state laws. The easement agreement calls for the creation of a Watershed Property Management Plan that will fill in the gaps that aren't addressed by the current laws (who can build a trail, what the trail can be used for, where access points will be allowed, etc). The committee that is drafting the Management plan is accepting public comment on the plan until April 15th.

What's needed is to have Mountain bikers to please take a few minutes to submit a comment regarding your desire to have mountain biking listed as an allowable use on the land. Be aware that your comments are public and that it's important to convey an image of respect for nature and cooperation with all other users.

For the full posting, information download, contacting Steve Craig (Pres. FATMUG), and to talk about this subject, Please follow this link: 4200+ acre easement Thread.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

SNOW delays Camp Hilbert Race 1 until 4/4.

Due to the snow we are moving these events to April 4th. If you are pre-registered you will automatically be entered in the new date. If you're unable to attend the new date please contact me at markjunkermann@hotmail.com.

If you are not entered... now's you opportunity! Visit www.runriderace.com for more information on these and other Richmond area events.

Calling all women.... check out the women's only 8k running event.... www.runlikeagirl8k.com. Join over 500 women joining forces to raise money for the HERA Women's Cancer Foundation.

I hate to see it not go down but that was a very responsible decision. Thanks Mark.

Follow this topic, HERE.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Snow & the trails.

With all the snow and cold the temps earlier this week and the high chance of very warm weather in days to come; CCVA would like to remind all mountain bikers that the trails will not only be wet, but chances are the first few inches of the trail bed will be very soggy and using the trails during this time can cause severe or permanent damage to them.

Please avoid riding during this time and if you do ride, Please keep the trail narrow by staying in the center of the trail and going through mud and not around it.

Also, some parks or even just some trails within the same park fair weather issues like this better than others, so consider riding those trails or fire roads that fair better during these times.

Any questions or comments, go to thread Snow Today, Warm enough to ride tomorrow.:

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Giant Intro's 29" bikes into 2010 Lineup

Looks like Giant will be entering the 2010 lineup with at least 1 bike.
A hardtail.

Here are a few "released" sketches provided by Giant on FaceBook.

You can talk about it here.


Thursday, February 26, 2009

Salsa CroMOTO SUL Stem RECALL

SAFETY RECALL

Salsa Cycles CroMoto S.U.L. Bicycle Stems

CroMoto S.U.L. Quill and CroMoto S.U.L. Threadless Stems are affected. These stems were also used on the following complete Salsa bicycles: Ala Carte, El Mariachi, Casseroll Triple, Casseroll Single, and La Cruz

Complete bikes sold after: November 5, 2007
Aftermarket stems sold after: March 31, 2008

Offical Recell Notice Here.

Belle Island Closed at least 3 -4 weeks. (Update to North Bridge and SouthBridge Closings.)

Hello All,
(Actual article at bottom of post)

As many have already read or been told, Three weeks back the City of Richmond shutdown the Southside Bridge due to structural issues. (IE weld & planks)
Because of the serious work and this is expected to take up to 3 months to complete.

Meanwhile, the only other access point is the Lee Bridge "pedestrian foot bridge" that links the North side of the river bank to Belle Island. Just this past weekend (2/22) a 3' chunk of cement came loose and feel from the above Lee Bridge and came to rest on the pedestrian bridge below it.

Since this time, the City of Richmond has been forced to shutdown this access point to Belle Island, leaving NO Official Access to Belle Island.

The city initially hoped to have the pedestrian bridge reopened after 3 days, but this is now a MINIMUM of 3-4 weeks.

So if anyone is trying to complete a loop of the downtown trails, you will have to ride up to the roadside (both North & South side of river are close at each trail head) and cross the top of the Lee Bridge.

Look for signs pointing you to the trails, be safe and have fun!

Click here for the latest discussions on CCVA":


Thank you,
Jay deBellonia
CCVA Admin
Co-Founder Richmond-MORE

Here is a quote from a recent article:
[ Belle Isle will not reopen for public use for several weeks because of pending plans to protect the main pedestrian bridge from falling debris from the Robert E. Lee Bridge and to repair another bridge used for emergency access, Richmond officials said today.

"It looks like it's going to be several weeks," said John R. Pope Jr., director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. "The best thing people can do right now, the average park user, is stay off the island."

Richmond public works officials said they hope to approve a design today for scaffolding that will be erected along roughly 100 feet of the pedestrian bridge from the north bank of the James River to the island. The scaffolding is necessary to protect pedestrians from being struck by debris, such as a three-foot length of concrete that fell from the Lee Bridge on Saturday afternoon and forced city officials to close access to Belle Isle.

At the same time, city officials said they are pushing for expedited approval of bids to repair the emergency access bridge to the island from the river's south bank. The bridge was closed last month after faulty welds were discovered beneath it. City officials said today they expect repairs to take several months to that bridge.

Dexter White, director of the Department of Public Works, said the Lee Bridge is safe for vehicle traffic and already was scheduled for detailed inspection in April. He said the inspection would focus on the structural integrity of the bridge, completed in 1988.

The city also is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation, which designed and built the Lee Bridge, to determine why repairs made to the structure five years ago failed last weekend. Those repairs were made after city and state officials determined that the two spans of the bridge were rubbing together,.

City officials said the two spans are touching again, but they don't know the cause or the solution.

"VDOT is working closely with us on this one," said acting City Engineer M.S. Khara. ]



http://cyclingcentralva.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=14146

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Belle Isle - NORTH FOOT BRIDGE

The suspended pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle from the north bank of the James River in Richmond was closed today after a large piece of concrete fell from the Robert E. Lee Bridge above.

No one was injured. The concrete chunk fell and shattered onto the pedestrian bridge around 5 p.m., said Christy Everson, spokeswoman for the city's parks and recreation department.

Ralph White (JRPS Mrg) estimated that the concrete chunk was about 3' in length and said that it fell closer to the Belle Isle side of the bridge.

City officials say the footbridge may not reopen until Tuesday 2/24.

The plan is to install a 50-foot-long scaffolding and wood tunnel to provide a layer of safety for to park users.

There seems to be no reporting or mention about the safety or condition of the Lee Bridge itself and we'll post more as information comes about.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Mark your Calendar, Richmond Xterra is BACK!

Join us at Brown's Isle in Richmond, Virginia for the XTERRA Atlantic Championship.
Weekend Schedule.
6/14/09 XTERRA Richmond Xduro Trail Run - 21km
The 21km Xduro and 10km trail run is classic XTERRA, with an urban flair. This course has stair climbs, railroad track crossings, rock jumps and a scenic run along the James River. A true test of trail running endurance.

6/14/09 XTERRA Richmond Scramble - 10km
The 21km Xduro and 10km trail run is classic XTERRA, with an urban flair. This course has stair climbs, railroad track crossings, rock jumps and a scenic run along the James River. A true test of trail running endurance.

6/14/09 XTERRA Atlantic Cup & XTERRA Sport.
Distances: 1000m swim / 29k mountain bike / 11k trail run

The XTERRA Atlantic Championship is one of five XTERRA America Tour Championship Races leading to the XTERRA USA Championship in Ogden, UT.

Pros race for $10,000 pro purse
Age groupers battle for slots to the World Championship
Top amateur finishers earn points toward their standings in the XTERRA America Tour Series
Brown's Island in the heart of downtown Richmond is headquarters for all the action. While the XTERRA race course begins and ends on the island, the race itself spans the James River Park and nearby city.

Entry Type
XTERRA Atlantic Championship - Individual $95.00
XTERRA Atlantic Championship Team $140.00
XTERRA Atlantic Sport - Individual $65.00
XTERRA Atlantic Sport - Team $95.00

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Series:



Start your 2009 racing season off with RunRideRace

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Start

The Camp Hilbert Series which kicks off the season March 8, 2009! This series has races for runners and mountain bikers. For those on Fat Tires we will have races divisions for beginners to enduro. To kick off each day day of activities the gun will start Froze Toes 4 mile trail run at 8am.

In addition, RunRideRace is taking over the Spring and Fall Cup (Twisted Tire Events) which take place on the trails of Poor Farm in Ashland, VA.

Camp Hilbert Mountain Bike Race Series 2009
Race 1: Sunday March 8, 2009
Entry Fee $25-$35
Free Kids race (on dirt roads @ 11:30am)
Race day registration 8:00 am
Start Time: 9:30 and 12:00
Register

Race 2: Saturday May 9, 2009
Entry Fee $30-$35
Free Kids race (on dirt roads @ 11:30am)
Race day registration 8:00 am
Start Time: 9:30 and 12:00
Register

Race 3: Sunday June 28, 2009
Entry Fee $30-$35
Free Kids race (on dirt roads @ 11:30am)
Race day registration 8:00 am
Start Time: 9:30 and 12:00
Register

Latest Info @ www.runriderace.com

Other RunRaceRide Events coming up...
Twisted Tire/Spring Cup in Ashland, VA on Sunday, April 19, 2009.
Online Registration Closes Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:30 AM ET



Devils Backbone Challenge



Talk about it here.

March 28, 2009, 10 am @ Wintergreen, Va
Rolling Start

XC scoring for the Virginia Off Road Series

The Start/Finish at the new Devils Backbone Brewery right outside Wintergreen, Va. Rolling start up Brent’s Gap will get you warmed up for the incredible trails ahead. The course will have double and singletrack trails leading you through creeks and up to incredible ridgeline views. Dive back down to more double and singletrack trails. Your course will be determined by your riding skills level. All will head down Brent’s Gap to finish back at the Devils Backbone Brewery!

Course Description: A 10am rolling road start from the Brewery up to the top of Brents Gap. Short downhill to trailhead on right. Doubletrack will start you into the woods. From there you will have a mix of single/doubletrack through creek crossings, climbs to great ridgeviews, and descents to keep your brakes screaming. (approx.6-7miles)

Once you complete that section, Beginners will take the road back to the Brewery for a ripping fast finish. The Expert/Sport/SingleSpeeds will continue back into the trails and venture through 3 to 4 more miles. Then back to the road where the Sport Cat will head back to the Finish. The Experts/SingleSpeeds will then do another lap of the above and then race back down from Brents Gap to the Brewery!

Brents Gap: approx. 1.8 miles from Start/Finish Line with approx. 600 ft elevation gain.

CATEGORIES:
Men/Women Expert - 2 laps
Men/Women Sport - 1 lap
Men/Women Beginner - .75 laps
SingleSpeed 2 laps
High School Sport - 1 lap
High School Beginner - .75 laps

$35 online reg / $40 day of Event
Registration is here: Devils Backbone Challenge.
Talk about it here.

And afterwards the Brewery will be having events and other festivities to help enjoy the rest of your day after racing hard on the Devils Backbone Challenge!



Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Powhite Trail Work Saturday, 2/07/09

First, a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who showed up last Saturday for our first effort in Powhite Park.

We accomplished quite a bit more than we thought possible for one day, with a good deal of new trail being cut and old trail reclaimed. Our goals for this weekend will be to buff out the new section that was built last weekend, while installing a berm or 2, and also to cut new trail to continue the new line near the back fence. Additionally, we will be working on adding more technical(rocky) lines to the new trail. The weather should be beautiful both Saturday and Sunday, with highs for trail work on Saturday around 60. Hope to see everyone out on the trail.

Where
Although we will be working near the "back gate" of the park, Nathan has asked that we park in the parking lot just off Jahnke Rd across the street from the hospital and walk or ride our bikes in to the work site. The reason for this is that the dead end near the back gate will have equipment and a City vehicle or 2 parked there, and we would like to be considerate of the residents and not block the street any more than necessary. For those who have never been to Powhite Park, just follow the trail coming from the parking lot down the hill, cross the creek on the 60' decked bridge and bear left. Continue on this trail which borders the swamp(keeping the swamp on your LEFT) until you come to another, smaller bridge. Cross this bridge and you should see the work site up on the hill in front of you. If you have any questions, feel free to call Nathan Burrell at 357-8897.

What to bring:
Wear sturdy shoes or work boots and bring work gloves. Dress in layers because you'll probably warm up rather quickly once you start working. It is also recommended to bring some water and some kind of snack. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Cancellations:
In case of inclement weather, any cancellations of Trail Care will be made by 7:00am Saturday morning.
Notification will be made on the Cycling Central VA forums (www.cyclingcentralva.org/forums), the Richmond-MORE website, or via email.
Currently the weather forecast for Saturday is supposed to be partly cloudy with a high of 41, and rain is not expected.

Follow Thread Here...


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Powhite Trail Care Begins

Powhite Park will finally be undergoing a long overdue facelift starting Saturday, January 31, 2009.

This effort will be lead by Kevin Clark (Powhite Trail Liaison for Richmond-MORE) and under the direction of Nathan Burrel (Richmond City Trail Mgr).

It's been a long, long time coming, but that time is finally here. Powhite Park, the proverbial "Diamond in the Rough" of the Southside, has been in need of some serious TLC for some while.

On our LOOOONG laundry list, there are several short-term goals we have for the park over the next year, and also a few goals further on down the road. Among the short-term goals are items like....

1. Establish a new "outer loop" beginner level trail around the perimeter of the park, with appropriate(but not overcrowded) signage, while rerouting the trail as necessary to pull the trail off private property, closing unsustainable fall line trails and making the best possible use of the terrain available.

2. Establish a ped specific trail that runs the length of the "Swamp Trail" at the bottom of the park, paralleling the existing multi-use trail down there presently.

3. Repair/upgrade existing bridges in the park and create info kiosks at entrances to the park.

4. Create a newer, more visible & attractive trailhead at the parking lot entrance.

Several long-term goals as well, such as....

1. Create advanced and expert level loops inside the big outer "beginner loop", retaining Powhite's tight & technical character, including an overhaul of "The Buzz", to make it just that much sweeter.

2. Create new trails and update/reclaim old trails, all to IMBA standards.

3. Prepare Powhite for increased user traffic in anticipation of, you guessed it, the long-fabled "POWHITE CONNECTOR TRAIL" that will connect Powhite to the JRPS, hopefully without ever having to cross a strip of pavement. This project is in the very early stages, but officially in the works and is favored by the City of Richmond. Adding to that, there are other potential greenway projects that will incorporate Powhite as a "weigh station" of sorts on the way to points South in the City, then the County.

A few notes-

"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine." Powhite has remained relatively unchanged in the past, but now faces a new set of circumstances. Yes, the park and some of the trails will change, but it will still retain the "old" style as much as possible.Fun, tight, twisty, and with obstacles abounding. A note to the logpile crew- most of the old, rotted logpiles will be coming out, but fear not. We've heard your distant cries in the night, and there will be logpiles o'plenty coming with the upgrades to the park. After all, it just wouldn't be Powhite without the logpiles, now would it?

Trailwork will start on Saturday, January 31st. More details TBA, and soon at that. Please come out to help!

Thanks for reading & stay tuned!

For the latest information, goto Powhite Trail Care Thread.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

ClifBar Voluntary Recall

ClifBar is having a voluntary recall on the products listed below because of the possibility of peanut butter being tainted.
Here is a list of the questionable bars:
LIF BAR Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch
BEST BY/SELL BY:
21JUN09 to 01OCT09 and
03NOV09 to 28NOV09
CLIF BAR Crunchy Peanut Butter
BEST BY/SELL BY:
21JUN09 to 01OCT09 and
03NOV09 to 28NOV09
CLIF BAR Peanut Toffee Buzz
BEST BY/SELL BY:
13SEP09
CLIF Builder’s Peanut Butter
SELL BY:
19JUL09 to 30SEP09 and
05NOV09 to 18NOV09
CLIF Kid Organic ZBaR Peanut Butter
BEST BY:
07JUL09 to 05SEP09 and
12NOV09
LUNA Nutz Over Chocolate
BEST BY:
29JUL09 to 03OCT09 and
11NOV09 to 14NOV09
LUNA Peanut Butter Cookie
BEST BY:
02OCT09 to 03OCT09 and
11NOV09 to 14NOV09
MOJO Honey Roasted Peanut
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Mixed Nuts
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Mountain Mix
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Peanut Butter Pretzel
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Dipped Chocolate Peanut
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Dipped Peanut Butter and Jelly
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
MOJO Dipped Fruit and Nut
BEST BY:
30APR09 to 21JUN09
CLIF® BAR Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch / Brisures de Chocolat aux Arachides Croquants
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009SE07
CLIF BAR Crunchy Peanut Butter / Beurre d’ Arachide Croquant
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009SE06 to 2009SE11 and
2009NO13
CLIF® BAR Peanut Toffee Buzz® / Toffee et Arachides
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009SE12
CLIF Builder’s Peanut Butter / Beurre d’Arachide
EXPIRY DATE/DATE D’EXPIRATION:
2009JU20 and
2009AU20

No other CLIF or LUNA products or flavors are included in this recall.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

January RABA Meeting

Join us for the January RABA Meeting

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Cycling New Zealand and Oregon

Dinner: 6:00 PM;
Meeting : 7:15 PM
Location:
El Toro Loco
1808 Staples Mill Rd,
Richmond, VA 23230
(across from the Crazy Greek)

Come early to make sure you have a good seat! For the third year in a row, Andrew Mann will be giving a travelogue of his cycling adventures. This time it’ll be of his rides in New Zealand and Oregon. Don’t miss it!

Comment on the thread here.